Google Web Browser "Chrome" Debuts

Search Engine Behemoth Hopes To Slay Mircrosoft's Internet Explorer

(AP)  Google Inc. is releasing its own Web browser in a long-anticipated move aimed at countering the dominance of Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer and ensuring easy access to its Internet-leading search engine.

The Mountain View-based company took the unusual step of announcing its latest product on the Labor Day holiday after it prematurely sent out a comic book drawn up to herald the new browser's arrival.

The free browser, called "Chrome," is supposed to be available for downloading Tuesday in more than 100 countries for computers running on Microsoft's Windows operating system. Google said it's still working on versions compatible with Apple Inc.'s Mac and the Linux operating system.

Although Google is using a cartoonish approach to promote Chrome, the new browser underscores the gravity of Google's rivalry with Microsoft, whose Internet Explorer is used by about 75 percent of Web surfers.

Google for several years has been trying to take advantage of its search engine's popularity to loosen Microsoft's grip on how most people interact with personal computers.
The assault so far has been focused on a bundle of computer programs, including word processing and spreadsheet applications, that Google offers as an alternative to one of Microsoft's biggest money makers, its Office suite of products.

Google has tried to make its alternatives more appealing and accessible by hosting them for free over Internet connections instead of requiring users to pay a licensing fee to install them on individual computers

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Podcast: CBS News tech analyst Larry Magid talked with Google co-founder Sergey Brinn about the new "chrome" browser.

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Meanwhile, Microsoft has been trying to thwart Google by investing billions in the development of its own search engine and making an unsuccessful attempt to buy Yahoo Inc. for $47.5 billion.

The tensions between Microsoft and Google now seem likely to escalate with Google's foray into Web browsing.

In a Monday blog posting, Google touted Chrome as a more sophisticated Web browser better suited for displaying the more dynamic and interactive content blossoming on the Web as people migrate from television, radio and newspapers.

"The Web gets better with more options and innovation," Sundar Pichai, Google's vice president of product management, and Linus Upson, Google's engineering director, wrote in the posting. "Google Chrome is another option, and we hope it contributes to making the Web even better."

Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

[sistatee-2009]

"The free browser, called "Chrome," is supposed to be available for downloading Tuesday in more than 100 countries for computers running on Microsoft''s Windows operating system."

Be sure and download the FBI, CIA, NSA version that listens to your room conversation, records all your keystrokes and bugs your phone.

[prelgovisk]

A lot of us have switched to Firefox and all the neat add-ons you can get with it, all for free. Why should we switch again?

[matter77]

Notice when Microsoft releases something new everything bashes them for just copying. But if Google releases some "Me Too" piece of garbage like this everyone goes "Ooh, Aah".

Google couldn''t design their way out of a wet paper bag. They do search - nothing more, nothing less. Even what they try to do is half-baked then sits there waiting for everyone else to finish it for them. Just a big warehouse full of snotty kids consuming free meals and telling each other how special they all are to even work there. With that much talent why can''t they do more? It''s because all those people are serving their own needs. If anyone wants to change the World, they LEAVE Google to do it.

Every square inch of media will be pasted with news about the new Google browser, but check back in a few months and it''ll be just more of the same. You''ll see.

[berniepeders]

Be sure and download the FBI, CIA, NSA version that listens to your room conversation, records all your keystrokes and bugs your phone.

Posted by SistaTee

Someone''s a little paranoid.

[rational_1]

Be sure and download the FBI, CIA, NSA version that listens to your room conversation, records all your keystrokes and bugs your phone.
Posted by SistaTee

Someone''''s a little paranoid.
Posted by berniepeders at 11:26 AM : Sep 02, 2008

Google freely admits it keeps track of every search request it processes. She isn''t being paranoid. Personally I really like Firefox and can''t see how a first generation browser from Google will get me to switch.

[crt1004]

Microsoft is going to have to get used to the "open-source" way of life. There''s only so many things you can do on a computer. Everything has already been made; now it''s just the process of making things "better".

Sooner or later people are going to stop buying products from Microsoft. They are high priced and generic. The only difference I can tell in Office 2007 from 2003 is that they moved some things around and put a big price tag on it.

Google is attempting to make a free web browser that could be better than Internet Explorer. Upon hearing this I''m sure Microsoft haulted their release of IE 8. They want to open up Google''s Chrome and see what it''s made of before they release a hardly changed copy of Internet Explorer.

[crt1004]

Microsoft is going to have to get used to the "open-source" way of life. There''s only so many things you can do on a computer. Everything has already been made; now it''s just the process of making things "better".

Sooner or later people are going to stop buying products from Microsoft. They are high priced and generic. The only difference I can tell in Office 2007 from 2003 is that they moved some things around and put a big price tag on it.

Google is attempting to make a free web browser that could be better than Internet Explorer. Upon hearing this I''m sure Microsoft haulted their release of IE 8. They want to open up Google''s Chrome and see what it''s made of before they release a hardly changed copy of Internet Explorer.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Someone''''s a little paranoid." Posted by berniepeders

Perhaps, but that doesn''t mean they are not correct...

To matter77

If you check out another browser called "cuil", they wrote a previous browser that Google bought from them a couple years ago, I believe this is the result of that purchase. Rather than Chase M$, Google seeks to further solidify their dominant market share before M$ makes any moves.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Someone''''s a little paranoid." Posted by berniepeders

Perhaps, but that doesn''t mean they are not correct...

To matter77

If you check out another browser called "cuil", they wrote a previous browser that so impressed Google that they bought it from the developers a couple years ago, I believe this is the result of that purchase. Rather than chase M$, Google seeks to further solidify their dominant market share before M$ makes any moves.

[zendigity]

Microsoft is more concerned with improving its search capabilities in internal databases...this is why they are now taking such a great interest in Reed Elsevier and ChoicePoint.

[erehak]

Actually, "cuil" isn''t a browser. It''s a search engine and, as far as I can see, it pretty much fizzled right out of the gate.

[erehak]

BTW, I prefer Firefox myself. I haven''t used IE since Firefox first came on the scene and won''t go back to using it. Even the worst of Firefox has always been better than the best of IE. I may be willing to take a look at Chrome when it comes out but it''ll have to go a long way to get me to switch from Firefox. The name "Chrome" sounds tacky, for one thing...

[gmond]

Did Google ever hear of Firefox or Opera?