Google has recently removed the beta label of Chrome, which claims more than 10 millions active users in just over 3 months.
Since launching, Google has collected tons of customer feedback and performance reports, and they keep rolling out new features and bug fixes. Chrome is fast, stable and secure without a doubt, but it still doesn’t support Mac and Linux. Also, an extension platform (Firefox’s add-ons style) is strongly required by a substantial amount of users.
As you may know, many google products are in beta for years, including GMail, Google Calendar, etc. So, why google took Chrome out of beta so quick?
Reason 1: Google is not happy to pay Firefox millions every year
Google paid Firefox $66 million this year for the default search box in the Firefox browser, and the bill would go up if Firefox gets more online search market share. So, Google desperately wants to reduce that bill by encouraging people to use their own brower, Chrome, and it gives users more confidence by simply removing the magic beta label.
Reason 2: OEMs require a full release Chrome
Some computer manufactures (OEMs) agree to pre-install Chrome on their new computers if Google takes Chrome out of beta. It always makes sense to keep the key customers and partners happy, especially when they offer to help you.
Google Chrome Beta, was released on September 2, 2008, focuses on applications rather than web pages.
- Strength - It is fast, secure and multi-processing structured.
- Performance - Chrome uses V8 JavaScript engine to generate javascript code dynamically and hide class transitions automatically. It also uses multi-processing architecture, which allows the browser to shut down a single Tab or a plugin wherever problem occurs but to keep the whole browser alive.
- Security - Chrome warns users when they attempt to visit a harmful website based on google’s phishing and malware blacklists, which is being updated periodically.
- Usability - The Tabs are placed at the top of the window in order to make the navigation faster and smoother. Additionally, Chrome displays 9 most visited web sites and sites most often searched on the home page. This concept was first introduced with Opera’s Speed Dail.
IE8 Beta, released on March 5, 2008, was targeted for web developers and designers. It behaves significantly diffent compared to IE7 and IE6.
- Strength - It is the default browser in Windows
- Security - InPrivate, allows IE8 not to save searching and browsing history, cookies and form data. In another word, it clears the browser cache by default.
- Usability - Search Suggestions, Web Slices, Tab Color Grouping
- Performance - Accelerators, Automatic Crash Recovery
Firefox 3 final version was released on June 17, 2008 after 8 alpha, 5 beta and 3 release candidates.
- Strength - Thousands of add-ons, themes and the community of developers / designers behind it.
- Usability - The download manager and bookmark storing system are redesigned, and they looks easy to use. Also, it separates the themes for Mac, Linux and windows, and that means users will have a more native look and feel on different operation systems.
- Performance - It employs Gecko 1.9 to enhance the existing layout engine. It passes Acid2 test and gets better results on the Acid3 test compared to Firefox 2. Basically, it means that Firefox 3 is more CSS and javascript friendly.
Safari 3 final release of the Windows version was offered on March 18, 2008.
- Strength - It is the default browser in Mac, and it has an elegant interface.
- Performance - It supports for CSS Web fonts and animations and improves support for SVG and HTML 5 media. Performance improvements.
- Usability - As-you-type text search, Quartz-style font-smoothing
Performance Comparison:
Average page loading time (Bizroof Application) :
- IE 8: 1.2 seconds
- FF3 1.1 seconds
- Safari 1.0 seconds
- Chrome: 0.6 seconds
Acid3 Scores:
- IE 8: 17/100
- FF3: 70/100
- Safar: 73/100
- Chrome: 74/100
