Google Chrome is out, brand new and shiny, and with its launch a new set of standards for all web browsers is implemented for both end users and developers. At this moment the Internet is flooded with details and info on Google’s newest and hottest application designed to link the user to the pool of information on the web. Unlike successful browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera and even Internet Explorer, Google’s approach in building Chrome differs in that the app is built from scratch without giving in to formalities (that is why, at first use, most users will waste time looking for the menu bar). The program seems as if all the features were added as soon as the tester needed them. None of its features are unnecessary or redundant in terms of access.

Installing Chrome is nothing complicated as the automatic downloader and installer does the entire job for you and there is no need to go through the classic “Next” buttons. Everything is done automatically and at the end of the process you will be able to import bookmarks, passwords and other settings from Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. With this over you will be able to “chrome” your way on the web.

Interface
Chrome comes all wrapped up in a minimalistic interface designed outside the box and not cluttered with loads of features and options. The lack of a menu and title bar in maximized mode enhances user attention on the opened webpage and provides a better web experience. You have no bells and whistles to tinker with and all focus is shifted from the web-shell to the actual information displayed. The interface is of a disturbing simplicity, but the basic features are there, and they managed to implement some unique options. The ubiquitous drag and drop function has been exploited more than in other browsers and with Chrome you can open an existing tab in a new window just by grabbing it and dragging it outside the tab bar. URLs can be easily saved in any file manager with a drop.

If you want to open the “Find” dialog all you have to do is type in the classic shortcut (Ctrl+F) and it will slide down allowing you to enter your search query. The great thing is that the results will be highlighted as you type so you don’t have to finish the query in order to find what you need. As unimportant as it may seem, the address bar integrated in Google Chrome has some particularities of its own. It is nothing you’ve ever seen so far because the developers extracted the best features from the most used browsers on the market and adapted them for their own. With Chrome’s Omnibar (address bar) you will benefit from a drop of Firefox’s

Awesome Bar mixed with IE’s domain highlighting feature. Basically, it features auto-completion and search capabilities in one truly useful bar. Opera has not been forgotten and opening new tabs seems inspired from the Norwegian browser’s Speed Dial feature. The difference consists in the fact that Chrome will display small live thumbs only of the most visited pages stripping the user of any control over the feature and making the process more preference-dependant. And to extend its functionality even more you can use it as a search bar as well by simply typing in the query. The choice for the search engine to be used is not limited in any way as it gives you the possibility to set as default whatever page you want.

Customization
There isn’t much to say in this chapter as Google Chrome has been designed to be as light as possible and very few of the usual options are available. Current Page Control button in the far right of the upper part of the window shelters regular options such as opening a new tab or a new window, cut/copy/paste functions as well printing the page, changing zoom page and choosing a different encoding, but there are some elements you are not going to find in many other web browsers on the market. The “Incognito Window” option is one of them.

source:news.softpedia.com
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