Google Chrome: Impressions?

[Darx]

If you hadn't heard, Google's recently released Chrome, a browser of their own making. I'll be upfront about it: I love it so far. I've already found a couple problems with it, but it's nice enough regardless that I'm thinking of making it my default.

My fondness for it comes from a relatively shallow place... I just really like the way it looks and feels. It comes "pre-built" with a very minimalist design (I'll add a screenshot to show what it looks like in action), and it's fast. If you've been using Firefox 2 or 3, you may notice an appreciable increase in speed. I would assume as much with other browsers as well, but I tend not to use IE and Opera is relegated to downloading non-YouTube flash videos, so I really couldn't speak on those.

Again... I like the way it looks, I like the way it feels, and I tend to trust Google to make decent products. However, it's in beta (beta beta, not just the usual "it's google" beta) and as such, has a few problems.

First, even before I installed it, I was warned against it earlier today by my mother. She works at a bank, and had an email sent down warning them of incompatibility issues. Whether or not this means a lot to end users such as myself is hard to say. I'm assuming it doesn't mean much, since they pretty much have to err on the side of caution, no matter what.

Two problems I noticed right away after installing it were A) The minimalist design, while nice, can't be customized and B) If you can add extensions (ala Firefox), I haven't been able to figure out how.

The first problem doesn't annoy me so much (I usually trend toward the same style when left to my own designs, anyway), though the second one does a bit. As is, no can do with the image blockers, flash blockers, Flashget, NoScript, etc. Hopefully they add that capability later on... or, failing that, include tons of copycat options in future updates.

Of course, the first thing I had to do was test the browser a bit by hitting up a few sites that I frequent. I didn't bother with sites that one can safely assume would cause no issue... so in other words, I went to YouTube, YouPorn and homestarrunner.com to see how well this baby works with flash.

For the curious, YouTube works just fine... which is to be expected, since... you know... it's also owned by Google. Homestar Runner (hey, don't judge) also works just fine, so actual flash applications (not just non-YouTube flash video players) seem to do okay. Youporn.com, on the other hand, had some problems. It loads videos well enough, I guess, but if you try scrolling the page while the video player's going (loading, running, whatever), it drags everything to a complete standstill. It doesn't crash the application, but from what I was able to gather, it pretty much just froze everything. I didn't try opening another window from my desktop, though, so it's hard to say just how much of an impact this has.

Needless to say, closing the tab becomes an immediate priority, and even that's a pain in the ass when it can't decide how long it's going to stay frozen before scrolling the page another two or three lines. Also, if I recall correctly, this seemed to have an impact on the performance of other running tabs as well, which sort of renders the whole "SEPARATE PROCESSES, SANDBOX TABS, YAY etc." thing pointless.

Whatever. Other sites: Gmail works (duh), hotmail works, every blog I've been to works, just about everything I've tried works. And it's all pretty quick, too.

Also, it's open source, for what it's worth.


Explanatory comic Book

Download (Windows only at the moment, OS X and Linux soon to come)

Regarding the screenshot: That's my entire desktop, nothing's been cut out or edited. The tabs are embedded in the title bar.



TL;DR

I've downloaded it and I think it's pretty cool, but I'm not real "up" on browser technology. What do you guys think?

[mekender]

i ran it all night on tuesday... it seems to work ok in some applications. IT has real problems with java embeded video causing it to slow down, i suspect that this might have something to do with the new video formats that google is rumored to be developing. I couldnt use it for a couple of programs because they check for a browser version.

[Darx]

Wow. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if Google decides to say "fuck it" with everyone else's video formats.

Man, I really hope they fix this.

[mekender]

read the EULA VERY carefully though...

google reserves the right to use, change and repost ANYTHING that is created using their browser!!!

[DougWojtowicz]

I'm happy with Firefox. Not going to try and mess with what meager success I have.

[Darx]

read the EULA VERY carefully though...

google reserves the right to use, change and repost ANYTHING that is created using their browser!!!

I decided to browser through their TOS after this comment (it concerned me, ha), but thus far, I've been unable to find any provisions (terms, whatever) that would allow them to do this. Quite the opposite, actually... compare the the section that seems like it might mean that...

9.1 You acknowledge and agree that Google (or Google’s licensors) own all legal right, title and interest in and to the Services, including any intellectual property rights which subsist in the Services (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). You further acknowledge that the Services may contain information which is designated confidential by Google and that you shall not disclose such information without Google’s prior written consent.

To a paragraph just below it:

9.4 Other than the limited license set forth in Section 11, Google acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no right, title or interest from you (or your licensors) under these Terms in or to any Content that you submit, post, transmit or display on, or through, the Services, including any intellectual property rights which subsist in that Content (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). Unless you have agreed otherwise in writing with Google, you agree that you are responsible for protecting and enforcing those rights and that Google has no obligation to do so on your behalf.

That's from the August 15, 2008 terms of service, which is still the one that comes up before you can download Chrome.

Section 11 consists entirely of this, if you're wondering:

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.

I'm not big on legal-speak, admittedly, but everything seems pretty fair to me. Unless, that is, there's a separate EULA (or TOS) that I can't find... entirely possible.


Of course, to each his own. Firefox and Opera are still both really good browsers... and I'm looking forward to IE8.

[mekender]

the version of the EULA i got said:

11. Content license from you

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

11.2 You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.

11.3 You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.

11.4 You confirm and warrant to Google that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above license.

[mekender]

http://blogs.computerworld.com/chrome_privacy

looks like they took part 11 out

[Darx]

Holy shit.

Well, I'm glad they took it out. Still a bit troubling, though, especially since other parts of the TOS go on about how they can change the TOS whenever and without notification. I.e., when public scrutiny dies down and they think they can get away with it again. Huh.

I guess the same could be said about every EULA ever made, though.

[mekender]

the vibes i was getting was that it was done so that google could use its instant translation service without needing to get permission...

as for the EULA getting changed, it wouldnt matter a lot, ELUA's dont hold up very well in court.