Google Chrome is a browser now out in BETA for Window users. If you view the video by the designers you'll hear that they are building this browser to meet the demands of open source applications (web 2.0 tools) now widely offered on the Internet. Basically, since Google has numerous applications free for Gmail users to access, they needed to create a browser that would support all the open source applications they were and are continuing to offer. Think about it. There's Google calender, 3-D sketcher, Google Creator, Google Documents, Blogger, iGoogle, Google Earth- it goes on and on.
So how is Chrome a different browser?
Chrome places your most visited websites in small screen shot images on a separate tabbed page. Then in a side menu on this page you have your searches, your favorite bookmarks and your most recently closed tabs.
Chrome then features a separate window access for each individual application by placing a shortcut icon for the app on your desktop. This way you are not using one window to toggle back and forth between apps. Each application opens in its own window.
The first feature that grabs my attention though is the crash control feature. By right clicking on the Chrome toolbar you can access a task manager window. The task manager window shows you how much memory each tab or app in that window is using and if the app/tab window is misbehaving. You can close the tab window/app that isn't responding by clicking on End Process and keep the other apps running smoothly. Yes, we can right click and get to task manager in other browsers too and do the same thing. I just think the "crash control" term might just help the average Joe understand how to manage multiple windows/apps and carry this trouble shooting task to a level they understand.
The second feature that stands out is the Incognito mode for privacy. When you choose the Incognito mode your searches are not saved to the computer after you close the Chrome window. Finding the Incognito mode is a harder task. A tiny page icon on the tool bar is all you see to get to this feature. It is very much (in my mind) like the ability to erase History or Cookies in other Internet browsers without needing administrative access. It is (once you've seen the training videos) easy to use and if you are using a public computer and do not want your search history to be seen by all- this is your answer.
If you decide to download and use Chrome, you can import your bookmarks and settings from other browsers by clicking on the wrench icon next to the page icon I mentioned earlier to import. Is Chrome all that different from other browsers? On the surface, not by much. However, maybe its true differences are below the surface. Maybe its ability to handle multiple open source applications and keep them operating seperately without freezing is it's true distinction.
