Google Chrome

Yesterday, the official Google blog broke the news that, yes, Google is indeed developing its own browser called Google Chrome. Much of the motivation and thinking behind this move is described interesting enough in an online comic strip.

Early news:

• It is based on WebKit, the open source engine behind Safari
• The browser runs with a JavaScript virtual machine codenamed "V8" that was developed from scratch by a team in Denmark
• Each tab in the browser will represent a separate process, and will have its own controls and address bar
• Google's Gears project will be bundled with the browser
• The browser will have multiple tabs and an auto-complete address bar (like Firefox)
• There will be a "privacy mode" where no traces of browsing history are left on the computer
• Web applications can be launched in their own window (sans address bar, etc), an "RIA" feature
• Built in protection from phishing and malware

According to the blog entry the beta version of Chrome should be available sometime today at this page, but as of this writing the URL just returns a "Page Not Found" (404).

Update: Chrome is now available at the above link.