Google Chrome is a freeware web browser developed by Google. It was first released in 2008, for Microsoft Windows, and was later ported to Android, macOS, iOS and Linux. Google Chrome is also the main component of Chrome OS, where it serves as a platform for running web apps. Browse fast on your Android phone and tablet with the Google Chrome browser you love on desktop. Pick up where you left off on your other devices with tab sync, search by voice, and save up to 50% of data usage while browsing.
Launched in 2008, Google Chrome quickly dominated the browser market to become the most used browser globally within 4 years of its public release. Google’s game changing browser Chrome combines sophisticated technology with a simple UI, to create a faster, safer and easier browsing experience. Google’s rapid and continuous development cycle ensures the browser continues to compete with the other most popular and advanced web browsers available.
A notable component that is not open-source is the built-in Adobe Flash Player (that Chrome has disabled by default since September 2016). Google releases the majority of Chrome’s source code as the Chromium open-source project. Chrome used the WebKit layout engine until version 27. As of version 28, all Chrome ports except the iOS port use Blink, a fork of the WebKit engine. It has 52% market share across all platforms combined, because it is also the most popular browser for smartphones. Its success has led to Google expanding the Chrome brand name on various other products such as Chromebook, Chromecast, Chromebox, Chromebit and Chromebase. As of February 2017, StatCounter estimates that Google Chrome has a 62% worldwide usage share of web browsers as a desktop browser.
Chrome Announcement :
The release announcement was originally scheduled for September 3, 2008, and a comic by Scott McCloud was to be sent to journalists and bloggers explaining the features within the new browser. Google subsequently made the comic available on Google Books and mentioned it on their official blog along with an explanation for the early release. Copies intended for Europe were shipped early and German blogger Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped made a scanned copy of the 38-page comic available on his website after receiving it on September 1, 2008. The product was allegedly named “Chrome” because Google wanted to minimize the chrome of the browser, though this meaning was added somewhat post-hoc, the ‘codename’ before release apparently chosen from a connotation of speed.
The Chrome beta channel for Android was launched on January 10, 2013; like Canary, it runs side-by-side with the stable channel for Android. Chrome Dev for Android was launched on April 29, 2015.
History of Chrome :
Google CEO Eric Schmidt opposed the development of an independent web browser for six years. He stated that “at the time, Google was a small company,” and he did not want to go through “bruising browser wars.” After co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page hired several Mozilla Firefox developers and built a demonstration of Chrome, Schmidt admitted that “It was so good that it essentially forced me to change my mind.” Online journals and U.S. newspapers stated at the time that Google was hiring former Microsoft web developers among others. Rumors of Google building a web browser first appeared in September 2004. It also came shortly after the final 1.0 release of Mozilla Firefox, which was surging in popularity and taking market share from Internet Explorer which was suffering from major security problems.
Google Chrome features a minimalistic user interface, with its user-interface principles later being implemented into other browsers. For example, the merging of the address bar and search bar into the omnibox. Chrome also has a reputation for strong browser performance.
Sync Across Devices :
Seamlessly access and open tabs and bookmarks from your laptop, phone or tablet .
Faster Browsing :
Choose from search results that instantly appear as you type and quickly access previously visited pages.
Save Data :
Reduce mobile data usage by up to 50% while browsing.
Intuitive Gestures :
Open as many tabs as your heart desires and quickly flip through them by swiping from side to side on the toolbar.
Voice Search :
Use the magic of Google voice search to find answers on-the-go without typing.
Privacy :
Use Incognito mode to browse without saving your history.
Translate :
Easily read webpages in any language.
New in Chrome 56:
Long press article suggestions on the new tab page to download them
Quickly use emails, addresses, and phone numbers in web pages by tapping on them
Bug fixes and performance improvements
Easily access downloaded files and web pages from the new tab page
Speed :
Google Chrome launches extremely quickly from your desktop, runs applications at speed thanks to a powerful JavaScript engine and loads pages rapidly using the WebKit open source rendering engine. Perhaps the area Google invested most of its development time to differentiate from other browsers. Add to this quicker search and navigation options from the simplified UI and you have a browser that is pretty hard to beat on speed, especially if gaming is your thing.
Privacy :
Chrome’s settings allow you to customize regular browsing privacy preferences. Another hugely popular feature, Incognito mode allows you to browse privately by disabling history recording, reducing traceable breadcrumbs and removing tracking cookies on shutdown.
Customization :
Improve productivity, security, navigation speed, pretty much anything you can think of with apps and extensions from the Google Chrome Store. Install themes created by top artists or make your own using mychrometheme.com. Sign in with your Google Account to back up your preferences, contacts, history as well as access all your Google tools with a single login.
Security :
Chrome has Safe Browsing technology built in with malware and phishing protection that warns you if you encounter a website suspected of containing malicious software/activity. Chrome’s Sandboxing prevents malware automatically installing on your computer or affecting other browser tabs. Regular automatic updates ensure security features are up to date and effective.