The war between Google and Microsoft has gone head to head, or at least browser to browser. Forget taking on word processors, spreadsheets, presentation programs or e-mail, which in truth, are far from tumbling Microsoft’s dominance with Word, Excel and Powerpoint. This time, Google has gone one step further, challenging Microsoft on a whole new front.
September 2 marked the launch of Google’s new open-source Internet browser, Chrome. And it’s not only Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) that’s feeling the flames of competition, but Moxilla’s Firefox too. Chrome’s simplistic design and sophisticated technology is intended to be a clean and fast browser, easy to navigate and difficult to crash. But what brought about the sudden release of Chrome? What was the method behind its madness? According to the official Googleblog, in a post titled, “A Fresh Take on the Browser,” Chrome was created, “to help drive innovation on the Web.” Well, they sure are paving the way.
While Chrome is only for Windows (for now) and operates with a simple browser design, there are more outside-the-box ideas than meets the eye. Chrome offers a private browsing feature, in which nothing will be recorded or saved during your session—brilliant or potentially problematic? Chrome also has individual page loadings that prevent your Internet from crashing–both features IE lacks.
According to the official Googleblog, the company lives by a certain mantra - “launch early and iterate.” They sure did launch early, albeit accidentally. Word of the new browser leaked onto a comic book through the Googleblog. But was the September 2 release date also a leak?
Early on September 2, I decided to download this internet revelation for myself. When I tried to click any link to install the new browser, I was simply sent back to the original Google.com page which we all know and love. The page seemed to be unavailable - an unintentional hoax. Guess Google had some last minute glitches to polish or the release date was another “oopsie daisie”…
Google is still learning how to survive in the technological superhighway, and--despite glitches, leaks and heavy criticism--they are plunging forward with boldness and audacity. Peter O’Kelly, an independent analyst told The New York Times in “Search Giant Wants a Share of Browser Market,” that “Google needed to make a move to make sure it controls its own destiny.” And that is exactly what Google is doing.
Like Apple adapted to the music downloading plague by creating the infamous iTunes, Google is confronting Microsoft’s monopoly with innovation and creativity. Google is attempting to redefine the world of Internet browsing, or at least redefine Microsoft’s role in it.
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