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http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/13/mac.chrome.in.early.phases/

Mac version of Chrome still in early phases

updated 12:25 pm EST, Fri February 13, 2009

 

Mac Chrome in early phases


The Mac version of Google's Chrome web browser continues to make progress, but at a slow speed, one of its developers hints. Work during the past couple of months is said to have mostly revolved around basic layout tests and WebKit compatibility, and only recently progressed to developing the interface. Links remain non-functional, and renderers are said to regularly crash.

Tabbed browsing is already in place however, and the software is said to be capable of continued operation even when a page in one tab has triggered a crash. While the feature may be familiar to Windows users of Chrome, the version of the WebKit engine that ships with Mac OS X is said to be incapable of discreet shutdowns, requiring extra work on the part of the Mac Chrome team. The completed port of the browser is expected to ship in the first half of the year.




by MacNN Staff

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 software, Google, browsers, WebKit, Chrome

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Comments

  1. hkremer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2005

    -4
    02/13, 03:02pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    What's the point

    Other than something to mess around with, why another browser?

  1. LouZer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2000

    +3
    02/13, 04:48pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hurry up!

    Come on Google! We mac users have been anxiously waiting for months to get the pleasure of ignoring your browser! Windows users have been ignoring it since last year! When can we get that chance!!!!!

  1. pastusza

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +1
    02/14, 09:35pm | report spam | Reply |

    Chrome is quite good

    The browser is fast, it UI is nice. I used it at work for quite a while before the Security Department put a nix on it. Don't say it's bad till you actually try it.

  1. Constable Odo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2007

    0
    02/15, 06:28pm | report spam | Reply |

    FireFox and Safari

    should be more than enough browsers for most people's needs on a Mac. I also have Opera, but rarely use it since I only downloaded to see what it was like.

  1. MacnnGregor

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2004

    +1
    02/16, 12:09am | report spam | Reply |

    The Point is...

    Yeah, why try to innovate Google! You might as well just wait for MS and Apple to do everything! I mean why try to make search easier too! I mean I can’t handle more than 4 browsers!

  1. UberFu

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2002

    +1
    02/16, 01:51am | report spam | Reply |

    Safari/ Firefox/ IE...

    ...are ALL over-bloated and heavily weighted down with so much excess that they trip over themselves constantly.

    As a mac user - I find it irritating that they are taking so long to port a mac-based technology to the mac in the first place - but that's another arguement. And as a web developer I have been diving into Opera more and more lately as it has finally been released as a free App. It is much lighter weight and speedy than Safari/ FF or IE. But is prone to hang ups and load errors due to it's strict interpretation of web standards. Sometimes too strict.

    I've run Chrome on Win here and there and it feels zippy and light and stable of all things [on windows]. I've played with CodeWeavers build of the Win version of Chromium [sucks] and I stumbled across a project called Stainless by Mesa Dynamics who have taken it upon themselves to build a "hobby" browser based on many technologies and aspects of what Chrome offers.

    Aside from a few "browser conveniences" missing from their technology preview - Stainless is a fairly agile and robust Browser.

    But Constable Odo and HKREMER - Why do we need another browser - simple - because since the Mac has migrated to OS X and Netscape was absorbed - sodomized and beat with an ugly stick by AOL - not to mention FF 3.x falling way short of it's promise to be fast sleek and reliable - IE still [even in v8 beta] not complying with web-coding standards and practices - not to mention being bloated c*** - and Safari being sluggish - ever larger and glitchy as h*** - there have been no decent browsers availble on the market anywhere - for either platform. And it's about damned time some company other than ?pple or Micro$oft or Mozzerella develop something and try to keep to the statements they make about their product.

    The plus side is that Google is the "it" company right now and if this helps kill M$s market share for browsers then I can increasing stop having to tweak web code just to accommodate the IE browser.

    People were saying the same thing about FF when it got started. Why do we need another browser? Mozilla already has a browser and then there is Netscape - why do they need a 3rd browser? Makes no sense. 4.5 years later Netscape is no more - the Mozilla browser is still only a hobby and FF is the fastest growing and soon to be most popular browser around. But God Forbid Google takes a stab at it and succeeds.

  1. pairof9s

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Jan 2008

    +1
    02/16, 10:26am | report spam | Reply |

    Say what you will...

    but I find Safari to be an excellent browser. These criticisms against it to justify Chrome are rather bogus. Your needs & experiences, while genuine, are not indicative of everyone.

    Safari is quick to launch, loads pages fast, offers just enough features for me and in no way feels "bloated" (whatever that means!). Perhaps I'd like to see the extensions that Firefox offers, but I really feel I get all I need now.

    I'm not against another browser being developed for the Mac. The more options we have, the more likely we are to find one that fits our style. But don't throw some blanket criticism on Safari to justify Google's project!

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +1
    02/16, 11:03am | report spam | Reply |

    not just another browser

    Innovative (and actually useful) improvements like one entry field for browse or search, personalised start page, process isolation and most importantly, tight integration and compatibility with all Google web apps make chrome a 'next generation' browser and not just a me too effort. Roll on GoogleOS...
    Wish they would hurry up with the Mac and Linux ports though!

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