Full Speed ahead with Google Chrome Beta Version 5
May 6, 2010 - By Jose A. Gutierrez
Google Chrome labs quietly released yesterday the beta version 5 of its internet browser Google Chrome, which claims to be 30-35% faster than previous beta channel releases. The results were posted on the official Google Chrome Blog and cite tests conducted using V8 (30% faster) and SunSpider (35% faster) benchmarks. The same tests were also used to estimate that, since the initial beta release, the performance of the Google browser has increased by 213-305%.
Chrome is currently in third place in the browser race, behind Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Surprisingly, it ranks ahead of Apple’s Safari in terms of overall browser market share. Known in the industry for its simplicity and speed, the latest beta also includes a few useful additions that might make it more attractive to the everyday computer user.
What other features and improvements are included in the latest release? Here are a few of the highlights:
- Bookmark synchronization (improved)
- Browser preference synchronization: Includes settings such as the user’s homepage, start-up options, language preferences, and web content settings
- Chrome extensions: Now installable and usable while browsing in incognito or private mode
- Improved HTML5 integration: Includes, among others, Geolocation APIs, App Cache, web sockets, and drag-and-drop capabilities for files
This is also the first beta version that includes the long-fabled integrated Adobe Flash player. Native integration into the browser should provide a more secure environment for Flash to operate. Stability is also said to be increased, due to the new integration method. For users, it also provides added convenience, since updates will applied alongside regular browser updates.
With this release, Google once again reminds the tech world that the company may appear to be spread out in many different directions, but each of their projects is focused on the goal of providing something that is new and innovative. The latest Google Chrome browser releases are available now and can be downloaded for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
Source: Pedal to the Chrome metal: Our fastest beta to date for Windows, Mac and Linux
