Google has announced the launch of a free open source web browser called Google Chrome. The browser will see Google compete directly with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and Mozilla's Firefox. Internet Explorer currently dominates the browser market with a 73% share (according to research firm Net Applications), with Firefox climbing to 19%. Just recently, Google renewed its deal with Mozilla which will see Google Search as the default home page and search toolbar on the Firefox browser until November 2011.
The search engine announced the launch of Google Chrome via its official blog, explaining that the company believes the new browser "can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web".
Google aims to provide a simple and easy to use browser solution, describing the window as "clean and fast". Also, by isolating each tab in a "sandbox", Google claims to have solved the problem of one tab crashing another tab, and therefore improving protection from "rogue sites". Google Chrome also has improved speed and responsiveness, with "a more powerful JavaScript engine, V8, to power the next generation of Web applications that aren't even possible in today's browsers".
In developing the browser Google have used components from Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox, and in the spirit of sharing, are making their code open source.
Google Chrome will also have the option of running in privacy mode, called InCognito, meaning that user's browsing information will not be collected. Microsoft also recently added a privacy option to Internet Explorer 8, called InPrivate.
The browser is currently being released in beta and is compatible with Windows, however Google is working on versions for the Mac and Linux.
