Google Chrome 2 Released

Written by Simon Barker on May 22, 2009 · Filed under Internet, Software, Tech 

Google have now officially released another version of their Chrome browser and are calling it Chrome 2, however Google have said that despite it being a whole new version number, there aren’t a huge number of new features as such.

Ever since Google Chrome browser was launched last September there’s been various changes being made to it and it has been automatically updated on a monthly basis…even if you weren’t that aware of it…which was a point that I was making when I reported about the Google Chrome TV advert.

However, this time I have found some information about the update and what it contains…

• Improved Javascript engine which is up to 30% faster than before – which was already fastest of the browsers!
• Full screen browsing mode – other browsers have all had this for ages, plus due to Chrome’s minimalist design, it’s not such a ground-breaking addition.
• Form Autofill – again something that isn’t revolutionary, but should come in useful.
• Improved New Tab Page – now you can choose to hide certain pages from your most visited thumbnail grid.
• Increased Stability – the Chrome team have fixed over 300 bugs which could case the browser to crash, this should definitely help boost my confidence in using it as I’ve experienced a number of random crashes while using it.

There’s even a video to watch highlighting some of the changes which you can view below. But unfortunately there’s no sign of a Firefox-like extension system as yet – which would be the main thing to make me switch over full-time!

Another interesting thing I noticed on the Google UK homepage yesterday was that underneath the regular search buttons was a new message – “Upgrade to Google Chrome” – clever wording here? You aren’t simply “installing” another browser, you are “upgrading” your internet experience to the Google Chrome browser! – Although, you wouldn’t know that unless you actually click through as I’m sure most non-techy people will still have no idea what Google Chrome is and its benefits to them.

Are you using Google Chrome? Have you “upgraded” in both senses of the word? What if anything is still holding you back? Let us know what you think below!

Via – Google Chrome Blog