Google Chrome

Many users launch Internet Explorer for one thing only: to download a third party browser. They are more efficient, better designed and much faster. After working hand in hand with the Mozilla foundation, Google decided to create their own web browser in the autumn of 2008. We all know it as Google Chrome. Compared to other browsers, it is a new-comer on the market, but it did not take long to rise through the ranks and become one of the most popular web browsers out there. Thanks to its JavaScript engine called V8, Chrome is the fastest browser available on the market, surpassing even Mozilla Firefox (even if marginally).

Google Chrome is freeware, it is available for all Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms and it comes in over 50 languages. It will perform well, even with outdated hardware, so it can be installed on any computer.

You will not find much on the browser's interface, but that is the general idea. Google Chrome keeps things simple. Less toolbars and options means that you will be able to see a larger portion of a web page. Like other browsers, Chrome lets you use the URL address bar for web searches as well. As you type, the bar will be enlarged, revealing previous search queries and accessed web sites. The bookmark option is located on this bar. Clicking it will display a small pop up window, where you can name the bookmark and choose a folder for storage. The bookmarks can be found either on a bar, beneath the URL field or you can click the Options button, in the upper right corner of the window, and look for the bookmarks in a sub-menu.

A very handy feature, which you will not find in other browsers, is the new tab page. It displays the frequently accessed web pages as thumbnails. You only need to click one of these thumbnails and the browser will take you to that page with no questions asked. This page can be set as the browser's home page, in the general options pane. It is displayed on a separate tab, where you may also choose a default search engine, like Google, Yahoo and others, import the history from other web browsers and much more.

Simplicity is one of Google Chrome's strong points, but this doesn't mean that it will leave you with nothing. You can install various skins and applications from the Chrome Web Store. You can access it instantly on the new tab page. You can switch to a different view mode, on the new tab page, by clicking an arrow, on the left edge of the interface. The applications you install are displayed as icons on this page. By default, you will only find the Chrome Web Store icon. The store contains a very large number of applications, all sorted in categories and sub-categories. The applications appear as thumbnails. If you are signed into your Google account, you can hover with your mouse cursor over an application to reveal the option for adding it to Chrome.