Google releases beta version of new web browser

By Erik Anderson

GUEST COLUMNIST

Hello there! This column will be used to tell you, the Oakland University community, about all of the latest and greatest happenings in the world of technology. We’ll also discuss your technology problems and attempt to troubleshoot some basic problems that you might have when it comes to using technology.

About Me

First, I’m a Junior at OU, I’m single, like walks on the beach, candlelit dinners, and long talks about technology. On a more serious note, I’ve hosted “Best Tech” for Student Video Productions/OUTV for over a year, and I’m the producer for the Internet Advisor Show which airs on News/Talk 760 AM WJR in Detroit on Saturdays.

I love messing around with technology and telling people about latest technology news. This is the perfect way for me to share that information with you. Now that you have a better idea about who I am and why I’m writing for you, let’s get started with the tech stuff for this week.

Google Releases Chrome Browser Beta

Last week, internet search giant Google released a free alternative web browser to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The browser compliments Google’s suite of free web based applications that are designed to replace some of the pricier applications from Microsoft and other software makers for your Mac or PC.

Chrome Features

-Address Bar / Google Search – Type in part of the web address you’re trying to visit such as “maps” and Chrome will attempt to guess what website you are trying to find such as maps.google.com.

– Tabbed Browsing – Every web browser that I can think of, has this. Tabbed browsing allows you to open and use multiple web pages in a single web browser window.

– Easy Bookmarking – Click on the “star” icon to bookmark whatever website you’re currently viewing.

– Thumbnails – Chrome will take thumbnails of recent websites you have visited and then bookmark them on your homepage with small pictures of the sites.

– Shortcuts – Chrome lists links to some of Google’s more popular web applications.

– Incognito Mode – Have you ever worked on planning a secret party, or surfed the web in class but didn’t want your unsuspecting party recipient or professor to see what you were working on? Now thanks to Google’s browser you can view and hide whatever you’re working on in the browser window. This is a very cool feature to have in my opinion.

– Security Notifications – If you’re currently viewing a secure website, a “lock” icon will be displayed in the browser window. If the site you’re viewing is not secure, a “!” icon will be displayed in the browser window.

Overall, the web browser is fairly basic and has a limited amount of features, but it’s definitely worth taking a look at if you dislike using Internet Explorer. Since this is a Beta version of the browser, you can bet that there will be many new features added to this simple stripped down version of a web browser.

– System Requirements / Cost / Download Instructions: PC Computer (Mac and Linux versions are being developed but not released yet). Windows Vista or Windows XP with Service Pack 2. To download your free copy of Chrome, visit www.google.com/chrome.

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—Erik Anderson hosts “Best Tech” throughout the month on OUTV. He can also be heard Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WXOU Radio (wxou.org). Contact him at [email protected].