Google Updates Chrome, Boosts Speed

Google Updates Chrome, Boosts Speed

Techtree News Staff, Mar 18, 2009 1710 hrs IST

Twice as fast as the original beta version

Google has just released a Beta version of its Google Chrome browser boasting of new features and a considerable speed boost.

Wait, didn't Chrome "come out" of beta a few months ago? Well, yes. But as many of us might be aware, Chrome has three release channels - stable, developer and beta. While the stable and developer channels were active for quite a while for obvious reasons, it is now time for the beta channel to hog the limelight. A new beta version of Chrome is now available for download.

So, the next question would obviously be "what's new?" Well, visually, there is nothing much that differentiates this beta from the stable version. But, the under the hood, there have been changes and that according to Google has resulted in a browser that is 25 percent faster than the current stable release. They also performed a Sunspider benchmark which showed a performance boost of almost 35 percent. The latest beta, in short, is almost twice as fast when compared to the original beta version.

As for the features, new additions include full page zoom, form autofill, and auto scrolling. You can also drag and compare separate web ages side by side. A video of which is shown below. It might look daunting initially, but is pretty easy to do.

As for full page zoom, this is slightly different from the existing zoom feature. This is because this one actually increases the size of the images and other components on the web page - and not just the text size. Form autofill is enabled by default in the beta and can be turned off if you do not require it. As for auto scroll, this one is a neat addition. To autoscroll, all you need to do is to click on the middle button or mousewheel on the mouse and then as you move your mouse, the page automatically scrolls in the direction of the mouse gestures.

Overall, you might not notice something very revolutionary if you have switched to the beta - unless of course you're some sharp-eyed geek. The feature additions are excellent, and it definitely feels faster. Let us know your reactions and any bugs you might have noticed? This is a beta after all!

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Google Chrome Google Chrome Beta google browser speed boost

Discussion Board

(3) Comments

NTH

,New Delhi, on Mar 19, 2009 01:45 AM

My fav browser. It is fast and light on the resources. Only Con is that some https:// sites do not work under it. Will be trying out the beta now ... EXCITEMENT :D