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March 17, 2009

Google Chrome 2.0 Beta

Google fixed many of the bugs from Chrome 2.0, released as a developer preview in January, and you can now try a more refined beta version. I've been using the new version since January and it's very stable. Here are some reasons why you should try it:

* Chrome 2.0 uses more recent releases of WebKit and V8, so it has a better performance. "The best thing about this new beta is speed — it's 25% faster on our V8 benchmark and 35% faster on the Sunspider benchmark than the current stable channel version and almost twice as fast when compared to our original beta version," explains the new Chrome blog.

* Full-screen. It may not mean much, since Chrome already minimizes the space used for the interface, but it's sometimes useful.

* Full-page zoom. Chrome no longer resizes just the text from a web page, so the enhanced zoom adjusts the entire page proportionally. Too bad that text zoom hasn't been preserved as an option.

* Form autofill. The browser saves the text from input boxes and you only need to type the first letters of a previously entered text to select it. "The next time you fill out the same text boxes, Google Chrome automatically shows you what you've entered previously, if what you're typing matches what you've entered before. This text appears right below the field you're filling out. To auto-populate the text field with the saved info, simply select it with your mouse or arrows on your keyboard," mentions the help center.

* Sort the bookmarks by title. Open the bookmark manager, select a folder and click on Organize > Reorder by title.

* Scroll using the mouse wheel.

* Mouse gestures for resizing windows: you can drag a tab to various locations on the screen to place it in a docking position or to maximize it.

* Greasemonkey support, with some limitations. Not all the Greasemonkey extensions will work, there's no user interface for adding scripts, but it's a simple way to extend the limited features offered by Chrome.


The beta version has a special download page and it's the same as the version 2.0.169.1. For a complete list of release notes, check this page.

In other Chrome news, Ubuntu users can try a very early release of Chromium for Linux, a pre-alpha build that lacks basic features like tabs. I installed this version in Ubuntu Intrepid, but the web page view didn't display anything, even the browser appeared to load pages.

{ Thanks, Stefano. }

30 comments:

  1. When are you going to fix the "Confirm form submission" problem? It's even worse now!!! I hit the back button and it just reloads the current page. WTF!!!! If I use the Back button dropdown to go back 2 pages, I still get the "Confirm form...." problem. Grrr. This browser is awesome except for this one glaring problem!!!!!

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  2. It will be very welcome if developers consider to add "smooth scrolling" as it makes scrolling smoother, so it is easier to keep focus on things. :)

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  3. Is the silent trojan installer (aka updater) gone or fixed finally?

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  4. I think the installer is still there. I checked Chrome to update to the new version this morning, it was already at 2.0.169.1

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  5. It is at 2.0.170.0 now

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  6. Anyone else notice YouTube falling apart with .169?

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  7. I can't install Chrome 2.0 BETA. Everytime I try to install GC2beta, Google redirects me to GC1. ?!?

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  8. I was looking forward to the 'Full-page zoom' option, which I use frequently (on my 1920x1200 LCD). Unfortunately, the browser doesn't remember your resizing. So if you close your tab and reopen the same website, you have to resize again.

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  9. When I try to install Chrome2 it gets past the downloading phase, zips through the install phase, but I'm still at version 1. It's like it's not installing it. I've looked everywhere for a new icon...nothing.

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  10. Still not working on Windows 7 x64 (using b7048)...

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  11. I use it cuz, even though is very quick for an 'IN & OUT' session, it makes Firefox gives 3 error messages about Chrome's (registration?)... over and over... (gasp)EVEN after I uninstall Chrome. FIX the dang "penis envy" with Firefox and let's move on. OTHERWISE... you have a SUPERB product!!!

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  12. When will be available for Linux or Mac? If is not multiplatform it will not have a chance. I have to go back to firefox.

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  13. I didn't go for 2 as text zoom is removed!

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  14. Have they fixed Google Documents on it. The last Chrome release turned me off because some specific Table features were missing. Namely resize and delete cells. Kind of a strange thing to leave off.

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  15. Can you delete autopopulation text entries? (You can in IE)

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  16. Where or where did profiles go? Yes you can still use shortcuts - but any idea why they had to disable a UI for them? (In 2.0.170.0 Ctrl-M no longer works to open a profile dialog; it refreshes the tab instead)

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  17. I try to install Chrome 2 but it doesn't replace my current version (1.0.154.48).

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  18. I've just fixed my problem. Before installing the new version I disabled Comodo Firewall!!!

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  19. Here are some reasons why you should not try it:

    It's not available for my platform. Come on Google, what about a bit of Linux love?

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  20. Nice browser, runs smooth although form time to time it crashes (when using ActiveX components).
    For Linux lovers: did you try Chromium?

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  21. It freezes quite often, especially with more the 5-6 tabs open, never had this in the 1.+ versions.

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  22. The Chrome Full screen has bugs. But again its Beta!

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. Dear Google developers, PLEASE finally provide download links to redistributable downloads of Chrome (both beta and stable versions). I am begging you ;)

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  25. What about a version for Linux???

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  26. Whenever I look at About Google Chrome the Update server is not available (Error 3)
    What is the problem??? I am using version 2.0.172.2

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  27. Peter, you have to uninstall then reinstall google chrome.. this is the easiest way.

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  28. I love chrome but I have found that periodically I find there aren't enough under the hood tweaks or options. Unfortunately, I can't recall specifics at this time, which I realize helps no-one but I thought I'd throw in my two cents.

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  29. I have issues accessing pdfs on Science Direct using Chrome. This is relevant to a the relatively small academic population, but I would love to see this resolved. It's the only reason I ever even open IE anymore.

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