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Google promises faster browsing with Chrome 6 release

By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 3 Sep 2010 at 09:31

Google has updated its browser to Chrome 6, touting improvements in performance, enhancements to security and a stripped-down user interface.

According to Google, the Chrome update makes the browser faster in JavaScript performance, with the company claiming that Chrome is now three times faster than when the browser launched two years ago.

Other changes are more cosmetic, concentrating on the look and feel of the browser. Google said the more streamlined approach should make browsing easier.

“We took the already minimalist user interface and stripped it down a bit more to make it easier to use,” said Chrome product manager Brian Rakowski, in a blog post. "We combined Chrome’s two menus into one, revisited the location of the buttons, cleaned up the treatment of the URL, and adjusted the colour scheme of the browser to be easier on the eyes.”

The address bar, for example, no longer shows the http prefix for web addresses, but the prefix re-appears if the URL is cut and pasted into another application.

Meanwhile, both editing tools and browser settings are handled in one drop down menu at the top right of the screen.

The update also includes, finally, a form autofill feature, enabling users to manage details through the Options tab to save time filling in repetitive information on multiple websites.

While Chrome is just two years old, it's already hit version six because Google adds a full number for most updates, a process set to speed up as developers aim to release a new version every six weeks.

Download the latest version of Google Chrome here

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User comments

Good update, though until the password manager and form filler is encrypted and requires a password to access, I won't be using either. I'd still like to see a print preview function too.

By halsteadk on 3 Sep 2010

Minimal, but not minimal enough!

In my view, they should loose the stuff between the tabs and the web page altogether.

The "awesome bar", favourites etc. should appear only on the "New Tab" page and should be integrated as part of the page. The back, forward and reload buttons should pop up on the tab when you mouse over it. The spanner button should be moved up a row to the right of the tabs.

The thinking is that a modern browser should be a neutral frame for running web-apps and having app controls layered on browser controls at the top of the screen is confusing.

There should be no need to perform "initial navigation" (entering a web address, taking a bookmark, doing a search) on an existing tab - just close the tab, press the "new tab" button and do the "initial navigation" on the new tab.

By JohnAHind on 3 Sep 2010

@JohnAHind

You can already remove the bookmarks bar from all but the new tab page - right click the bar and deselect "Always show bookmarks bar".

Unless you're using Chrome on a screen with the resolution of a ZX Spectrum, I think the address bar is space worth taking up. Why shouldn't users perform an "initial navigation" on an existing tab? And if I click a link on a page that takes me to another website in the same tab, I would like to know what site I've been taken to.

By halsteadk on 5 Sep 2010

@halstedk

Yes, and the (rather well hidden) "Create application shortcuts" feature (on the "tools" sub-menu) gives me what I am looking for.
I think the browser itself should always work in this mode (i.e. running a web app with the UI entirely defined by the app). Then the UI for general browsing would be defined by a "browser web app" allowing infinite choice.

By JohnAHind on 6 Sep 2010

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