Google’s Chrome web browser launched three years ago Thursday, a milestone the company marked on its official blog with an interactive infographic and a laundry list of recent improvements to the product.
Google has a lot more to celebrate than a birthday, however. The browser already has upward of 15% market share, and in some markets, like the UK, has surpassed Firefox to become the second most-popular browser behind IE (among Mashable readers, Chrome recently became the most popular browser, passing Firefox).
Given the huge head start that IE, Firefox and its smaller web browser rivals had, Chrome’s adoption rate is nothing short of impressive.
Along the way, Chrome has also played a part in changing the way web browsers are built and released. Already offering up to a version 13, Google’s rapid release cycle has forced Mozilla and Microsoft to rethink how they operate. Firefox, for example, has gone from version 4 to version 6 in less than half a year – it took nearly three years to go from version 3 to version 4 (this versioning acceleration isn’t without its critics, however).
Google’s infographic shows how the browser market has evolved over the past 15 or so years, highlighting key innovations that have taken place along the way (many of which are focused on Google’s three years in the space).
We’re really only starting to see the beginnings of Chrome’s ambitions, however. Google’s first Chromebooks — notebook computers that use Chrome as their operating system – just hit the market in June.
What do you think have been Chrome’s most significant contributions to the browser market in its three years of existence? Let us know in the comments.
More About: Google, google chrome, web browsersFor more Tech & Gadgets coverage:Follow Mashable Tech & Gadgets on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech & Gadgets channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:11:25 +0000 at http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/google-chrome-third-birthday/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/google-chrome-third-birthday/#comments
Google has a lot more to celebrate than a birthday, however. The browser already has upward of 15% market share, and in some markets, like the UK, has surpassed Firefox to become the second most-popular browser behind IE (among Mashable readers, Chrome recently became the most popular browser, passing Firefox).
Given the huge head start that IE, Firefox and its smaller web browser rivals had, Chrome’s adoption rate is nothing short of impressive.
Along the way, Chrome has also played a part in changing the way web browsers are built and released. Already offering up to a version 13, Google’s rapid release cycle has forced Mozilla and Microsoft to rethink how they operate. Firefox, for example, has gone from version 4 to version 6 in less than half a year – it took nearly three years to go from version 3 to version 4 (this versioning acceleration isn’t without its critics, however).
Google’s infographic shows how the browser market has evolved over the past 15 or so years, highlighting key innovations that have taken place along the way (many of which are focused on Google’s three years in the space).
We’re really only starting to see the beginnings of Chrome’s ambitions, however. Google’s first Chromebooks — notebook computers that use Chrome as their operating system – just hit the market in June.
What do you think have been Chrome’s most significant contributions to the browser market in its three years of existence? Let us know in the comments.
More About: Google, google chrome, web browsersFor more Tech & Gadgets coverage:Follow Mashable Tech & Gadgets on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech & Gadgets channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:11:25 +0000 at http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/google-chrome-third-birthday/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/google-chrome-third-birthday/#comments