Google creating its own browser based on WebKit
Google is developing a new web browser built from the ground up and based on WebKit, the same rendering engine that Safari uses.
The browser, called Chrome, is open-source software built with security, compatibility and speed in mind. Each tab in the browser will be its own separate running process. For example, if JavaScript hangs in one tab, the other tabs will remain unaffected. The approach is similar to the way Mac OS X isolates applications in their own private areas to prevent one crash from taking down the whole system.
Google picked an interesting way of announcing the project: They commissioned illustrator Scott McCloud to draw a 38-page comic book about the project, and distribute it under a Creative Commons license. The result is a very readable, fascinating way to learn about the new browser.
For web developers, Chrome will include strong Gears integration, and a JavaScript virtual machine that generates super-fast machine code out of JavaScript instructions. For end users, it will include a new start page that lists the last several pages and search terms you’ve used. It also includes a private browsing mode.
Google is planning on formally launching the project on Wednesday, but the Chrome website isn’t visible to the public yet. Update: Google is releasing a version for Windows tomorrow, with Mac and Linux versions coming soon, once Chrome is “faster and more robust.” (Thanks, Bryan!)
[Via Macworld]
Popularity: 11% [?]
iPhone browser share doubled since 3G launch
According to HitsLink, the people who track web usage statistics, iPhone users account for about a third of one percent of web browsers on the Internet, the largest of any mobile platform.
iPhone ranks fourth overall in terms of operating system market share, behind Windows, Mac, and Linux. On August 16, the stats peaked at 0.45 percent. That’s a two-fold increase since the iPhone 3G was released July 11.
Jim Goldman, of business television network CNBC, says that “it’s a key metric that shows market penetration and customer use.” He cited a report by analyst Andy Hargreaves that suggests the increase in browser market share highlights the iPhone’s key, long-term advantages. Well, duh.
“Consumers seem to know what some investors are having trouble grasping — or believing: that Apple might be positioned better in so many key markets than any of its competitors,” Captain Obvious Goldman said.
[Via MacDailyNews]
Popularity: 7% [?]
First Look: iPocket for iPhone/iPod touch
One of our fellow bloggers, Erica Sadun, sent me an iPhone/iPod touch application that she created to manage files. iPocket is sort of like a Finder for your iPhone. It allows you to peer into the file structure on your iPhone. Specifically, I was looking to retrieve one of my voicemail.amr files for saving.
This application allows you to browse files locally, through FTP and a web interface. You can also send files via Bonjour (using a specially made Mac app) and through email. This is really handy if you want to browse the file structure of an application, or if you need to grab a file. Currently you can view images, sounds, movies, PDF files, text, and property files in iPocket. You will not, however, have access to your iTunes media library on the iPhone as Apple doesn’t allow you to view this data.
Although this was submitted before the App Store deadline, it remains in review with an uncertain shelf date. You can also check out the gallery of screenshots from the application. [ericasadun]
Popularity: 5% [?]
1Password for iPhone announced
We gave you a first sneaky peek at this a couple of weeks ago, but now the full details of the 1Password app for iPhone have been posted online by the team at Agile Web Solutions.
This is going to make a lot of the people who added comments to our iPhone apps we crave post very happy.
The app’s features include:
- dual PIN and Master Password security, so you can quickly access “less important” stuff via the PIN
- wireless secure sync with one or more Macs
- built-in browser
- and it’s free! (The desktop app costs $34.95 for a single license.)
Thanks to Aled for the tip! [agilewebsolutions]
Popularity: 4% [?]
Byline: Google Reader for your pocket
As someone who manages whole metric scads of information in Google Reader, I was excited to see Byline, from Phantom Fish software, in the App Store.
Byline, as you might expect, fetches all your subscriptions from Google Reader and displays them for you to read. It also keeps track of the items you’ve read and starred.
The greatest thing, though, especially for iPod touch owners and subway riders is this: Starring or Noting an item saves it on your iPhone or iPod for offline reading. If you star an item either using your desktop browser, Mobile Safari, or Byline itself, it saves it for later. Noting an item is even better, because you can save pages that aren’t even in your RSS subscriptions for offline reading with Byline. They mention you can do this very easily with a bookmarklet.
Now — I can hear you screaming: NetNewsWire does all this, and it’s free! Without boring you with detail, it’s worth ten bucks to me to keep my Google Reader workflow the way it is, rather than spending time changing the way I work. Agreed: it’s probably too steep for people who aren’t heavily invested in Google Reader already.
Additionally on the downside, Byline doesn’t allow you to browse by tag, instead opting to lump everything together in one list by date. Phantom Fish says this is for performance reasons, as people with many feeds would experience sluggish behavior. They’re looking into it, though, and I personally hope they figure it out.
Byline is $9.99, awesome, and available through the App Store.
Popularity: 6% [?]
