I know, we shouldn’t be getting the pallbearers ready just yet, but after the release of Google’s Chrome it does raise the question of how it will affect Firefox & the Mozilla Foundation.

The Foundation is largely funded by Google so it presents a complicated situation for the two groups. On one side you have Google, with an open-source, Google branded browser - and on the other you have a foundation that receives funding from Google, with their own browser already available and widely adopted. Competition you could say. So can Google justify investing in Mozilla when they have Chrome?

You could argue that the two entities are approaching the browser from different angles. In my opinion, Google are looking to create a modern, stable browser, capable of running their web apps as quickly as possible (hence the V8 rethink), and at the same time make it all open-source for the good of other browsers that might want to adopt the code. Whereas Firefox is looking to be the Swiss Army Knife of the browser market with add-ins that make it capable of doing everything you need (and at the same time making it slower because of this), a really good grip of web standards and a very large and dedicated community base.

Both of these browsers are competing with Internet Explorer’s dominance (and to a certain extent Opera and Safari). They’re aren’t fighting side by side, however, but rather in their own respective corners - and I can see only one winner from the two if Google want to get serious. But are Google going to get serious? It’s interesting when you realise the exclusive Google search contract in Firefox - based on referrals (which by the way generated 85% of Mozilla’s funding in 2006 - or $56 Million) is up for renewal in November of this year. Is it just coincidence that Chrome has been launched now?

Google Chrome was made available for download, by the public, from here, during a press conference & webcast at Google HQ (which I was lucky enough to view), which detailed the features of the new browser.

A few things I noticed during the conference, was a lot of direct comparison between Internet Explorer and Google Chrome - intentional of course as it is the most popular browser, but interesting how Firefox, Opera or Safari weren’t mentioned at all. The tests were impressive however, with rendering times much quicker, and a basic Java benchmark literally making IE look like a Penny Farthing in the middle of a Grand Prix. Another thing that was mentioned quite a lot was the open-source nature of Chrome - another side-swipe in Microsoft’s direction I thought.

Next up, the “Omni-bar” as it’s called was demoed quite a bit - showing the power of search in your browser. For instance, not only will the Omni-bar intelligently learn your browsing habits, but it will also make a note of search engines within websites when you use them. So if you search on Amazon a lot, Google Chrome will remember your preference and give you the option to search amazon straight from the bar. The other options you’re likely to see pop up when you start typing are pages you’ve historically been to, stuff in your favourites, and google suggestions (where I think their ads are really going to make an impact). Also, if Chrome thinks you’re generally interested in finding things with your search engine, the results will be the search results page you would normally see. All very similar to Firefox’s Awesome Bar, as it’s been called, but I think a bit better.

Another really nice feature that was showed off was the ability to take a web page and turn it into an “Application Shortcut” - blurring the distinction between Desktop and Cloud. For instance, if you’re the sort of person always with a Gmail tab open in your browser, you can create an Application Shortcut to it, which will be placed on your desktop. When you double click the shortcut, it loads the webpage in Chrome, but without all the web buttons and address bars and things - stuff you don’t need if you just want a window to check your email in.

During the conference, the browser was made available for download, so I nipped over to the download link I posted earlier, and grabbed a copy for testing.

After the initial quick download and install, the initial thing that hits you is the speed. The speed of the browser is a lot quicker than Internet Explorer, and is a little quicker than Firefox. The other thing that hits you is the clean feel to the browser. No unwanted buttons or gizmos, just the normal forward, back & refresh buttons, plus a page button (for creating new pages or adjusting how the current one is rendered) and a config button, for changing the browser options.

When starting up it imports browser settings from anything else it finds on your system, and then you’re pretty much in. As you use the browser it learns your favourite places - with the pages you like the most displayed, by default, on your homepage.

I think it will take a few weeks to fully test the browser and to notice any problems arising or bugs appearing, but in the meantime I can say I am happy with the overall feel to the browser - and it renders techsnake.com perfectly too! In fact, it renders it so well, this post is being written with Chrome right now.

To download the browser either visit here or here. To visit the newly opened code project “chromium” go here. Remember folks it’s still Beta, so treat it as such!

Here is the link to download Google Chrome - Please bare in mind that it isn’t active until the Google HQ wakes up - at the moment it resolves to Google’s homepage.

Download Google Chrome

Google - the world’s favourite search engine, has decided to step up and compete in the browser market.

Competing with, more obviously, Internet Explorer, but also the likes of Firefox, Opera & Safari, Google’s Open Source “Chrome” browser (to be launched today in Beta) seems like a bold, but very logical step.

It makes perfect sense to me that Google should bring out a browser. Not only can you (hopefully) have all of your online apps in one, integrated place (I for one use lots of Google’s online products) but it means the perfect place for them to target their ads to it’s users as well. The only other integrated browser is Flock. Flock, based on Mozilla code, integrates into the social networks very well. However, as there is a huge list of online apps available from Google it would be nice to have some of that functionality at your fingertips. Maybe combined with Flock-like social networking tools, it could be the next killer browser?

Of course, all of these features are a great idea, and to be honest, would greatly improve anyone’s online experience. However, what really matters is the rendering engine, and also how closely Google’s new browser will follow the web standards. Hopefully these points will not be lost when Google release to the waiting public.

For up to date news on the release of the browser, keep posted!

In a move that is surely showing the flailing business model of Twitter, the free micro-blogging site has axed the use of text message updates to most of it’s UK users, in a bid to cut costs.

An estimated $1,000 per year is the cost to Twitter for every UK user. And they’re not prepared to find a way to make money from these users - it seems easier to just cut everyone off.

As most of us know, Twitter has been suffering huge infrastructure problems with what seems like daily outages of some form another, with many users finding the service increasing frustrating. If it’s not the IM features, it’s the text or website blogging features that are down - every user of Twitter knows all too well the classic whale picture when things aren’t working as they should. With this recent cost-cutting exercise, is it too little too late? Or is it the sign of a system desperately trying to find a way out of a badly scaling web app?

During the writing of this article, twitter is displaying for UK users a box stating “important changes to our SMS service” on the left, above the twitter comments - which is a little ridiculous, as the infamous “We’re working to restore IM services to all users. Thanks for your patience!” message is showing the underlying problems of the site to the right of the page. Patience is getting very thin now guys - I know lots of people that have already gone elsewhere purely due to the frustration these problems are causing.

The proxy battle that has been in the wings since the start of this whole affair with Carl Icahn, has finally been resolved. Mr Icahn, is to take a seat on the board, plus another 2 members, which will be voted on from a list of 9 possible candidates. The board will expand to 11 members as one of the current members is resigning to concentrate on his other company.

So where does that leave Microsoft now? It appears they will have to go it alone, if they’re still serious about buying Yahoo. However, I think it’s probably the final straw for Steve Bulmer. I don’t see any deals being of great benefit to Microsoft now. Without Carl Icahn fighting for a proxy contest, to oust the current board, Microsoft have nothing to gain, unless they buy the whole company for $33 a share. But then, as we know with this ongoing soap opera, anything can change in an instant.

Their words, not mine. It appears the press release from Yahoo wasn’t taken too kindly by Microsoft. What basically amounts to a few corrections here and there of the Yahoo statement, I see as further reason to undermine Yahoo’s board. Some would call Microsoft’s statement as pettiness, but I think it’s all part of their strategy to cause unease in the company, divide employees and reduce the company’s value - ready for them to move in and grab what’s left over.

All those many months ago I said Microsoft would get Yahoo - as soon as the announcement was made, they were going to get them (in my opinion). Well now it looks, after another twist, that I might still be right.

After the initial proposal, Microsoft switched tact and said they didn’t want the number 2 search engine anymore - the $31 a share was final and if Yahoo! were not prepared to deal, they would walk away - which is exactly what they did - for a short time. A major investor in Yahoo, Carl Icahn, come out of the woodwork and said he would offer a new slate to overthrow the board, for the express reason to reopen negotiations with Microsoft - something Jerry Yang of Yahoo said was pointless as the software giant weren’t interested after the previous talks.

Now however, Microsoft have shown renewed interest in the search engine after a deal was struck with Carl Icahn and the new board (if successful). Microsoft have said they will be interested in taking over the search side of Yahoo’s business, whilst Carl Icahn will have control of the rest. This break up of the company would mean the current board of directors would be turfed out, including the guy who formed Yahoo, Jerry Yang. Of course the proposal was met with Yahoo’s stock answer of “not in the best interests of its stockholders.”

So what happens now? The stage is set for a gritty battle with Yahoo firmly on the defensive. Given 24 hours to accept the proposal, and Yahoo flatly refusing, means that things will get uglier from this point on. I think the gloves have come off, and both sides are reaching for some lead pipe.

Due to privacy advocates being unhappy with the prospect of people not being able to remain anonymous (visually at least) on Google Street, the search giant have introduced “face-blur” technology to relieve concerns.

Google Street, a close cousin to Google Maps, allows the interested to click a button to get a street view of the surrounding area. Useful when trying to remember the name of a shop, or to check the location for parking. Of course that means from time to time people get their pictures taken too - which Europe isn’t comfortable with. Strong laws in the EU & in the UK prevent people from being singled out and taken a picture of. Likewise, if you are part of a crowd it is thought to be fair game - it’s just unsure as to how interpretation will play a part. Hopefully with the face-blur technology in place, which is visible if you visit the street views of New York, Google will be able to put the fears to rest and map lots of areas for the future. I personally think it’s a great idea, as long as people can’t be identified - even though I’m sure most of us would be quite happy to be famous on Google!

The new version of the BBC iPlayer is due to be released tomorrow, with features lots of us have been waiting for. The most important below:

• Full integration for TV as well as Radio
• A rewind and Fast-forward function for Radio, as per TV
• Easier Navigation, including Last Played option
• Combined categories for TV and Radio, allowing easier access to relevant content
• Larger TV viewing area
• A TV Schedule for viewer planning

So all-in-all a better experience for your online pleasure. But then we do actually pay a license fee for this stuff, so maybe we should demand it. Either way the iPlayer should be a bit more user friendly for the future after the updates.