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Ask DLS: Does Google Chrome Frame tactic smell funny to anyone else?
But there's something I just don't like about the way Google plans to get Chrome Frame onto users' systems. Group Product Manager Mike Smith and Software Engineer Alex Russell told TechCrunch that Google "won't be explicitly advertising it." Instead, they'll use "subtle methods to alert users to its existence."
Now, the mockup above is anything but subtle. I'd assume - based on what Google has done in the past on the search page - that users will probably see a small alert in the upper-right corner.
Here's my question - why not just push Chrome? Why push an option that bolts Chrome on to Internet Explorer? TC's MG Siegler says the plugin itself is about 500Kb, but adds that it downloads about 10Mb of additional "Chrome-related data to work correctly."
10Mb? The mini installer for Chromium is exactly that size. So this basically downloads the whole damn browser and embeds it via ActiveX in Internet Explorer? I'm not seeing the advantage over a separate Chrome install.
Sure, there's the whole "web devs hate how IE renders stuff" argument, but it sure seems like a separate Chrome install would make more sense than the Frame solution.
Another concern for me is that the plan is to use the Dev channel builds, which happen to be the least stable. Won't we all have fun laughing if this leads to hilarity like "OMG my browser crashed, I hate IE" even if it was Chrome Frame that cause the crash?
I'm fine with Google offering users the upgrade to Chrome. There's just something about the idea of Chrome Frame that doesn't sit right with me. What's your take?
Comments
26
Subscribe to commentssetSep 23rd 2009 11:01AM
I don't see what's so suspicious about allowing a different rendering engine within a popular browser. It could be attractive to those who don't want to deal with transferring from Favorites to Bookmarks or having incompatibilities with syncing.
johnbondjoviSep 23rd 2009 11:12AM
It is not about the browser. It is about the standards.
If anything this move is a disruptive move for Microsoft. It is injecting Open Standard "into" their browsers.
But anyways:
I would love to have seen the expressions in the Microsoft boardroom when they announced that Google was offering their browser as a plugin to IE :D
Regicide SmittySep 23rd 2009 1:53PM
Yeah it sure smells funny to me.
The software engineer in the video that introduces Google chrome frame is trying so hard not to smirk.
What the heck is Google up to?
RahabibSep 23rd 2009 6:09PM
I cant get my wife to stop using IE. The main reason... all of her bookmarks are there and she is used to the interface.
Its a good test anyway. it would be nice to see how many people install it.
hdraogmirSep 25th 2009 9:22AM
Indeed, we love and need Google so much, we'll just let this slide.
This add-on is also meant for PC`s that, for one reason or another, cannot install new browsers or new software.
But yes, Google went about this in a weaselly way.
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