Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
In just 16 months Google Chrome overtakes Safari
It doesn't look like a lot when you're talking about a fraction of a percent, but when you consider that last month Chrome only had 3.93% you can see just how quickly it's being adopted. Last month was actually Chrome's biggest leap since its launch, which probably has something to do with Google's current large-scale advertising campaign. PC World speculates that the large surge could also be due to the Mac and Linux Chrome Beta releases last month.
Despite Chrome's progress in December, it was not at the expense of Opera or Safari's market share -- both actually made slight gains. Firefox lost 0.1% and Internet Explorer lost almost an entire percentage point, but thankfully not from IE8! Down with IE6 and 7, down I say!
Comments
35
Subscribe to commentskojo87Jan 3rd 2010 2:00AM
me neither. i installed it and ran it maybe twice before deciding that i didn't like it that much. my Firefox and Chrome shortcuts are right next to each other on my desktop. can't tell you the last time i clicked on Chrome.
ElliottJan 3rd 2010 1:42AM
Chrome has a lot to thank Safari (and Konqueror) for.
Anyway, I'll stick with Safari for now. Chrome for Mac just doesn't feel right (better than Firefox though).
ArnieJan 3rd 2010 2:19AM
I am actually surprised Safari caught on traction. I think that increase is purely because of the rise in popularity of Mac computers in general. The Safari browser on Windows is a PoS(& so is Itunes). In fact, I would go as far as saying there is no Mac software worth having on the PC(Windows). Chrome is super fast but I dont like it because it does not have Adblock. Once, it gets Adblock on a stable version I will switch, not before that though.
PandyJan 3rd 2010 6:57AM
Lol, has Lee been adding pro-Opera comments to your pictures again?
Sebastian AnthonyJan 3rd 2010 9:26AM
I added that one myself, to keep him happy.
He beats me :(
NickJan 3rd 2010 7:57AM
The goal of Chrome is, that other browsers will eventually use parts of it's source code or mimick various features.
Like what Mozilla is doing with Firefox, using Chrome code to build Elektrolysis.
This is done because Google wants to reshape the whole internet.
SilverWaveJan 3rd 2010 7:59AM
Chromium is getting scary good... I use it for opening one large local html file (shelve history for 5 years 6.7MB - one _big_ table of titles and links).
Chromium opens it in 5 seconds Firefox in 25...
I use Firefox for everything else... but Mozilla needs to up their game.
BazJan 3rd 2010 8:35AM
As mentioned elsewhere in these comments, I think the uptick in Chrome downloads has more to do with the recent Beta's ability to use Extensions - though until there is a decent Adblock and the equivalent to Tab Mix Plus, its not for me.
Meanwhile, to say that it is surpassing Safari is hardly surprising. As essentially a browser intended for Macs, it relies almost entirely on Apple sales for take up - and while Apple computer sales may be booming in North America (and #1 in desktop sales, but hey, people are still buying desktops?) outside of the continent, Apple computers (and their OS) are still largely novelty devices, catering to specialist users. Chances are there, if its not a WinOS machine, it'll more likely to be a Linux machine than a Mac. If Safari has any traction internationally, its more than likely its inclusion in iPhones and iPod Touch that is doing it.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 3rd 2010 9:26AM
Neither should IE by that logic... unfortunately... alas...
PKJan 3rd 2010 1:52PM
OR it may be due to Chrome Extensions Gallery launching?
ChuckJJan 3rd 2010 2:55PM
Im all for success, but the overwhelming uprising of Google in so many areas is disturbing in a sense. Surely the rumors of Googles invasion of privacy and such plays a part in why its disturbing.
I realize going online, we give up certain privacies, but it still bothers me. I dont think there are enough laws in place to prevent those like Google from basically knowing as much or more about you than you do yourself.
Anyhow, I dont like to see one company over take so many things. I almost go out of my way to not use any Google products no a days, no matter how good they may be.
EvenioJan 3rd 2010 6:12PM
It's not that Safari sucks, period (although by the tone of your comment, there may be more angst than reason behind it). In my experience, Safari's the best browser there is on OS X, hands-down, if you aren't looking for a three-ring circus of add-ons. The problem keeping Safari from being more widely adopted on Windows, since it could hardly go higher on the Mac, is that Apple can't write Windows software worth a shit. They're brilliant on their own home turf, and nowhere else. In terms of being a WebKit-based browser on Windows, you could almost say that Chrome is "Safari done right".
riversandtreesJan 4th 2010 2:24AM
Safari is great on Macs, but is out of place (even 4.0) and suffers from varying performance issues depending on the state of the PC's Windows installation on a PC. Chrome is a good Safari replacement on a PC. I don't know about the Mac. While I am growing rather fond of Chrome on Mac, its innovations aren't revolutionary.
The next version of Safari will boast a similar feature set. It was evolving in that direction anyway. (1) Safari for Snow Leopard implements limited sandboxing, a feature Apple will inevitably expand. (2) Apple previously extending the functionality of Inquisitor to the search bar. The next step to incorporate a Chrome-like bar. (3) Chrome's barebones interface philosophy matches that of Safari's. Both have snaz and jazz, but they're usability enhancements rather than feature bloat. (4) Both are built for speed and standards compliance.
I do have one gripe about Chrome. I wish Google didn't insist on encapsulating a separate WebKit repository. Why can't it just use the systemwide WebKit API? It spares Google from have to update it. There's no need to waste all that memory space. Other app developers have done great things with the systemwide API.
That said... WebKit is what is really awesome. No other platform compares. I hope Chrome+Safari overtake Firefox. Firefox is a great renderer and is bloated and just feels dated for some reason. It needs to kick its Netscape roots.
clipsiniteJan 4th 2010 2:32AM
Safari is great on Macs, but is out of place (even 4.0) and suffers from varying performance issues depending on the state of the PC's Windows installation on a PC. Chrome is a good Safari replacement on a PC. I don't know about the Mac. While I am growing rather fond of Chrome on Mac, its innovations aren't revolutionary.
The next version of Safari will boast a similar feature set. It was evolving in that direction anyway. (1) Safari for Snow Leopard implements limited sandboxing, a feature Apple will inevitably expand. (2) Apple previously extending the functionality of Inquisitor to the search bar. The next step to incorporate a Chrome-like bar. (3) Chrome's barebones interface philosophy matches that of Safari's. Both have snaz and jazz, but they're usability enhancements rather than feature bloat. (4) Both are built for speed and standards compliance.
I do have one gripe about Chrome. I wish Google didn't insist on encapsulating a separate WebKit repository. They should try to use the systemwide WebKit API. It spares Google from have to update it. There's no need to waste all that memory space. Other app developers have done great things with the systemwide API.
That said... I hope Chrome+Safari overtake Firefox. Firefox isn't that great of renderer. It feels bloated and it just seems feels dated for some reason. It needs to kick its Netscape roots.
techpopsJan 4th 2010 3:16PM
Count me in for a bit of Safari bashing, I'll even prod Opera in the eye, but leave my precious Firefox out of it :p