Google Chrome 6 beta overview
Google has decided to accelerate the release versions of Google Chrome to reach the pace of a version every 6 weeks.
This strategy of "get out more and faster" allow users to regularly add new features, but not necessarily immediately those they expect.
Some important features and could be delayed to meet deadlines and out of stable releases.
Version 6 of the browser is already available for download on the "dev channel (channel developer) but it is still very unstable for general public use.
Let's see what the project team decided to include in the milestone 6 browser:
- Preview before printing, a major weakness of previous versions. But users of MacOS or Linux version 7 should wait to receive
- Synchronization of extensions, a user could find the same extensions on multiple machines.
- Synchronization of historical
- A fix for the display of some SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- Merge buttons: Options page and browser configuration in a single-button menu
- Improved handling of images to exploit multi-core processors.
Among the features that must wait for another note the arrangement of the tabs on the sidebar (rather than at the top of the window), viewing full-screen videos to HTML5, and the Native Client (which would allow applications downloaded via Chrome run safely in a sandbox (sand tray to)).
Firefox 4 beta1 available
Mozilla has posted the first beta version of Firefox 4. Finally, tell the impatient, as it was expected by early June, then postponed to mid-June
The arrival of this beta confirms the work areas of the development team of browser plug-in insulation for greater stability (the 'Lorentz'), supports HTML 5 (see also "A member of Mozilla claims that Apple and Google want to own the HTML5 ") and shorter startup time.
The interface is also reviewed in depth.
Minimal for some and major for the other, the tabs are now placed by default at the top of the browser (the famous "tabs-on-top *" popularized by Chrome). You can still return them to their traditional place in two small clicks.
A "Firefox" menu centralized (inspired by the Opera?) Also appeared.
Finally, the management interface extensions has been totally redesigned - Electrolysis first demonstration project designed to completely isolate the extensions and allow their installation in warm (without restart of Firefox).
For developers, Mozilla said the following new features:
- A HTML5 parser
- Support for WebSocket
- The use of IndexedDB
- The addition of a Web console Analysis
- And of course, a simplified development of extensions with the integration of the SDK Jetpack
Finally we note without surprise the official support of the codec Webm, for "accelerated HD video (see above).
The complete list of new "under the hood" is available online.
WebM in Firefox
The new open-source video codec appeared in a developer version of the browser
So far everyone was in agreement (except Apple) about Webm, the new codec from the open-source Google VP8. But the question of license (see elsewhere) had caused some problems for the beginning of its implementation in browsers.
These problems are now resolved and keeps his word and Mozilla Firefox integrating Webm 4.To be more precise, Mozilla includes support for this codec in a fairly unstable pre-release that can be found on the "nightly-builds", the ftp the latest development versions being updated daily by the foundation.
"If you are looking for videos Webm test, you can watch on YouTube Webm HTML5 experiement with the nightly builds, advises Chris Pearce, developers at Mozilla.There is still a little early to compare the performance videos of this version with those of Chrome (which he is also a version for developers) but is not essential.The important thing in this announcement is that the motion for adoption is indeed well underway.
Apple's side continues to support the H.264 and has not yet officially announced his intentions on Webm.
Source : Chris Pearce's post
Internet Explorer 9 faster than Safari 5?
They say that, sometimes, development teams are likely.
At the launch of Safari 5 (yesterday), Apple did not lose to emphasize that his browser was much faster than its main competitors, namely Chrome and Firefox.
No word, however, Internet Explorer, superbly ignored.
Microsoft responded today with a small video that there is no comparison with four path: Internet Explorer 9 is fast, very fast, very fast. So much faster than Safari 5 bear bad (or no) comparison.
While it is still a bit early to make a real opinion (EI 9 is still in its second preview release), it is clear, however, that Microsoft's browser will make up part of the hardware acceleration (using the GPU and not the CPU) for video and other multimedia content (including Flash).
Note that Safari 5 does not offer this type of technology (hence the test results from Microsoft).
In contrast to the JavaScript (subject not addressed in the video), Safari 5 should continue to hold its own in the game
Anyway, the message is clear. The next time Apple decides to denigrate its competitors, thank you for not forgetting Microsoft.
The video is on this page (requires Silverlight).
Safari 5 announced
Apple at WWDC, announced the release of Safari 5 30% faster than Safari 4, 3% faster than Google Chrome, Safari 5 allows you to choose among search engines Google, Yahoo and Bing.
The integrated tools for developers have been improved, support HTML5 further improved. But the big news is that with Safari 5, Apple also announced the possibility for developers to create extensions to Safari.
In addition to the iPhone developer program $ 99 per year and the Mac developer program, $ 99 per year, Apple has added the Safari developer program, $ 0 / year
Source (fr) : développez.com
Safari 5 website
Firefox 4, what’s expected?
The specification of Firefox 4 is full.
We already knew that the GUI is completely redesigned (see above). We now know more about the rest of the browser.
Mike Beltzner, director of development of the Mozilla Foundation, has set many goals yesterday to reach during a Webcast as a roadmap.
The most important goal is certainly one of the power and speed.
The power of a browser includes many fields, none of which will, according to him, neglected.
The support for Windows Direct2D example , or the future of HTML 5, as far as they are, for example, fall into account both to April 1 of Firefox browser "powerful".
A 64-bit version would also (and some would say finally) to the study.
To (re-) make a fast, management of content in JavaScript will not suffice. Even if in this field Mozilla intends to double our efforts to meet increasing performance bluffing the competition (including Opera and Chrome).
The time to launch the browser should also be shortened. An excellent short story called your vows (if you believe your comments on this forum).
The reactivity (opening or closing a new tab for example.) Is also on the table.
But speed is not just pure performance history. Mike Beltzner said that the new UI of Firefox 4 will also participate in the perception of speed (loading bar redesigned pages, etc..).
In short, the Panda Roux will not be left behind (at least he will try).
But Firefox is also and above all remain a browser that innovates.
It is the goal, for example, future feature called "Account Manager" which will centralize logins and passwords. An innovation of which we still know relatively little about (except that it is to avoid to go through the identification pages of online services).
Recall that the philosophy of Mozilla is that of confidentiality .. The data synchronization via the Weave service is fully encrypted and such can use any server chosen by the user (not necessarily those of Mozilla). Unlike the browser from Google.
A fundamental difference Nitot, the founding president of Mozilla Europe, told us recently wanting to put forward to differentiate Chrome.
Appointment is made for the first beta of Firefox 4 which should arrive in late June.
As for the final, she is currently scheduled for October or November and not 2011 as previously announced. A date still highly likely to be postponed based on development problems.
Sources :
developpez.com
Google Chrome 5.0 in beta for all platforms
Since Friday, Chrome, the browser that Google keeps gaining market share, is available in beta for version 5.
If it does not change much for users of Windows, however it will be greeted with more enthusiasm by using Linux and Mac owners.
Chrome 5.0.342.7 proposes in effect for the first time these two platforms for machine translation and features for further surfing confidentially. The icing on the cake (for some), the Geolocation API is also on the menu.
Note that Chrome 5.0.36 (rather 5.0.360.2) also arrived, but in alpha. Main novelty, the bookmarks are now managed directly from a tab.
Google Chrome 5.0.342.7 beta for Mac OS X and Linux.
Google Chrome 5.0.342.8 beta for Windows.
Google Chrome 4 alpha
From the 17th august, Google has published the browser Chrome version 4.0.201.1, on its Dev Channel. It's the first alpha published due to its instability.
This new version add a new good feature : the bookmarks synchronization. This functionality allow user to access to his bookmarks from lot of different computers that has the same functionality and Chrome. Therefore the bookmarks are stored online.