Google Chrome: now to access the internet you have to go through google

Today Google officially released it's own internet browser, named Chrome.  Chrome is an open-source browser with a very simplistic design and is being described as a web 2.0 browser for the growing needs of internet users (using all of Google's online services, Docs, Gmail, Youtube, etc..).  Google needs a browser to ensure that all their growing online services will be usable by all its users without any compatibility issues.  Google has released a cute comic to help describe their browser.  The use of a comic and not a user manual should help explain who this browsers target market it.

I downloaded the software and put it through a trial run.  The browser works simple enough and has a lot of room to grow.  It looks like a stripped-down version of your current browser.  There's only tabs and an address bar with some basic controls.  The address bar doubles as the search box as well, you have the option of which search engine you want to use (obviously Google is the default).  The address bar also offers suggestions for websites you are looking for, similar to firefox 3, but Chrome takes it one step further by suggesting any website, not just ones from your bookmarks.

The browser functionally was fine, but because of how new it is some websites aren't ready for it yet.  I tried visiting Nike.com and this is the message I was greeted with (photo right).  Chrome is too new for its own good.  The browser has huge potential since it's backed by Google and their seemingly limitless money.  Google also has so many users through its online services they could heavily suggest that people begin to use their browser instead of others.  Integration of Google's internet services with Chrome could cause many people to switch browsers.

With Google's entrance into the browser war, Google is going head to head with Microsoft in yet another internet market.  The timing of Google's Chrome release is intentional to compete with the release of Microsoft's own Internet Explorer 8, which is currently out in beta.  Google and Microsoft are already in open competition in the search engine business, online document services, and online advertising.  Google and Microsoft's competition on the internet seems to be one of the biggest tech rivalry's.  It'll be interesting to watch this pan out as both companies are strangely similar.  Google and Microsoft had similar starts and stunning growth and both seem to have limitless resources.

*Update* Walt Mossberg, the tech columnist for The Wall Street Journal has released his opinion on Chrome.