Computer Bytes - No. 61 Bookmark this page !       Send this page to a friend!  " Google has just launched the BETA version of Chrome that allows you to search the Net faster, easier and safer. Chrome was created by using the best from many open source projects as well as components from Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox. Once you have Chrome downloaded into your computer, to use it you will type your search word or URL into the address bar. What you input there will show search results, pages or previously visited pages. Additional tabs can be opened by clicking on the plus sign to the right of an open tab. Once opened, these tabs can be clicked on allowing you to arrange them in a different order by sliding them back and forth. You can even drag a tab to another window location on the screen and then move it back. Should you want to return to a previously viewed page but can't remember the address, simply open a new tab. Chrome will show your most recently visited pages, recent bookmarks and closed tabs. You can create application shortcuts that can be displayed on your desktop. If your computer has limited memory, you can see how much of your computer's resources are being used by each open tab by right clicking the top of the Google Chrome window. Once there, select 'Task Manager'. From here you can select 'End Process' for tabs that may be using too much memory, causing a problem or acting strangely. Google Chrome allows you to more safely search the web in that it will display a warning page for sites that are suspected of containing malware or phising elements. Bookmarking your favorite sites just got easier too. While you are on a favorite page, click on the 'star', select from the drop-down menu and add a site to the bar to access a favorite from any page. 'Search Incognito' allows you to search the Net without keeping a record of the search on your computer. To perform this function, select 'New Incognito Window' from the 'Page Menu' in the upper right of the screen. Perform your search and then close the window. While nothing from this search will be saved in your computer, this does not keep sites visited from collecting information about you. 'But I don't want to loose all my current settings.', i.e. favorites, passwords, etc. Chrome will even allow you to import all of your setting from your old browser. Once you have Chrome installed in your computer, click the wrench in the upper right corner of the screen and select 'Import Settings and Bookmarks'. Choose the browser and uncheck anything you do not want to import. Downloading is also easier in that Chrome will show you the download progress. On completion you will be offered options as to whether you want to add the program to your Desktop, run it or save it to a folder. The entire purpose of Google's Chrome is to make using the Internet easier, safer and faster, but if you are one of those people whose motto is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' - you may be happier staying with the 'old' Google and waiting for the final version of Chrome. For those who want to give it a try, you can visit http://www.google.com/chrome/?hl=en for the download. Computer Bytes Index Send Us an Email | Home Page Copyright 2007-2008. All rights reserved. Computer Bytes articles may not be reprinted, published, quoted, copied, or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of David Moncrief.