Browser
Yet another Internet browser! Some will say why do we need it? What can it offer that Internet Explorer already doesn’t… as it is still widely used. What more practical features could it have that Firefox doesn’t with all its multi-platform extensions? When we see that the challengers Safari and Opera have trouble grabbing market share, the question has to be asked: How will Chrome find its place? Now that the storm surrounding Google Chrome has passed, and spirits have settles with numerous bugs having been corrected, it is now time to take a look at what it really offers.
The anti pop-up, effective, just like the others
We have performed a series of tests that are offered on the site www.popuptest.com. The Chrome module is very similar to all the other browsers… But in our days stopping a pop up window isn’t such a difficult thing to do! When Chrome blocks a pop-up, it will alert you if you have taken the time to check the Options, Advanced Options, Web content, “alert me when a pop up window is blocked” option.
We have performed a series of tests that are offered on the site www.popuptest.com. The Chrome module is very similar to all the other browsers… But in our days stopping a pop up window isn’t such a difficult thing to do! When Chrome blocks a pop-up, it will alert you if you have taken the time to check the Options, Advanced Options, Web content, “alert me when a pop up window is blocked” option.
Zoom and page editing need to be revisited!
Google Chrome doesn’t look after, like Opera, the global text + picture zoom. This is only a zoom on the text, which is a lot less powerful. It isn’t necessary to go much further for a comparison, as the zoom isn’t very powerful. Of the screen capture in 1920 x 1200 the best zoom that Chrome could do when compared to Firefox 3 and IE7 is far from satisfactory.
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| Maximum zoom Chrome vs FF3 |
Maximum zoom Chrome vs IE7 |
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| Maximum editing Chrome vs FF3 | Maximum editing Chrome vs IE7 |
Dowload manager
It is effective and functional. Pausing and resuming a download is possible, with numerous actions being executed on the files while that are being copied or at the end of the task (show folders, open once a download has completed, always open this file type). By clicking on, Show all downloads, you will have access to the core of this module. All of the elements that are being downloaded or which have finished can be found here and, like with FF3, the presence of a search engine for downloads is quite useful.
Navigating an FTP server
It is also possible to navigate through the tree of an FTP server and take advantage of downloads like with any other browser. On the screen captures below, on the same FTP server, you will see that Chrome has an old and sad FTP browser that is “old school!” As a comparison, that in FF3 is attractive and colourful, this makes the difference seem like night and day. Even if everything hasn’t been completed, it is still pleasant to see what shape it is going to take!
Printer manager, nothing great
Its simple, with the impression that we have being that we are still under Windows 3.1! No print preview, even if this is a feature in Windows XP/Vista! This function is therefore something that still requires some development…
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| The printing module in Chrome: nothing! | Compared to that in IE7… |
Plugins and themes
Yeah, you have probably heard the rumours from a while ago, although some are now starting to come through… On community groups, www.chrome-france.com and www.mychromeaddons.com you will find everything you are looking for. Among some f the remarkable plug-ins we cite AdBlock (GNT is marked as a white page), Gmail This, Stumble, Social Bookmarking submission…
The installation of a theme is a little tricky, but they do work. For Vista, go to “C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\0.2.149.27\Themes", while for XP "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\LocalSettings\AppData\Google\Chrome\Application\0.2.149.27\Themes". Rename the file "default.dll" to "default.bak" for example and simply copy the new theme’s DLL. Not very easy to use… especially compared to Firefox 3.
The installation of a theme is a little tricky, but they do work. For Vista, go to “C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\0.2.149.27\Themes", while for XP "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\LocalSettings\AppData\Google\Chrome\Application\0.2.149.27\Themes". Rename the file "default.dll" to "default.bak" for example and simply copy the new theme’s DLL. Not very easy to use… especially compared to Firefox 3.
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Next review 
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| BitDefender Internet Security 2009 | Videoconference: Test and comparison of 7 programs |
May 22nd, 2013 - 9:28 PM ET
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