Google dumps Firefox from download bundle, swaps in Chrome
Google Friday replaced Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox with its own Chrome as the default browser in the English version of Google Pack , the search company's application bundle for Windows.
On Thursday Google dropped the "beta" label from Chrome, the browser it introduced three months ago, and issued the first production version for Windows XP and Vista.
Google Pack is a one-download collection of Google-made and third-party applications that includes Google Desktop, Google Earth, Picasa, Adobe Reader and Norton Security Scan.
Firefox remains on the list, but is not selected for download as part of Google Pack by default. Instead, the box beside it is left unchecked. That's a change from Thursday, according to an earlier version of Google Pack's download page cached by Google itself, which shows Firefox as the bundle's only browser.
Non-English versions of Google Pack, however, continue to offer Firefox, including the German- and French-language editions. Chrome is available in localized versions for about 40 different languages, German and French among them.
Mozilla has had a lucrative relationship with Google over the years. In 2007, for example, 88% of Mozilla's revenues , to the tune of about $60 million, came from its deal with Google. The search company pays Mozilla for assigning it as the default search engine in Firefox, and for click-throughs on ads placed on the ensuing search results pages.
Mozilla renewed the deal with Google in August when the two inked a three-year contract that ends in November 2011.
Thursday, before Google swapped Chrome for Firefox, Mozilla's CEO welcomed the rival to the market.
"It's great to see them get to 1.0 and will mean more choices for users," said Mozilla chief executive John Lilly, in an e-mailed statement. Lilly also took the opportunity to plug his company's own browser. "Firefox 3 use has grown quickly over the last few months and we're excited to release 3.1 early next year ... competition is clearly creating better browsers than ever."
Mozilla did not immediately reply to questions Friday, including whether Lilly's take of Thursday still holds now that Google has dropped Firefox from the default download bundle.
» posted by ITworld staff
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I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
- Dann
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difficulties with Chrome
Chrome is nice in that it's easier to open a new tab, there are less virus' targeting it, and instead of having a separate search window, it's all combined.Although there are some issues with typing. For instance, as I was just typing now, some words aren't showing up. The space is there as if the word is also, but the word in the beginning of each line doesn't show until I advance to the next line. Also, some words are combining, and overwriting, even thought the insert key was never pressed.
But mostly, if you have a Hotmail account, you can't type emails. You can READ them, but it won't give you the ability to type. I've inquired Google about it, with neither a response, nor any chance of finding plugins to fix the issue.
here's how hotmail
http://www.internetnews.com/commentary/article.php/3790856/Googles+Chrome+Should+Still+Be+In+Beta.htmnone
cool