With its recently released Chrome 9 Web browser, Google has added several enhancements to provide a more immersive and rich Web experience. Chief among these new capabilities is default support for the emerging WebGL standard. This makes it possible to run 3D animations, games, and other rich interfaces within a browser without the need for third-party plug-ins and extensions such as Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight.

Jim Rapoza, Contributor

February 8, 2011

9 Slides


In its short existence, Google's Chrome Web browser has been on a very fast development cycle, releasing nine new versions in the time it takes Microsoft to release just one new version of Internet Explorer. Of course, each new version of Chrome tends to include only a few new features, with some being under-the-hood changes and bug fixes, and little in the way of new features that users would notice. The newly released Chrome 9 fits somewhere in the middle of this spectrum, but while it only has a few new features, they are in many ways significant. With its support for rich application interfaces and games through WebGL, and its increased integration with the Google Web Store, Chrome 9 also showcases features that will be key to the potential success of the browser-only Chrome OS.

SEE ALSO:

Review: Google Chrome 9 Unleashes New Features

Google Chrome 9 Brings WebGL

Google Bets $20,000 You Can't Hack Chrome

Browser Guide: Choosing The Best Standard For Business

Google Chrome Adds WebM Video, Drops H.264

Review: Google Chrome Browser Gets Business Friendly

Top 10 Google Predictions For 2011

Top 10 Google Stories Of 2010

About the Author(s)

Jim Rapoza

Contributor

Jim Rapoza is Senior Research Analyst at the Aberdeen Group and Editorial Director for Tech Pro Essentials. For over 20 years he has been using, testing, and writing about the newest technologies in software, enterprise hardware, and the Internet. He previously served as the director of an award-winning technology testing lab based in Massachusetts and California. Rapoza is also the winner of five awards of excellence in technology journalism, and co-chaired a summit on technology industry security practices. He is a frequent speaker at technology conferences and expositions and has been regularly interviewed as a technology expert by national and local media outlets including CNN, ABC, NPR, and the Associated Press.

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