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Chrome Beta – A New Browser For Android
Tested version: 0.16.4130.199
Latest version: 26.0.1410.58
Requires Android: from 4.0
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Summary
Browsers for smartphones are steadily improving and becoming better and better in terms of user comfort and speed. In fact, the stock Android browser is nothing to sneeze at, especially the one featured on Android 4.0.
But now – drum roll please – there’s Chrome Beta. Find out why we’re so enthusiastic about this new browser in today’s review.
Features & Use
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Test device: Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Android version: 4.0.2
Mods: Root
Chrome Beta will run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher.
When you first launch the browser, you will be prompted to sign in with your Google Account in order to enable syncing with your desktop browser. Logging in isn’t obligatory, but we do recommend doing so.
Bookmarks and browser history will be synced. A great feature: you are automatically logged into the Google services without having to enter your account information. You can disable this feature in the options.
As for browsing: there’s a bar with three controls elements (the URL bar, the button for the tab index and a menu key ) at the very top. The URL bar is also a search tool. The tabs are displayed with a small animation. Large thumbnails of the tabs are displayed, and even though they are rendered as large as possible you will find that you can still see all open tabs at a glance. The tabs slide together when scrolling—yet another lovely animation. Despite all the animations I did not get the impression that the app was overloaded with animations.
One of the coolest features this browser has to offer: you can see and access all the tabs you’ve currently got open on your computer! This is awesome in situations when you simply don’t have time to send yourself an email with all the links.
There’s also a private browsing mode.
Switching from one tab to the next is nice and easy and can be done by swiping across the display.
Selecting links is just as easy: whenever there are a few links clusered together an enlargement of the are with the links pops up. You can then select the link you're after.
The supports many HTML5 functions, even embedded videos.
The only drawbacks I can see is that the browser doesn't support Adobe Flash (for which the blame lands on Adobe and not Google, btw), that it isn't possible to set up a main page and that desktop versions of sites can't be accessed when using a tablet. As far as viewing Adobe Flash animation goes, HTML5 is spreading like cold germs so your browsing experienced shouldn't be hindered too much by the missing Adobe Flash support.
Bottom line:
Those are the browser’s main features. Chrome Beta does resemble the Ice Cream Sandwhich Android Browser, but I am very impressed by by the features. Hurrah for superior browsers!
Screen & Controls
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Using Chrome Beta is super intuitive, and fun, too, thanks to the cute animations.
The whole thing – tabs, controls elements, etc. – looks rather chic and there are animations here and there to keep things interesting.
The most important controls elements are always visible, and all other features can be accessed via the menu top right.
Speed & Stability
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Chrome Beta trumps all other browsers, even the very impressive Galaxy Nexus one when it comes to speed.
Everything loads within the blink of an eye (including websites, naturally), even big sites such as The Verge (15 seconds the first time I accessed the site, and 10 seconds ever since).
The browser is also exceptionally stable – it didn't cave even when laoding complex, large sites (the same cannot be said for the standard browser). We're very impressed, bearing in mind especially that this is the Beta version, so let's see what the future holds in terms of developments.
Price/Performance Ratio
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Chrome Beta is free which we feel deserves a big fat five star rating, even though free stuff is what we’ve come to expect from Google. I would issue a serious word of warning to Chrome’s competition, especially the pay-for browsers: there’s a new kid in town, and this kid is better and cheaper (read: free) than all of y’all!
Let’s see what the future has in store for this open source project—we’re on the edges of our seats with anticipation!
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Feb 17, 2012 4:58:33 PM
hello, I'm using an Android tablet 2.2 and only got it today, can i update it to 4.0? sorry I'm new to this.
Feb 13, 2012 7:30:11 PM
Hi David, I'm not sure when or even if Chrome will become available for anything lower than Ice Cream Sandwich... To be frank, I doubt it will become available for older Android versions, though I could be wrong. I will try to find out for you and get back to you if I come up with anything.
Market Comments
Subash, Sep 29, 2012
Crap... Crashes too often on my S2 running on ICS... I loved chrome on pc but started disliking on my android.. Will change rating only after improvements.
rich, Sep 29, 2012
crashes constantly not only does it crash but it causes my phone to reboot. so frustrating... going back to stock browser till Google figures this out.
Emil, Sep 29, 2012
Downfall The latest update is the worst so far. The app crashes very often with no option to close it. I have to reboot my phone in order to get it workng again.
Lukito, Sep 29, 2012
Lots of great features and is my favourite browser BUT Chrome uses A LOT of memory, freezes and crashes, and displays blank pages (I believe when memory is getting full). The recent update seems to have made this worse, unfortunately!
KERA D, Sep 29, 2012
Wonderful Allows you to see bookmark s as soon as log in, swipe to close pages saves data usage so the phones works quickly, fast loading even with simple mobile.
Win, Sep 29, 2012
Very disappointed It doesn't let you set the default ua string to desktop. It has a checkmark in settings but it doesn't work all the time
stug45, Sep 29, 2012
Love it. Hate freezing!!! love bookmark facilities. Hate random freezing on galaxy s2. Keyboard typing goes slow then crashes. At least it saves the open pages....
barry, Sep 29, 2012
Brilliant Just what I was looking for,kies would not take contacts,super backups sent them to gmail,now They're safe in google and address book,great.
Olavo, Sep 29, 2012
It can get better! It's stable, synchronization with your pc, but it doesn't have flash support... Like Opera and Samsung browser, so in a meanwhile, not using so often anymore...
Matt, Sep 29, 2012
Doesn't open external links Any link from an external app does not work. It opens the browser, but no tab. Other browsers (stock ics and opera mini) work fine
mschipperheyn, Sep 29, 2012
Beta product Shouldn't be in the store. Lots and lots of bugs. Just installed latest version. STILL problems with non functioning keyboard and screen refresh. COME ON! And It's 50Mb too. Patience is up. Goodbye chrome
Mike Ashelby, Sep 29, 2012
Absolutely brilliant! Can scarcely fault this browser now. Bugs are being squashed, and the experience now is great. Not sure if it's quite as smooth as if expect on the s3, but by far my favorite mobile browser.
exenocap, Sep 29, 2012
Force close Constantly freezing and asking for force close at least once a day. Can't figure the reason yet. Syncing cloud bookmarks and tabs is great though :)
Anthony, Sep 29, 2012
Glitches I really like the idea of finally having chrome for my phone but its very glitchy abd hides my keyboard and when i pull up menu's in certain sites it glitches and makes it look like broken cable tv static or something please update and fix
Thanks for the article.
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