New Chrome Browser

[Goodspike]

The new Chrome browser allows you to use data compression in the bandwidth management setting. I've been using it a day or two with 30%+ savings, and no apparent hit on speed (actually it seems faster).

 

[binaryhermit]

If you use an ad blocker, that setting breaks it.

 

[electricpete]

http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/01/more-web-more-savings-with-chrome-for.html

It looks pretty useful. The data is compressed on Googles servers.

You can now also create a shortcut on your homescreen to a chrome bookmark. Longpress...shortcuts...bookmark. There have certainly been other ways to create a shortcut to a website before, but I the ability to pull directly from chrome bookmark into a shortcut is new.

Tangent - there is also an update on the pc version of chrome... you can now tell which tab is generating audio by looking for a speaker icon in the tab on top. Very handy when your pc starts making noise and you can't figure out wtf tab is causing it.

 

[Goodspike]

If you use an ad blocker, that setting breaks it.

Good to know. The sites I go to on my phone don't have a lot of ads. Might make more of a difference on a tablet.

 

[lexluthor]

If you use an ad blocker, that setting breaks it.

Good point. That makes sense since the ad content would now be coming from google rather than the ad company that's blocked in your ad blocker.

Probably get similar data savings from blocking ads than you would from using google's compression.

 

[Goodspike]

Probably get similar data savings from blocking ads than you would from using google's compression.

LOL. On some sites you'd probably lose!

 

[mikedt]

If you use an ad blocker, that setting breaks it.

Google doesn't want people blocking their ads, they're an ad company.

 

[binaryhermit]

Google doesn't want people blocking their ads, they're an ad company.

While this is true, I doubt it's intentional on Google's part.

 

[mikedt]

While this is true, I doubt it's intentional on Google's part.

Well Google banned ad blockers from their Play store. So I do wonder about their intentions.

 

[!on]

What's the speed like on the new chrome app?

I don't care for "benchmark tests" measured in miliseconds, lol, I tried chrome it was excruciatingly slow, uninstalled. Part of me would like chrome on android (that works).

Is OK now?

 

[Goodspike]

What's the speed like on the new chrome app?

I think it seems faster than ever, at least with the compression. Sites just pop up really fast.

 

[shmn]

While this is true, I doubt it's intentional on Google's part.

Google's entire existence and purpose to is funnel ads to its "users". Android, Gmail, Google Search, Chrome...these are all ad delivery devices.

Google has created devices/software that users want and become addicted to which makes Google only happier.

Google is the penultimate trojan horse...bringing ads right to you whether you want them or not.

Sorry for the OT rant, but people who think of Google as the 'good guys' need to realize that Google is nothing more than a fancy ad revenue machine.

 

[shmn]

Why I left Google - JW on Tech - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

From the above from a former Google employee on why he left:

The Google I was passionate about was a technology company that empowered its employees to innovate. The Google I left was an advertising company with a single corporate-mandated focus.

Ask Matt: Is Google a tech or ad company?

While Google might get attention for some of its technology gadgets, including Google Glass, the company is by far an advertising company first and foremost. Google gets its money by tracking its users and using the data it collects to sell targeted ads to companies.

 

[AngryHatter]

Well Google banned ad blockers from their Play store. So I do wonder about their intentions.

But you can find many ad blocking extensions for Chrome.
Phone blockers would interfere with the app makers themselves as that is their revenue stream, while not Google's main one as a browser.

 

[gilbequick]

The backdoor data mining that so many browsers do is disgusting. Boat, Dolphin, Firefox, especially Chrome, absolutely horrible.

Try Naked Browser. Completely stripped down browser that runs fast. I've been using it for a long time now and really like it. At first it's a little odd, but give it a few days and you'll get hooked on it.

I don't know the developer, I just like the product.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fevdev.nakedbrowser