Google this, Explorer: Chrome becomes most popular browser, albeit briefly

[err0r]

FOR a brief, shining moment, for the first time Google Chrome became the market leader in web browsers.

 

On Monday Australian time, Chrome overtook Internet Explorer as the world’s most used internet browser, taking up 32.7 per cent of all browsing compared to IE’s 32.5 per cent share, web analytics firm StatCounter reported.

 

By yesterday, however, Chrome had dropped into second place, with its share slipping to 30 per cent, while IE rose to 35 per cent.

 

Google’s brief moment of glory happened during the weekend, US time, leading some experts to believe that Chrome could be the browser of choice for people when they are at home.

 

Senior analyst at Telsyte Rodney Gedda told news.com.au that many people would have returned to a more traditional browser at work come Monday morning.

 

Mr Gedda said part of IE’s popularity was because it was the operating system shipped with most Windows computers.

 

“A lot of users will just use what’s presented right in front of them,” he said.

 

Mr Gedda said that Google could form business partnerships allowing Chrome to ship with certain computers to drive its market dominance but said the tech giant has already done a good job just being a free download.

 

“It's available across multiple platforms, which is one advantage it has over Internet Explorer because it can run on Mac or Linux,” he said.

 

Simon Sharwood, APAC editor at The Register told news.com.au that part of the reason Chrome was so successful was that it was designed to work like an app. It lets users download plugins so they can customise the browser for their own needs.

 

However Mr Sharwood said browser developers needed to realise that users did not care about the fancy-pants technology running in the background. They just want things to work.

 

“As people just spend more and more time using web apps, what you want is a browser that just gets the hell out of the way,” Mr Sharwood said.

 

“The analogy I use is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Until Charlie goes in and meets the Oompa Loompas, no one knew they were involved, they just knew the chocolate tasted great.

 

“In the same way, the vast majority of people don’t give a rats about what’s ticking along in the background of their computer when they switch it on, as long as the experience is swift, pleasant and comprehensible.”

 

Source: Herald Sun