Google Chrome, presented by Scott McCloud
It looks like Google is releasing a new open-source browser called Google Chrome. Its rendering engine is based on Webkit, which also powers Apple’s Safari.
The browser looks impressive and I can’t wait to try it. (It’s not clear to me when a beta will be available for the general public.)
The browser’s architecture, features, and the thinking behind it are detailed in this comic book created for Google by Scott McCloud, who is actually something of a comics guru and once wrote a respected treatise on the subject (in comic form, of course) called Understanding Comics. In an earlier post I praised a short video explaining Google Docs which was done by boutique firm called Common Craft. This comic is impressive in a similar fashion: it uses simple but effective visuals to communicate complicated concepts in a relatively painless fashion.
Other firms’ communications (I’m looking at you, Microsoft) tend to be lavishly over-designed generic boilerplate. Google’s communications efforts are kind of like its products: simple and perhaps under-designed; but they get the job done better than anyone else.
UPDATE: This doesn’t mean that Google isn’t somewhat deficient with regard to design in an aesthetic sense. Take it away, Achewood.
UPDATE: screenshots are out, and word is that a download will be available later today.
UPDATE: the Windows beta is out.
