Google's Chrome browser is out for iOS devices, with unlimited tabs, incognito mode and syncing across devices just a few of the tasty treats in store.
Available to download now for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the browser lets you sign in with your Google account, giving you access to all your bookmarks and open tabs, and the ability to send pages from your computer to your iOS gadgets.
You can have as many tabs open as you like -- on the iPhone and iPod touch you swipe through them vertically like a deck of cards, swiping tabs to the side to close them.
On the larger iPad, you move through tabs by swiping from the sides of the tablet. Incognito mode is also on board to browse without saving your history, for when you need to, er, buy a surprise gift... for a loved one... who shares the same phone as you.
My first impressions are that the Chrome app feels very fast, and that the option to open as many tabs as you like is going to come in very handy. An option to close all tabs is a blessed relief too.
There's one downside -- you can't set Chrome as a default browser. So when other apps give you the option to open something in a web browser, everything will default to Apple's own Safari app. As well as being infuriating, that's going to make it tricky for those trying Chrome for the first time to stick with it.
Google Drive for iOS has also gone live, but seems to be a little less impressive -- while you can view all the files and docs you have stored, but there's no editing unfortunately, and you can't upload files. It does let you save files for offline viewing, however, and you could use it as a very easy way to get videos or photos from your computer to your phone.
What's your favourite browser? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 8
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shauney3 29 June, 2012 12:04
So annoying that I cannot make this my default browser on my 3GS! Chrome feels great and has an awesome UI, much nicer than safari! I am pretty certain my next phone will be an Android one.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 14:46
chrome for ios is really good tbh, really fast and perfect on the ipad. get it!
Late8 29 June, 2012 15:46
It's good. But on the iPad(3) it sometimes gets jumpy on scrolling. Also the iPad warms up more browsing compared to Safari. Me thinks Chrome is stressing the iPad.
It would be great if it could be more like the Google Search app in App store now! It openers on Google home, has links to google apps and has a great feature for getting to history by swipe from left.
AndrewM 29 June, 2012 16:59
I had a go with Chrome on the iphone (and iPad). The speed differences weren't that noticeable on the sites I went to - and some cases safari seemed faster. Chrome doesn't automatically go to full screen or offer the reader mode, unlike safari. Nor give me immediate access to be able to email a link (have to click the menu to get to email and even then that's greyed out, despite me being logged in). So for now it's safari (and mercury) on the iphone and ipad. Chrome though for my PC. And on my android devices I mix and match with opera and the inbuilt browsers.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 21:21
What the hell! Chrome is on iOS but not on Android?! Still more than 90% of Android devices not on ICS so can't get it but anyone with an iPhone can... Seem strange to anyone else?
billfred 29 June, 2012 23:01
^^^ it is on android .... what are you talking about?
anonymous 29 June, 2012 23:16
I am not getting this? What's wrong with safari? Chrome don't seem to offer anything radical.. Another browser in the iOS line up of apps, but we all will still be using safari by default.
Dean Shepherd 30 June, 2012 16:11
@ billfred
Anonymous meant that the ACTUAL Chrome browser on Android is only for Ice Cream Sandwhich (and jelly bean) handsets of course...not anything lower like honeycomb or gingerbread or earlier...
the rest of the Android crowd have to use either the webkit browser inbuilt in any vanilla ROM or use a 3rd party browser..