Google has posted major updates for its beta and developer versions of Chrome, activated Web GL for 3D apps by default and criticized recent test results that indicated that Internet Explorer is much more secure than any other browser currently available. Oh, and we almost forgot: Google Translate is now beatboxing as well. 
The developer channel of Chrome was updated to version 10.0.612.0 with substantial performance upgrades especially in JavaScript processing. The V8 engine is now at version 3.0.2.1 and Webkit is at 534.15. One of our eagle-eyed readers noticed previously that the current nightly builds of Chromium 10 already use Webkit 534.16. The beta version has arrived at version 9 and reached Google’s goal to take the browser to Chrome 9 beta before the end of the year.
Version 9.0.597.19 uses a sandbox for the Flash player plug-in, disconnecting Flash from major components of the browser that could make Chrome more vulnerable to malicious (phishing) attacks via Flash. This beta also delivers Instant Search to the Chrome URL bar for the first time in a beta version, highlighting that the feature is now ready for rollout. Instant Search was first available in the nightly builds of Chrome 8 in September. Worth noting is also that support for Web GL has moved out of the flags and is now activated by default in Chrome beta.
The API enables an accelerated display of 3D applications within the browser (there are some examples here.)
On a side note, it appears that the size of Chrome is getting a bit out of hand. The recent release of Opera 11 was delivered in a installable file weighing in at 7.1 MB. The most recent nightly builds of Chromium 10 have grown to about 34 MB in a zipped package, which compares to about 28 MB just 3 months ago. One year ago, the browser was at less than 20 MB. The entire browser now consumes 79 MB, up from 68 MB 3 months ago. Native integration of Flash and PDF bumped the size of the browser by a few megabytes in summer, but Google may be approaching an acceptable limit for the size of its browser. No other browser is even close in size to Chrome at this time.
Last week there was some chatter on browser security based on a report by NSS Labs, stating that IE9 is the most secure browser currently available. We ignored the report, as we did not believe there was much substance to it, especially since beta versions of browsers were compared with relatively old stable version of other browsers, which set off our alarm bells. The report claimed that IE9 detects 99% of malware, IE8 90%, Firefox 3.6 19%, Safari 5 11%, Chrome 6 3% and Opera 10 0%.
Our requests for clarification to NSS remained unanswered. However, it was clear that IE9 was used in its most recent version, while the company used a general version of Firefox 3.6 without stating which version and upgrade level, the test did not use the latest version of Chrome, a general version of Safari and a general version of Opera. In tests like these the attention to detail is critical and it was simply lacking, while we recognize that IE8 was apparently safer than its rival browser at some point in the application areas tested. Google had some issues with the results as well and noted that the testing methodology was not made available.
A spokesperson said:
“As we’ve stated previously, these sponsored tests are limited in their sole focus on socially engineered malware, while excluding vulnerabilities in plug-ins or browsers themselves. Google Chrome was built with security in mind from the beginning and emphasizes protection of users from drive-by downloads and plug-in vulnerabilities for example, we recently introduced a new security sandbox for Flash Player. It’s definitely true that the test in question had a very narrow focus. The report itself clearly states that it ‘does not evaluate browser security related to vulnerabilities in plug-ins or the browsers themselves’.”
Opera has also questioned the methodology of the testing process.
On the more happy side, you can now use Google Translate for some beatboxing fun. The Google Operating System Blog has the link. Check it out.
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