Alternate browsers are becoming increasingly popular, even though Internet Explorer still has a stronghold when it comes to market share. Some of the most popular alternate web browsers available include Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Google’s new Chrome web browser.
Still in beta, Google’s "Chrome" has attracted less than 2% of the Internet browser market at its peak, but Google engineers are working to enhance the software to make it more appealing and useful to its users. One very popular idea for improving Chrome is the addition of an extension system, which will enable third-party developers to produce plugins for any number of add-on features, ranging from browser enhancements to RSS readers, calendar/reminder extensions, etc.Chrome users can then install the plugins to complete tasks that Google did not integrate into the web browser.
Mozilla Firefox, a browser that holds the record for the most downloads in a single day, has the ability to integrate third-party plugins, which has been perhaps the greatest factor in achieving its 20% web browser market share.
One of Google’s developers made the announcement that Google is looking into integrating third-party browser plugins for Chrome. They also released a design document that provided an outline for what needed to be done in order to add plugin support. This functionality is certainly at the top of the wishlist for most Chrome users, and Google seems to be working on providing the support as quickly as possible. The first plugins planned for integration include Flash and an ad blocker (ironic), which are some of the more popular plugins for Mozilla Firefox.
Unfortunately, Google has yet to announce when this implementation will be complete, but at least we know that they plan on offering extension support in the near future.
Popularity: 7% [?]
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I think FF should not be considered as alternate browser anymore. It’s growth has been strong, and from a simple glance at the stats in the past few years, one can boldly say that FF will take over IE.
I used chrome, not a big fan of it. Maybe because I’m biased by FF.
/G
December 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I don’t know why anyone would still be using Internet Explorer. I am not a big fan of Chrome either, though.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I agree with Brian and Gautam. Now that there’s another vulnerability that just came out for IE, it’s not even a surprise anymore. Even though reports say Google Chrome is faster than FF, I’m still a FF fan because it’s still a lot faster than IE, and you have a lot of extensions/themes/etc. for free. My faves are Adblock Plus, Web Developer, and Tab Mix Plus (with undo closed tabs). I don’t know why Google is trying to dominate everything.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
We definitely want plugin support on Chrome. It is plugins that made Firefox popular.
December 17th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
At the end of the day Firefox is the best choice IMO. Chrome is fast, but Firefox is easily just as fast for me when I turn off the external add-ons such as roboform and skins on Firefox.
At this point, Firefox offers the best security, and the best speeds. In comparison, IE offers more viruses than a Vietnamese prostitute. (So sorry about that, I had to, honest.)
My point is, even Opera, as great as it is in it’s own ways, is still not as good. And it seems to me at least to be overkill on many levels. Chrome for me is just fast, and sleek. That’s about it. I’m not sure about the security though.
I’d still recommend Firefox 3 over any other browser.
March 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Google chrome hasn’t really taken off yet, but opening up plugins should help, it is after all pretty much what Firefox’s popularity has been built on.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I must say, Chrome may lack third party enabled plugins/add ons, however, the design is basic, which is logical enough for me, since there is really no need for customized looks, that makes Chrome quite efficient, and though it currently does not support third party plugins/add ons, MINE does. Why would anyone that knows what they are doing simply wait for Google to do something and then download it? Simply make the adjustment yourself, as I have. Use a simple string coded page loading with a second party plugin/add on, which you set as your homepage, you can have it communicate with an FTP server which you create on your harddrive as use something such as port 337 for some basic communications between the browser and your FTP server. Like that is rocket science or something, really, think for yourself, it is cheaper and faster than waiting for a company to do it for you. I happen to like Chrome very much, and i will continue to use it. I still use other browsers though, mostly Firefox, but for different reasons.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:20 am
It’d be great to see an adblock plugin for Chrome. I think the adblock is the best feature Firefox offers (not to say it doesn’t offer others). But I don’t know how happy Google would be with extensions that block their main revenue source.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
sometime l’am used internet explorer, but ‘am like firefox..
May 18th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
For a web developer, FF is the way to go. The plugins make it the best choice. Plugins like Firebug make debugging Javascript much easier. Chrome would need plugin support if they want to compete with FF.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 am
I’m ageed with TechMagazine, why firefox is so popular right now is because of tons of great add-on / plugins. We can do almost everything with firefox.
September 6th, 2009 at 4:04 am
I believe that this plugin is useful. I have tried it and love it so much that I have referred it to my friends and family. If you have firefox, then you should try this add on.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Well its a very nice idea of adding an extension system, which will enable third-party developers to produce plugins for any number of add-on features.We want plugin support on Chrome as i m a big fan of Chrome and i think because of plugins FF is most popular.Once Chrome will have this features the users start using Chrome more.It will become more popular than any other browser.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Plugins is the way to go
February 14th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Google chrome is really good and fast. But I agree with Chester that there should be plugin support on Chrome.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
if chrome add-ons as much as FF, I’ll use it as main browser
August 13th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I think Chrome need to do lot more support from this kinds of tool, which make its very easy to operating as per Firefox.
September 29th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Google chrome still crashes more in running the Java Script whereas firefox is more stable.
October 29th, 2010 at 7:44 am