Google Chrome Takes 1% of Browser Market In 48 Hours

Author Gordon Kelly
Published 4th Sep 2008
Google Chrome Takes 1% of Browser Market In 48 Hours
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Boy, Google has a high standing on the Internet...

Less than 48 hours since the search giant launched 'Chrome', its first web browser, StatCounter Blog claims the software has taken no less than one per cent of the global browser market. That may not sound like much but to put it into perspective: that is more than Opera has attained in its lifespan to date. By comparison Safari has approximately 6.5 per cent, Firefox 22 per cent and Internet Explorer 70 per cent.


“This is a phenomenal performance,” commented StatCounter's Aodhan Cullen, “this is war on Microsoft but the big loser could be Firefox.” This makes sense given the more cutting edge nature of Firefox users with many IE users less technical and often unaware of the choices available to them beyond what came installed on their systems.

Of course initial interest doesn't mean long term adoption but Chrome has seemingly made a positive early impression despite its current lack of third party add-ons (this should change with it being open source) and, in many ways, radical alterations to the stereotypical browser experience.

On a less positive note however eagle eyed surfers have caught wind of a particularly scary clause in Chrome's user licence, #11 states "By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Service".

To be fair Google has responded quickly to this saying it was an over generalisation and they "are working quickly to remove language from Section 11 of the current Google Chrome terms of service. This change will apply retroactively to all users who have downloaded Google Chrome.”

Hopefully that clears that up. Now on with Beta version 2.0!

Update

The controversial section 11 is now fixed as such:

11. Content licence from you

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights that you already hold in Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services.

Links:
StatCounter Blog
Google Chrome
Google response via BGR

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Latest 4 of 21 Comments

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Comment Juxtah said on 4th September 2008

@ Gavin - How would less ads blocked increase googles revenue? Chrome is distributed for free and open source. Google have no incentive to block as fewer ads as possible, and with ... more

Comment m_memmory said on 4th September 2008

@Matthew Martin

Have you ever tried Firefox? Highlighting a word and right clicking and selecting "Search Google for ..." was one of the lovely little thi... more

Comment Gavin Hamer said on 4th September 2008

It will certainly be interesting to see whether an Ad-Block variant appears for Chrome. I'm not sure what share of the online advertising business Google owns, and I can'... more

Comment Gavin Hamer said on 4th September 2008

Chrome's market share:
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?sample=21&qprid=43&qpcustom=Chrome+0.2

Interesting odds / Quick way to lighten... more

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