Intellectual Property Law

How Google Built Chrome

By Susan Crawford

Fine story from Steven Levy here.

In the coming era of cloud computing, the Web will be much more than just a means of delivering content ? it will be a platform in its own right. The problem with revamping existing browsers to accommodate this concept is that they have developed an ecology of add-on extensions (toolbars, RSS readers, etc.) that would be hopelessly disrupted by a radical upgrade. “As a Firefox developer, you love to innovate, but you’re always worried that it means in the next version all the extensions will be broken,” Fisher says. “And indeed, that’s what happens.” The conclusion was obvious: Only by building its own software could Google bring the browser into the cloud age and potentially trigger a spiral of innovation not seen since Microsoft and Netscape one-upped each other almost monthly.

This is big.  TechCrunch loves the speed and ease of use.  Now we’ll have days of concern about Google-dominance.

Why not shake things up in the browser market. Google is sitting on so much cash - at least it’s developing something useful.

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First day of school - new students, new classroom (secret classroom!  somewhere in the library!), lots going on.  All of you in the working world are really missing out.

Full post as published by Susan Crawford Blog on September 02, 2008 (boomark / email).