Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Google Chrome only browser to make gains in February

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | March 1, 2010, 3:56am PST

Data collected by web metrics firm Net Applications suggests that over the month of February, Google’s Chrome web browser was the only desktop browser to make any gains over the month.

Google Chrome saw a jump in usage share to 5.61%, up 0.39% from 5.22% in January. This means that so far over 2010, Chrome has grabbed 0.96% market share.

Other browsers didn’t fare so well.

Internet Explorer: 61.58%, down 0.54% since January
Firefox: 24.23%, down 0.20% since January
Safari: 4.45%, down 0.08% since January
Opera: 2.35%, down 0.03% since January

While Chrome has a long way to go to catch up with Firefox, it’s now clear that this browser has what it takes to grab significant market share quickly. After all, Google has a massive online presence and can use these outlets to push the browser to users.

Net Applications measures operating system usage by tracking computers that visit the 40,000 sites monitored for clients, which represents a pool of about 160 million unique visitors each month. This data is then weighted based on the estimated size of each country’s Internet population.

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Google Inc., Web Browser, Google Chrome, Web Browsers, Internet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Relative drops

Safari and Opera show relativly the largerst drops in market share.
IE and FF show similar relative drops in marketshare.
IE9
1st Mar 2010
- Reply to
- Flag
IE8 overtakes FF

IE8 now at 25,8% larger than all of Firefox versions together.
IE9
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
If everyone used IE8 would you jump off that bridge too?

That it's supposedly 25.8% larger doesn't mean dink. It's still shyte,comparatively. In almost all cases, Firefox is what runs pages best. Why bother with IE8 if you can avoid it?

I use it for Netflix. Everything else (including using 1 browser for each of 2 gmail accounts) is done with anything else BUT IE.

I'd also remind that there was no IE SIX for Mac, so... So much for that.
SpectreWriter
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
IE8 and Netflix...

Tech support for Netflix (if you ever contact
them) will tell you to use FireFox instead as
their FIRST troubleshooting step. I have had to
contact them in the past due to their
excessively high network requirements and the
extremely low and crappy internet service in the
south east provided by time warner. each time I
call Netflix for assistance within 5 minutes of
answering the phone the tech asks me if I am not
using FireFox then to run/install it now and try
again, then if I continue to have problems to
call them back.
aiellenon
3rd Mar 2010
- Flag
RE: Google Chrome only browser to make gains in February

People are still actually using that spyware of a browser? Someone needs to tell them to read Google's EULA and how it explicitly states anything you type or browse becomes their property.

The good news is that Opera has lost share. I'll be happy when their numbers hit 0.0% and decide to close up shop.
Loverock Davidson
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
I actually read the Chrome EULA

It explicitly states the opposite of what you
are saying
(http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html):

8.4 Google acknowledges and agrees that it
obtains no right, title or interest from you
(or your licensors) under these Terms in or to
any Content that you submit, post, transmit or
display on, or through, the Services, including
any intellectual property rights which subsist
in that Content (whether those rights happen to
be registered or not, and wherever in the world
those rights may exist). Unless you have agreed
otherwise in writing with Google, you agree
that you are responsible for protecting and
enforcing those rights and that Google has no
obligation to do so on your behalf.
windian
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
Thanks for correcting the misinformation

seems highly unlikely, glad you took the time to snopes that one out.:)
SpectreWriter
1st Mar 2010
- Flag
Yes, thanks

LD already knows this but conveniently disappears from any thread that provides verifiable facts.

It is valuable info for any well-meaning person that stumbles upon his misinformation.
Viva la crank dodo
1st Mar 2010
- Flag
Lawyerese...

Google acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no right, title or interest from you (or your licensors)

Notice that "from you" phrase in the statement? They don't obtain the rights from you. If they don't obtain the rights from "you", then who do they obtain them from? Is that lawyerspeak for "the rights come from Google"?

Whatever it means, I won't trust Google nor any other internet web-site with my information, even if they spell it out very clearly on their EULAs, but I would place the biggest amount of distrust on Google.
adornoe@...
1st Mar 2010
- Flag
Because...

They advertised the crap out of that piece of junk excuse for a browser. The incompatibilities are obscene.

I wanted badly to like it, but it's not worthy of consideration, and all the spam in the world won't make it any better. Maybe if it worked properly AND was fast.
SpectreWriter
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
Not sure what version you once ran?

I am not sure what version of chrome you ran to
collect ur opinion, but, I rarely see any
glitches anymore. If anything, chrome has offered
a whole new way for me to think about services
from the internet. Especially with the likes of
"Create an application shortcut" which I see as
being the future of websites
(html based apps on the desktop). In addition,
I currently have 15 very useful extensions running
in Chrome, and unlike Firefox, it still maintains
blazing fast speed, with functionality you just
can't find elsewhere. Try their latest browser
before slamming something it doesn't seem like you
have tried that thoroughly!
jivester
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
Agreed - Chrome fenders are the bomb!

I agree with your assessment... Chrome has
improved markedly since the first beta version was
released. It is now my primary browser under three
different operating systems. One of the features
that I like best is its Webkit underpinnings
permitting me to use that standard for web-based
programming facilities.
Olderdan
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
User base wants simple browser

I think it has become clear that their is a good deal of users who want a simple browser. Firefox over the years has to some extent become a bit bloated. Opera is deffinately too bloated and complicated and IE 8 is secure but slow. Google really knew what some wanted and they delivered that in Chrome.
jscott418
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
RE: Google Chrome only browser to make gains in February

Much ado about nothing! Slow news day?

I have several browsers I use, depending on what site(s) I want to connect to. If it's a risky site, I surely wouldn't use any of the top 5 mentioned in the article. OK, maybe Firefox with 'NoScript' enabled.
sirpaul1
1st Mar 2010
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- Flag
RE: Google Chrome only browser to make gains in February

I like Chrome and its extensions,but if you use a lot of them,the browser slows down,just like Firefox with its toolbars and add-ons.That?s why I use Opera now,clearly the fastest browser.
anto31
1st Mar 2010
- Reply to
- Flag