Hey, You Got Chrome in My Internet Explorer: Chrome Frame Speeds Up IE

Despite getting rave reviews and being ranked as one of the fastest internet browsers out there, Google Chrome hasn’t seen overwhelming adoption among internet-goers. The biggest problem is that the vast majority of n00bs on the interwebs don’t know anything but Internet Explorer exists, but there are some significant problems for people who want to use Chrome too, like websites that aren’t compatible (not so much a problem anymore) or web portals and content management systems that only work in IE (still a monumental problem). Fortunately, Google has created a fix for the problem by launching Chrome Frame, a plugin that injects Google Chrome into Internet Explorer.

Chrome Frame allows developers to make it possible for users to use the Chrome rendering and JavaScript engine. The best part is that the transition is basically instantaneous and the user continues to the use Internet Explorer, but with the added power of Chrome. The changes with Chrome Frame don’t affect the interface though, so don’t expect your IE window to start looking like Chrome.

Google didn’t bother to work with Microsoft on this plugin, although Microsoft gives quite a bit of leeway to developers, so Google didn’t really need to. Now Chrome Frame offers a new alternative to developers and companies whose infrastructure is based around IE. A single line of code on a site will allow IE users to experience faster rendering times without leaving IE.

There is no way to make the switch to Chrome Frame permanent for IE users, at least for the time being. There is a work around though if you want to take advantage of the Chrome Frame benefits whenever possible. Simply put “cf:” (without the quotes) in front of any URL. If the site uses the Chrome Frame code, then your IE browser will take advantage of the Chrome render engine.

Chrome Frame will have the biggest benefit to Google through increased usability of Google’s web apps. The web apps work better on modern browsers with fast render times and JavaScript engines, so Chrome Frame will make them more usable for everyone with IE.

Of course, Chrome Frame allows developers and businesses to have the best of both worlds when designing web pages. They can cater to the majority of users (those still using IE) and still get the benefits of Chrome speed.

Google has also announced intentions to use Chrome Wave to make Google Wave compatible with Internet Explorer.

For more tech news, see the blog home page or these related posts:

Alienware to Launch New M15x Gaming Laptop at Tokyo Game Show

Theaters to Use Infrared Light to Stop Movie Pirates

Amazon Launches Private-Label Electronics Accessories Line

RedesignGoogle Offers You a Chance to Give the Search Engine Giant a Makeover

Google Ad Exchange to Go Live, Take on Yahoo's Display Ad Business