Google services that just don’t work in Chrome
Chrome has been hailed as the second coming of the browser since it’s fast and relatively stable in terms of crashing. But what about all the Google services that you can’t use from Chrome?
It was a major surprise when Google released Chrome. Not that Google doesn’t produce excellent software, the company just usually sticks to Web applications.
However, the core concepts of speed and protecting against crashes were sound and millions of Google fans downloaded Chrome. What they found, however, are a host of sites and services that don’t work in Google Chrome.
It would be too much to cover them all in one post or in one day really. However, here are Google’s own services that don’t seem to work quite right with the new browser on the block.
Google Toolbar
TechCrunch’s Erick Schonfeld points out that the Google Toolbar isn’t available for Chrome. The company actually recommends Firefox or Internet Explorer for Google Toolbar.
This isn’t a huge surprise since the plugin architecture isn’t completed for Chrome. However that just adds a host of other functionality that users must give up to switch to Chrome.
Blogger
Google’s blogging tool is still around, but hasn’t seen much in the way of upgrades since Google acquired it. It also doesn’t seem to have been much of a focus when building Chrome.
Users report errors when creating and publishing drafts, and there are reportedly issues with editing the CSS layout from Chrome as well. Take that small time publishers!
Google Analytics
Google’s tool for tracking your Web site or blog’s traffic uses tons of shiny graphs to show trends. However all it shows in Chrome is a huge red box.
The aforementioned huge red box comes a security warning that reads, “this frame has been blocked because it contains some unsecure content.” Oh Google, you reveal too much.
Google Desktop
If you’ve never heard of Google Desktop, it indexes everything on your computer so that you can find it later. It’s much more powerful than the built-in filed search in Windows, unless of course Chrome is your primary browser.
If Chrome is your primary browser, Google Desktop will refuse to load altogether. Now good luck finding that report that has to be on your boss’s desk by close of business today.
Gmail
This one is a real problem since Google has touted its improved Gmail experience in Chrome. The problem comes in if you click for Gmail to, “Stay signed in.”
After selecting that option, Google Chrome will refuse to load your inbox and may throw itself into a nasty redirect loop. How’s that for an improved experience?
Overall Chrome has shown potential in terms of faster browsing and stability. However all of the issues it comes with still make it unreliable as a user’s only browser.
Did I miss any others?
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August 27th, 2009
As a Chromium developer, a lot of these reports were news to me. I tested the Google Analytics item and found it was working fine. I also have never seen (or heard of) problems staying signed into Gmail.
In general these reports mostly seem to be many months old, and not backed up by other user reports. Did you do any verification of any of these “problems”?
August 28th, 2009
I concur, Is the Toolbar that brings a lot of the features to IE and Firefox really necessary for a browser that utilizes the feature set already? I was always under the impression that the toolbar is for people that do not want to use Chrome still having some of the Google features.
Also the toolbar would be a slap in the face for a browser that prides itself on its minimalism and lack of overhead (literally)
August 28th, 2009
@Peter
These are based on user reports, some of which are echoed multiple times. The Gmail workaround is posted in numerous Google help forums.
I tried to verify them each independently, but the Chrome Installer itself keeps crashing.
August 28th, 2009
@Dave:
“…but the Chrome Installer itself keeps crashing”??
Dave, either you are really stupid, or you are really smart…
Okay, on a second thought, you are really stupid. You don’t deserve to be a blogger.
August 31st, 2009
@Rahul
What an amazingly strong argument.