Today Google launched Chrome, a new internet browser, a move that was, for most people, completely out of the blue. However, rumors that Google was working on it had been circulating for a couple of years, and the question of “Why not?” had been posed for some time.

The most interesting thing about Chrome’s interface design, what may indeed make or break it, is its low visibility. You almost don’t know the browser is there, and I love that, though I think that some of the functions that were dropped might become issues. I don’t have time right now to do a direct comparison between the stripped-down functions in Chrome (as compared to something standard, like Internet Explorer 7), but I hope to do that later.

One of the great new design features of Chrome is the addition of a design-friendly search-page button that doesn’t pop up in an ugly little window, along with a status bar that exists by default, and disappears when not being used (for examples, click the image below). In Internet Explorer, the status bar created a permanent footprint in the bottom of the page.

For design notes on Chrome, click the image below. I honestly don’t have a lot to say here, this design is so minimal it could almost be compared favorably to the first iPod. However, I think one major difference is the iPod took the handful of design elements it actually addressed, and really made them stand out. I’m glad that Google has decided to simplify the browsing process, and remove the huge “Brick” of design, functionality, and extraneous bells & whistles from the top of the page.

Interface Advantages of Google Chrome

Favorite Bookmarks Bar: The bar on every browser that lets you display your favorite links as a toolbar is the greatest thing to ever happen to bookmarks. In fact, it is such a great feature I barely use del.icio.us anymore, because when I first started with it (this may have changed), there wasn’t an extension to display the most favorite of favorites right there in front of my face, underneath the address bar on the browser.

Google’s Chrome has finally taken this feature to the next level. It is easy to show, easy to hide (by simply tapping CTRL B) so you can get the extra pixels back into your display when you don’t need it. With Internet Explorer 7, you have to right click the header, uncheck Links, and then repeat process anytime you want to bring it back and forth. In other words, you either use it, and suffer the loss of pixels, or you don’t.

Additionally, even if you have CTRL B hidden your bookmarks, when you open a new tab, as if by a miracle, there they are. Once you click one and go (or type in an address), they go back to hiding. Ahhhhhh, good bookmarks. Good boys.

Information Heirarchy: The first thing that struck me about the design is there really is no heirarchy of information: Chrome gives equal visual weight to all elements. However, this isn’t completely accurate. The one element that benefits from an (albeit subtle) increase in size/visibility is the actual URL (see image below). In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the back and forward buttons are the top of the heirarchy.

Google has made the right move here: as the heirarchy of the browser should not interfere with the content of the actual web page the user is viewing.

Download Bar Integration: Another great decision by Google is the download file function, which is now integrated into the page, rather than opening a new, ugly window that takes up a spot on the Windows start bar. Files that are being downloaded pop up with file name, data downloaded/remaining, time estimate, and, to add a little extra kick, a thumbnail image of the file type (see image below). Even better, not only does the download bar integrate into the page, but it is married to the tab that is downloading it, and doesn’t show on the others.