14 DAY TRIAL // The dev channel of Google Chrome has been updated, the Chrome 8.0 stable release is days away and the Chrome 9.0 beta is very close. At the same time, the Chrome Web Store is very close to launch, Chrome OS is less than a month away as well and that's not counting new features worked on for Chrome 10. It's not much of a stretch to say that the Chrome team has been keeping busy lately.
Google Chrome has evolved from an ambitious project to a rather massive undertaking. There are five different concomitant versions, three supported platforms, not counting Google TV, and an off-shoot operating system and web app store.
A new dev channel build has been released, Chrome 9.0.597.0 dev, bringing with it quite a number of new or improved features including GPU acceleration, Chrome Instant tweaks and more groundwork for apps and extensions.
But the exciting announcements are yet to come. If Google manages to stick to its schedule, and there aren't any indications that it's not, the Google Chrome 8.0 stable release is very close to launch, very likely coming tomorrow.
Apart from the new features and improvements you'd expect from a major version release, the stable version launch will most likely be accompanied by the launch of the Google Chrome Web Store for web applications.
The Web Store has been several months in the making and has seen several delays already. However, the latest rumors and indications point to a very close launch date. In the worst-case scenario, the Web Store will be launched along with the first Google Chrome 9.0 beta.
The beta is coming a bit later in the month, a couple of weeks from now. Google Chrome 9.0 stable should be landing by mid January next year.
But December has another big launch for the Chrome team. Google Chrome OS is expected to see the light of day by the end of the year. It's unclear what this means for now, though.
It may be a Google-branded netbook, a la Nexus One, or one from its partners. Or it may just be an "official" launch with no actual product availability. Whatever the case, December is going to be a busier month than usual for the team.
Google Chrome for Windows is available for download here.
Google Chrome for Linux is available for download here.
Google Chrome for Mac is available for download here.