Two weeks after its first birthday, Google Chrome developers have celebrated by releasing Mac and Linux versions of the Internet browser.
Chrome still only holds the fourth spot for market share of the browser market, with about 3 per cent.
In its Google Chrome blog the company revealed it's working on Google Chrome for Mac and Linux, which are making rapid progress on the developer channel.
Users will need to be running a Mac with an Intel CPU and Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later. The Mac build still lacks certain privacy features so it’s not yet appropriate for general consumer use, Google warns. When users download Google Chrome or use it to contact Google’s servers, the search company receives standard log information such as the machine’s IP address and cookies. But users cannot currently configure the Mac OS X version to not send cookies to Google or other sites.
“We're also hard at work on Google Chrome for Mac and Linux, which are making rapid progress on the developer channel,” Chrome Product Manager, Brian Rakowski, wrote.
“We're keeping them in the developer channel a little while longer to make sure that they provide a satisfying native experience on these platforms and meet our standards for stability and performance.”
The Mac and Linux versions are missing key features such as printing, but users can still download the browser through the developer channel. The mainstream version is expected within months.
Have you used the new Chrome browser for Mac or Linux? Email Computerworld or follow @computerworldau on Twitter and let us know what you think.