Computerworld - After years of unexplained separation, Google’s Chrome browser and Android operating system are finally joining forces.
Google officially launched Chrome for Android on Tuesday. The app, available for any Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) device, functions separately from the stock system browser — and offers plenty of advantages over it, too. In fact, Google says it expects the new Chrome browser to eventually replace the stock Android browser, becoming the platform’s default program for mobile Web access.
The reason Chrome for Android is only available on ICS devices, by the way, is because of the browser’s dependency on hardware acceleration — something earlier versions of Android don’t support.
But enough chit-chat: Let’s dive into the new Chrome for Android browser and see what this bad boy’s all about.
Chrome for Android: The User Interface
The first thing you notice about Chrome for Android is how different its interface is from the stock Android browser. Chrome for Android looks like, well, Chrome. The app has a clean, simple design with a light gray color scheme. It also has a handful of nice animations, like a pleasant slide-in effect when you open a new tab.
The app’s similiarity to the Chrome desktop browser is even more noticeable on a tablet than on a smartphone, thanks to the extra screen space and the way the app adjusts to fill that form. More
