Google Chrome 10 speed Ups

Yesterday Google released the first beta of Chrome 10, touting the fastest JavaScript engine of the new version.

According to tests run by Computerworld, Chrome 10 is 64% faster than its predecessor V8 JavaScript benchmarks on Google's own. Google has sent the stable version of Chrome 9 earlier this month.

Google maintains three separate "channels" of Chrome--stable, beta and dev--that illustrate increasingly editions with rougher edges.

But in another JavaScript benchmarks--widely quoted WebKit SunSpider--10 Chrome beta was not faster than Chrome 9. WebKit is the open source project that develops the browser engine with the same name; both Chrome and Apple Safari are based on the WebKit engine.

Google debuted a new optimization technology, dubbed "crankshaft," in December, when it was added to JavaScript rendering engine Chrome V8. Press release yesterday was the first beta build to crankshaft features.

Computerworld ran Chrome 9 and 10 three times each through V8 and SunSpider on a PC with Windows 7, then the three scores on average.

Chrome 10 beta was 64% faster than Chrome 9 V8, but only a statistically-insignificant 0.1% faster in SunSpider.

Two months ago, Google engineers explained why SunSpider scores for a crankshaft equipped Chrome show little, if any, improvement on browsers that do not include the optimization technology.

"The idea [in crankshaft] is heavily optimize the code that runs frequently and not lose time, optimizing code that is not," said engineers. "Because of this, benchmarks that end in a few milliseconds, e.g. SunSpider, will show small improvement with crankshaft. Make an application more work, the greater the gains ".

Other additions to 10 Chrome beta includes hardware accelerated video, a change to the way you view your browser options, automatic password synchronization and a new security feature that automatically disables the older plug-ins.

The new hardware acceleration moves some of the videos on your computer's graphics processor, thus reducing the impact on the CPU in the system. Google said the new technology was still under construction, and feature 10 Chrome beta an implementation of "preliminary".

Passwords are now synchronized by default synchronization tool with integrated Chrome, which also keeps your bookmarks, extensions, applications, and other settings consistent through copies of chrome running on different machines.

The browser also now automatically disables out-of-date plug-ins to keep users safer--plug-ins have become an important goal of hackers seeking to exploit vulnerable versions. Almost 80% of browsers used by consumers require patching, a security company said this week, with most flaws unfixed residing in plug-ins like Java to Oracle and Adobe Reader.

Mozilla Firefox includes similar protection, alert users when they are about to use an obsolete plug-ins.

Users can download Chrome 10 beta from the Google site.

If Google keeps its usual calendar six-to-eight weeks, most if not all features in the beta will make it into the stable version at the end of March or early April.

Chrome 10 beta was 64% faster than the "stable" Chrome 9 in V8 JavaScript benchmark tests of Google's own. (V8, high scores are better).

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and General technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @ gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed. His e-mail address is gkeizer@computerworld.com.

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