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Google Chrome, the Google Browser
Philipp Lenssen writes "Google announced their very own browser project called Google Chrome — an announcement in the form of a comic book drawn by Scott McCloud, no less. Google says Google Chrome will be open source, include a new JavaScript virtual machine, include the Google Gears add-on by default, and put the tabs above the address bar (not below), among other things. I've also uploaded Google's comic book with all the details (details given from Google's perspective, anyway... let's see how this holds up). While Google provided the URL www.google.com/chrome there's nothing up there yet."
Oh you're right that is faster: http://blogoscoped.com.nyud.net/google-chrome/
I believe you're confused as to what "404 Not Found" means. It means the page you're looking for isn't there, not that the server is overloaded or can't handle the request. It's not slashdotted.
However, this is not Google's normal 404 page. They've definitely configured www.google.com/chrome differently than the rest of the site, so they're obviously planning to put something there.
$x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
$x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
They're not building the whole thing, but it's a bit more than just a rebranding. They're using Webkit (Safari, Konqueror) rather than Gecko (Firefox), but adding a new Javascript engine and UI, and building in Google Gears.
Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
Google doesn't pay Mozilla because they like firefox. They pay because Mozilla drives millions of hits to Google's search engine. As long as firefox is doing that, Google will pay (although, I'm sure they will only freely advertise their own browser now).
"Knowledge is the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing returns" -Journal of Political Econom
It won't in the medium-term, because Google just extended its investment in Mozilla through 2011.
The Rise and Fall of Online Community
Does that mean that their relationship with Mozilla will be ending?
Google recently renewed their monetary agreement with Mozilla for 3 more years.
So, no, it seems their relationship remains strong. Google Chrome sounds like a very cool project, but I'm thinking that it'll be more of an experiment than an actual product, just like most things Google make.
Also, I doubt Mozilla would have a hard time finding funding even if Google pulls the plug on them.