Google is promoting its new web browser - Google Chrome - on its UK homepage, billing it as 'minimal design with sophisticated technology' to make the web faster, safer, and easier than using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.Google has launched a beta version of the open source browser, which acts as a tool to access various web pages and applications. It now has a link to download Chrome on its UK search homepage site to drive awareness.

It's currently available for Windows XP and Windows Vista. (Mac and Linux versions are being developed, so stay tuned.) To install the Windows version for your user account, follow these steps below.

1. Visit http://www.google.com/chrome
2. Click the Download Google Chrome button. Downloading the installer file from this location ensures that you'll be able to get updates, security fixes, and access to all of Google Chrome's features.
3. Review the Terms of Service, then click the Accept and Install button to continue.
4.Once the installation finishes, the 'Welcome to Google Chrome' dialog box appears. Click the Start Google Chrome button to finish the default installation or click the Customize these settings link to choose specific installation options.

Google Chrome is among the first to offer a number of different features. For example, though tabbed browsing has been added to nearly all browsers, Google Chrome takes it a step further. Instead of just opening up a blank page, the browser opens a page with thumbnail shots of the user's most visited sites. This allows for the user to quickly navigate to their desired pages. While the design of Google Chrome may be somewhat simplistic, the company believes the overall product is on the cutting edge of technology. For example, if a Web site causes a conflict within a browser, often the browser would freeze up and the entire browsing session would need restarted. Google Chrome allows for only that one tab to be frozen, while the other tabs continue to function normally.

In designing Google Chrome, the designers borrowed from other open source software for a number of ideas. Particularly, they credit Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox. One of those features is seen in the URL bar, which serves both the traditional function and as a search bar. Firefox has an intuitive search bar where users would not have to type, for example, "www.google.com," they could simply type "google" and the proper Web page would appear. To compete with Internet Explorer, Web browsers must continually offer a list of new features that stand the browser apart. Google Chrome and others often tout speed and responsiveness as a big issue, taking a direct aim at one of the biggest points of criticism for Internet Explorer. Stability is another key that some competing browsers often mention.

Also, as with most browsers truly interested in competing for market share with Internet Explorer, the software is free to download and use. This is nearly a must with any Internet browser simply because Internet Explorer is always included with a Windows operating system. Therefore, there is very little incentive for users to buy a different product. In many cases, standalone products have enough of a sell simply getting users to download the free product.