Why Google Chrome is not the same and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We talk about the critical shortcomings of the browser and select a replacement for it.

January 2019 is a month of bad news about Google Chrome. So, in the Chromium blog, there was a module built into the browser that would restrict the work of third-party blockers like Adblock and uBlock. This means that Google is trying to take control of advertising entirely into its own hands.

At the end of January, it also became known that the company was violating the rules for collecting user data - it was worth 50 million euros.

The ram manufacturer Corsair finished off the topic of Chrome failures. In a comic video he shot, they showed how the browser deals with the RAM. Two people in T-shirts with the Chrome and Photoshop logos - which users also regularly complain about - are eating cookies that look like sticks of RAM.

So what's going on with Google and its browser? Is negative news about Chrome and company policies an exception or a trend? We answer exciting questions, discuss the cons of the tool and figure out what we, users, to do with all this.

What's wrong with Google Chrome

As of December last year, 70% of Internet users choose the Chrome browser. And a third of them have mobile devices on Android, which is also responsible for the development of Google.

Chrome in them is a standard browser, it is "built" into the operating system. This means that it should ideally work in tandem with the device. However, this is not quite true.

Chrome has a number of downsides. Moreover, they are noticed not only by smartphone owners, but also by PC users on any operating system.

1. Consumes a lot of RAM

The gluttony of the browser is due to the fact that when you open tabs, it creates several separate processes. And in order to switch between tabs instantly, all data is stored in RAM.

If flash-elements are open in the tabs - video, animation, interactive - the load on the RAM increases significantly. Imagine how a browser loads the devices of users who open dozens of tabs.

In addition to the multiprocessor architecture, the memory in Chrome is eaten up by the preload function, which serves to quickly open links. The algorithm predicts which address you will go to, and loads the necessary data even before your click.

The load on the operating system is also added by browser extensions: each takes a separate amount of memory. Some of them use computer resources to monetize, and this has an even worse effect on RAM.

Despite the fact that the browser uses the memory of the device for fast operation, the above sometimes leads to the opposite. Chrome and the operating system after a while just start to work very slowly or stop doing it altogether.

2. Keeps track of you

It's no secret that Chrome sends your data to Google's servers: location, search history, saved sites. The browser syncs bookmarks, passwords and settings with servers, so your personal information is not only stored with you. And against the background of the sale of data, the issue of their security is especially relevant.

So, in a recent one with the participation of Google, it turned out that information about data collection is scattered between pages and to access some of them, it takes 5-6 clicks.

The user agreement in Chrome has no legal force: a person does not fully understand what he is agreeing to.

Google ticks the checkboxes in advance, although by law consent is only taken into account when the person ticks the mark with their own hand. And the information collected in Chrome is generally hidden behind the "More settings" link. Whereas according to data protection rules, studying the list is a mandatory step. And the user should see the list on the first page.

3. Imposes advertising

In the ad preferences in the browser it says:

We show you useful and interesting ads on Google services (such as Search and YouTube). We select ads based on the information you add to your account.

Chrome analyzes your personal information. For example, gender and age. And based on this, it shows ads that are often completely inappropriate.

So, in YouTube videos, girls see inserts with a mobile game about the sultan and concubines, and men see ads for the sale of cars in installments. Moreover, users are forced to view them regardless of whether they are interested in something like that.

that they plan to implement in the browser will also choose it for you. Google has previously announced the development of its own limiter "bad", according to the company, ads. Now it aims to squeeze out competitors.

Developers of third-party extensions are invited to send lists of unwanted ads to the Google team, and they will decide what to show and what not.

4. Inhibits

Chrome was the fastest browser for a long time, but gradually lost ground. Opera caught up with it several versions ago, Vivaldi and Firefox are also ahead in certain characteristics, and Edge is in the lead in tests.

Users who do not overload the browser may not notice this difference. But those who open dozens of tabs and actively use bookmarks immediately notice its slowness.

An unexpected disadvantage of Chrome is that it strains the computer even in locked mode. And, if you opened several tabs, put your PC into sleep mode and ran away to a meeting, rest assured: the device will then need at least 10 minutes to boot up.

5. Difficult to configure

Customizing the program for yourself is a basic function that people use and should use. The ability to personalize your browser with an intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools is especially important when working on a PC.

Chrome lags behind all of its competitors in personalizing settings.

Chrome's interface is simple and easy to use, but extremely limited. Therefore, you cannot move extensions to the other side of the panel, add buttons, resize the address bar, or move bookmarks to a different location.

6. Wastes battery

Android users' complaints that the browser consumes more power than other applications have been around for a long time. On the Internet, you can find a bunch, opened a few years ago, where smartphone owners discuss the same problem: Chrome battery drain is unbelievably high.

"My Chrome drains 200% more battery than my screen" is a typical user complaint.

Moreover, the problem persists even if you use a different browser. Users that even an inactivated application "chews the battery like a steak": in this mode, Chrome spends at least 10% of the charge.

In each new version of the OS, Android developers impose restrictions on the amount of applications that consume more power than others, and on the background request for geolocation.

But despite this, the battery consumption of the browser only increases. For example, as a result of the latest update, Google Chrome can discharge a smartphone up to 20% in 12 hours of background use.

And it's not just Android users who complain. There are many articles on the Internet such as Six Tips to Make Chrome Use Less Battery for PC owners.

And you can follow the recommendations and make compromises, but it's not entirely clear why this is necessary. Especially in a world with a dozen browsers available.

How to replace Google Chrome

The guys from Chrome Story noticed a new piece of code in Chromium - it shows that machine learning technology can be introduced into the browser. According to Google, this will reduce the use of RAM.

But this is not good news: it is not known whether the development will move from concept to production. And, even if the problem with memory consumption disappears, there will be many others, the solution of which has not been announced by Google.

For those who do not have the time and desire to wait, we recommend paying attention to other browsers. And, although they are not so popular, in some features Chrome is noticeably ahead.

Firefox

Doesn't eat memory and is famous for its intuitive interface. You can change the order and size of buttons, add new and remove unnecessary ones, create your own toolbars.

Firefox also performed well in performance tests: it takes up 2.4 times less RAM than Chrome.

Opera

Supports Chrome extensions and is easy to customize. There is debugging of functions for yourself, instant search, fast typing and saving of frequently visited pages. The latest update has made Opera even better, so the browser can be the best tool for quickly navigating the web.

Microsoft Edge

Fast, lightweight and intuitive. The guys from Mashable compared Edge and Chrome in terms of speed and RAM consumption, and the former won in both tests. With recent updates, users have also praised Microsoft's browser for its launch speed, user-friendly interface, security, and minimal battery consumption.

And Edge has a built-in reading mode: the page is automatically cleared of ads and extraneous elements, adjusts the size and type of font, background color.

Vivaldi

Looks neat and works fast with tabs. So, after 50 tabs in Chrome, new ones open with friezes. And compared to it, Vivaldi is a very nimble browser, especially if you turn off the animation when opening new pages.

Other goodies: quick spell checker, easy access to commands and history, customization, conveniently grouped context menu. Vivaldi also supports most extensions, making it easy to switch from one browser to another.

Safari

Works great with all Apple devices. And the MakeUseOf website even published the reasons why owners of "apple" technology should not switch to Chrome: it drains the battery and slows down the laptop when watching HD video.

Even on older MacBooks, replacing Chrome with Safari will give at least an hour of extra work.

What is the bottom line

Browsers are perhaps the most used program on modern devices. Chrome may be a familiar solution, but you're unlikely to be happy with the fact that it eats up RAM and power like a Thanksgiving turkey.

And how Google deals with ads and data will soon be a more talked-about topic than.

To put up with it or not is up to you. The key is to remember that there are many other browsers, each offering their own unique solution.