Google Chrome now available for Mac, Linux

Google has released test versions of its Chrome Web browser for Mac and Linux operating systems.

The release comes just over a year after the launch of Chrome for Windows.

Google admits the Mac version of Chrome has taken longer than expected to develop.

“We wanted Google Chrome to feel at home on the Mac, so we've focused on uniting our clean, simple design with subtle animations and effects to create a snappy and satisfying browsing experience on OS X,” said Google’s Product Manager, Brian Rakowski, in a blog posting. “As you might expect, the speed of Google Chrome for Mac is something we're very proud of.”

Rakowski claims Chrome for Mac launches so quickly, there’s hardly even time for the icon to bounce – this is what the launch icons for Mac programs do when they’re loading.

More information about Google Chrome for Mac can be read here.

The focus for development of the Linux version was also on speed, stability and security, and Rakowski thanked the Linux community for its help with the project. The Linux version can be downloaded here.

Google has also updated the extensions list for Chrome, with more than 300 extensions now available for PC and Linux. Extensions for Mac are still in development. Check out the Chrome Extensions gallery here.