If you ask Google, the best thing about the new version is its speed.  SunSpider benchmarks show a 305 percent improvement in JavaScript rendering time compared to the first version of Chrome.  Here’s the chart below.

  Google Chrome 5 may be fast, but it’s some of the other new features that make it even much more appealing to try out.  I think now with version 5 it’s finally ready to start competing with Firefox.   While Google Chrome was in beta, it grabbed the attention of a massive load of new users thanks to their viral marketing video.  The video was so popular in fact that it made it to the front page of many of the top networking sites in the world.  A quick conversation on the popular social site Digg gives a prime example of how one Firefox user was quickly converted to Chrome thanks to some of the new features listed below.

  What are some of the new features in Chrome 5? Here’s the list of changes.

Zoom Preference MemoryNew Plug-in Manager, disable one or multiple plug-ins.Built-in Geolocation integrated with Google Maps (requires opt-in thank god)Option to turn off Google TranslateIntegrated Windows Authentication, this one is a HUGE deal.File drag-and-drop capabilitiesImproved HTML5 supportOffline application caching, Google Gears = ReplacedIntegrated Flash Player, updates are integrated as well

  Overall Google has made some HUGE changes with Chrome 5, and all of them are looking very groovy.  If you haven’t used Chrome before, I’d say now is the time to give it a shot.  I know I’ll be covering some of its features in-depth here on groovyPost in the weeks to come. Download Google Chrome 5.0 Google Chrome Manual Offline Installer Link Comment Name * Email *

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