Facts about Chrome and Chromium
Facts about Chrome and Chromium
Everyone knows that the most popular browser at present in the Google’s Chrome browser. It hits the digital market in 2008. But the unknown fact is Chromium, a free and open source project that is compiled to develop Chrome browser. Google sponsors this open-source project and its source code affords the basis for design of various browsers. Chromium itself can act as a standalone web browser. But Chrome has key takeaways such as automatic updates, support for additional video formats, Digital Rights Management (DRM) components to play copyrighted contents, built-in support for Flash, etc.
Pros and Cons of Chrome
Chrome is a proprietary browser, such that no other applications can be decompiled or modified using its source code. It is more user-friendly that supports safe and stable browsing. All these features still keeps it top out of all other web browsers. Few of the drawbacks of Chrome are tracking of browsing data, and allowing only the extensions available at the Chrome web store. However you can delete the browsing data, if you browse using Incognito mode. Because of its advanced automatic updates and error reports, it provides a secure and reliable browsing environment. Since Chrome has a broad built-in support media codecs, it allows continuous video streaming from sites such as YouTube, Netflix, etc.
Pros and Cons of Chromium
Chromium is open-source, such that its source code is accessible. It is subjected to more frequent updates since Chromium is compiled from Chromium Projects source code. Nowadays, there is a contradictory that Google is tracking users’ browsing history because of the data tracking nature of Chrome. In contrast, users those do not wish their data to be tracked by Google can make use of Chromium.
The shortcoming of Chromium which lays it behind Chrome is that it does not support Adobe Flash. You have to add the necessary code for using Flash in Chromium. Also, Chromium does not provide automatic updates and hence all the updates have to be downloaded and installed manually. It does not have support to media codecs such as MP3, AAC H.264 which are necessary to play media in the browser. In order to stream videos on Chromium, these codecs should be installed manually.
So, Chrome or Chromium: Which one to use?
Most of the people choose Chrome because it is easier to understand and provides a range of useful add-ons. On the other hand, Chromium is quite useful for the Linux users, because of its open source nature. Most of the Linus distributors work with Chromium as the default web browser, in lieu of Firefox. But some of the Linux users, who are not fervent about open source software wish to use Chrome rather than Chromium. So, for regular users, Chrome is the better option. For advanced users and web developers Chromium is likely the better one. After a careful and thorough review, make the choice based on what the browser is used for.