Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    Google Retiring Chrome Frame Plug-In for Internet Explorer in 2014

    By
    Todd R. Weiss
    -
    June 17, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Google is retiring its Chrome Frame plug-in that allows users of older versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser to see newer content that wasn’t built to be displayed on older browsers.

      The Chrome Frame plug-in will cease to be supported by Google starting in January 2014, wrote Robert Shield, a Google Chrome engineer, in a June 13 post on The Chromium Blog.

      Chrome Frame was unveiled by Google in September 2009 when “many people were using browsers that lagged behind the leading edge,” wrote Shield. “In order to reach the broadest base of users, developers often had to either build multiple versions of their applications or not use the new capabilities at all. We created Chrome Frame — a secure plug-in that brings a modern engine to old versions of Internet Explorer — to allow developers to bring better experiences to more users, even those who were unable to move to a more capable browser.”

      Things have changed since then, though, as more users have upgraded their computers, operating systems and browsers in the meantime.
      “Today, most people are using modern browsers that support the majority of the latest web technologies,” wrote Shield. “Better yet, the usage of legacy browsers is declining significantly and newer browsers stay up to date automatically, which means the leading edge has become mainstream.”

      With that in mind, Google made the decision to drop the Chrome Frame plug-in because it has become unneeded, he wrote. “Given these factors we’ve decided to retire Chrome Frame, and will cease support and updates for the product in January 2014. If you are a developer with an app that points users to Chrome Frame, please prompt visitors to upgrade to a modern browser.”

      Google has provided an FAQ page where any remaining users of Chrome Frame can find out how to make a transition to a modern Web browser.

      “It’s unusual to build something and hope it eventually makes itself obsolete, but in this case we see the retirement of Chrome Frame as evidence of just how far the web has come,” wrote Shield.

      Google Chrome Frame debuted back in 2009 as an open-source plug-in that enabled Chrome’s WebKit rendering engine to run in older versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The problem with the old versions of IE was that they often didn’t adequately support newer Web technologies such as HTML5 or offer the performance boost associated with JavaScript, according to an earlier eWEEK report. The plug-in was suited for IE versions 6, 7 and 8.

      Frame was created at the time because back then IE had a Web browser market share of 67 percent despite the steady nibbling from Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. With that solid user base, Google created Google Chrome Frame as a workaround, particularly for corporate users pinned to IE.

      Not everyone was happy about the Chrome Frame project at that time, however.

      After the release, Microsoft claimed that Google’s Chrome Frame made the Internet Explorer less secure. Microsoft accused Google of expanding the attack surface for IE, making it easier for hackers to make attacks. Microsoft warned users not to use Chrome Frame, citing the possibility that it could double potential security attacks from hackers.

      Google countered at the time that the plug-in was designed with security in mind from the start.

      Todd R. Weiss
      As a technology journalist covering enterprise IT for more than 15 years, I joined eWEEK.com in September 2014 as the site's senior writer covering all things mobile. I write about smartphones, tablets, laptops, assorted mobile gadgets and services,mobile carriers and much more. I formerly was a staff writer for Computerworld.com from 2000 to 2008 and previously wrote for daily newspapers in eastern Pennsylvania. I'm an avid traveler, motorcyclist, technology lover, cook, reader, tinkerer and mechanic. I drove a yellow taxicab in college and collect toy taxis and taxi business cards from around the world.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×