Google Chrome to get synchronisation

Chromium developer Tim Steele has revealed that Google is working on a new cloud synchronisation function for its Chrome web browser. Chromium is the open source base on which Google's WebKit-based Chrome web browser is built. In his post on the Chromium development message board, Steele says that the feature for syncing user data will be linked to a users Google account and that work is being started in the Chromium project this week.

Currently the new framework only syncs bookmarks, however, plans are already being discussed to sync other settings, including the browsers history and tabs. The sync system will use a "push" service through the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) on existing Google Talk servers, allowing for faster updates than if the system periodically polled for updates. The messages between the client and server will also use their open protobuf (Protocol Buffers) format and library.

According to Steele's post, the developers are planning to use the syncapi DLL in order to create a sync-enabled Google Chrome build for current dev-channel users "in a week or so."

See also:

• Google releases first Chrome 3 beta, a report from The H.
• Google Chrome to get 3D graphics boost, a report from The H.
• Courgette algorithm reduces Chrome update size, a report from The H.

(crve)