Firstly, Chrome without Google is Chromium. So are we considering that they sell off Chrome, or Chromium? I can't see how Google sells off Chrome and remains Google.
It seems a bit absurd for Google to sell off Chromium and then some other tech giant gets to "own a F/OSS project". I mean, yeah, you own a browser but everybody else is still downstream, including Microsoft, and contributions are open-source, so what do you really own?
If we're really talking about Google selling Chrome itself, then what good is that? Anyone else owning Chrome wouldn't make it the same. Google users rely on Chrome to use Google! Like, that's how I sign in -- through the browser -- and use Workspaces -- through the browser -- and so many other webapps, such as Photos or Contacts or Calendar. And here we've got ChromeOS and Chromebooks widely deployed. That's Chrome too. How to separate Chrome from the Goog? Are you proposing a breakup like the Baby Bells or something?
It's nearly absurd at this point to separate Google from their Chrome. It would be like telling them they can't have Android. But like, that's simply a layer in their tapestry of services. You're going to pull on that thread for what reason?
It sounds like you are referring to Search. Search hardly even counts -- it's perfectly usable without an account and it's accessible through so many avenues. When I referred to "using Google", I meant Google's web app properties that are typically provisioned through the web browser, like Workspaces. Sorry for the confusion, but I consider Search to be deprecated and hardly even worthy of notice, these days!
This is indeed about Google selling Chrome itself - an action sought by the DOJ in court, not just a rumor. Where to draw the line of divestiture is exactly the interesting question. That the #1 browser can't even be logically separated from calendar and photo services in your head is precisely why the DOJ wants this thread pulled.
> That the #1 browser can't even be logically separated
But it can...
I mean, we’re talking about web apps, SaaS in the cloud. These can be delivered via PWA, any browser, Android or iOS app.
The fact that Chrome is Google’s flagship frontend to web-based apps is nearly immaterial. I can and do access their entire suite through Firefox, Safari, Chromium, etc.
It is simply the fact that they have built a shiny and well-refined branding on top of Chromium, and so I still don’t see the point of divestment, or what the web app architecture will look like afterwards.
I fully agree it can, I was replying to your initial comment "I can't see how Google sells off Chrome and remains Google". It should be quite easy to see Google remain Google without a web browser, especially since it reached $200 billion market cap before adding one.
The important integrations have more to do with profile sync, crash reporting, the branding, the Chrome+ChromeOS portions of Google Workspace, or things of that type. Actually accessing the Google websites to the level you could from any other browser is not one of the tie-in issues. The same goes for the removal any cross promotion of services (e.g. google.com promoting installing Chrome) but that'd be pretty naturally severed if Chrome were 3rd party rather than Google (and is another example of how Chromium existing is not really the same story).
Firstly, Chrome without Google is Chromium. So are we considering that they sell off Chrome, or Chromium? I can't see how Google sells off Chrome and remains Google.
It seems a bit absurd for Google to sell off Chromium and then some other tech giant gets to "own a F/OSS project". I mean, yeah, you own a browser but everybody else is still downstream, including Microsoft, and contributions are open-source, so what do you really own?
If we're really talking about Google selling Chrome itself, then what good is that? Anyone else owning Chrome wouldn't make it the same. Google users rely on Chrome to use Google! Like, that's how I sign in -- through the browser -- and use Workspaces -- through the browser -- and so many other webapps, such as Photos or Contacts or Calendar. And here we've got ChromeOS and Chromebooks widely deployed. That's Chrome too. How to separate Chrome from the Goog? Are you proposing a breakup like the Baby Bells or something?
It's nearly absurd at this point to separate Google from their Chrome. It would be like telling them they can't have Android. But like, that's simply a layer in their tapestry of services. You're going to pull on that thread for what reason?