Chrome with a couple of social sidebar extensions isn't really a re-imagining of the Web browser, is it? They don't bring anything new to the table in terms of next-generation web standard features because it's mostly just Chrome. And what's novel about what they did bring in terms of user facing features?
The Facebook integration is nice but I'll bet even Chrome's limited extension platform will see perfect copies of the RockMelt social features pop up within days. Those features are mostly already available as Firefox extensions. The search feature is interesting, but it'll take me some time to decide whether or not it's actually a re-imagining of search.
Maybe my hopes were just too high, but I sort of thought they were working on something that would help move the industry forward and I'm just not seeing it here. Where's the next pinch to zoom, the next inline spellchecker, the next integrated search, the next Awesomebar, the next Panorama? Where's the next tabbed browser? Those are the kind of browser innovations that actually changed things. A Facebook sidebar? Tweeting or posting to Facebook from the browser? Those aren't exciting or new.
A few smart kids with a few million in venture could completely replicate this on top of Chrome or Chromium (or Firefox) in a matter of weeks, couldn't they?
I promise I'm not just slagging off on RM because I'm a Firefox guy. If they'd have done something truly novel, I'd certainly want other browsers, including Firefox, to emulate those things as new stock features or at least extensions, but I'm not seeing it. What's worth stealing here? If you "get it" and you can tell me what I'm missing, I'd love the feedback. I want this to be interesting but I get the feeling it's just Flock round two on Chrome instead of Firefox.
If that's it, that's a bit disappointing.
