Google explains it's new open source, Webkit-based Chrome Web Browser with a 28 page comic book inked by Scott McCloud. The Chrome browser beta becomes available to Windows users on September 2, 2008. Mac and Linux versions are also planned.

TechCrunch has some photos of a usability lab used by the Gmail team at Google. Some of the photos include earlier iterations of Google Chat that were being tested in the lab.

I only see shots of the observers' room in the photos, but there's some description of their testing room as well.

Webware reports that Chris Prince, a lead Gears engineer, provided some insight into what Google plans to do with Gears to advance the web browser's reach into the desktop. Among the features mentioned are notifications on the desktop of various events, support for location information, better interactions with a computer's file system, and technology to let large file uploads proceed even when hampered by intermittent network connectivity.

Prince demonstrated the following prototypes:

Luke Wroblewski summarizes the fundamental principles that guide Google in designing user experiences, as told by John Wiley in a WritersUA presentation.

1. Useful: focus on people -their lives, their work, their dreams.
2. Fast: every millisecond counts
3. Simple: simplicity is powerful.
4. Engaging: engage beginners and attract experts.
5. Innovative: dare to be innovative.
6. Universal: design for the world.