Software:Redcore
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 Redcore on Windows 10 | |
| Developer(s) | Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. 红芯时代（北京）科技有限公司 |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 3 August 2018 |
| Stable release | 49.1.2623.213
/ 3 August 2018 |
| Engines | |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Linux |
| Size | 398 MB |
| Available in | Chinese |
| Type | Web browser |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | browser |
Redcore (Chinese: 红芯浏览器; literally: 'red core browser')[3] is a web browser developed by China company Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd.. Redcore is based on Chromium and uses the Blink browser engine.
The company previously claimed Redcore used a new browser engine that was developed in-house.[4] In August 2018, social media users revealed that Redcore's internals were substantially similar to those of Google Chrome.[5]
History
On 15 August 2018, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. announced that it had raised 250 million RMB in its series C funding round from venture capital investors, including Morningside Venture Capital, Fortune Venture Capital, and IDG Capital.[6][7][8] At the time of financing, the company marketed Redcore as a "100pc China-developed browser" and claimed that it used the "Redcore" browser engine.[8]
On 16 August 2018, after Redcore was revealed to be based on Chromium, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. responded that the project did not solicit state funds in its previous round of funding.[9]
Chromium plagiarism scandal
On 16 August 2018, Chinese social media users disclosed that the Redcore installer, when fully decompressed, contained similar files and directories as the installer for Google Chrome.[16] After the disclosure, media outlets including Sina accused Redcore of plagiarism and criticized the company for marketing a "Chrome-shell browser" (Chinese: Chrome套壳浏览器) as a domestic product developed completely in-house.[17][18]
Chen Benfeng, the CEO of Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd., defended the product by describing three additional features of Redcore that were not present in Google Chrome.[1]
By the end of 16 August, Redcore was no longer available for download from the company's website. Company co-founder Gao Jing told the China News Service that although the web browser is based on the open-source resources from Chrome, "it still uses domestic core technology and has other innovative elements". Gao said the browser was removed from the company's website to conduct "urgent technology checks".[5]
On 17 August 2018, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. issued an apology announcement disclosing that Redcore is a browser engine based on Chromium.[19]
See also
- List of hoaxes
- List of web browsers
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 韩大鹏 (2018-08-16). "专访红芯陈本峰:不爽被"套壳" 所做产品有价值" (in zh-hans). http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2018-08-16/doc-ihhvciiw1066941.shtml.
- ↑ Apple, ed (2018-06-04). "App Store Review Guidelines" (in en). https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/.
- ↑ Official website: "红芯国产浏览器". https://browser.redcore.cn/., where it shows that the browser is named "Redcore Browser" (Chinese: 红芯浏览器), and the browser engine is "Redcore" (Chinese: 红芯内核)
- ↑ "自主研发国产浏览器内核 红芯宣布获2.5亿融资" (in zh-hans). 快科技. 2018-08-15. http://tech.ifeng.com/a/20180815/45120894_0.shtml.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Update: 'First Fully Homegrown' Browser Outed as Based on Google's Chrome" (in en). 2018-08-16. https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-08-16/chinas-first-fully-homegrown-browser-actually-based-on-googles-chrome-101315640.html.
- ↑ 覃敏 (2018-08-16). ""国产"浏览器红芯融资2.5亿元 谷歌内核遭曝光". in 王影 (in zh-hans). http://companies.caixin.com/2018-08-16/101315451.html.
- ↑ Katherine Guo (2018-08-15). "DealShot: IDG Capital Joins $36M Round In Chinese Browser Developer Redcore" (in en). https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2018/08/15/dealshot-idg-capital-joins-36m-round-in-chinese-browser-developer-redcore.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Sarah Dai (2018-08-17). "Redcore CEO admits '100pc China-developed browser' is built on Google's Chrome, says writing code from scratch would 'take many years'" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/2160072/redcore-ceo-admits-100pc-china-developed-browser-built-googles-chrome-says.
- ↑ "红芯浏览器回应：没有拿国家基金" (in zh-hans). 财经网. 2018-08-16. https://news.china.com/socialgd/10000169/20180816/33594010.html.
- ↑ 陈迪 (2018-08-16). "新京报评论：红芯浏览器是"站在巨人的肩膀上打包"吧！". in 新吾 (in zh-hans). 新京报. http://tech.qq.com/a/20180816/053009.htm.
- ↑ 上方文Q (2018-08-16). "号称自主内核国产红芯浏览器融资2.5亿：其实是Chrome套个壳" (in zh-hans). https://news.mydrivers.com/1/590/590994.htm.
- ↑ Sherry Fei Ju (2018-08-16). "Chinese start-up under fire for using GoogleChrome files" (in en). https://www.ft.com/content/90eea77a-a11e-11e8-85da-eeb7a9ce36e4.
- ↑ Arjun Kharpal (2018-08-16). "Chinese firm touting 'innovative' software to beat US rivals is found using parts of Google's code" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/16/chinese-firm-touting-innovative-software-used-parts-of-google-code.html.
- ↑ Jiefei Liu (2018-08-16). ""100% China developed" browser engine turns out to be a Chromium fork" (in en). https://technode.com/2018/08/16/redcore-china-chrome-knock-off/.
- ↑ Liao Shumin (2018-08-16). "Redcore Browser Exposed to Have Google Chrome's Code After Raising USD36 Million in Funds" (in en). https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/redcore-browser-exposed-have-google-chromes-code-after-raising-usd36-million-funds.
- ↑ [10][11][12][13][14][15][8][5]
- ↑ 硅星人 (2018-08-16). "这款"自主国产"浏览器 再次演绎"科技以换壳为本"" (in zh-hans). 创事记. http://tech.sina.com.cn/csj/2018-08-16/doc-ihhtfwqs0816611.shtml.
- ↑ Nina Xiang (2018-08-16). "Company Claims To Produce China's First Web Browser System, But It's Actually A Chrome Shell" (in en). https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2018/08/16/company-claims-to-produce-chinas-first-wed-browser-system-but-its-actually-a-chrome-shell.
- ↑ "红芯浏览器致歉：宣传夸大 不应特别强调国产自主" (in zh-hans). 2018-08-17. http://www.bjnews.com.cn/finance/2018/08/17/499920.html.
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