| Redcore 红芯浏览器 | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Redcore on Windows 10 | |
| Developers | 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;lit. 'red core browser')[3] is aweb browser developed byChinese company Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. based onChromium and uses theBlinkbrowser engine.
On 15 August 2018, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. announced that it had raised 250 millionRMB in its series C funding round from venture capital investors, includingMorningside Venture Capital,Fortune Venture Capital, andIDG Capital.[4][5][6]
At the time of financing, the company marketed Redcore as a "100pc China-developed browser" and claimed that it used the "Redcore"browser engine developed in-house.[6][7]
On 16 August 2018, after Redcore was revealed to be based onChromium, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. responded that the project did not solicit state funds in its previous round of funding.[8]
On 16 August 2018, Chinesesocial media users disclosed that the Redcoreinstaller, when fullydecompressed, contained similar files and directories as the installer forGoogle Chrome.[16][15]
After the disclosure, media outlets includingSina accused Redcore ofplagiarism 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, theCEO of Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd., defended the product by describing three additional features of Redcore that were not present inGoogle 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 theChina 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".[15]
On 17 August 2018, Redcore Times (Beijing) Technology Ltd. issued an apology announcement disclosing that Redcore is a browser engine based onChromium.[19]