Google has devised a devilishy clever fix for the infamous weaknesses of Internet Explorer: turn it into Chrome. Google Chrome Frame is an open-source plugin for Internet Explorer that makes it behave like Google Chrome, complete with faster JavaScript and HTML5 support.

Kudos to Google on giving the finger to Microsoft, in a way that’s terribly useful to users and developers alike. Now Microsoft is trapped. If they cripple Google Chrome Frame, they’ll have a PR nightmare on their hands. That nightmare will translate into positive publicity for Chrome.

If they don’t cripple Google Chrome Frame, IE users will be exposed to Chrome. Even if IE users don’t eventually switch to Chrome, faster JavaScript will make Google’s current Web apps that much more attractive, while HTML5 support will make Google Wave more attractive. With the Going Google campaign in full force, the Microsoft Office guys won’t be too happy about that.

Whatever Redmond does about Google Chrome Frame, Google wins and Microsoft loses. Hooray for Xanatos Gambits.

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