Google offers cutting-edge Chrome, first update

The Google Chrome Channel Chooser lets people get the latest updates to Google's Web browser.

(Credit: CNET News)

Through a new developer program, Google is letting people try the latest versions of its Chrome Web browser, and the first update is available.

Those who want the newest Chrome versions can install the Google Chrome Channel Chooser software from Google's Chrome Dev Channel site. The switcher lets people choose whether they want the latest cutting-edge Chrome builds or the less frequent but more stable beta versions.

"Google Chrome now provides a way for people to get early-access releases automatically: the Dev channel," said Chrome Program Manager Mark Larson in a Chrome mailing list posting late Monday night. "The Dev channel lets you test the latest fixes and get access to new features as they're being developed. We will release new builds to the Dev channel about every week so that you can preview--and provide feedback on--what's coming in Google Chrome."

The 'About Google Chrome' dialog box lets people update to the latest version.

(Credit: CNET News)

The first update available through the program, build 1251, is geared more for programmers and willing guinea pigs than for those who merely are curious.

Build 1251 fixes bugs with areas including Microsoft's Silverlight software, tab behavior, video playback with YouTube and other Flash players, and scalable vector graphics, and it suppresses full-text indexing of sites accessed with encrypted Web connections, according to the release notes. It also enables two switches that can be set when the software boots that let users activate two developmental features, new technology for networking and for managing Chrome windows.

How to update
After running the Google Chrome Channel Chooser software, users can find if there's a new version by clicking the wrench icon in the upper-right corner of the Chrome screen, then selecting "About Google Chrome." If a new version is available, users can update there, then reboot restart to enable the changes.

The newest Chrome version is 0.2.152.1.

(Credit: CNET News)

My update to version 0.2.152.1 went smoothly--but afterward, the browser couldn't figure out whether another version was available. Instead, it said "checking for updates..." for a few minutes until I closed the dialog box.

Chrome is an open-source project, meaning that Google may draw on other work from Firefox, WebKit, and Microsoft, and that others may help Google. Judging by a couple of "thank yous" in the release notes, outsiders are in fact starting to submit patches.

Such submissions require programmers to extend copyright to Google, which means Google can have its way with the Chrome code, for example changing the open-source license under which it's offered.

Also, either Google is still hiding details of security-related Chrome fixes in the release notes, or some of the links are missing in the release notes.

[benjaminstraight]

Thanks for the info!

[mojitosas]

yea you just have to basically set the channelchooser to developer, that way you're always in the loop.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Just out of general curiosity... wouldn't it have made more sense to release this *before* they released their first beta to the public two weeks ago? That could have avoided a lot of misunderstandings.

[JasonPCallahan]

The author notes: "My update to version 0.2.152.1 went smoothly--but afterward, the browser couldn't figure out whether another version was available. Instead, it said "checking for updates..." for a few minutes until I closed the dialog box."

I have this problem as well -- only closing the box only makes it not visible to me..when I reopen it, its still checking and never seems to end.. I have closed Chrome and reopened it several times. No luck. No I am not sure if I am getting ANY updates as I can't really be sure its checking at all....

[glucopilot]

I believe that means you have UAC turned OFF. According to the Chrome source code, they have trouble with autoupdates from the About Box on Vista SP1 when UAC is *OFF*.

[bomber889]

How come no one has mentioned how eerily similar the Google Chrome logo and the eye of HAL, from 2001: A Space Odyssey, are???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/litmuse/63615080/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(film)

Uh oh...

[DarkHawke]

Ummm...perhaps because that's more than a bit of a stretch?

[mojitosas]

You just have to set the channelchooser to developer that way you get instant updates as they're added. The channel chooser setting can be developer or beta. Beta channelchooser option only does major incremental updates, so you only get a colleciton and its not that frequent.

[brooklynrocket]

This isn't working for me, I'm stuck on *.149.29

I tried going to about Google chrome and I also tried redownloading chrome fully.

[GEO2003]

Yeah, keep supporting a browser that keeps track of all the sites you visit and not only tracks excesive details but keeps them for a very long time, and then see where you end up.

You will end up fighting for your freedom, rights and privacy.
THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW,

Don't support the kind of User License Agreement that Google is using

Already people are finding out how long Google keeps user history in their servers.
Already there is a movement against this kind of intrussion on user's privacy.

By supporting this kind of privacy intrussion, you are making it harder for yourselves and and everyone else in maintaining level field, between what an organization such a Google want's to force on people and that which is righfully ours to decide.

There is a big difference between tracking that you click on a link or ad so that they can get paid, and another when they just want to gather every piece of private information from users.

I can't believe that Cnet has engaged in promoting this browser in a way that makes users and readers feel is a great browser and commenting on how Goggle can improve it without clearly stating the facts of the User License Agreement.

I UNDERSTAND VERY CLEARLY THE FACT THAT CNET SHOULD AND WILL REVIEW THE BROWSER AS A POSSIBLE TECHNICAL ADVANCES IN THE BROWSER WAR.

I AM JUST ASKING THAT EVERYTIME CNET PROMOTES SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE BROWSER AND FEATURES THAT ARE ADDED AS THE PROGRAMING PROGRESSES, THAT CNET ALSO STATES VERY CLEARLY ON THE SAME ARTICLES THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OR NOT TO THE USER LICENSE AGREEMENT.

IN THIS WAY, YOU ARE REMAINING NEUTRAL, YOU POINTS THE TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BROWSER WHILE STILL INFORMING THE USER / READERS OF THE PRIVACY ISSUES THAT EXIST BY USING THIS BROWSER.

ALLOWING THE USER / READER TO BE WELL INFORMED IS CNET'S JOB.
I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES FROM CNET POINTING OUT THAT USER'S DON'T BOTHER TO READ THE LICENSE AGREEMENTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE TO HARD TO ADD A COUPLE OF LINES WARNING THE USER ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE USER AGREEMENT.
NOT JUST FOR THIS BUT EVERY REVIEW YOU DO.

IN DOING SO YOU ARE ALLOWING THE USER TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES TO SUBMIT (BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY THE TERM APPLICABLE TO GOOGLE'S LICENSE).
OR TO AVOID USING IT UNTIL GOOGLE LEARNS THAT WE THE PEOPLE

ARE NOT MINDLESS, AND HAVE RIGHTS.

IF I HAD SOMETHING TO HIDE, I WOULD JUST GO WITH SAFARI, FIREFOX WITH PRIVACY EXTENSIONS, OR WAIT UNTIL IE8 COMES OUT OF BETA.

THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT HIDING IS ABOUT ----- USER RIGHTS -----

Has anyone noticed, the dunnat shape icon, it has the same colors as microsoft flag key.

Nice going, when I see the Icon, I think Microsoft.

I don't mean for any of this to come out in a offensive way, but I do like speaking my mind.

Hope no one takes it personally.

Geo

[medezark]

Umm, yeah, same colors. Red, Yellow, Blue, Green. A mix of the Pigment and CRT primary colors. (Red, Yellow, and Blue being the Pigment primaries, and Red, Blue, and Green being CRT primaries.) There is no Logo Color conspiracy theory. Also, the Microsoft flag is square-ish, with slight curves, representing flexible structure within set boundaries, with each color having equal pre-eminence, representing forced conformity, whereas the Chrome logo is a stylish circle, where Blue is given pre-eminence by being in the center, representing trust and completeness, and creativity.

Also, CNET has published several articals and blog entries discussing the perils and pitfalls of Chrome's EULA, as well as Google's subsequent planned modifications there-of.

And, it's a Doughnut shape, not a dunnat shape. *** is a dunnat?

Medezark - NPFI

[medezark]

Ooops. Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green also are called the PURE colors. It's a common color grouping, and in most countries/cultures, the first Color names learned / identified. It's a natural and logical and widely used set of colors. What would you suggest? Garnet, Puce, Alice Blue and Muave?

[HighwayHome]

You've seen and used one browser, you've seen and used them all. Best to stay clear of products which are developed by companies which do not respect privacy.

[mattumanu]

I uninstalled Chrome after about 2 days. I was not happy that it updated itself without my knowledge and I refuse to give Google any more information about myself than necessary.

[Signal-Support-System-Spc]

This is absolute heresy! Google provides the world with cutting-edge technology for free! How dare you condemn this philathropic company for its absolute intellectual indescency! We live in a free society! Everything we do is open-source and should be! What is this Privacy Act that you United States citizens are speaking of? We will gladly share our ideas and online movements with total strangers! I, like the rest of us Google users, are proud to have our online histories turned against us. We want to be manipulated and treated like so many sheep! Cull our Wool until we sleep! Long live the mighty Google!

[Signal-Support-System-Spc]

That was pretty good huh? Cull our wool until we sleep! lol

[DarkHawke]

DEEPLY un-cool to pat yourself on the back publicly, dude.

[Signal-Support-System-Spc]

Go Firefox!

[seanmusic]

******* "A" Signal....! Firefox is my only browser, and will remain so.

[jgfuller]

Ever taken a look at K-Meleon? Win only, light footprint, Mozilla-based, open source. Not all the features of Firefox, but much less memory needed, and it's fast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Meleon

[PaulusDev]

Is the scroll bug fixed yet? I heard it was in certain builds, but possibly not available in updates yet.
If you cannot scroll up (often when using laptop track pads to scroll),
I have released a patch which will fix any version of Chrome (even non-developer version)
See http://digg.com/software/Google_Chrome_68

[TechnologyNews]

Google is updating it's browser very rapidly and adding more functionality

Here is a similar article.

http://www.zahipedia.com/2008/11/03/updates-for-google-chrome-ubuntu-os/