Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | September 3, 2010, 3:05am PDT

Summary: Two bits of browser news - one good, one bad.

Two bits of browser news.

First, the stable release of Google’s Chrome browser hits version 6, only four months after version 5 went stable.

The update means that all Chrome users can now take advantage of extension and autofill sync — both important parts of Google’s desire to keep your ‘browsing platform’ uniform across all the computers you use.

Version 6 also brings the new consolidated menu, richer content settings (JavaScript, plug-ins, notifications, and the like), and the first-run search engine selection screen. There’s also a faster V8 JavaScript engine under the hood.

The pace of development of Chrome doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. Great news for users!

Information on how to get the stable build can be found here.

Bad news at Mozilla though, as Firefox 4 loses features to keep to the release schedule:

Mozilla has started slimming down the next major iteration of Firefox in order to make the release deadline set for Octobers or November 2010.

The first feature to go is Account Manager. Mozilla confirmed on August 31st that Firefox 4.0 will ship without Account Manager.

The fate of silent updates on Windows, Inspector and Web Console also hangs in the balance.

Not so good news for users …

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Topics

Mozilla Firefox, Web Browser, Google Chrome, Mozilla Corp., Web Browsers, Internet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Best way to get the latest Chrome

This is the direct standalone download link for the current stable release. The best bit? When a new version comes out, just change the numbers to reflect the new version number.
Sure hope Google doesn't kill this link. It's the only way I can get it past our firewall.
http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/472.53/chrome_installer.exe
Note that it may not appear to do anything if you already have Chrome installed. It is actually updating silently. Task Manager will show you when it's finished.
Many Bothans died to bring you this information.
keebaud@...
3rd Sep 2010
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ZDNet Blogger

Thanks!

@keebaud@... good tip! Thanks for sharing that!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
3rd Sep 2010
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Silent update

Is not a feature. Its one of the big reasons not to use Chrome. I want to know what my software is doing.

Of course, the fact the Google likes to slap version numbers on what are essentially point releases (I'd say we're really up to Chrome 2.0...maybe) has nothing to do with "The pace of development."

Also, I didn't know Google made "tables". Live and learn.
jdakula
3rd Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

@jdakula
Well said. I also loathe "silent updates". Plus Google's Chrome version numbers are nothing more than marketing. I'm surprised a reputable journalist like Adrian pays attention to that.
city_zen
3rd Sep 2010
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Silent Updates Why They are Good for Fools Like You!

@city_zen The difference between the browsers here are are simple to explain. But this link gives you a break down of the complex details of how they're set up.

First off both Apple's Safari (on Macs) and Microsoft's IE are updated via the OS separate from the browser itself. They both come set with default settings for lamers who aren't quite bright enough to know what is a good update and what isn't. Those are truly silent updates because it's updating your entire system whether you like it or not and that includes your OS branded browser. But you may be so paranoid that you would want to dig into the complex update setup and micro manage it. Which you can do if you are in a delusional state of mind so as see Google as the "EVIL ONE" out to destroy you and your computer so you'll never be able to use it safely again!!! haha

http://www.techzoom.net/publications/silent-updates/
i2fun@...
5th Sep 2010
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Perhaps You Don't Know How Google's Silent Updates Work!

@jdakula But updating is a separate process from the browser executable itself and it certainly does inform you of updates that are installed. You can even choose to reboot the browser then or wait. Not only that, but if you're an intelligent (non schizoid) user, you can block all updates with your Firewall. Simply by blocking "GoogleUpdaterService.exe". Which makes it not exactly that silent. Whereas both Apple and Microsoft can push updates to you whether you like it or not with hidden processes. Then that's truly without you knowing it!

If you have a decent Firewall (and there are a whole bunch of them) you can have it notify you prior to allowing Updater access to an update and that doesn't stop you from knowing what the update is about either (updater still retrieves the info via your browser). A really good Firewall will notify you of any process attempting to connect on the web, whether it's visible or not. Then you have the power not THEM (you know Google....lol and you can let M$ and Crapple slide on by)!!!

The good thing about so called silent updates in this case, is that crap versions of a product (like IE6) never get a chance to destroy ignorant users PC's Those who ignore critical updates simple because they're paranoid schizoids like you!

If you are really really really paranoid about periodically silent updates (which are so incremental that you'll never notice a difference in Chrome), you can download "Spybot" free and Micro Manage every single attempt to change your registry and prevent updates that way. It has a custom setting for people like YOU! ...yes ***YOU***!!! ....called "PARANOID MODE"!

Funny how you idiot Google haters will go to such extremes to avoid "THEM" giving you good service, yet get down on your knees and beg for more from Microsoft or Apple!
i2fun@...
5th Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

Chrome "table" v6, hehe...Adrian...you could at least tell us which furniture stores we can find them in, or are we supposed to "google it"?

As for Firefox 4, what month is "Octobers", my calendar only has October, no "s"? As for losing the features, maybe FF learned that too few users actually used them to justify inclusion, and they are looking for ways to trim FF down?
wizard57m@...
3rd Sep 2010
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Two few users used it?

@wizard57m@... It's a new feature, so no-one uses it currently! I thought you might have picked that up considering how perdantic you're being about the grammar!

I agree looking for ways to trim FF down is a good thing though!
DevJonny
6th Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

Google continues to expand its spyware capabilities. Unfortunately, they make so much money from spying on their users that it appears difficult to see how to stop them, unless users wake up.

Mozilla does not have Google's endless resources, so unfortunately they risk falling behind. Still the only true open source alternative, and deserving everybody's support.
jorjitop
3rd Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

@jorjitop What spyware features?
Jimster480
3rd Sep 2010
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True open source from Google : Chromium

@jorjitop Chrome is a fork of Chromium, which contains non of the what I suspect you think is "spyware" code.
DevJonny
6th Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

Firefox can cut account manager. I do want them to keep the tab candy in though. That will be one useful feature.
Loverock Davidson
3rd Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

Wait... so Google is going to store my name and address and credit card numbers and other things that are routinely autofilled somewhere in the cloud on their servers, and any computer where I once log into my gmail account or something might then have access to all of that autofill information? Sounds like a good reason not to use that browser.
PatHMV
3rd Sep 2010
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RE: Chrome table release hits v6, Firefox 4 loses features

@PatHMV Time to stop drinking the Google is Evil coolaid and get your information straight. If you are on some elses or a public computer with autofill turned on then IE and Firefox are storing that information locally on the computer. If google is storing it on their servers the only way the next user can access it is if you are dumb enough not to log off when you leave.
leupole
3rd Sep 2010
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arghhh, Firefox uses too much MEMORY!!

Right now, I have 2 FF windows open -- one with 6 tabs (updating my WordPress blog & other text-based web pages) & another with 24 tabs. Soooo, guess how much RAM I'm using??? 391 MB for FF and 76 MB for the Plug-in Container. WTF??!?!?!?!?!
I gotta find an alternative. Like, a web page just has text, images, etc. Right? So where's this 391MB coming from???
I rekon if I saved each tab, that'd be about say 400K per page (and I'm being overly generous in my estimation). So why this greed for RAM, Firefox??? Please explain!!
At least I got 2 GB RAM but my pal has a desktop with about 256MB RAM and Firefox was eating 70 MB...and she only had 1 or 2 tabs OPEN. Like, WTF????

Cheers!

- Max "The IT Pro"
http://MaxTheITpro.com
maxtheitpro
3rd Sep 2010
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