Google Chrome Out of Beta. Version 1 available

Last week Google finally released a real version of Google Chrome Version 1.0

You can download it and update your version from here:
http://www.google.com/chrome

If you want to download the offline install use this link:
http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/154.36/chrome_installer.exe

Article: Why I switched to from FireFox to Chrome

Stephen Shankland wrote an article over at Cnet giving his reasons why he switched from the FireFox Browser to Chrome. Of course the number one reason is speed. It makes for an interesting read anyways. Check it out at:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10107152-2.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Preventing Adobe Flash, Shockwave and Adobe Acrobat Reader from AutoUpdating

When you set up mandatory profiles for your users or you want to limit access on a computer that is a locked down workstation one of the greatest frustrations are programs that inject their own autoupdate feature and constantly go out and check and try to install updates whether you want them or not. Then when users without proper access try to load the updates they fail and get frustrated prompting a help desk call. Adobe Flash, Acrobat Reader and Shockwave are such culprits.

Fortunately there IS a way for administrators to place a file on the users hard disk that will let you disable the autoupdate feature of Adobe Flash. I found a KB article on the Adobe website which explains how to create a file called mms.cfg that can be dropped in the Flash folder on the users hard disk that will stop the autoupdate prompting. (note user who have access can disable autoupdate via the interface. This link has instructions.)

To create the file simply open up Notepad and create a line that reads as follows:

AutoUpdateDisable=1

Use Save as to save the file with the name MMS.cfg as UTF-8 format

To deploy use AD or SMS or some other management tool for your network to Copy the mmd.cfg file out to your workstations to the Windows\System32\macromed\flash folder for versions of Adobe Flash 8 and above and to the Windows\System32 folder for previous versions of flash.

There are many more settings for the mms.cfg file for administrators to manipulate how flash reacts and they can be found on page 22 of the following Adobe Manual:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/flash_player_8_security.pdf
And for Adobe Shockwave use this link at the Adobe site that explains how you disable autoupdate for Adobe Shockwave via the interface. http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_16683

While I am at it I will point out how to disable AutoUpdate on Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is a little more convoluted though. The AdobeUpdaterPrefs.dat is the file you need to edit that determines updates and it is in the users profile located at:
%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Updater5\

Open the AdobeUpdatePrefs.dat file in notepad and look for the following lines:

To disable the updates for Adobe Acrobat Reader change the value from 1 to 0. If the lines do not exist in the file you could certainly add them.

The Register reporting address spoofing flaw in Chrome

This past week The Register website reports that Google chrome is vulnerable to an address spoofing flaw. A proof of concept has been released according to the article.

Read the full article here.

Microsoft Releases Silverlight 2.0 - How to install Silverlight in Google Chrome

Today Microsoft released version 2.0 of it Silverlight media techology for the web. I just tested it was able to install it under Google Chrome Web Browser.

Here is how to install Silverlight in Google Chrome:

Open Chrome browser and go to the Microsoft Silverlight installation page at:

http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/install.aspx

Silverlight will look at your OS and give you an error message that reads:

"Review the System Requirements
This Web browser or operating system may not be compatible with Silverlight. Please review the system requirements and, if you wish to proceed, choose the link for your operating system."

DON'T PANIC!

Just click on the link below the above text that reads Windows.

Silverlight will download to your bottom status bar. Click the down arrow to the right next to the Silverlight 2.0.exe file in the left bottom status bar and choose open from the context menu.

Click on Run, Click on Install Now button in Silverlight Window, then click on Finish. You are done!

You can test your Chrome Silverlight installation by running the HI Def Video here.

Note that all Silverlight pages don't seem to work in Chrome though. It is a hit or miss type of thing. I've tested it on several with mixed results.

Chrome for Privacy Fanatics? SRWare Iron

A blog posting at downloadsquad boasts of a version of Google Chrome by a German company called SRWare Iron that has created a stripped down version of chrome that removes all the User ID information.

I am a bit concerned about this because those that use it most probably will not get updates to the browser when the vulnerabilities come out and also IF they do get the updates and they come from Google the user will probably get the ID information piece injected back into the program. So it is probably a waste of your time installing this.

At any rate, though the site is in German, the downloaded browser is in English. With hesitation I give you the download page which is at: http://www.srware.net/software_srware_iron_download.php

One slashdot user quipped they should of called it "Tin Foil" another complained that the downloadsquad blog's use of the fanatic is a bit quizzical in claiming that someone who wants privacy is a Fanatic. I think not.

Google Video on creating Chrome

Google has created a video of its engineers explaining how they built the Chrome Browser.
Check it ou:

CNet Page of articles for Google Chrome

CNet has set up a separate page for their article on Google Chrome
You can check it out at:

http://news.cnet.com/google-chrome-browser/?tag=mncol;txt

Chrome Not on Google Home Page anymore

Anyone else notice that Google has removed the prominent
Chrome download link from Google.com homepage now?

Add a Print button to Google Chrome Bookmarks Bar

I found this link over at Tech Recipes on how to make an active Print link on your bookmark bar in Google Chrome:

Check it out at:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/3020/google_chrome_add_print_button

It basically involves simply putting a link in your bar that reads:
"javascript:window.print()" (without the quotes)

LifeHacker releases Google Chrome Power User Guide

Lifehacker.com has released the ultimate power users guide for Google Chrome.
Lots of great tips here:

http://lifehacker.com/5045904/the-power-users-guide-to-google-chrome

Cartoon Pick

It's sad when geeks have to choose a browser.

Network World Article Looks Under Hood of Google Chrome

Hmm Network World just posted an article entitled Google Chrome: Is there anything under the hood?
How original. ; ) Seriously there are a few good tips and it is worth checking the article out.

Googles Chrome's list of known issues

Are you having a problem within the Google Chrome Browser? It may already be a known issue. There is a way to find out.

Google has posted a list of known issues to the Google Chrome browser at:

http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/request.py?contact_type=known_issues_2

Vulnerability Corrected in Google Chrome - Please Update to get fixes

PCWorld is reporting the Google has supplied an update to a security flaws in Google Chrome since it was released last week.
See
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/150776/critical_vulnerability_patched_in_googles_chrome.html

"Chrome users are advised to upgrade to the latest version. To do that, go to the wrench icon in the upper right hand corner of the browser and down to "About Google Chrome." The browser will then check for an update. If there is one, Chrome will download it and ask to restart. The up-to-date version is 0.2.149.29."

For graphical instructions on how to update Google Chrome see the page below:
http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95414

ZDNet Claims Google Vulnerabilities Mounting

An article blog on ZDNet is claiming that vulnerabilities with the new Google Chrome Browser are mounting.

It would appear that reckless vulnerability researchers don't care about zero day exploits and instead of contacting Google to let them know about such exploits, they are posting them out on the web.

Google responded to the post asking that researchers contact them first and submit the bug at:

code.google.com/p/chromium

Make your own theme on Google Chrome

Microsoft MVP Vishal Gupta has posted a blog posting on a way to hack Google Chrome to create your own custom theme. Cool Stuff Vishal! Vishal also has many other very good tips on his website at http://www.askvg.com and I would highly recommend it!

ChromeDome Disclaimer

Just a quick disclaimer. While we thoroughly respect the machine, ChromeDome has no relation to the Transformer ChromeDome as seen to the left. Which you can find out more about here. 

Nor are we at all affiliated with Google in any way, or Chrome Dome Studios who make comics.

No, this site is simply about Google Chrome and what I have learned about it.  Feel free to share the tips and content as you see fit but know that I claim no responsibility for any damage you may do to your computer while using them. Fiddling with the registry of a computer can be hazardous to your health. 

Get Google Chrome without GoogleUpdater

Many have complained about Google's inclusion of the GoogleUpadater autoupdate feature that downloads google updates often. There has been some paranoia about this. I've found out that if you download the full installer version it comes without the Google Updating feature.

Get that here http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/149.27/chrome_installer.exe

Google Chrome Comic Book

Do you want to know the innerworkings of Google's new Chrome Web Browser? 

There is a comic book created by Google that give you the meat and potatoes of Chrome.

You can check it out at:

http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html

One of the coolest and most compelling features of Chrome is the ability to drag a tab out and make it a separate window.   I also like the fact that each tab is a separate sandboxed process so it a tab crashes it doesn't crash the entire browser, just that tab.