Google releases new version of Chrome with Flash built in

[Paddy]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/25/ch...ble_gets_flash/

You can, however disable Flash if you wish.

QUOTE

"Just when we thought that Google was the champion of HTML5 they turn around and partner with Adobe on Flash to ensure that the web remains a mess of proprietary brain damage," one netizen said in response to Google's original blog post announcing its Flashified Chrome.

And the battle continues...

Me? I find the prospect of an application that updates itself without asking more bothersome. What if the update turns out to be terrible and you want to downgrade? What then? Thank you, but I'd like to have a little more control over what happens to MY computer than that! As I've noted - I have Chrome because I need to test web designs on it, especially as it becomes more and more popular. But I'll stick to Iron for actual browsing - it has no auto update function. (it's now my second choice after Safari).

[Jack W]

Does Chrome allow you to turn off auto-update, or do you have to do the shenanigans you have to do to Google Earth?

Will Chrome's Prefs allo that?

Inquiring minds want to know.

- Jack

[Paddy]

Nope - you have to modify/delete things in the Library to prevent the auto update. Nothing in the preferences - I just checked. Bad behaviour on Google's part, IMHO.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chro...86918&hl=en

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?sto...100406184528139 - this thread mentions being given an option to disallow Chrome auto updates when you first install it. However, I don't know what the person is smoking - there is NO such option. I just reinstalled Chrome to find out. Nada.

Looks like the best way is to run this Terminal command:

QUOTE

To immediately get the updater to stop running and at the same time diable it permanently just issue these two commands in Terminal:

cd ~/Library/LaunchAgents
launchctl unload -w com.google.keystone.agent.plist

[jchuzi]

The third post in Paddy's first link says:

This worked for me. Go to 'Library' at the root level of your hard drive. In Library you will find a folder called 'Google'. In this folder there is another folder called 'Googlesoftwareupdate'. Delete it. Next time you open Chrome you will get a message saying that auto updates may not work and asking if you wish to enable them. Respond to this in the negative. No more auto updates.

It did not work for me, even after trying those Terminal commands. Not only that, the Googlesoftwareupdate folder reappeared after I launched Google Chrome. My response was to trash Chrome and all its associated files. I don't need Chrome, don't use it, and refuse to have it on my computer.

[Paddy]

Yeah - neither of those worked for me, either Jon - I just tried them now. (BTW - there are update folders at the USER level too, not just the root level. And both return the minute you start up Chrome again) There's also something wrong with that Terminal command - I keep getting that no such item is found, even though it's there. I tried removing everything by hand from the Library, including some other Google stuff and no luck - the darn updater just keeps reappearing like a bad penny. Oh well. As I've noted - I kind of have to have Chrome onboard for testing, but I don't use it 99.9% of the time, so I'll just leave it be. Meanwhile, Iron behaves itself and is a welcome addition.

[Paddy]

With a bit more poking around, I think I found the answer.

http://www.arthurkoziel.com/2008/07/26/the...e-update-agent/

I just edited the plist file in TextWrangler.

You can also edit in the Property List Manager and where it says "run at load" UNCHECK the item, so the string then reads
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<false/>

I would imagine either works...?

It does NOT change itself back again on restarting Chrome, so I think it's working. (didn't see anything untoward in the Activity Monitor window, anyway. No launchd activity. Not sure what other things I should check to make sure it's well and truly clobbered...)

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

I'd like to have a little more control over what happens to MY computer

Tisk, tisk. Still operating with the 21st Century outlook on "personal" computing, are we? Don't you understand that the "cloud" is just the beginning? We''ll soon not have, nor even need, "our" computer. We will simply be connected to one giant, never crashing, Flash-enabled, Publisher laid-out 'window' into the knowledgebase of the Universe. We won't even need wires! Nor even a keyboard!!! No need to have "control," then. "Share and share alike! Or, you share with the company and they will like you!"

Nor will the word "privacy" remain in anyone's memory...