Google Chrome hits beta for Mac and Linux, extensions available for extra-smug Windows and Linux users

At long last Mac and Linux users don't have to feel like second class citizens in Chrome land: they've got official beta versions of Google's browser to call their own. Of course, people have been running the open source Chromium version on both sides of the fence for ages, but beta brings with it a new level of stability and officialness. Google is also finally launching extensions for Chrome, which is available for the Windows and Linux versions of the browser, and with Mac compatibility on the way. There are already 300 extensions available, not a bad start, and hopefully a good indication of the sorts of added functionality we'll be able to stuff into Chrome OS with the help of a seemingly-excited developer community.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Xudd Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:34PM]

@kjb434 Google itself probably won't make a version that's usable on mac's. No they can't be sued unless they do something illegal related to the EFI. I imagine that Google wants to sell new computers with ChromeOS pre-installed.

[mbushnell Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:35PM]

@kjb434 Why would they get sued for making a power pc version of Chrome OS? There are plenty of other Linux variants that run on Power PC.

[Jordan Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:53PM]

Well, I don't like Chrome myself, but anything that could potentially take market share away from Safari is A-OK.

[pina Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:57PM]

@Jordan That makes no sense.

[Jordan Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:04PM]

@pina: Yes, yes it does

[pina Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:10PM]

@Jordan What's so horrible about Safari that you want it to lose market share?

[Jack Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:20PM]

@pina

Jordan is just a stereotypical Apple hater. He doesn't needs reasons to hate Apple, he just hates Apple. He also trolls over on TUAW, responding to everything there with the same kind of nonsensical Apple-hating garbage.

I mean if he ever had to justify anything he says about Apple, his head would probably explode. Good thing this is the internet, eh?

[jalapeno Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:54PM]

Needs adblock extension and I'm there!

[kris120890 Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:23PM]

@(Unverified)
I'm using adthwart. Its got no options but it uses easylist and its working.

[Johanu Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:39PM]

@(Unverified) I'm using adblock+, works like a charm..

[tweak Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:57PM]

I'm sorry, but builds for Chrome have been available on OS X for a while now from here:

http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapshots/chromium-rel-mac/

[pina Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:59PM]

@tweak That's exactly what the article says. This is the official beta.

[HighestRanked Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:54PM]

@tweak I'm sorry, I don't mind what you said but I'm going to have to down-rank you because of that hideous avatar of yours.

[Uncontrol Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:58PM]

Chrome for Mac has no bookmarks manager. Deal-breaker.

[THizzle7XU Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:34PM]

@Uncontrol BETA. Say it with me. BETA.

Give it time.

[fewgraphik Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:07PM]

just installed it and... works like shit... no fonts, only squares replacing the letters... no interest at all...

[Lewis Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:30PM]

@fewgraphik
What exactly are you doing to it?

[Jack Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:21PM]

"extra-smug Windows and Linux users"

There are Linux users who AREN'T extra smug? I've never met one.

[THizzle7XU Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:33PM]

@Jack Ha. Ya, as much as I love using Ubuntu and I'm pro-Linux, some Linux users really need to know their place and realize it's about 1% of the market. It's not necessary to tout the greatness of Linux every time a bug is found in Windows. People aren't going to switch to Linux. Get over it.

[ladyguenwyvar Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:26PM]

Um, this post made me try Google Chrome for the first time. HOLY CRAP-- WHY WAS I NOT USING THIS BEFORE?!

That's all.

[kris120890 Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:29PM]

@ladyguenwyvar
Don't tell me you were using Internet explorer.

[ladyguenwyvar Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:32PM]

@kris120890 No, thank god. I enjoyed Opera for a while, but have been a Firefox gal since about the time it came out. I think I might be a little converted, and I haven't even tried the new extensions yet.

[djt Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:18PM]

@ladyguenwyvar

I totally agree with you on browsers. I adopted about a month after it came out and have never looked back. I haven't found anything that even remotely compares.

[mbushnell Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:33PM]

More and more everyday I find myself using Google products almost exclusively. I use a number of them in place of some very viable competitors (Picasa vs iPhoto for example). I'm also very interested in getting a droid versus an iPhone. Much better coverage and also Android just seems to be the way to go.

[Sansagara Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:43PM]

@mbushnell Same here, dude!!! I Know what you mean...

[Kreativu Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:39PM]

Using Chrome for months on my Mac. I can't remember how i got hold of it.

[Paul Ryan Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:46PM]

So there's still no way to manage my bookmarks? Yawn. Next, please.

[kaminsky Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:56PM]

It looks like Pin Tab is missing from the Beta. Weird, since it's in Chromium. Unless I'm just missing something.

[DaveF81 Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:10PM]

Hmm, where's the Gears support for Mac? I'd like to use Offline Mail.

[Scape3d Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:11PM]

As a MacBook Pro user, I'll definitely be using Chrome as my default browser. I've been using Safari exclusively and while it works just fine (and fairly fast), it takes WAY too long to boot up. When I click on the Safari shortcut on my dock, it takes about 20-30 seconds to pop up the browser window and load up my homepage so I can start browsing. So annoying.

Hello Chrome!

[Hotrod Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:29PM]

@Scape3d 20-30 seconds? Something is not right. On the original 2006 MBP (core duo) Safari would open in one or two bounces of the dock icon.

[Scape3d Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:33PM]

@Hotrod

I know, right? I have no idea why it's having issues. My MacBook Pro runs perfectly in all other aspects. I have uninstalled/reinstalled Safari already but to no avail. Again, once it's up and running, it runs just fine.

[SmilinGoat Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:11PM]

ive been playing with it for about an hour now. they did a really good job. everything is as clean as ever, fast as ever, and these added options are both useful and in times fun.

the add block one was the first "must" then i picked the Gmail notification icon which tells me when i get a new email, which needs some kind of auditory alert. finally i used the extension that allows you to change google.com doodles to any previous doodle, yet still changes when there are new ones, so you dont miss out by saving your favorite.

[macdoc Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:44PM]

No thank You...

[tscales Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:56PM]

long time coming... slightly disappointed that no app capability or offline/gear support... yet. hopefully updates keep coming

[Hotrod Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:26PM]

Serious question: Does chrome spy on you like gmail and google search? I would like to try this but I'm a little hesitant.

[Bad Beaver Posted Dec 8th 2009 5:36PM]

@Hotrod

+1

Otherwise, I'd say I have so many excellent browser to choose from (Camino, Safari, Firefox, Opera, you name it, all great, all free), I really see zero need for this. Ze-ro.

[Brassguy Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:39PM]

Very fast so far! It just looks clean...and much faster than Safari and Firefox.

[Eternal Density Posted Dec 8th 2009 5:30PM]

Extensions? There had better be an ad-blocker!

[charlesbrick Posted Dec 8th 2009 5:41PM]

Build 4.0.249.30 for mac has been available since the Google I/O 2009. It's really exciting to see this being released to the public, but the build hasn't advanced even a minor revision in 6 months!

[Benaus Posted Dec 8th 2009 6:41PM]

FINALLY extensions! Quick grab this Ad blocker and get rid of all those ads on Engadget forever! :) https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb

[grifforama Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:10PM]

Christ it's fast.

[pohatu771 Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:24PM]

I've had Chrome of some sort on my Mac for about a month now... I used it for about a day, and then quit, but I just checked, and it says it's up-to-date. I've never updated anything.

[lulilo Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:11PM]

The update was there, but now it's not. Apparently there was a server error when updating to 5 beta, and now they've reverted to the previously current beta version 4.x. Anyone have a mirror to the file?

[Joao Posted Dec 8th 2009 10:43PM]

As others have chimed in above. I have been using Chrome (before that Chromium) for about a month now. I'm pretty sure the person that linked me to it called it a developers version.

I checked for an update after seeing this post...and also got a server error.

[alexpigment Posted Dec 8th 2009 11:50PM]

i waited over a year in hopes that fast = better battery life. clearly not (yet?) the case with chrome. 1:55 hr/min remaining while sitting on engadget.com with opera. 1:16 remaining with chrome. granted, that's pretty average for non-opera browsers on a mac, but still

[aks824 Posted Dec 9th 2009 9:15AM]

anyone else experiencing overheating on the macbook pro's. My temps jumped from 50ish to 70 C using chrome.

[AJFami Posted Dec 9th 2009 12:33PM]

tried it
didnt open sites with cookies,

shame on google to call this thing a beta, its stage 0...

It even doesnt have an image in application

whatever, ......!!!!!!

[tigertek Posted Dec 13th 2009 9:35PM]

**Check out this cool Video Review of Chrome for Mac. Also comparison to Safari and Firefox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi463qNthNc

[Linus Torvald Posted Dec 19th 2009 1:31AM]

WOOT!