Ever since Apple updated Activity Monitor to reveal energy usage on my MacBook Pro, I have completely stopped using Chrome. I will take the extra hours of battery life, thanks.
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Google Improving Chrome for OS X Performance to Better Rival Safari
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Hmm, have you ever tried to "torrent something or open a disk image" in Windows? Man, µTorrent and Alcohol 120%, those were the days. Why would I be trying to fool anyone? Seriously, third-party software made for Windows tends to be lower quality. The plus side is that there's more of it to choose from usually.
Same with the Linux and BSD side but in a different way. Bless those open-source devs, but they aren't exactly the masters of user experience unless the user is a developer or a computer wiz.
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Yes. This is probably my biggest beef with Safari. Favicons. I didn't know there was a word for it.
Quick Tabs for IE. You set it in internet options and Control + Q is the keyboard shortcut. It's similar to Show All Tabs in Safari, which I agree is a good feature.
Those are the two big reasons to use Chrome, besides not having to use Adobe's Flash Player. I still use Safari, but I don't know if I'd use it if I had to use Windows somewhere. And I'm waiting for Apple to put the favicons in the tabs too. Firefox also does that.
I'll happily switch to Safari on my Mac as soon as I can get it to work seamlessly sync'd to my Mac's, PC's, Phones, and Tablets. I enjoy this today with Chrome, and I've tried the third party solutions, and it's just not as seamless. I do admit that Chrome is a battery hog, but I refuse to give up the functionality for a bit more battery.
If my Macbook is plugged into a power source I will use Chrome as it's by far my favourite browser, but if I'm out and about and relying on the battery I will use Safari as it's much more friendly to the battery.
I really wish Google would get it's act together and fix the battery issues (I know they said that a fix is coming soon but it just isn't soon enough)
I really wish Google would get it's act together and fix the battery issues (I know they said that a fix is coming soon but it just isn't soon enough)
Reading 6 pages of comments, I saw two or three references to Chrome being a spyware/data mining tool for Google/NSA. Every search I do on this ("Does Google Chrome spy on you?" or some variation of that) always comes up with results that talk about the initial install registration, instant character parsing of search strings, opt-out browser reporting and updating, and hidden cookies that track the user. I haven't found any articles, tech or casual, that discuss the capability of Chrome as an actual piece of spyware or datamining.
It seems like Chrome-as-spyware would be a redundancy, given that people routinely hand over their private correspondence and other personal data to Google and other via "the cloud", but then again who knows? Maybe Google is just offering the browser to fill in the gaps left by people who refuse to use Google (spy)services, but want to try the slick new browser everyone is talking about? Maybe it helps them build those infamous shadow profiles on people who avoid Google everywhere?
Personally, I will never use anything from Google, but I would really like to know if there is anything lurking under Chrome. And could we even know if there is? I'm sure there are ways to cover up hidden browser activity and game the CPU activity and IP logs to cover the tracks of a data mining browser.
And while we're at it, why does Google offer both Chrome and Chromium? What is the difference? I've heard people here say "Chromium is Chrome without the spyware" but they never elaborate on that.
It seems like Chrome-as-spyware would be a redundancy, given that people routinely hand over their private correspondence and other personal data to Google and other via "the cloud", but then again who knows? Maybe Google is just offering the browser to fill in the gaps left by people who refuse to use Google (spy)services, but want to try the slick new browser everyone is talking about? Maybe it helps them build those infamous shadow profiles on people who avoid Google everywhere?
Personally, I will never use anything from Google, but I would really like to know if there is anything lurking under Chrome. And could we even know if there is? I'm sure there are ways to cover up hidden browser activity and game the CPU activity and IP logs to cover the tracks of a data mining browser.
And while we're at it, why does Google offer both Chrome and Chromium? What is the difference? I've heard people here say "Chromium is Chrome without the spyware" but they never elaborate on that.
Everyone has their own opinions on Google, but they aren't spyware or anything nefarious. They're offering amazing services and the more data they have the better the services can be.
Chromium is the open source project where Chrome draws it's code from. Basically anyone can take the Chromium code and make a different browser out of it. Google makes Chromium as open source but in order to make Chrome they add extra features and Google integration.
Chrome is a wonderful browser and I think you have a lot of preconceptions regarding Google/Chrome that aren't allowing you to see the full picture.
The battery issues are being worked on by Google and have nothing to do with IP logs or covering data mining. Just take some time to Google/search it and you'll see the real reasons why it's happening.
Please, allow me to clarify.
I'm not debating how wonderful Google's services are/aren't, or the quality of Chrome. I'm asking if anyone has seen concrete proof of the data mining / spy capabilities that do or don't exist in a Chrome install. I'm not accusing Google of anything by asking this, nor am I defending Chrome by saying it would be a redundancy to have it spy on users. I simply don't trust them and I want to know if there is anything to these claims. Wikileaks had some damning evidence of Google's collaborations with NSA, so I wouldn't put it past Google to do something either in the code or the install package to give outside access to our lives and get the data that they can't get in other ways. At the very least, I would suggest that they're making a hard link between search/viewing and a machine identifier, to build a shadow profile. Those profiles are very real, by the way. Both Google and Facebook use them, and LinkedIn is another one. I've personally had a tremendous go-around with LinkedIn before I got them to admit to it and delete any info that they had on me. Now, whether that info got deleted or not is anyones' guess.
Regarding your post...
I can't think of a single thing that Google needs to know about me or my life that will get me "amazing services" from them. Maybe you can, but I can't. I mean, "thanks for the search, guys, but stop right there. And forget what I just asked you, while we're at it."
Chrome may be a great browser. I'll never know. I have or had Safari, Firefox (ugly, resource pig), Opera (deleted when I found they used Blink), Dooble, Sea Monkey, Omniweb (stopped working at Yosemite), and TorBrowser (too slow, at this time). I'm very satisfied with Safari, so I have no need for Chrome. In any case, I've seen customers who used Chrome run into terrible problems with their logistics apps, so I recommend they stay away from it.
Thanks for the info in Chrome vs Chromium. What did you mean by "Google integration"?
I'm not debating how wonderful Google's services are/aren't, or the quality of Chrome. I'm asking if anyone has seen concrete proof of the data mining / spy capabilities that do or don't exist in a Chrome install. I'm not accusing Google of anything by asking this, nor am I defending Chrome by saying it would be a redundancy to have it spy on users. I simply don't trust them and I want to know if there is anything to these claims. Wikileaks had some damning evidence of Google's collaborations with NSA, so I wouldn't put it past Google to do something either in the code or the install package to give outside access to our lives and get the data that they can't get in other ways. At the very least, I would suggest that they're making a hard link between search/viewing and a machine identifier, to build a shadow profile. Those profiles are very real, by the way. Both Google and Facebook use them, and LinkedIn is another one. I've personally had a tremendous go-around with LinkedIn before I got them to admit to it and delete any info that they had on me. Now, whether that info got deleted or not is anyones' guess.
Regarding your post...
I can't think of a single thing that Google needs to know about me or my life that will get me "amazing services" from them. Maybe you can, but I can't. I mean, "thanks for the search, guys, but stop right there. And forget what I just asked you, while we're at it."
Chrome may be a great browser. I'll never know. I have or had Safari, Firefox (ugly, resource pig), Opera (deleted when I found they used Blink), Dooble, Sea Monkey, Omniweb (stopped working at Yosemite), and TorBrowser (too slow, at this time). I'm very satisfied with Safari, so I have no need for Chrome. In any case, I've seen customers who used Chrome run into terrible problems with their logistics apps, so I recommend they stay away from it.
Thanks for the info in Chrome vs Chromium. What did you mean by "Google integration"?
In that link it says nothing about you claimed.
When you can put a source about Google collaborating with the NSA, then we can start to speak
I guess you're one of the TL;DR crowd. I'll pick out some bits for you:
"It has been revealed today, thanks to Edward Snowden, that Google and other US tech companies received millions of dollars from the NSA for their compliance with the PRISM mass surveillance system."
"That Google was taking NSA money in exchange for handing over people’s data comes as no surprise."
Thats from the article. Read the comments below and it gets better:
"Dr. Rick Steinheiser in the Office of Research and Development at the CIA and Matt Cutts of the NSA, to name a few, are employed by Google in high-level positions. Google Earth and Google Maps software came from Keyhole, Inc., which was funded by the CIA via In-Q-Tel."
You may remember In-Q-Tel as a CIA front org, and one of the first or second round VCs behind Facebook. Its known. We've already discussed it in other threads, so there's no need to go into it again, I would think.
Anyway, I said "start there". A few minutes patient searching gets more results.
Here's something from the Guardian:
"The National Security Agency paid millions of dollars to cover the costs of major internet companies involved in the Prism surveillance program after a court ruled that some of the agency's activities were unconstitutional, according to top-secret material passed to the Guardian.
The technology companies, which the NSA says includes Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Facebook, incurred the costs to meet new certification demands in the wake of the ruling from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (Fisa) court."
The article goes on to say that leaked info shows NSA directly dealing with Google, while Google publicly denies any exchange of data.
This article is full of some great info too. And here's one from Salon.
"It has been revealed today, thanks to Edward Snowden, that Google and other US tech companies received millions of dollars from the NSA for their compliance with the PRISM mass surveillance system."
"That Google was taking NSA money in exchange for handing over people’s data comes as no surprise."
Thats from the article. Read the comments below and it gets better:
"Dr. Rick Steinheiser in the Office of Research and Development at the CIA and Matt Cutts of the NSA, to name a few, are employed by Google in high-level positions. Google Earth and Google Maps software came from Keyhole, Inc., which was funded by the CIA via In-Q-Tel."
You may remember In-Q-Tel as a CIA front org, and one of the first or second round VCs behind Facebook. Its known. We've already discussed it in other threads, so there's no need to go into it again, I would think.
Anyway, I said "start there". A few minutes patient searching gets more results.
Here's something from the Guardian:
"The National Security Agency paid millions of dollars to cover the costs of major internet companies involved in the Prism surveillance program after a court ruled that some of the agency's activities were unconstitutional, according to top-secret material passed to the Guardian.
The technology companies, which the NSA says includes Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Facebook, incurred the costs to meet new certification demands in the wake of the ruling from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (Fisa) court."
The article goes on to say that leaked info shows NSA directly dealing with Google, while Google publicly denies any exchange of data.
This article is full of some great info too. And here's one from Salon.
You guess wrong. What I'm not is one that clearly says that I don't trust them.
Yes, but this is not the kind of collaboration you implied, this is mandated by a judge. So no, it is not any voluntary collaboration. And FISA orders have nothing to do with PRISM, this article doesn't show any PRISM collaboration, even the article states thagt.
And now this is funny, you're saying that buying Keyhole is collaborating with NSA? Really? You must be joking
And this is exactly the same, FISA orders have nothing to do with PRISM. And Google is denying collaboration with PRISM program, not denying collaboration when a court orders so.
When you can provide any collaboration or exchange of data that is not mandated by the courts, then you can start to talk.
Are you aware that in the Al Jazeera and Salon articles (basically the same article) one of the companies named to meet is also Apple? Will you say that Apple collaborates with the NSA?
Perhaps the one being one of the TL;DR crowd is not me.
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No, I think I guessed correctly. Based on your next statement:
Never mind the article - just the piece I quoted named Google as complying with PRISM. You couldn't see that?
I'm saying that they have highly placed "former" intelligence staff working at Google. In this case, both CIA and NSA. The Keyhole purchases underscores it.
Why do you keep bringing up FISA vs PRISM?
And surprise! Google denies participating in PRISM. So did every other tech giant, and Snowden revealed that was false. Are you saying you take their denial at face value, especially with those leaked emails proving otherwise?
FISA courts are a rubber stamp process for the government. They generally say 'yes' to every request. What makes that legitimate in your eyes vs PRISM collaboration?
Yes, and yes. I don't trust Apple, especially since Tim Cook took over. Steve Jobs loathed government in most of its forms if not all. Apple spent the least on lobbying of all the major Silicon Valley companies, and Steve kept the company out of just about every cause, besides the minor involvement with (RED) and some green initiatives. Steve's attitude towards government could be summarized as "Help or get out of the way. Actually... just get out of the way."
Cook gets in there and suddenly Apple is buying into political causes, they've increased their lobbying tremendously, and they're bringing in former government people. So yes, Apple collaborates and I'm not buying their privacy initiative. With that deflective "argument" of yours deflated, what will you fall back on now? Maybe play another shell game with PRISM and FISA?
No, I think I was correct the first time. Plus, after reading your post over it dawned on me that you've followed this same pattern in previous discussions of Google and their spying. You always started by asking for proof, it arrives, you deflect it and put up straw men, then when you get cornered, you say "oh? and how about Apple, huh?"
I mean, why do you go to such great lengths to put on blinders where Google is concerned? Or do you work for them?
Really, you don't even read your own articles. There is nothing ****ing quote saying that Google complies with Prism.
And then you should not have any other thing to say that accusing of Astroturfing.
Have a nice day and continue spreading FUD without any real proof.
Maybe, but only if they'd never used Safari prior
I tried to go chrome only bit I just don't like it as much. Part of that I'm sure is the fact I've been on Macs for a long time and have gotten used to how Safari works. It's definitely been a smoother browser for me and the gestures just kill anything chrome has attempted on OS X. Having said that I do keep it around for when I just have to see a video etc requiring flash.
I do use chrome exclusively on Windows like many folks.
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Who wrote anything about not liking that chrome was going to improve? I'm pretty sure everyone welcomes that even if it won't make them switch browsers. Project much?
Sill, the information about Google (and other companies) cooperating with the NSA was exposed by Snowden; he later had a relationship with Wikileaks but initially Snowden did this all on his own. I realize he's considered an enemy of the state to some degree but I'm glad that this information was brought to light.
Second, you can use Chrome, and turn off a lot of features, never sign in with your Google account (though perhaps you don't have one?) and be able to surf the web without Google actually knowing who you are, though occasionally they may know where you go because Chrome tends to check websites against a list of known phishing websites, etc. So they know someone with such and such IP address tried to access a malicious site, but they don't know it's you unless you've logged into Google.
Third, Safari is nice from a resource perspective, but it's the new Internet Explorer when it comes to web standards. Apple is being the worst when it comes to incorporating web standards. I hate this. In fact there are some work/corporate websites I use which don't play well on Chrome/Firefox but work fine on older IE versions (on Windows) and Safari, so that's one reason I use Safari.
Fourth, Chromium is an open source project. It's never finished. Chrome is finished. From Wikipedia:
What's nice is we all have a choice. You value your privacy. I value convenience, and for that reason will always prefer Chrome, and for that matter Google's services such as Google Now and integration with the search engine which allows me to quickly use google.com to set reminders, search my email, and do lots of other amazing things from any computing platform as long as I'm logged in with my account.