Google offers new Chrome build to developers

SOFTWARE AND ADVERTISING giant Google has added new builds of its Chrome web browser aimed at developers.

The firm released a piece of software for download, dubbed "Chrome Channel Switcher" which apparently is not a beta, already at version one point one.

You can get this software over here.

Google's "Chrome Channel Switcher" lets you get 'worse than beta' quality builds

After running the Channel Switcher and applying the change from beta to developer releases, you will get your Chrome browser updated to build 0.2.152.1. Users who do not want "more beta than beta" developer releases will keep version 149.29 until a new beta build is released.

Beta round the bush

The firm hints that versions for Linux and Mac OS X are nearer, due to changes in the underlying marchitecture. "Build 152.1 includes behind-the-scenes changes to support the Mac OS X and Linux versions."

The firm is rewriting code to make it more portable across operating systems. "We're re-writing the HTTP network layer and the browser's tab/window manager to make these features more portable," reads the documentation

The update proceeded with no hitches on our test system, although we couldn't help noticing how Google apparently managed to break the version-checking mechanism once again.

After the update: Build 152.1, the first "developer" release

Ironically, the first Chrome version ever released stalled while checking for a new version - you do this by clicking on the Tools icon and selecting About - but the second beta build 149.29 fixed it. Now the first developer release, 152.1, seems to have broken this once again, as checking for a new version just keeps "looking" forever with no word on whether there's a new build available.

Remember developer builds are "worse than betas" in the sense that while they might include some fixes, it has had less testing time before release, with the possibility of new bugs being introduced.

The curious amongst you can find the release notes of the latest dev. build at Google's Chromium open sauce project page. µ