Google Chrome is still in beta testing, and for those who have an even higher tolerance for rough-around-the-edges software, Google also offers developer versions. Google Chrome 0.3.154.3 version is the latter.

The new update is tagged by Google as containing mostly bug fixes as well as a new download behaviour – which is also an important thing to note. Security researcher “Aviv Raff” had alleged that Google Chrome was at risk from a Carpet Bombing flaw that would let downloaded files execute on a users desktop – the new Google Chrome 0.3.154.3 version update changes download behaviour. According to Google’s release notes:

Changes the download behavior for files that could execute code (exe, dll, bat, etc.). These files are now downloaded to unconfirmed_*.download files. In the browser, you’re asked if you want to accept the download. Only after you click Save is the unconfirmed_*.download file converted to the real file name. Unconfirmed downloads are deleted when Google Chrome exits.

The big thing for me though is really one bug that is fixed dealing with plugings. Google notes that in the new update of Google Chrome runs plugins at a normal priority so that they do not cause the browser to become unresponsive. That’s a huge thing. In my experience with Google Chrome thus far it is typically a plugin (often Flash) that becomes unresponsive crashing the browser. Putting the plugin at the same priority is an interesting fix – though I’m not sure how that relates to Google’s idea of sandboxing processes.

Their is also a really interesting JavaScript bug fix here too.

Change the minimum timer resolution for setTimeout() to 4 milliseconds (up from 1ms). At 1ms, some pages would spin in tight loops and consume 100% of CPU.

Intuitively I would have thought that a lower timer resolution would have meant better performance – but that’s apparently not always the case.