14 DAY TRIAL // It has been a busy week for Google, with two new releases of its open source browser now available for download. The first, Google Chrome 5.0.375.86 was offered to testers on June 23rd, 2010. Early adopters running Linux, Mac, and Windows could grab the new development milestone through the Beta channel. Anthony Laforge, from the Google Chrome Team highlighted just a single change in the browser version related to Adobe Flash.
As of Build 5.0.375.86, Chrome Beta had the integrated Flash Player enabled by default. Unlike Mozilla, which divorced Flash from its own open source browser with the release of Firefox 3.6.4 and the Out of Process Plugins (OOPP) feature, Google choose to embrace the Adobe plugin as close as possible, and built it into Chrome.
Just a day later, Google Chrome 5.0.375.86 graduated from Beta to the Stable channel, and is now available for customers running Linux, Mac, and Windows. Just as it was the case with the Beta, the Stable variant of Chrome 5.0 also comes with the Flash player enabled by default. In addition to turning on Flash, the Mountain View-based search giant also resolved a number of security vulnerabilities impacting its browser. No less than five holes were plugged with the release of Chrome 5.0.375.86, three of which considered as high security risks to customers running the browser.
In addition to Chrome 5.0.375.86 Stable, early adopters running Mac OS X and Windows got Google Chrome 6.0.447.0 through the Dev channel. Enhancements to the Dev release involve the manner in which PDF files are positioned on screen when viewed, as well as some navigation improvements. In this regard, testers will notice that using Ctrl and click on a specific link will open a new Tab to the right of the Tab that is in focus.
Google Chrome 6.0.447.0 Dev and Google Chrome 5.0.375.86 Stable for Windows are available for download here. Follow me on Twitter @MariusOiaga.