14 DAY TRIAL // In ordinary fashion, Google’s Program Manager for Chrome, Anthony Laforge, is never late with Dev channel updates, this time around signaling to developers that Chrome has been updated to version 4.0.249.27 for Mac OS X. The browser requires an Intel-based Mac, but is free to download and use indefinitely. Mac owners needn’t be developers to use the still-under-development Google Chrome.
Generally, Chrome updates made available for the Mac platform are accompanied by Windows and Linux builds carrying the same bug fixes and improvements. This time around, Google’s Laforge mentions Mac-specific changes only, saying the new release disables extensions (probably as a precaution until the next version is released), while adding more localized string translations. Chrome 4.0.249.27 also does away with a download dialog truncation in German locale.
As usual, Laforge directs those interested in Chrome development to the svn log of all revisions, to learn more details about additional changes.
In related news, Mike Pinkerton, leading the team handling Chrome for Mac, revealed that there were only “8 remaining M4 Mac beta blockers!” at the time of his Twitter update. Mike Pinkerton asserted earlier this month that Google Chrome would arrive in Beta form on the Mac before the end of December.
In addition to developing the Chrome web browser, Google is known to also be actively working on an operating system bearing the Chrome label. Chrome OS will feature key aspects like speed, simplicity, and security, according to Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management at Google.
Download Google Chrome for Mac (Free)
Note
This release is not appropriate for general consumer use, according to the team developing Chrome for Mac. Several features, such as bookmarks password import and certain privacy features, are unavailable at this time. The development team says you should download this release only if you are a developer or take great pleasure in incomplete, unpredictable, and potentially crashing software.