If you downloaded Google Chrome a while ago, you should know there’s now a new version available. Apparently this version was released somewhere around Dec 8, 2009 – going by the date of the Google Chrome Blog post Google Chrome for the holidays: Mac, Linux and extensions in beta. As the post title indicates, Chrome now comes in flavors for the Mac, Linux, and Windows. Also exciting for me is the introduction of Extensions for the Linux and Windows versions. Sorry, but Mac extensions are still in development.

I’ve installed Chrome on my Ubuntu machines and I am loving it!

Not all of my favorite Firefox extensions are available in Crome yet, but I’ve been able to duplicate a few. So far I have installed Evernote, Shareaholic, and XMarks.

I have been using Chrome for a while, and was surprised to learn that my installed version did not update automatically. Be sure to upgrade your version too! Also check out the custom themes for Google Chrome after you upgrade.

If you are looking for some free first person shooter games check out the 3 summarized in this post. With all three games available for Windows and Linux, these deathmatch open source alternatives offer a lot of characters and weapons with a healthy on-line community playing on numerous Internet servers. If you do not want to battle other players on the Internet, 2 of the 3 games have the option to also play locally against bots. These games also offer mods such as Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch. (more…)

Ubuntu 8.04 has several cool features that were not previously available in past versions. The coolest is when you load the Ubuntu CD on a PC running Windows you have the option to perform a Wubi installation. The Wubi install installs like a Windows application (and it is removed as a Windows app too – i.e. from the Control Panel > Add / Remove programs) but configures your PC to dual boot Ubuntu and your Windows version. It does not modify partitions, the MBR, or any part of your hard disk. It simply creates a new folder named Ubuntu on the drive you choose to install to.

When I first tried the Wubi install I attempted to load it to the same partition Windows boots from. The installation failed, so I then installed it to my data partition and was successful. After a reboot I was prompted to choose which OS to boot. I selected Ubuntu and was amazed as my Lenovo T60p booted successfully. The only problem Ubuntu had with my hardware was that the wireless indicator L.E.D. did not light up, but wireless was working fine.

I was then able to download and install packages / updates, modify my theme and appearance, and configure Ubuntu as you would expect. I could even access my Windows files because the data partition was mounted as /host and the boot partition could be mounted as a removable drive. The end result is the screenshot of my dsktop in this post. (more…)

I could not agree more with the consensus to uninstall Norton in the thread at Norton stinks | Ask Metafilter. It seems all new home desktops and notebooks come with Norton pre-installed with a 1 year license subscription for updates (I’m not sure of the exact time period because I uninstall it asap). Do yourself a favor and uninstall Norton immediately. Especially before you renew the license.

I recommend either ClamWin or AVG. Both are free, protect your email, have real time and scheduled scans, and have (more…)