The latest developer release of the Google Chrome web browser introduces two important changes to the extension and theme support of the Google browser. You might remember that Google Chrome users had to enable support for the extension engine by launching the Google browser with the –enable-extensions command line parameter. This has been changed in the latest version of Google Chrome, which is currently 3.0.195.4. This basically means that the extension engine is enabled by default which makes it easier to install extensions in the web browser.
The second important addition is about theme support in the web browser. The developers have again turned the rather complex process of installing new Google Chrome themes into a much simpler process. Users who wanted to install themes in the web browser had to replace a file in the Google Chrome directory. The problem with this approach was that it would overwrite the default theme which could cause all kinds of troubles especially for users without backup.
Theme support has now been added officially to the Google browser which means that themes can be directly installed from within the web browser. A basic theme manager is available in the Google Chrome options allowing users to revert back to the default theme after installing a new theme. There is unfortunately no way of displaying the installed themes right now which is something that the developers surely plan to add in a later development stage.
A get themes button is also available in the same menu. This button opens a website that is currently unavailable but is most likely the address of the official Google Chrome theme repository. Two test themes have been created by the Google Chrome developers which can be accessed at the Chromium website. Camo and Snowflake are currently not accessible as well but were earlier on.
Webupd8 have posted screenshots of the Camo theme and the prompt that appears when pointing the Chrome browser to a theme location.
The two changes to the extension engine and theme support are definitely important steps for the Google browser. It is now much easier to work with extensions and themes in the web browser. Future builds will surely continue to improve on that and provide access to a theme manager and working websites where the themes can be downloaded.
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The two themes mentioned above can be installed from http://src.chromium.org/viewvc/chrome/trunk/src/chrome/test/data/extensions/ Just look for theme.crx and theme2.crx for camo and snowflake themes respectively. You can view both the themes from the chrome://extensions page.
The two themes mentioned above can be installed from http://src.chromium.org/viewvc/chrome/trunk/src/chrome/test/data/extensions/ Just look for theme.crx and theme2.crx for camo and snowflake themes respectively. You can view both the themes from the chrome://extensions page.
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
“This has been changed in the latest version of Google Chrome, which is currently 3.0.195.4.”
I’ve got 3.0.196.2 installed and extensions aren’t enabled, just themes. The older way with the target parameter doesn’t work, too. Frustrating.
You can see what extensions you have (including themes) installed by putting this address in your web browser.
chrome://extensions/
I found this method on a website that I visited. I believe this is something built into the browser and not an external web site.
What extensions?
Where’s my ad blocker?
Google Chrome is up to date. (3.0.195.33)
and NO extensions
old method doesn’t work for turning them on.
WTF!
wish I could travel to the future when this blog is relevant and version 3.0.195.4 is released.