Beware that the first time you run Chrome, it will install their Keystone auto-update facility, with which Google feels free to update whatever they want, whenever they want and however they want. Even when you're not running the browser, as the Keystone agent will launch itself automatically at system boot.
You have been warned.
And let's not forget the current Mexican Administration, hellbent on establishing a special tax on all telecommunications: cell and landline telephony, internet access, the works.
A few weeks back there was an article on how the growth of Wikipedia had levelled off. The average rate of new/expanded/revised articles was tapering off in most subject areas. And that was with an "open" Wikipedia. Now if contributors are going to have to go thru the hoops to get something "approved" by editors appointed thru an obscure process and who might niggle on subject, content, extent or style, that sounds like a good recipe for stagnation.
AH, the Great Depression of 2009 has finally hit the 'pedia...
> Probably the most surprising element of the Apple update is the overall size of it; 442MB for the point update, and 729MB for the ComboUpdate."
Well, the Server version of the Combo updater runs close to the whole GB. In other words, it would seem the patch is virtually overwriting the entire OS.
Wonder if the the Vista patch is doing the same, overwriting with Windows 7?
This software will update
any Google software on your computer when new versions become
available. Google Software Update verifies updates and is safer than
downloading files from the Internet yourself.
To continue using Google Earth, you must accept the new
Google privacy policies and allow Google Software Update to run in the
background on your computer.
Meaning that your computer will get infected with a background process that will run automatically whenever Google decides, taking this choice and control from the user and there is no opting out as per their Terms of Service, Section 12:
12.1 The Software which you use may automatically download and install updates from time to time from Google. These updates are designed to improve, enhance and further develop the Services and may take the form of bug fixes, enhanced functions, new software modules and completely new versions. You agree to receive such updates (and permit Google to deliver these to you) as part of your use of the Services.
Having seen how gladly Google bends over for entities such as the Chinese government and from the security point of view, their "do no evil" mantra is pretty much moot and granting the software this level of freedom in your computer is unacceptable. All previous versions of Google Earth did check and alerted the user that an update was available, even offering a download link, but never went ahead and updated by themselves.
We warn the reader in advance that the proof presented here depends on a clever but highly unmotivated trick. -- Howard Anton, "Elementary Linear Algebra"
