Software

“The stable channel has been updated to 62.0.3202.94 for Windows, Mac and Linux”
Download
32-bit here.

“The stable channel has been updated to 62.0.3202.89 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 2 security fix contributed by an external researcher“.
Download
32-bit here.

AOL Instant Messenger will be shutting down in December. AIM was for many the first way to chat online. I haven’t used it since, heck I dunno, the early Windows XP days? I do have fond memories of it though. It was so very cool and easy to converse via the internet with folks from far away.

Chrome 61.0.3163.100 has been released and contains 3 security fixes.
Download: Chrome 32-bit or Chrome 64-bit

Vivaldi – Developer is ex-Opera founder. Love the idea. Performance is sub-par, even tweaked.
Cent – Best as I can tell this is from some random dudes in China. No documentation on this at all. No thanks.

Opera – I want to like it but I cannot get over the China connection. I fired up some network tools and as near as I can tell it isn’t doing anything nefarious. One super annoying thing is that I watched it contact the Opera servers every single time it is launched. A far as I can see this seems to be their update servers. You should take this with a grain of salt because not only am I not a network monitor guru, I am very out of practice with what I do know. As for the VPN. I like it but IMHO it isn’t a VPN, it is a proxy (Google opera vpn). Ironically, VPNs are illegal in China.
The China connection…
Opera is owned by Chinese companies. I’m having a hard time with this. China, while not openly hostile to the U.S. certainly is covertly hostile. I am not very knowledgeable about China but I am under the impression that everything is under some form of control by the government. The “Chicoms” as they used to be called. Anyhow, I just can’t shake my wariness.
Any thoughts?

I’ve never been a browser Geek. I like Firefox with my extensions for browsing. I like Chrome for business and shopping use. I can’t stand Microsoft browsers. I posted that I was trying Opera yesterday. Someone mentioned who Opera was owned by and I found it a little unsettling. I’ve done a little digging and found some interesting info. Most info below comes from Wikipedia or Netmarketshare.com. It is the most recent info I could gather.
FWIW – I am now trying Vivaldi
About the info below. I’m aware you can argue the market share stats all day but this is what I am going with.

Computer Browsers
(Browser – Company – Country – Market share)
Chromium (and Chrome) – Google – U.S.A – Market share 58.91%.
Firefox – Mozilla Foundation – U.S.A. – Market share 11.91%
Internet Explorer – Microsoft – U.S.A. (Windows only) – Market share 18.91%
Microsoft Edge – Microsoft – U.S.A. (Windows only) – Market share 5.6%
Opera – Opera Software ASA – Headquarters in Norwary, owned by (“a consortium of Chinese investors”) – Market share 1.22%
Safari – Apple – U.S.A. (Mac only) – Market share 3.52%
Vivaldi – Vivaldi Technologies – Headquarters in U.S.A. – Market share 3.66%

Mobile Browsers
(Browser – Company – Country – Market share)
Chrome – Google – U.S.A. – Market share 54.45%
Dolphin – MoboTap – U.S.A. – – Market share unknown
Firefox – Mozilla Foundation – U.S.A. – Market share .56%
Internet Explorer – Microsoft – U.S.A. (Windows only) – Market share .94%
Opera (Mini and Mobile) – Opera Software ASA – Headquarters in Norwary, owned by (“a consortium of Chinese investors”) – Market share 4%
Safari – Apple – U.S.A. (iOS only) – Market share 32.45%
Samsung Internet for Android – Samsung – Korea – Market share unknown. Probably part of Chrome market share.