What is the difference between Chromium and Chrome?

Chromium is an open source project and is the foundation for Google Chrome. Because it is completely open source, Chromium is available on the Linux software repository for easier installation.

1. Install Chromium or Chrome

On Linux operating systems, Chromium can be installed directly from the Linux distribution software repository. For example, on Ubuntu Linux, Chromium can be installed by opening the Ubuntun Software Center, searching for Chromium, then clicking on the Chromium icon and installing.

Chromium will be updated (updated) with the security update on the Linux distribution software repository.

On Windows and Mac, using Chromium will be much harder. The Official Chromium version is also included, but at this time it does not automatically update (update).

The update process is part of Google Chrome’s closed source code. You can get the Official Chromium from a third party, but it will not be automatically updated either or and more importantly, you have to trust the third party distributors. You can compile Chromium for yourself, but would you really want to do that whenever updates are available?

On Linux, you can download and install Google Chrome by visiting the Google Chrome download page, then installing the data plan. It will configure the Official Google software repository to update Chrome that appears in the Linux distribution update package.

It includes some heap code, and that’s exactly why it’s not available on your software distribution repository.

On Windows and Mac operating systems, users can install Chrome directly from the Google download page.

2. Chrome and Chromium have not done anything?

Chrome includes a number of closed source code, which Chromium lacks:

– Support for AAC, H.264 and MP3 : Chrome includes a number of codecs that allow proprietary media formats – especially websites that use HTML5 video to stream H.264 videos. Both browsers have basic, free codecs: Opus, Theora, Vorbis, VP8, VP9, ​​and WAV.

– Adobe Flash (PPAPI): Chrome includes a Flash sandboxed API Pepper (PPAPI) plug-in that Google automatically updates with Chrome. This is the only way to install the latest version of Flash on Linux.

– Google Update: Windows and Mac have a program that automatically updates (updates) Chrome. For Linux users use their standard software management tools.

– Sandbox security (?) : Google also notes that some Linux distributions may disable Chromium’s Sandbox security, so you must navigate to about: sandbox on Chromium to make sure Sandbox is enabled. and is active by default. This is one of the best features on Chromium (and Chrome).

Although not a trademark of Google, Chromium is still considered the focus of Google. Chromium contains some of the synchronization features found on Chrome, which allow you to sign in with your Google account and sync data.

3. What about Spyware?

Google Chrome has a built-in Crash error notification feature, but it is not built into Chromium. If you enable the crash notification feature on Chrome, crash information will be sent to Google.

If using Chromim, the error message will not display. Linux distributions can also edit Chromium code before sending it to you.

Chromium also doesn’t use the tracking or “user metrics” features found on Chrome. This is an optional feature that sends information about how you use different parts of Google’s browser, providing data that users use based on their decisions.

In the past, many users were worried that each Chrome browser shipped with a unique “client ID” and noted that on Chromium there was no such process, but Google has stopped doing this since 2010.

However, Chromium includes many features that depend on Google servers, and they are enabled by default. You will see the features listed on the Settings page. These include a web service that helps correct mistyped web addresses, a prediction service, Google’s anti-phishing feature, and a number of other features.

4. Choose Chrome or Chromium?

Chromium is a good choice because it allows Linux distributions that only require open source software to pack a web browser that is almost identical to Chrome and bring it to their users. Even Linux distributions can use Chromium as their default web browser instead of Firefox, if desired.

If you are using open source software and try to avoid any closed source code then Chromium is a great choice for you.

However, if you are not an avid Linux user, you can still install Chromium. Installing Chromium will give you a better Flash Player if you’re using Flash and unlocking large amounts of online media content. For example, Google Chrome on Linux can stream Netflix videos. This requires H.264 support for HTML5 videos.

On Windows and Mac, Chromium is obviously a very difficult choice to use. The reason is because you have not received the official update. Therefore Chromium is really only for Linux users.

Source : Techtalk