Google Disables Chrome Extensions Not From Store

[MasterBomarc]

So I logged onto my computer today, and was welcomed by the wonderful notification of Chrome disabling some of my extensions without my permission, with no way to stop it and a link to a support page. I know it has been a long time coming, with the initial announcement in November. But to see if finally pass through is a huge downside for chrome.

 

I understand why Google is doing this, but there are definitely other solutions. I agree with their change that extensions can only be loaded from the extension page, rather than from any webpage. This makes sure that extensions don't get silently loaded into chrome. Disabling non-store extentions is a bad move on Google's part. Locking down their browser for both simple and advanced users is a crappy move for the advanced users. The annoying developer mode popup almost made me switch, but there is no way I'm putting up with losing some extensions and dealing with the popup. I'll most likely switch to a different browser now, or use Canary, as losing some of my extensions is a killer. And I know I'm not alone.

[Askew]

Didn't they just get bummed to hades for disabling just one Bitcoin wallet extension recently?

 

Now a big hit, smart.

[Norwegiantweaker]

Didn't they just get bummed to hades for disabling just one Bitcoin wallet extension recently?

 

Now a big hit, smart.

its google they dont give a damn

[Sonefiler]

what exactly is it that you can't find on the normal extensions store?

[MasterBomarc]

what exactly is it that you can't find on the normal extensions store?

Clip Converter for converting Youtube videos, and Youtube Center to make Youtube usable are the big ones.

[Misanthrope]

what exactly is it that you can't find on the normal extensions store?

 

Youtube control center for once. This is vital since without it you cannot disable youtube DASH playback and it renders videos useless for me: my connection has a decent speed of 20mbps but rather high pings with wifi on top of that, meaning that by the time youtube realizes I need to cache another chunk of the video it's too late and the playback is interrupted. Disabling dash playback immediately resolved this issue and I went from not being able to watch anything higher than 360p videos to being able to watch 1080p without any issues at all on the exact same connection.

 

This is just infuriating, I know will have to go through the painful process of blocking google chrome updates (hint: it's doable but it's a mess, it seriously involves manually changing windows registry entries) and hopefully get it to behave before this crap hits me.

 

EDIT: I just found that a recent update made it much easier to at least stop automatic updates, you go to chrome://plugins and look for "Google Update" and just disable it and restart chrome:

 

 

http://www.wintips.org/disable-google-chrome-automatic-update/

 

This should at least work for the time being but now I should find a way to make this installed version portable in case I want to install chrome on another PC and it decides to install the newer version without my proper plugins, or better yet I should find another browser 

[Enderman]

Youtube control center for once. This is vital since without it you cannot disable youtube DASH playback and it renders videos useless for me: my connection has a decent speed of 20mbps but rather high pings with wifi on top of that, meaning that by the time youtube realizes I need to cache another chunk of the video it's too late and the playback is interrupted. Disabling dash playback immediately resolved this issue and I went from not being able to watch anything higher than 360p videos to being able to watch 1080p without any issues at all on the exact same connection.

 

This is just infuriating, I know will have to go through the painful process of blocking google chrome updates (hint: it's doable but it's a  mess, it seriously involves manually changing windows registry entries) and hopefully get it to behave before this crap hits me.

 

EDIT: I just found that a recent update made it much easier to at least stop automatic updates, you go to chrome://plugins and look for "Google Update" and just disable it and restart chrome:

 

 

http://www.wintips.org/disable-google-chrome-automatic-update/

 

This should at least work for the time being but now I should find a way to make this installed version portable in case I want to install chrome on another PC and it decides to install the newer version without my proper plugins, or better yet I should find another browser 

Do you know what Magic Actions for YouTube is?

Maybe you should stop raging and maybe do something productive such as searching for alternatives...

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/magic%20actions%20for%20youtube?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

[MasterBomarc]

Couldn't have said it better myself. After Youtube Options went sub based, Youtube center was my next go to. It ended up being much better than Youtube options, and I'll never go back to standard Youtube. I suppose you could still load in the extensions in developer mode, but then you're left without any extension updates and with that annoying popup when ever you start Chrome.

Do you know what Magic Actions for YouTube is?

Maybe you should stop raging and maybe do something productive such as searching for alternatives...

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/magic%20actions%20for%20youtube?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

So I can go and configure another Youtube replacer. One that tries to trick you into installing other, unneeded extensions while you're at it? I would rather be productive and find a work around Google's unneeded hand holding.

Edit: So I installed Magic Actions, and it's terrible. Not even close to the same options Youtube center had, cannot change change the Youtube layout, does not seem to change embedded videos. That is not a replacement for Youtube Center. Don't pretend that it's even close.

[mvitkun]

--snip--

It might not have been broken for you, but if they made the change maybe you should consider that it was broken, in some way, for other people.

That before it was broken for a majority of people in one way, and now that they fixed it for that majority it's broken for a niche group of people in another way.

 

Very few if any decisions by a large company will be favored by every single person affected by the decision, that's why a company will typically try to please the largest group of people they can, while isolating a select few.

 

That's my explanation for Google and their decision with Chrome anyway, with Windows 8 though I'm not sure who Microsoft was trying to please, although I've heard quite a few people say that it isn't nearly as bad as it seems and once you get used to it even the stock Windows 8 experience feels good.I personally have tried windows 8 for a decent period of time and it irritates me to use it, with or without extra programs that tailor it to be similar to Windows 7.

[Enderman]

--snip--

Well someone is having a bad day today....

Can't even appreciate someone trying to help you with your apparently end-of-the-world type situation?

Your behaviour and language is not appreciated on this forum. Mods, please give this guy a warning.

So I can go and configure another Youtube replacer. One that tries to trick you into installing other, unneeded extensions while you're at it? I would rather be productive and find a work around Google's unneeded hand holding.

Edit: So I installed Magic Actions, and it's terrible. Not even close to the same options Youtube center had, cannot change change the Youtube layout, does not seem to change embedded videos. That is not a replacement for Youtube Center. Don't pretend that it's even close.

Holy crap dude get over it already. I'm just trying to help...

I've used Magic Actions for years and it's worked great for me...

All I need it for is hiding ads and automatically playing at 1080p with no annotations.

If you don't like it then that's your personal opinion, so just don't use it at all then and be happy with your plain old youtube.

[CyberneticTitan]

For those wanting YouTube Center back,

 

Install TamperMonkey and download the YouTube Center userscript instead.

[Kilerbomb]

Welp, time to switch to Firefox/Opera.

[Neddamka]

This really ticked me off. Not only did it kill Youtube Center for me, but also my security extensions. You can unpack the YouTube Center file and upload the folder in Developer Mode to get it working again, but it harasses you with every session to disable it. Considering switching to the Dev version of Chrome just to avoid this nonsense.

[Tataffe]

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/

 

Here, have your problems solved. :lol:

[Sidiox]

It hasn't happened to me yet. I think I have auto updates enabled, but I can still run Youtube Center. Also isn't it possible to just put it in developermode (on the extentions tab? I never get any warnings or bs like that though

[LAwLz]

I don't get why Google did this. First they removed it for userscripts and now extentions.

They should just add an option like "allow third party websites to install extentions and userscripts".

I guess it's easier to neglect a small part of your userbase instead of coding in a really simple button.

[MangoJuiceStain]

If fucking disabled Kaspersky Internet Security for me. I paid money for an antivirus and now it renders useless because it can't even run on my browser to block shit. I use the Safe Money plugin a lot when I'm working with Paypal .

[flibberdipper]

Noooo my porn extensions.

[Floppy Kant Fish]

I just wrote a topic about how chrome just keeps getting worse and worse. My finger print sensor on my laptop no longer works on chrome because of this b.s.

 

I'm trying to switch to firefox but its just not nearly as fast as chrome (in my case any ways).

[IPCharger]

I already miss you Youtube Center :'(

[xAcid9]

I switched to Chrome Canary instead. They haven't block it.... yet. I need it for Youtube Center and AllMangaReader extensions.

[IG-88]

I personally think they did it to stop programs that block ads and to stop people downloading youtube videos. I also guess it is because their are morons that will download anything without reading it and google is tired of having to help them fix their mistakes.

[jezza39]

I personally think they did it to stop programs that block ads and to stop people downloading youtube videos. I also guess it is because their are morons that will download anything without reading it and google is tired of having to help them fix their mistakes.

 

I'm fairly sure Adblock is in the chrome extension 'store', it still functions on my comp, thank fuck.

[IG-88]

I'm fairly sure Adblock is in the chrome extension 'store', it still functions on my comp, thank fuck.

i never bothered with adblock as youtube center did all that.

[razor767]

I don't get why Google did this. First they removed it for userscripts and now extentions.

They should just add an option like "allow third party websites to install extentions and userscripts".

I guess it's easier to neglect a small part of your userbase instead of coding in a really simple button.

 

My thoughts exactly.