Pale Moon 24.6 Update for Windows & Linux

[Corrine]

The update to Pale Moon 24.6 includes security updates as well as fixes/changes.

The full change log is available here.

[Digerati]

Am I blind or is there no way to tell PM to manually check for new updates?

It seems the only way to tell if a new update is available is to subscribe to their forum, or use RSS/Atom, Twitter or Facebook announcements. Now I see on the FAQs page, to update Pale Moon manually, you have to visit the PM site, manually check to see if a new version is out there, then download the installer for the new version. Seems "clunky" to me - not a smooth operation.

I realize PM by default automatically checks once a week, but it seems odd you cannot check for updates from within one of PM's menu systems - perhaps "Help" > "About" > "Check for Updates" like many other programs.

[Corrine]

Just select "Help" from the Pale Moon menu at the upper left of the browser window, then pick "About Pale Moon."  Click "Check for Updates". 

[Digerati]

Okay, so I am blind!  :smash: Thanks Corrine!

[Corrine]

Not blind, just unfamiliar with it.  Besides, I should have included the instructions in my post. 

[satrow]

It will prompt you after a silent check to upgrade, at least the Windows version does, but it might take ~24 hours to do so (I guess it's set to check once per day?).

There's also a chance that the built-in auto upgrade mechanism might fail, if this is the case, just download the full version, exit Pale Moon and run the installer manually.

[Digerati]

It will prompt you after a silent check to upgrade, at least the Windows version does, but it might take ~24 hours to do so (I guess it's set to check once per day?).

There's also a chance that the built-in auto upgrade mechanism might fail, if this is the case, just download the full version, exit Pale Moon and run the installer manually.

I did find where the default check is once a week, but you can change that to daily. Nevertheless, I think the update process needs some polishing so PM can update in-place without the need for the user to separately download the installer, exit PM, then run a full install with the new version.

A quibble, for now.

[satrow]

It will prompt you after a silent check to upgrade, at least the Windows version does, but it might take ~24 hours to do so (I guess it's set to check once per day?).

There's also a chance that the built-in auto upgrade mechanism might fail, if this is the case, just download the full version, exit Pale Moon and run the installer manually.

... I think the update process needs some polishing so PM can update in-place without the need for the user to separately download the installer, exit PM, then run a full install with the new version.

For the vast majority of users, the auto/manual-update mechanisms work fine, a restart of PM is needed whichever way you update.

[Corrine]

It has always been the same with Firefox too.  In fact, when installing IE updates or updating IE versions, a computer shutdown/restart is needed.  Just like other software programs, it has to be closed in order to replace the files that are in use.

[Digerati]

Restarting the browser (or any app) to apply "changes" is common. No problem there. But the user having to  manually download a full install program every time you need to apply new changes is not.

And sorry Corrine, but you typically do not have to restart Windows to apply IE changes. In the olden days when IE was an integral part of the Windows kernel you did. But even with Windows Updates for Windows files, you often don't need to reboot.

[Corrine]

You don't need to manually download the full install program.  Just like with Firefox, the update is available via Help > "About Pale Moon." > "Check for Updates".   

[Digerati]

You don't need to manually download the full install program.  Just like with Firefox, the update is available via Help > "About Pale Moon." > "Check for Updates".

Right! However - at least when I did that yesterday - it sent me out to the PM site where I had to manually select and download the latest (and full) version to be installed manually. I was not given the option to download only the update. 

Now I must emphasize, I don't use it regularly so perhaps some weekly updates don't force a full overwrite of the old with the new version. But I also note the FAQ Page, in reference to updating and the built-in checker, and when manually checking, the FAQ talks about the option to " download and install the "later version" and "downloading and installing the "new version" respectively. Nothing about "updates" - just new or later version.

So that tells me I am installing the full browser again. And that's okay - it just seems to me the process needs some polish. And I also must emphasize that many programs force a download of the full new program. CCleaner is a prime example.

As for FF - pretty sure it not only checks for updates automatically, but it installs them too.

[Corrine]

I have never allowed any software to install an update without my permission -- which is a primary reason I have no interest in using Chrome.  Unless there has been a change, it is my understanding that updates to the Google Chrome browser (including Flash Player) are automatically installed.

[JDBush61]

You don't need to manually download the full install program.  Just like with Firefox, the update is available via Help > "About Pale Moon." > "Check for Updates".

That worked for me, exactly as described. I verified it by once-again checking for updates from the Help menu and it stated that PM was up-to-date (version 24.6).  Anyway, thank you, Corrine.

[Digerati]

it is my understanding that updates to the Google Chrome browser (including Flash Player) are automatically installed.

I have it installed but don't use it much - except to verify if a site is down. It downloads updates in the background, then applies them next time you shutdown and restart Chrome - or your can go through About Chrome and the updates will apply. AFAIK, there is no user option to disable. 

But Larry @ BC wrote this.