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[LUFTRAUSER]

Ruined for me, anyway. I don't really like making threads (I enjoy participating in existing discussions more than starting new ones), but this is awful. I thought you guys needed to be aware of this. Google is currently rolling out a new "feature" of Chrome that basically forces you to sign in to Chrome; it creates a profile for you within the browser. I hate features like this; to me a browser is simply a conveyance to other webpages, not something I want building a profile on me. So, I immediately deleted this new profile.

That was a mistake.

All my bookmarks, my history, my extensions... gone. Whenever I try to open Chrome, it immediately asks me to sign in, and has already created a "Person 2" profile to replace the one I just deleted.

Well you know what? Fuck Google. They have ruined this browser.

I guess I'm just going to have to build a Chromium instance and use that instead, as Google's features are terrible.

TL;DR: If Chrome suddenly changes, and forces you to sign in or make a profile, don't delete the new profile. It will delete everything from before the update, too.

EDIT: For any Chrome user who is reading this thread and dislikes this feature, it can be disabled using the hidden flags page; just paste the string chrome://flags into the search bar and hit enter; then, just scroll down to where it says "Enable new profile management system" and use the menu immediately beneath to disable it. You can also disable the new avatar menu. Thanks to JasonMCG for letting me know. I really didn't want to have to leave Chrome, as the core browser is still the best there is.

 

[CS_Dan]

Signing into chrome enables its best features. Losing data sucks though...

 

[jambo]

Did they remove the option to skip/ignore the sign-in?

 

[Mistah]

You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

 

[Schrade]

Google Chrome ruined Firefox, too. If it wasn't for Chrome, Firefox wouldn't have gone to shit like it has.

Thank god there's ways to somewhat reverse things but still...

 

[bryehn]

I've been signed into Chrome for years. It's one of the main reasons I use the browser.

 

[Tabris]

Google Chrome has steadily reduced it's performance advantage over other browsers.

I use Safari exclusively now (on Mac). If I need to use a Windows machine again, I'll be tempted to use Firefox instead of Chrome.

Hopefully Microsoft Sparta is good, so Google is forced to re-think their browser focus.

 

[Zoned]

Chrome sign in gives you ample of features that increase convenience and efficiency. I have no problem with that.

 

[Bomber Bob]

I'm using Chrome Canary with that feature since ages ago.

OP there's no need to sign in. And of course if you delete a profile everything associated will be lost.

I hope you have a backup

 

[Rest]

Chrome sign in gives you ample of features that increase convenience and efficiency. I have no problem with that.

For example, what?

 

[fierro]

Chrome sign in gives you ample of features that increase convenience and efficiency. I have no problem with that.

I have a problem when options aren't given ala apple and ios.

 

[Kaladin]

I actually like that because it keeps my favorites and history across multiple devices.

Didn't you hate how when you got a new phone or PC, part of the process was porting over your bookmarks and passwords and shit?

Not with Chrome!

 

[Rocket Scientist]

It's a great and convenient feature. Sign in and boom all your bookmarks and extensions, icons etc are there.

Was there pop up notifying you that deleting the profile would erase your bookmarks and extensions? I'm surprised it would delete pre-existing stuff, that's terrible.

 

[Dicer]

Who the fuck doesn't sign in?!?!?!

 

[BobLoblaw]

I've avoid Chrome because of Google's propensity to track and send data with and without users knowing (google-analytics.com is basically embedded in almost all websites). This signing in "feature" seems like another way to identify the user and track them.

 

[DizzyCaffeine]

I love the sign in feature. I can format my computer, reinstall chrome, and all of my bookmarks will be there.

 

[Hexa]

I actually like that because it keeps my favorites and history across multiple devices.

Didn't you hate how when you got a new phone or PC, part of the process was porting over your bookmarks and passwords and shit?

Not with Chrome!

Yup. And I use the computers and two mobile devices regularly so it's great to have them all synced automatically.

 

[juliushandle]

IE has this too. All bookmarks and logins move from desktop, tablet, to phone.

 

[BasicMath]

If it bothers you so much, then I think it's time to move to another browser. The move should be much easier now that you have nothing at all, so don't waste the opportunity. And make sure not to go to firefox. It's likely to be infected by this new feature of chrome anytime soon.

 

[xenist]

I've been signed into Chrome for years. It's one of the main reasons I use the browser.

Yup. When I'm on Chrome my PC and my phone are basically the same device with a different screen. For me it's a bonus not a detriment.

 

[Guevara]

I hate that Google asks me to sign in. In Chrome, in Maps for iPhone. Uh, no thanks Google: take the hint.

 

[lastplayed]

I love the sign in feature. I can format my computer, reinstall chrome, and all of my bookmarks will be there.

Also super handy when using multiple computers between work and home. Can browse my bookmarks and history on either and it's consistent.

 

[cyberheater]

I've given up and signed in. They know everything about me. I've stopped caring about it. Fuck it.

 

[jellies_two]

I've switched back to Safari as well. It works well.

Over time I got more annoying mysterious Chrome things going on, mainly to do with memory clogging up, or runaway cpu time, and fewer and fewer Safari issues, so I just switched.

 

[Ndless]

Who the hell doesn't sign in?!

Your profile includes all your encrypted data; your passwords, usernames, addresses, bookmarks, history, settings, and addons.

 

[Chariot]

I've been signed into Chrome for years. It's one of the main reasons I use the browser.

Yup, having all bookmarks. plugins and options synced with multiple devices is pretty comfy.

 

[Ambitious]

Who the fuck doesn't sign in?!?!?!

I don't. I have no reason to.

 

[ZhugeEX]

Does anyone have the page freeze or stutter if there is a gif on the page. Its been annoying me so much for the past month. Used to be fine but now if there is a gif I either need to wait ages/deal with stutter or keep refreshing till it loads everything smoothly.

Anyone?

 

[GavinGT]

People that don't sign into Chrome are really missing out.

 

[Kibbles]

Yup. When I'm on Chrome my PC and my phone are basically the same device with a different screen. For me it's a bonus not a detriment.

I consistently have like 40 tabs so this would be terrible lol

 

[CS_Dan]

Who the hell doesn't sign in?!

Your profile includes all your encrypted data; your passwords, usernames, addresses, bookmarks, history, settings, and addons.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that's the exact reason why they don't.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Who the hell doesn't sign in?!

I see no reason to do so at work, so I don't do it.

I don't use chrome on mobiles, so I couldn't benefit from it.

 

[IISANDERII]

People that don't sign into Chrome are really missing out.

On what?

 

[randomhugs]

Just sign in. Everything you have will be synced which will allow you to access all your bookmarks, passwords, and even browser history from any computer. Themes too. You can disable all of these or just individual ones and are even given an option to encrypt the data for extra security.

 

[Ri'Orius]

I don't really like making threads, but this is awful. I thought you guys needed to be aware of this. Google is currently rolling out a new "feature" of Chrome that basically forces you to sign in to Chrome; it creates a profile for you within the browser. I hate features like this; to me a browser is simply a conveyance to other webpages, not something I want building a profile on me. So, I immediately deleted this new profile.

That was a mistake.

All my bookmarks, my history, my extensions... gone. Whenever I try to open Chrome, it immediately asks me to sign in, and has already created a "Person 2" profile to replace the one I just deleted.

So, you deleted your profile... and it deleted your profile. And now you're upset? The browser still does what you want it to: it'll take you to other webpages. I thought you didn't want all that profily stuff like bookmarks and history?

For example, what?

Say I search for something on my desktop, and later want to find it on my phone (or vice-versa). Well, they share a history. So I start typing on my phone and it puts up an autocomplete suggestion of whatever it was I searched for on my desktop.

Literally look at what OP complains about losing: that's what's attached to your profile. If you like having your browser remember your history, why don't you want it to remember your history across devices? If you like having your browser remember your bookmarks, why don't you want it to remember them across devices?

 

[Odoul]

I know the feeling.

I don't use Chrome, but I stopped having a Youtube account when having a Gmail account became a neccesity to sign in.

Call it petty but there's things I'll put up with and things I won't.

 

[Rest]

Say I search for something on my desktop, and later want to find it on my phone (or vice-versa). Well, they share a history. So I start typing on my phone and it puts up an autocomplete suggestion of whatever it was I searched for on my desktop.

Literally look at what OP complains about losing: that's what's attached to your profile. If you like having your browser remember your history, why don't you want it to remember your history across devices? If you like having your browser remember your bookmarks, why don't you want it to remember them across devices?

I only use one internet device, I can't say I really need to look at my history all that often, and if I do there are plenty of easy ways to find what I'm looking for again. I don't have any bookmarks either. So what else does it do? I've yet to see any personal benefit to myself if I have to log in in the future.

 

[BrassDragon]

It's very useful for mobile integration - the number of devices in my household keeps growing, it's nice sharing bookmarks and whole pages between them seamlessly. I mean, I could walk away from my laptop right now and continue reading this thread on my mobile, no fuss.

If that doesn't float your boat, there are better and faster browsers out there.

 

[Fireblend]

Hasn't this been a feature for years now?

I use it. It's very convenient to have the same browser profile across all your devices.

 

[GavinGT]

I consistently have like 40 tabs so this would be terrible lol

It doesn't literally open all those tabs in both browsers. It just lets you see which tabs you have opened on your other devices and you can open them if you want to.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Sounds bloat-tastic.

 

[Komo]

Firefox master race, tho

 

[Dr.Acula]

Maybe I don't want things like bookmarks stored in a cloud where anyone can read that information?

And security lol. J-Law can't even take a photo without the entire world seeing it. The cloud is basically facebook where everyone can see everything.

The option is nice, but forcing a sign-in is stupid and unnecessary.

 

[Roven]

so nothing changes ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

 

[Das Ace]

I'm glad Chrome is here to remind me what my name is every time I browse

 

[LUFTRAUSER]

So, you deleted your profile... and it deleted your profile. And now you're upset? The browser still does what you want it to: it'll take you to other webpages. I thought you didn't want all that profily stuff like bookmarks and history?

Here's the thing: I don't need a built-in browser profile to have bookmarks and history. Those features have been in web browsers for years. What I'm upset about is that I opened up Chrome to suddenly find a new and very aggressive version of the "sign in to Chrome" option that I'd previously been able to ignore.

The difference is, now Chrome will make a generic profile by default, without even asking the user. When I tried to delete this new profile, it erased all my old stuff too.

Now, I'm not some kind of security buff; I don't care about privacy or data mining, etc. What I care about is a needlessly complicated feature that I don't want being forced upon me.

Google seems to think that we all want to be a part of their ecosystem, but some of us just want to use a browser as a tool to find content. I certainly don't mind having a profile here on NeoGAF or a myriad other sites; what I dislike about this is that Google wants me to have one profile everywhere, all the time.

 

[MercuryLS]

My biggest issue with chrome is how it murders the battery on my macbook. Even with 64 bit chrome, it doesn't matter. Until they fix that, I'm sticking with safari on my Mac.

 

[Crisco]

to me a browser is simply a conveyance to other webpages

Uh yeah, then don't use Chrome because it's been a lot more than that for a long time. It's a multiplatform computing environment that's meant to share your user experience across all your devices. Despite all that, the switch to 64-bit made it much more memory friendly so it's still one of thinnest browsers around if that's all you use it for.

 

[terrisus]

Come to Opera =)

 

[GavinGT]

I'm glad Chrome is here to remind me what my name is every time I browse

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome/kBx2EcOvY_U

All you have to do is to navigate to about://flags and turn the flag for -enable-new-avatar-menu to off.