Questions[chromium](ubuntu)

I just discovered that chromium will only be released as a snap package.

How can I continue to get chromium, without snap? Is this possible without building from source?

Notes:

• Please let's keep to the question as stated - not "what do you have against snap?"
• I'm not asking how to remove snap - just how to use chromium as it is now, a deb.

Update

No, this is not a duplicate of that linked question. I don't need to know "why it's a snap". I want to know how to use it without snap.

Right now there is building from source, and some random PPA mentioned below. I hope someone can advise us of trustworthy alternatives.

I am using Chromium Version 71.0.3578.80 (Official Build) on Ubuntu, running on Ubuntu 16.04 (64-bit).

This morning my WhatsApp Web tab asked me to update Chrome with the following message:

WhatsApp works with Google Chrome 36+
To use WhatsApp, update Chrome or use Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge or Opera.

What should I do to get WhatsApp Web running again?

I want to be able to click links in Thunderbird emails and have them open in Chromium (package name chromium-browser). Instead, they open in Firefox.

I have tried the following:

1. xfce preferred applications (Chromium is not listed, so I had to hunt down the executable) -- next time I run chromium, it complains that it is no longer the default browser.

2. Telling Chromium to set itself as the default browser. Thunderbird opens links in Firefox.

3. update-alternatives. It's already listed as an alternative at the same priority as Firefox. The "open web browser" app menu item opens Chromium. Thunderbird opens links in Firefox.

I have looked through the entire preferences gui in Thunderbird (but not the advanced config editor yet) and seen nothing that mentions what browser to open links in.

Please note that this is not Google Chrome.

Is there an easier way to install Chromium than what is described here?

Furthermore, is there an easier way to stay up to date with current Chromium releases rather than having to re-build Chromium each release? (a script which automatically grabs and installs the latest build possibly?).

Related:

• How do I get the latest (beta and development) version of Chromium?

I used Google Chrome in Windows, and am now using Chromium in Ubuntu. Is there any difference to the two programs? What are the advantages and disadvantages to each program? Which one seems better?