> A good way to inform your users is to combine chrome.runtime.OnUpdateAvailable and chrome.tabs.create(<INSERT blog URL>) .

This is terrible behaviour.

I can't express how much it frustrates me that every extension and every service thinks it's a great idea to launch new tabs or overlay the screen I'm trying to use with their self promotion about some new update or change they rolled out.

Unless there is something I have to know about immediately because there will be significant side effects (data loss, monetary, physical danger, that sort of thing) don't do it.