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Google’s latest Chrome 36 Web browser has been unveiled with several new features and improvements on the stable release channel, along with the latest versions of Chrome for Android and a Beta channel update for Chrome OS.
The promotion of Chrome 36 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux was unveiled by Matthew Yuan of the Google Chrome team in a July 16 post on the Chrome Releases Blog. The new version, known officially as Chrome 36.0.1985.125, includes rich notification improvements, the addition of a browser crash recovery bubble, a Chrome App Launcher for Linux, and a wide range of stability and performance updates, wrote Yuan. Also included are 26 security fixes that have been made by contributors.
Also unveiled is the stable version of Chrome for Android, which is now at Version 36, according to a July 16 post by Jason Kersey of the Chrome team on the Chrome Releases Blog. Known officially as Version 36.0.1985.122, the app will be available in Google Play over the next few days and includes several new features such as improved text rendering on non-mobile-optimized sites and many bug fixes and performance improvements, according to Kersey.
A Beta channel update for Chrome OS has also been released, moving the application version to 36.0.1985.126, according to a July 16 post by Ben Henry of the Chrome Team. The update, which features bug fixes and performance improvements, is for all Chrome OS devices except the Google Pixel, the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook, the HP Chromebook 14, the Toshiba Chromebook, the Acer C720 and the Dell Chromebook 11 for Education, according to the post.
Meanwhile, the Beta channel version for the Chrome Web browser has been updated to 36.0.1985.125 for Windows, Mac and Linux, according to another Yuan post.
The new versions are part of Google’s continuing efforts to refine and grow its Chrome browser and Chrome OS products.
In May, Google promoted the previous Version 35 of its Chrome Web browser to the stable release channel, as well as the Version 35 releases of its Chrome OS and Chrome for Android products.
The Chrome 35 browser received a wide range of fixes and improvements for users on Windows, Mac and Linux machines, including 23 security fixes, more developer control over touch input, new JavaScript features, unprefixed Shadow DOM, as well as several new apps and extension APIs.
The new stable Version 35 of Chrome OS had received first-time support for folders in the Chrome OS Launcher so users can organize their apps exactly as they desire; updated window controls based on the user feedback of users; and the availability of Hotwording (or “Ok Google”) on the New Tab Page and Google.com for English (U.S.) users.
Google releases new experimental beta and development channels of future software releases so that they can be built, tested and updated before eventual distribution as stable release versions.
Earlier in May, Google announced that its Chrome team has been experimenting with improved URLs for future Chrome versions that could provide better protection for users against phishing attacks that trick them into visiting malicious Websites. Instead of long URLs that are confusing and hard to identify as genuine, shorter origin-chip URLs would mean that phishers couldn’t create offshoot URLs that could deceive users into visiting their sites.
The experiments involving the origin chip today don’t mean that the feature will eventually be included in Chrome browsers of the future. Instead, the testing is allowing developers to see if it is something that they would want to incorporate if the testing shows promise.
Google’s previous Chrome 34 Web browser was released April 8.
In September 2013, the Chrome browser celebrated its fifth birthday. Launched in 2008 as a desktop or laptop application, Chrome today is widely used as a mobile Web browser on many different devices.
Chrome has had quite a ride since its birth. In June 2012, it surpassed Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as the world’s most used browser for the first time, and it has added many useful features over the years to encourage even more users to adopt it.