There is a new beta build for Google Chrome — 3.0.195.4– out today, featuring 30 percent faster processing and HTML5 functionality. I penned the details at eWEEK here.
I just downloaded Chrome 3.0.195.4 and welcome the new features. Website thumbnails were previously static on the New Tab page, but there is now drag-and-drop functionality, enabling users to click a thumbnail and move it anywhere on the page.
This mirrors the functionality Google provides users with Google gadgets on their iGoogle pages:
Dragging-Beta–Recent-Activities.jpg
Mouse over any thumbnail and you’ll be able to hide it from view, or pin it to the spot. You can always undo the thumbnails you pin, and toggle back and forth between thumbnail or list view. Note the pin icon in the upper left corner of the Google Web page thumbnail:
Chrome Beta D&D.jpg
The Omnibox has also been revamped with icons to help users differentiate what kind of sites you’ve got in the tickler file, including suggested sites and bookmarks:
Beta-Omnibox.png
While Chrome programmers claim the Omnibox is “is indisputably an important part of Google Chrome,” I confess that I’m not overwhelmed by it. But that’s because I use the Website thumbnails in the New Tab page so much. I tend to just click on my iGoogle thumbnail and do searches from there.
Unlike in Firefox, where I use its drop-down address and search quite a bit, the iGoogle thumbnail in the New Tab page satisfies all of my needs. For my purposes, the Omnibox is overkill. Am I alone? Sorry, Google.
Just as the drag-and-drop thumbnails recall iGoogle gadget functionality, the new Chrome Themes Gallery lets you choose how you want your Web browser to look — just like iGoogle.
There are 29 choices, which you can find here. Just click to apply themes. I honestly haven’t decided which one I want to use.
It might be Baseball:
Baseball chrome.png
Though I can see that green grass clashes against my bright Batman theme for my iGoogle page.
It won’t be Legal Pad. Ugghhhh:
Chrome legal pad.png
What is your favorite new feature in Chrome 3.0.195.4? Why? What do you want to see the Chrome programmers do next? (Besides work on the Mac and Linux versions.)
More takes on the new and improved Chrome on TechMeme here.