14 DAY TRIAL // Google has just pushed Chrome 29 to the stable channel. The latest release isn't exactly brimming with new features, at least no on the desktop platforms, Android users have a couple of things to look forward to.
But the update does come with a number of security fixes, 25 in total, several of which have earned their discoverers money and are labeled as "high" risk.
The new stable Chrome also comes with better Omnibox suggestions, based on your browsing history.
It's also possible to reset your profile to its initial state now, a feature similar to Firefox's "reset" button, which should come in quite handy if you run into problems and don't want to re-install the browser. You can find out more about it here.
Still, even if new features aren't on the menu, that's not to say the latest update is nothing to get excited about.
Developers will be able to make use of several more features in their packaged apps, the next-generation Chrome apps that Google believes will finally replace native desktop app or at least compete in a level playing field.
"[The update] brings Chrome packaged apps several new capabilities including richer access to Google services such as Google Analytics, Google APIs and Google Wallet, and better OS integration using services such as Bluetooth and native app communication," Google explained in the beta release announcement.
Under the hood, the new Chrome comers with full support for Google's next-generation video codec, VP9, the first browser to boast this, though that's understandable.
On the mobile front, Chrome 29 brings a couple of major web platform features, support for the Web Audio API and WebRTC.
These powerful new technologies make possible a host of new web apps. On the one hand, audio editors, synths and music apps, as well as games, now have a robust low-latency audio API to work with. Meanwhile, WebRTC enables standard-based video and audio communication tools that do away with the need for Flash or installing any app.