14 DAY TRIAL // Google updated the Beta channel of its open-source browser beyond version 3.0. In this regard, Google Chrome 3.0.193.2 went live on the Beta channel and is now available for download. The Mountain View-based search giant indicated that it introduced a range of enhancements since it released Chrome 2.0.172.37. In this context, users of the Beta releases of Chrome will be able to notice tweaks to the graphical user interface as well as additional horsepower for the browser's JavaScrip engine.
Anthony Laforge, Google Chrome program manager, indicated that Google “updated V8 to 1.2.13.2 to improve stability and performance. [Delivered] printing fixes and print selection for Windows. [Introduced] initial support for the video tag. Updated look and feel of the url bar (aka the Omnibox). Improved our Developer Tools by adding the scripts and profiles tabs, plus support for docking the inspector into the main window.”
But at the same time, there are additional details that have been modified for the latest Beta version of Chrome. Laforge enumerated some of them: “Minor Tweaks renamed as "Personal Stuff" in the Options menu. Browsing data options added to the Options menu, under Personal Stuff. Default download location and font/language settings moved from Minor Tweaks to the Under the hood tab. Exceptions is a tab in the "Passwords and Exceptions" dialog, rather than a separate button in the Passwords section of the Options menu.”
One day before updating Chrome Beta to 3.0.193.2, Google pushed the 3.0.195.1 update through the browser's developer channel. Unlike Dev Channel Update 3.0.194.3, Chrome 3.0.195.1 was made available for all supported operating systems, namely Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
“Significant changes include: form suggestions now shrink properly as the list of suggestions gets shorter. Extensions can now auto-update. Set the default minimum font size to 12 for Chinese and 10 for Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Thai. Mac now supports drag and drop of URLs, plain text, and HTML into and out of the content area, as well as within text fields and the thumbnails on the new tab page. URLs can be dragged to and from other apps, the Finder/Desktop, and the Dock,” explained Jonathan Conradt, engineering program manager.
The latest releases of Google Chrome are available for download here.