14 DAY TRIAL // Chrome has been promoted to version 12.0 on Google’s Developer distribution channel for all supported platforms, including Mac OS X, adding an all-new ‘Multi-Select’ function for tabs, and an updated V8 engine. The Stable channel is now at version 10.0.648.204 - a release primarily focused on patching security bugs.
Confirmed by Google’s Anthony Laforge as immediately available for download, Chrome 12.0.712.0 is the first 12.0 build for both Mac OS X and Windows, as well as Linux PC users.
The aforementioned new Tab Multi-Select function, which allows users to select multiple tabs using the Ctrl key to apply various actions to all open tabs at once (e.g. refresh them), is applied to all platforms, which means Mac users can go ahead and test it out right now.
Users who are not shy of using unstable versions of the open-source browser will find that Chrome 12 also boasts improved bookmark bar animations, this being a Mac-specific enhancement thrown in by Google developers maintaining the application.
For Chrome fans who rely on the web browser to carry out important work, the Stable channel now offers version 10.0.648.204 up for grabs.
Available for Mac users from the single download link below serving downloads for all channels, Chrome 10.0.648.204 contains important security fixes detailed by Google’s Jason Kersey on the blog dedicated to Chrome releases.
These include a buffer error in base string handling, issues with stale pointer in CSS handling, a DOM tree corruption with broken node parentage and more.
As usual, Google properly credits their discoverers, and offers them cash rewards.
Those looking to learn more about each update are invited to visit the SVN logs of all revisions for each version in part.
Chrome 12.0 for Mac requires an Intel-based system running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.