14 DAY TRIAL // Google is distributing major new versions of their popular Chrome web browser for all supported platforms, including Mac OS X. As anticipated, the Dev channel has reached version number 16.0 with the Beta channel being promoted to edition 15.
The Dev release, delivering build number 16.0.889.0 to Mac, Windows, and Chrome Frame users, comes with the usual bag of updates, including a new V8 (3.6.4.0), a FTP tweak that fixes compatibility with servers sending 451 response for CWD command, multi-users (multi-profiles) enabled by default, and a bunch of stability fixes.
Due to known bug, the Linux version of Chrome is not getting promoted to version 16 just yet. However, users should expect a build especially crafted for them to arrive over the coming weekend.
Google engineers are even more excited to deliver Chrome 15 Beta, as it includes “some really great improvements”, like the New Tab Page function, and Javascript Fullscreen API now enabled by default.
Equally important for Beta testers, Chrome Web Store items can now be installed inline by their verified site, while the Omnibox History is now an additional sync data type, according to Karen Grunberg, Google Chrome Program Manager.
Unlike the Dev channel release, Chrome 15 Beta arrives for all platforms, including Linux.
As avid Chrome testers will have guessed already, Chrome 15 Beta will turn into a rock-solid Stable release relatively soon, so expect word from Google on that as well. Over at the Official Chrome Blog, the Mountain View search giant details the latest enhancements in Chrome 15, including a number of tips for using the New Tab page feature.
For example, to remove items from any section on the page, users can simply drag them to the bottom right of the page, at which point a trash bin will appear. Users simply hover with the item over the bin and release their mouse button to delete it.