14 DAY TRIAL // The Google Chrome Dev channel has been updated to version 5.0.342.1 for Mac OS, Linux, and Windows, Karen Grunberg of the Google Chrome team reports. ChromeFrame is currently 5.0.342.0, beta testers and developers are informed. Google Chrome is a lightweight web browser based on the WebKit layout engine and application framework.
Starting out with all supported platforms, Grunberg informs that extension content scripts no longer run multiple times after fragment (ie #hash) navigations, while early versions of Geolocation API are now available with the following caveats:
1. To enable, run the browser with --enable-geolocation 2. Wifi based location is only supported on Windows and Mac (not OS X 10.6 for now) 3. Permissions are not persisted (will re-prompt every time) and associated UI is incomplete.
Grunberg then goes to outline the Mac-specific changes in Chrome 5.0.342.1, which span a wide number of areas of the software. For once, the development team has improved plugin stability while adding AutoFill Preferences UI Updates. Translate info-bars are now implemented in the browser, with the Mac History menu now featuring favicons. It also no longer lists duplicates of Recently Closed sites, the changelog reveals. Another change is the addition of HTML5 databases to the Mac cookie manager.
For Chrome Frame, the developers were able to fix crashes and improve cookie behavior, addressing several issues in this area. There are still some bugs to iron out, such as Chrome crashing when trying to open Gmail offline, or when setting prompt for cookies/data (Linux-only), as well as a non functional "Show details" link on cookie/data prompt.
As usual, those who want more details about additional changes are encouraged to check out the svn log of all revisions, here.