Google Chrome 12.0.742.30 Embraces Apple's VoiceOver, HTML5

Google Chrome engineers are so proud of their latest Beta channel update that they’ve dedicated a new blog entry to the release which loses Google Gears in favor of the Apple-promoted HTML5 standard, and adds hardware accelerated 3D CSS, as well as new accessibility features.

Google’s Jason Kersey makes the official introductions, saying “The Google Chrome team is happy to announce the release of Chrome 12 to the Beta Channel for all platforms,” which include Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Kersey outlines that Chrome 12.0.742.30 includes a number of new features and updates, such as hardware accelerated 3D CSS, new Safe Browsing protection against downloading malicious files, and the ability to delete Flash cookies from inside Chrome.

Additional enhancements include the ability to launch apps by name from the Omnibox, integrated Sync into new settings pages, and improved screen reader support.

Weighing in on the latter addition, Vangelis Kokkevis, Software Engineer, reveals on the Google Chrome blog that he and his fellow colleagues felt there was much room for improvement for those who are either blind or visually impaired.

As a result, the Google screen reader now uses “a special type of software that describes the contents of the screen using synthesized speech or braille,” Kokkevis explains.

Reminiscent of Apple’s VoiceOver function in Mac OS X, the technology is touted by Kokkevis as being important for “people who would otherwise be unable to use a computer.”

In fact, the feature comes with preliminary support for many popular screen readers including Apple’s own VoiceOver, JAWS, and NVDA.

Also on the Mac, Chrome 12 now pops up a new warning when hitting Command-Q so that users don’t accidentally quit the app without being able to finish or save their browsing session.

Finally, Chrome 12 Beta marks the removal of Google Gears, as promised in March.

"[Google is] excited about the potential of HTML5 to enable powerful web applications, and [hopes] that Google Gears rests in peace,” according to Kokkevis.

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