14 DAY TRIAL // Google Chrome 13 has started trickling down the development channels. Chromium has already been upgraded to the new version number as well as Google Chrome Canary. But there's another addition, Google Chrome Canary for Mac OS X which has just been released.
Apart from support for multiple profiles, there are plenty of updates under the hood of the latest Chrome 13 builds as well. They're not major features and mostly interest developers, but there is some interesting stuff in there for those trying to get a glimpse of Chrome's future.
For example, a new setting has been implemented which enables users to block insecure content in secure pages. More and more websites are switching to HTTPS, including the major ones like Google, Facebook and so on.
But most web pages today grab content from a variety of sources, many outside of the site itself, things like ads, analytics scripts and so on. That outside content may not be accessed via a HTTPS connection, even if the main page is, which is where the new setting comes in handy.
On the UI side, panels are coming to the Windows build and initial support for the feature, which enables websites, extensions or apps to run inside pop-up panels rather than regular tabs, has been built in.
The Chrome team is continuing work on the upcoming touch interface. The latest addition is some early support for drag and drop in the experimental New Tab Page designed for touch devices.
There are plenty of other changes and new features, the most interesting of which have been revealed by developer Peter Beverloo in his weekly round up.
Most of these new features are now available to Chromium users and the most adventurous Chrome Canary users. Chrome Canary 13 made its debut on Mac as well. Hopefully, a Linux build is also coming.
"We’re pleased to announce that Google Chrome Canary for Mac is now available," Mark Mentovai, Software Engineer at Google wrote.
"Hundreds of thousands of Windows users have contributed to Chrome’s development by using the Canary and sending us valuable feedback," he wrote.
"The Mac version of Google Chrome Canary follows the same philosophy: it automatically updates more frequently than the Dev channel, and does not undergo any manual testing before each release," he explained.