14 DAY TRIAL // The latest Google Chrome dev channel update has a surprise for early adopters, along with the regular bug fixes, the brand new Chrome logo makes its official debut in all its glory. Google Chrome 11.0.696.12 Dev features the brand new logo that first made its appearance in Chromium.
While it looked like Google was saving the logo for Chrome 12, it's now clear that it's heading down to the stable and beta channels soon.
Google Chrome 11.0.696.12 Dev is slated to become the next beta and, subsequently, the next stable release, so it's safe to say at this point that the new logo will make its debut for the wider audience in Chrome 11, in a few weeks' time.
As with the Chromium logo, the new Chrome visual identity dials down the 'exuberance' of youth in the previous logo for a more toned down look. But the subtle gradients and the better defined lines not only make it more practical, since it retains more details even at small sizes, it also makes it a lot better looking.
While there may be some critics of this new logo, the general feel so far seems to be positive. And Chrome's logo was perhaps in need of a revamp, it's been around for more than two years and almost 12 reincarnations now.
It's also just in time for the upcoming launch of Chrome OS, with a six month delay. While Chrome OS has been available in beta form for a few months now, in Google's own netbook the Cr-48, it hasn't been freely available to users.
But with the first devices landing in a couple of months, the new logo should be right on cue for the marketing push that is sure to accompany the launch.
