14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this month, Google updated its Chrome OS computer operating system to stable version 64.0.3282.134 and platform version 10176.65.0, an update that's now available for most Chromebook devices.
Besides the usual security improvements and bug fixes, the latest Chrome OS 64 release includes several new features that are worth mentioning, such as the ability to take screenshots by simultaneously pressing the Power and Volume Down buttons on your Chromebook with a 360-degree hinge.
Google promised this feature a while ago, but now it's finally here for most Chromebook owners, giving them an Android-like screenshot functionality. In addition, Google has revamped the Intent Picker for Play Applications in Chrome OS 64, presenting users with the same window by default, but with an override.
Other new features implemented in Chrome OS 64 include the ability to enable VPN connections for Google Play Apps and new touchscreen pairing settings. Also, the update brings performance Improvements to the lockscreen and various optimizations to the "Android Container Auto Update" feature, along with some enhancements to Google's protected media pipeline for Android.
Chromebooks are now patched against Meltdown and Spectre bugs
Another interesting change included in the Chrome OS 64 is the additional browser mitigations for Google Chrome to mitigate the speculative side-channel attack techniques known as Meltdown and Spectre, which Google's own Project Zero team discovered in a joint movement with other security researchers from various universities around the world.
Therefore, it is recommended to update your Chromebook as soon as possible to Chrome OS 64 if you're using the stable channel. To update, simply open the Settings page from the tray area and go to About Chrome OS. The new version should download automatically and you'll be prompted to restart your Chromebook for the update to be applied.