14 DAY TRIAL // Google has started offering users a taste of the next major iteration of Chrome, namely version 13.0. Early adopters can now download the first bits of Google Chrome 13.0 and start testing the release immediately. Build 13.0.767.1 is offered to testers through the Chrome Dev Channel, providing the first glimpse at the next version of Google’s open source browser.
It’s important to note that as far as future releases of Chrome are concerned, the next in line to graduate from the Beta to the Stable Channel is version 12.0.
Only then will Google push Chrome 13.0 from Dev to Beta, and subsequently to Stable, as Chrome 14.0 graduates to the Dev Channel.
But for the time being Google Chrome 13.0.767.1 is available for download and testing to early adopters running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.
The Mountain View-based search giant opted to highlight two enhancements in the first Chrome 13.0 development milestone.
The company focused on pushing print preview work to the next level. And speaking of improvements, Google also enhanced Omnibox string matching for Chrome 13.0 Dev.
At the rate that Google is producing new major Chrome versions, customers will only have to wait a couple of months at most in order to start using the Stable release for version 13.0.
At this point in time, end users that do not feel comfortable taking on the risks of test driving pre-release software should stick with the last Stable release of Chrome, version 11.0.
Testers that want something a tad more advanced can download Chrome 12.0 Beta. Both Chrome 11.0 Stable and Chrome 12.0 Beta have been updated as early as the past week.
Chrome 13.0.767.1 and the latest Build of Chromium remain reserved for the most adventurous of testers. Since Chrome 13.0 is now offered through the Dev Channel, Chromium also moves forward to version 14.0.
Google Chrome for Windows is available for download here.
Google Chrome for Linux is available for download here.
Google Chrome for Mac is available for download here.