It only took 5 short years for a feature to migrate over to Windows that we ChromeOS folks have been used to using in the PDF Viewer: pen annotation. When I was made aware of this change, I at first thought the article in question was misinformed. Surely there was no way after all this […]
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For some reason, my Chrome browser just went back in time
With the arrival of ChromeOS 119 in late 2023, the updated, Material You makeover for Chrome arrived for Chromebooks. Well, sort of. It was there for some, not there for others, and it’s been a bit hit-or-miss in the updates ever since. There has been a related set of flags (found by searching “Chrome Refresh […]
Continue ReadingChrome 123’s cleaned up Side Panel is rolling out
If you are a user of the Chrome Side Panel on your Chromebook or other laptop, get ready for a change in how you manage that section of your browser. Rolling out now (I have it on a few devices and not yet on others), Google has removed the specific side panel button and opted […]
Continue ReadingGoogle adds new advanced security for Chrome, but it’ll cost you
Google Chrome still holds the title as the world’s most popular web browser by a very wide margin. Its intuitive interface, constant updates and massive library of extensions make it the easy choice for most people choosing how to browse the web. But just as important as all those other features are, security is and […]
Continue ReadingOnce again, The Masters website is everything I love about the open web
The Masters tournament is underway, and yet again The Masters website/PWA (masters.com) is blowing my mind as it continues to push the envelope of how we experience big golf tournaments on the web. This year, as it has done for the past few years, the website’s capabilities and focus on personalized fan experience make it […]
Continue ReadingChrome for Android is getting a new ‘Tab Declutter’ trick
Is ‘declutter’ even a real word? Regardless of whether it is or not, you know what we’re talking about, here. Declutter conjures up images of cleaning up, organizing, and introducing organization to an otherwise disorganized thing. If you’re like many Chrome users out there (you know who I’m talking about) who hoard gobs of open […]
Continue ReadingIncognito Mode gets a privacy cleanup as Google agrees to ‘destroy’ data
Remember that class-action lawsuit accusing Google of sneaky data collection in Incognito mode? Well, it’s finally settled, and your incognito browsing habits might be a little more private now. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google has agreed to delete billions of improperly collected data records that reflect users’ private browsing activities. Incognito mode is […]
Continue ReadingChrome is finally optimized for ARM-powered Windows laptops
ARM-powered Windows laptops are about to get a big boost in the browsing performance category thanks to a new collaboration between Google and Qualcomm that has culminated in the release of an optimized version of Chrome built specifically for ARM-based Windows machines. Like we’ve had with Chromebooks for years at this point, Windows finally has […]
Continue ReadingAuto Dark Mode for the web might finally be coming to Chrome
If you are anything like me, blinding white websites that sear your eyeballs in low light are the worst, right? Though it’s been an on-again, off-again proposition over the past few years, Google might finally be bringing auto dark mode back to the Chrome browser. This experimental feature allows you to automatically transform any website […]
Continue ReadingWhy the Lacros Chrome browser may arrive on Chromebooks very soon
In running a few tests the other day, I ended up putting one of our office-dwelling Chromebooks in the Canary Channel of ChromeOS 124. Full disclosure, I was seeing if I could get the new ChromeOS App Mall to appear. I could not, unfortunately, even with all the clear and obvious flags turned on. In […]
Continue ReadingChrome 124 is prepping a feature that easily turns any site into a free-standing web app
It was only a few years ago that Google opted to end support for Chrome Apps in favor of the far more universal PWAs – progressive web apps. Since that point, the web by and large has moved in this direction, seeing standard websites acting far more like native applications across the board. With the […]
Continue Reading3 new ways to get helpful suggestions with Chrome
Searching the web can be incredibly efficient when you know precisely what you’re after. But what about those times when you need a little nudge to narrow down your search or find some new ideas? Chrome has you covered with three new smart features designed to boost your browsing inspiration. Related search suggestions in the […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Chrome may soon be able to search text in PDFs that are just images
I’m sure you’ve been there: a PDF gets delivered to you in one way or another and when you open it up to search for whatever piece of info you are looking for, you realize this PDF isn’t a document at all, but is simply an image that has been converted to a PDF. It’s […]
Continue ReadingSay hello to the new “modern” Google sign-in page
Have you noticed a pop-up on the Google account sign-in page recently hinting at a “new look coming soon”? Well, the wait is over – Google has unveiled its “more modern look” for the sign-in page. But before you hit the refresh button expecting a dramatic overhaul, you should know this is only a slight […]
Continue ReadingGoogle delivers my most-anticipated AI feature to Chrome today
Last month, Google teased the introduction of new generative AI goodies set to arrive “soon” in the Chrome browser. Today, with the roll-out of Chrome 122, we finally get to start playing around with the new “Help me write” feature that they’ve been teasing us with for quite some time. For right now, the new […]
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