Well, it's been a wild ride. Dating back almost 4 years ago now, LaCros has been a topic of discussion for us here at Chrome Unboxed on a rotating schedule. From the early days when it felt very much like an experiment to last year when Google made things quite official, the end goal and point of … [Read more...] about Google is shutting down LaCros – the standalone browser for Chromebooks
Chrome
Chrome 126 is making mobile search easier with 5 updates
Chrome 126 is rolling out and with this update, Google is giving some love to the overall search experience on mobile devices. In an effort to make things just as seamless as on a desktop computer, they've rolled out five new updates that will make searching from your phone or tablet even easier. … [Read more...] about Chrome 126 is making mobile search easier with 5 updates
Chrome’s “Listen to this page” replaces yet another Google Assistant feature
I remember it like it was yesterday. A new Google Assistant feature had rolled out in 2020 that allowed users to simply ask for a page to be read aloud to them and promptly delivered a very human-like recitation of that page's content. It had a playback menu, voice options and everything, and I … [Read more...] about Chrome’s “Listen to this page” replaces yet another Google Assistant feature
Chrome’s new Minimized Custom Tabs are genius
If you've ever used Google's Discover from your home screen, ever browsed the news in Google News, or clicked on any link in any app that uses a Chrome Custom Tab, you likely know what a breath of fresh air this feature is for apps that need to surface web-related material without booting you … [Read more...] about Chrome’s new Minimized Custom Tabs are genius
How to bypass Google’s new SGE (AI) in search results
I can't tell you how happy I am that this is an option at this point in 2024. For those of you who are still unaware of it, Google is rolling out SGE (Search Generative Experience) to their core search product soon, and you won't be able to easily switch it off. Added to the snippets, photo … [Read more...] about How to bypass Google’s new SGE (AI) in search results
Google adds Machine Learning to power up the Chrome URL bar
The Chrome URL bar, also known as the Omnibox, is an absolute centerpiece of most people's web browsing experience. Used quite literally billions - billions - of times a day, Chrome's URL bar helps users quickly find tabs, bookmarks, revisit websites, and discover new information. With the latest … [Read more...] about Google adds Machine Learning to power up the Chrome URL bar
Chrome on Windows is finally getting a PDF inking tool Chromebooks have had for years
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 time that … [Read more...] about Chrome on Windows is finally getting a PDF inking tool Chromebooks have had for years
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 … [Read more...] about For some reason, my Chrome browser just went back in time
Chrome 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 to add shortcuts in … [Read more...] about Chrome 123’s cleaned up Side Panel is rolling out
Google 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 … [Read more...] about Google adds new advanced security for Chrome, but it’ll cost you
Once 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 … [Read more...] about Once again, The Masters website is everything I love about the open web
Chrome 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 … [Read more...] about Chrome for Android is getting a new ‘Tab Declutter’ trick
