After just releasing a new version of Chrome for the desktop, Google is out today with an updated version of Chrome for iPhone and iPad. Version 42 includes a new widget in the Today section of Notification Center, support for 1Password and LastPass and other app extensions, plus more.
Chrome’s brand new Today view widget in Notification Center puts Voice Search a swipe away from anywhere on your iPhone or iPad. Once you add the Chrome widget, you can swipe down and quickly open a new tab in the Chrome browser or open Voice Search to have a Siri-like experience within Google’s browser. If you have a URL copied to your clipboard from any app like Safari or Twitter, you’ll notice this in the widget as well; tapping the copied URL from the widget will open it directly in Chrome from Notification Center.
Chrome also includes support for app extensions like 1Password and LastPass for filling in your passwords from the apps that securely manage them without leaving the browser. Unlike Safari, which features the share/action button on the bottom toolbar, Chrome includes its share/action button in the top right corner of the window under the three-dot icon. If you have compatible apps installed, you’ll notice the extension sheet next to copy and print options alongside other options like AirDrop and share options.
In addition to including better extensibility, Chrome 42 includes a unique pull-to-refresh view. Dragging down on any page now exposes a custom user interface for refreshing the current page. Optionally, you can drag down and swipe to the left to open a fresh tab or down and swipe right to close the current tab. The new gesture is especially useful on larger displays once you get the hang of it.
Chrome 42 for iPhone and iPad is available for free on the App Store.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
All this, yet Google still refuses to add simple and effective privacy controls to Chrome. I think I know that Google developers want to do this – but Google management is stopping them because Google fears that advertisers won’t be happy if they can’t fully track Chrome user activity. Senseless ineptitude.
Do you not know where to find the privacy controls in Chrome? Google and Apple have very similar privacy policies
Yep, Chrome privacy settings are hidden under “advanced settings”! Seriously, these guys are total jokers.
Chrome for Mac now has gotten the pinch to zoom feature that Safari has now.
But does it use the faster javascript engine now? My understanding is that it still didn’t as of the last major update.
I doubt it.
I don’t understand why they aren’t using it. Are there any drawbacks for them, or are they just dragging their feet?
Chome is such a UI oddity on iOS. It seems to have escaped the whole Material Design thing pretty much untouched, its bookmark screen is an ugly pile of Windows 95 style folder icons with miniature favicons in the middle of them (why can Safari find high-res site icons, but Chrome can’t?), and the iPad version even sports more Windows 95 style design with it’s tab design. There’s even a skeuomorphic like screen of faux paper and folder type shapes left behind when you close all the tabs down. It’s a mess.
Does it look the same on Android? And if it does, what on earth are Google playing at? Surely if there was one app they should absolutely nail, it should be Chrome?
All I can gather is that Google is not managed strongly. Lots of groupthink and little fiefdoms (sorry “autonomous collectives”) without a strong leadership force to drive them. These little groups are at best, herded.
Google is a successful company (one of the few tech giants I expect to see around in 10 years along with Apple). But their idea of a product is nebulous at best.