Google has unleashed a beta version of its next Chrome upgrade to generate some early user feedback. The search giant has also opened a new developer channel that gives more accomplished PC users the ability to access a rough sneak preview of what is likely to be in Google’s next-generation browser.
Early adopters of Google’s new Chrome beta release will receive regular updates featuring the latest speed enhancements, features and bug fixes, noted Chrome Product Manager Brian Rakowski. “We’re doing our best to quickly churn out new features as they are available rather than saving them up for occasional major releases,” Rakowski said.
New Features
Perhaps the best thing about Google’s new download is speed. According to Rakowski, Chrome beta is “35 percent faster on the Sunspider benchmark than the current stable channel version and almost twice as fast when compared to our original beta version.”
Still, the new browser isn’t without flaws. “Riding the beta channel is a great way to let us know about what’s working and what’s not, but don’t be surprised to find some rough edges,” Rakowski said.
Chrome beta users can now “tear off” any tabbed page and open it in a new window that only occupies half the computer screen. To accomplish this, users need only click on the desired tab and drag it to the mid-point of the top, bottom, right or left sides of the desktop until the feature’s docking icon appears. Releasing the mouse pointer over the docking icon that appears at the bottom of the desktop, for example, opens the tabbed page in a new window occupying the bottom half of the desktop.
Google’s new Chrome beta also includes an auto-scroll capability that makes Web page navigation less tedious than using the window’s slide bars. Click on the mouse’s middle button or…