Skip to main content

Chrome OS 65 rolling out w/ more Spectre & Meltdown patches, local file search, & video profile pictures

Almost two weeks after Chrome 65 arrived on Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux, it is now available for Chrome OS. On the security front, this update notably patches against Spectre variant 2 and Meltdown on older Intel devices. There are also a number of user-facing and enterprise changes in this version.

Chrome OS 63 in mid-December patched against Meltdown on newer Intel Chromebooks with kernels 3.18 and 4.4. The Kernel Page Table Isolation mitigation is now available on kernel 3.14 devices with version 65.

All Intel Chrome OS devices with today’s update are also getting patched with the Retpoline mitigation for Spectre variant 2. The compiler-based fix prevents kernel-to-user, guest-to-guest, and host-to-guest information leaks.

Meanwhile, in Chrome OS 65, users can whimsically set a short video as their profile icon. The “Take Photo” tool in the People menu gains the ability to record video in addition to snapping a regular frame with the front-facing camera. This clip plays on your lockscreen, but fortunately remains a still in the bottom-right corner of the dock.

On the practical front, the Launcher’s search functionality now surfaces local files after previously being restricted to Google Drive and local device folders. Google also notes “Expanded unzipping support within Files app for files hosted on Drive.”

The Select-to-Speak accessibility feature now allows users to control the pitch with six options ranging from Lowest to Highest. Users were previously limited to customizing the speech rate.

Other changes include:

  • ARC++ WM resize shadow and drag magnetization
  • MIDI API support for Android apps running on Chrome OS
  • Advanced options screen for tablet setup
  • New setting for more accurate timezone detection

There are also several new features for enterprise users with this update:

  • Enterprise policy for keeping account sign-in consistent between browser and device
  • Kiosk mode now supports mix mode for external displays, extended and mirroring mode simultaneously
  • Automatic Re-Enrollment for managed devices
  • Support device-wide certificates in SAML SSO sign-in

Chrome OS 65 will be available on all devices over the “next several days.”


Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com