The tentpole feature in Chrome 66 is a new set of autoplay restrictions aimed at reducing annoying videos that automatically start playing back. However, since it was released last month, the policies have negatively affected games and other web experiences. In response, Google today removed a part of the feature, delaying its launch until later this year.
Following a release to Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android last week, version 66 is now rolling out to Chrome OS. Besides media autoplay restrictions and password export, this update contains a number of small tweaks, as well as Meltdown mitigations for all Chrome OS devices.
Chrome 66 rolled out earlier this week with a new password export feature and restrictions to when media can autoplay. On Windows, this update also adds support to view web-based virtual reality apps through an Oculus VR headset.
Following the Mac, Windows, and Linux release earlier this afternoon, Chrome 66 is now rolling out to Android. There are several design tweaks with this update, but most still require a flag to enable. Meanwhile, there are changes to when media can autoplay, as well as the usual security and developer features.
Chrome 66 is rolling out today on Mac, Windows, and Linux with a number of user-facing features and policy changes that have been in development for the past several months. This includes new media autoplay behavior, blocking third-party software, and other security changes.
With the arrival of Android apps on more and more Chrome OS devices, Google has slowly been revamping the OS to improve its functionality with those apps. Now, Google has just massively improved notifications on Chrome OS with the arrival of inline replies.
Following a more developer-focused release last version, Chrome 66 is now in the beta channel with a number of new user features and changes. Google is implementing new media autoplay behavior and warnings about Chrome crashes related to third-party software on Windows. On Android, the browser replaces “Chrome Home” with a toolbar, while there’s a new “Modern Design.”
Chrome has long featured a convenient built-in password manager that syncs between multiple signed-in devices. Suited for most users, Google is now working on letting them export passwords for use in third-party managers.
Earlier this month, reports suggested that the Chrome Home bottom bar redesign was being canceled in favor of a new look named “Chrome Duplex.” That split toolbar is now live and can be accessed in the latest Canary version of the browser for Android.
To improve performance and reduce crashes on Windows, Google Chrome is going to block third-party software from injecting code into the browser. The Chromium team announced a multi-stage plan today to block code injection that will begin next year.
Over the years, Chrome has removed digital certificates from Authorities that it does not trust to guarantee security. Google today announced finalized plans to remove trust from certifications signed by Symantec due to security lapses that jeopardize the web’s system for identifying websites.
