Category: Chrome

Chrome build 61.0.3163.100 is now rolling out to desktop users of the browser on Windows, Mac and Linux.  The update is purely a security fix and performance update with no noted new features.

The update addresses three security issues in the browser, two of which were discovered as part of Google’s continuing bounty program.  Those fixes, including the reward given to the one who found it, is below.

• [$7500][765433] High CVE-2017-5121: Out-of-bounds access in V8. Reported by Jordan Rabet, Microsoft Offensive Security Research and Microsoft ChakraCore team on 2017-09-14
• [$3000][752423] High CVE-2017-5122: Out-of-bounds access in V8. Reported by Choongwoo Han of Naver Corporation on 2017-08-04

The other critical security issue found was found internally and no details were reported on it in the Release Notes.

For those who use Chrome for Android, you can expect a minor update to hit your various devices this week.  Build 59.0.3071.117 was released yesterday for Android and follows up on a similar update released for the desktop version of the browser late last week. This update for Android fixes a few crash issues, a performance issue, and an issue which prevented some users from downloading images.

The update is rolling out in the Google Play Store now and everyone should see the OTA update for it this week or next.  It will be particularly important to get this update if you have run into some of the specific issues outlined in the release notes.

Just a few days after Chrome 59 was released for desktops, the latest update to Google’s browser is now starting to roll out for Android.  The update is version Chrome 59 (59.0.3071.92) for those keeping score at home and it has been released to the Play Store.  It should hit your devices over the course of the next several days via an OTA update.

While the release notes were limited, there are two improvements that are in this update.  First, overall loading of pages should be improved with this update.  Unfortunately, the Chromium team within Google didn’t quantify just how much faster the page loading happens.  It’s something that you will have to visually check and estimate yourself.

The Chromium team within Google has released Chrome 59, the latest major build of the browser for Windows, MacOS and Linux.  The update is rolling out now and if you have Chrome installed, the update should come to you over the course of the next few days.  If you want to force the issue, just type chrome://help in the browser and it will automatically download the update immediately.

There are two big changes in this update along with the normal raft of bug and security fixes.  The first is the injection of more Material Design.  The Settings page within Chrome is now by default in Material Design.  The ability to turn on this feature manually in Chrome has been there since Chrome 57 but it has required a manual flag change deep within the settings of the browser.  Now it is on by default in Chrome 59.

Following the release of the desktop build and the Chrome OS build last week, Chrome 58 has made its way to Android.  The updated build is version 58.0.3029.83 and it has been released into the Google Play Store.  Keep in mind that it could take several days before the update hits your phone or tablet as the update is rolled out to users.

According to the release notes, there are three new features in this update to the browser:

• View and manage in-progress downloads on the Downloads page
• View and clear your browsing data more easily on the redesigned History page
• Long-press a link to open it in a new Chrome tab (from Chrome Custom Tabs)

Along with these new features, there are several bug fixes and security improvements to the browser.

After two years of behind the scenes work, the new Google Earth has been announced and released today.  The update brings vast improvements to the app for Chrome on the web and the Android app along with several new features.  The web-based version of the new Earth is now available while the Android app, version 9.0 for those keeping score at home, is rolling out now to the Play Store.  The app sports an all new icon along with the app improvements.

The banner new feature in this update is the new Voyager feature.  Teaming up with scientist, non-profit organizations and storytellers, this new feature allows you to have an interactive guided tour of a locale within Google Earth.  My personal favorite is The Hidden World of National Parks which takes you on a journey through these protected areas here in the United States and includes a combination of Street Views, videos and, of course, interactive maps.