7 compelling Google Chrome 90 features that improve your browsing
Imagine enjoying high speed connectivity while backing up your data. Google Chrome is constantly looking for ways to give you a better internet experience. Google Chrome 90 includes many features that take these improvements a step further with its latest update.
One of the great feature updates records your data while you surf the internet. This article will also discuss other improvements Google has made under the hood to its browser.
1. Better video with less bandwidth usage
Video conferencing quickly became part of our daily work and our social life. Google Chrome 90 now supports a video codec called AV1. AV1 is a codec optimized for higher quality video conferencing. You may have already witnessed the effects of AV1 with Netflix streaming.
The main goal of Netflix was to provide efficient and high quality video streams to mobile users. Additionally, Netflix wanted to include subscribers on limited data plans on their phones.
Now Google Chrome uses a similar approach. AV1 compresses videos that should run at speeds as low as 30 kbps more efficiently. This will reduce data consumption and help those struggling with network reliability.
With AV1, you enjoy high quality videos, video conferencing, and faster video loading times, even with a slow internet connection. This feature is the solution for those tough times in meetings where you miss a few sentences due to the poor video connection.
As part of Google’s goal of helping you save data, Google Meet also has a new power saving mode to help lower your data bills and improve battery life.
2. Chrome will use HTTPS by default
Google Chrome 90 has implemented several security fixes that make browsing more secure. Chrome will now use HTTPS by default. Prior to this update, you either had to install an HTTPS extension that automatically used the secure website or manually enter the secure version in the address bar.
Now, when you browse the net, Chrome automatically defaults to the secure version of the website.
Google Chrome 90 will always use the secure HTTPS version if you try to enter an insecure version. Chrome 90 update blocks browser access to TCP port 554 to protect you from hackers.
One of the factors behind this security upgrade was a new attack variant that was reported by researchers last year. The variant can expose all devices on the internal network to the Internet.
3. Share specific text links on a web page
Chrome 90 will allow you to share specific text links on a web page. Previously you shared a link to an entire page, now you can share links to specific paragraphs on a page.
The “Copy link to highlight” feature is currently only available on desktop and Android browsers, but is slowly rolling out to all users. To share text, select the text you want to share, right click to choose âCopy link to highlightâ option from the context menu.
4. Search in open tabs
Are you having trouble finding a specific tab among all the open tabs? You can now search through your open tabs in your browser. The search function searches through the titles and descriptions of your open tabs. To search your open tabs, click the down arrow at the top right of your browser.
Note that the search function does not browse the contents of your open tabs, it only helps you search in titles.
Additional features of Chrome 90
The above features aren’t the only benefits of Chrome 90. Here are some additional features you can expect from the update.
Improved copy and paste: an alternative to drag and drop
With Chrome 90, you can copy and paste files from your clipboard just like you do on a desktop app. To add an attachment to Gmail or any other file on a website, you don’t need to rely on a file picker or drag and drop alone. Copy the file to the clipboard, then just press CTRL + V on the site opened in Chrome.
Window name
Google Chrome 90 has a new window management feature to help you identify and group multiple browser windows. If your browser experiences an unexpected crash, Chrome 90 will restore the names you added.
To name a window, click on the three-dot menu icon at the top right of your browser, select More Tools> Name Window.
Google introduces FLoC in Chrome 90
FLoC stands for Federated Learning of Cohorts. FLoC is a feature that will replace third-party cookies to show you relevant advertisements. Instead of advertisers targeting advertisements specifically for you, you will be part of a group of at least 1,000 like-minded users. With FLoC, advertisers will be able to serve ads to your group and other groups with common interests.
This means that you will be “hidden” within this larger anonymous group. However, this feature might not be such a victory for all parties, as it gives Google more control over digital advertising companies, increasing Google’s revenue while third parties could lose revenue.
Google has not fully rolled out this feature. FLoC is being tested on Chrome 90 and is releasing new settings in the Privacy and Security options.
How to update to Chrome 90
To upgrade to Chrome 90 on your mobile browser, here’s what you need to do:
Click on the three vertical dots at the top right of your browser, scroll down and click on settings, then click “About Chrome” and your browser will update automatically.
Keep in mind that Chrome should update automatically on your computer’s browser. To check if you have the latest version, go to three points in the right corner of your browser and select Help> About Google Chrome. From here you can check if your browser is up to date.
Take advantage of the new features of Chrome 90
Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers today. Constant updates from Google make the browser more secure while improving the way we browse the web.
There are a number of reasons why you should be using Google Chrome, from user-friendliness to its high-speed performance, but that’s not the only choice as there are now plenty of other alternatives to Chrome.
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