Google Chrome gets iOS & macOS update with new features

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers available and is the go-to alternative to Apple's Safari -- and both iOS and Mac versions got an update today.

Google Chrome update
Google Chrome update



Google has announced a few updates for its cross-platform browser across iOS and desktop. The iOS update focuses on giving users more opportunities to initiate searches, while the desktop update is more modest.

What's new with iOS Chrome



There are four new search-specific features available in the new Chrome update.

The address bar is now more content-aware of the webpage you're visiting. That means if you select the address bar while browsing a website, search suggestions will appear under "Related to this page."

New search functions in Chrome for iOS
New search functions in Chrome for iOS



Trending searches will soon appear in the iOS version of Chrome, similar to how they have on Android. Tap on the address bar and scroll down to see these suggestions when they appear later in 2023.

Related searches are coming to the iOS version of Chrome. These appear on a card at the bottom of the app when a word or object is selected.

Finally, Chrome for iOS will show ten total search suggestions instead of six. As always, more relevant results will appear at the top.

Chrome for macOS update



Desktop Chrome users should be well acquainted with how downloaded files appear in the browser window. They populated a section at the bottom of the window and would often be difficult to find in a pinch.

Google says it is addressing longtime user complaints and moving downloads to a tray next to the address bar. This location is more modern and standardized across other browsers like Safari.

The download tray is visible whenever a download is in progress or within the last 24 hours of a download. It offers expected features like the ability to pause, resume, or stop a download.

New downloads location in desktop Chrome
New downloads location in desktop Chrome



The new location also helps give users more content to view about a download, like warnings or errors. Files that are determined to be dangerous are clearly labeled.

Also, by moving the download section into the UI chrome by the address bar, websites can no longer spoof the bottom download tab within a webpage. This gives users more awareness when a website is being malicious.

Google has added more options for the download view in settings.

The latest release of Chrome is now available with the new download view. Google says developers will need to follow its guidelines to ensure users know where to find the new download area when providing instructions.

Get these updates from Apple's App Store on iOS or via the Chrome website for desktop.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    mike egglestonmike eggleston Posts: 719member
    When Chrome removes its' Keystone updater, then I might give it another shot. Until then, I will stick to Brave for my Chromium-based browsing.

    For information as to why this is bad, there is a website called https://chromeisbad.com/ that describes the problem in full, and I can attest just how much of a difference this causes.
    chasmappleinsideruserbaconstangwatto_cobraFileMakerFeller
  • Reply 2 of 5
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,253member
    Will it automatically block cross site tracking? Will it show all the other tracking and web sites it accesses without my knowledge? 

    Probably not. 
    chasmbaconstangwatto_cobraFileMakerFeller
  • Reply 3 of 5
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,306member
    In a nutshell, if you are using the Chrome browser on a Mac, you are defeating ALL of Apple’s privacy and web-browsing security efforts. Plus a lot of the efforts Apple makes to protect your personal data on iOS/iPadOS as well.

    I do understand that the CONSTANT nagging from Google to install Chrome is pervasive and annoying, but you are paying a HUGE price if you succumb.

    Let’s just say you will never EVER get a report from Google Chrome that says, as Safari did for me yesterday, that it blocked 84 trackers last week from following me around the web.

    Because many of those trackers ARE GOOGLE.

    Stick with Safari, or another genuinely privacy-centric browser like DuckDuckGo.
    williamlondonappleinsideruserwatto_cobrabaconstangFileMakerFeller
  • Reply 4 of 5
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,213member
    chasm said:
    In a nutshell, if you are using the Chrome browser on a Mac, you are defeating ALL of Apple’s privacy and web-browsing security efforts. Plus a lot of the efforts Apple makes to protect your personal data on iOS/iPadOS as well.

    I do understand that the CONSTANT nagging from Google to install Chrome is pervasive and annoying, but you are paying a HUGE price if you succumb.

    Let’s just say you will never EVER get a report from Google Chrome that says, as Safari did for me yesterday, that it blocked 84 trackers last week from following me around the web.

    Because many of those trackers ARE GOOGLE.

    Stick with Safari, or another genuinely privacy-centric browser like DuckDuckGo.
    Things are finally changing for the better, and privacy protections are now beginning to roll out.
    https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/20/23801435/google-chrome-privacy-sandbox-cookies-api-release-enabled
    https://9to5google.com/2023/08/01/android-ads-privacy/
  • Reply 5 of 5
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,108member
    Whenever I feel like I'm not getting enough spam, especially targeted, I get this urge to download Chrome.
    watto_cobrawilliamlondonFileMakerFeller
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