Just a week after the launch of Chrome 88 on the desktop and mobile platforms, Google is launching Chrome OS 88 for the Stable channel, the first significant update for 2021. As the previous major milestone, the new software update improves Chrome OS with several new features and improvements to enhance the user experience. Here are some of the things that Google announced today that are reaching qualifying devices.
Screen protectors
After more than a year in development, Google turns your Chromebook’s lock screen into a personalized smart display. When enabled, the screensaver will play a slide show that shows your favorite Google Photos photo albums or hundreds of Chromecast backgrounds. The screen saver feature also offers a viewable clock and weather widget, a tag with the music playing, and a media controller so you can pause or skip songs without unlocking your Chromebook.
Softer virtual tables
Virtual desks are a powerful productivity tool that allows you to organize multiple windows and desktops for better multitasking. In previous versions, switching between workspaces seemed clumsy due to the rigid animations used during the transition. With Chrome OS 88, virtual desks are faster and more responsive, allowing you to quickly switch to a different workspace with trackpad gestures or keyboard shortcuts.
New “Camera” folder in the Files app
The Chrome OS Camera app has been slowly improving over the past two versions, implementing changes like switching video recordings to a more recognizable file extension. In Chrome OS 88, the camera app will save photos and videos to a dedicated Camera folder in My Files, making it easier to share them with friends and family.
Magnifier and ChromeVox improvements
The Google accessibility team has been working hard to make Chrome OS more usable for everyone. The screen magnifier feature, for example, enlarges the screen content to improve readability. In the new update, you can use the keyboard to control the magnifying glass by pressing Ctrl + Alt and the arrow keys.
The Text app received a small update to help people with visual impairments. When configured in reader mode, ChromeVox will announce the words written in the application.
WebAuthn using fingerprint and PIN
Chrome can now automatically fill in your passwords, but in Chrome OS 88, you’ll have the option to request a PIN or fingerprint before doing so. In addition, you can use your Chromebook as a second authentication factor, so you no longer need to use your security key or phone to verify your identity for 2FA. To achieve this, Chrome OS uses the API Web Authenticator (WebAuthn), making use of established protocols to make signing easier and more secure. Google says that your Chromebook’s PIN and fingerprint “are never shared with sites that request verification of your Chromebook.” Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) will be supported in a future version.
Best UI and touchpad auto-correction gestures
Automatic correction is a useful feature that helps you spend less time checking spelling and focusing on the creative aspects of writing. Chrome OS’s auto-fix feature improves UI in version 88: there is now a visual indicator that auto-fix has been applied, as well as useful ways to undo it.
Touchpad gestures have also seen improvements in this release cycle. Unlike before, touchpad gestures will behave more consistently if your scrolling preference is set to reverse.
The features highlighted in the official Google announcement only scratch the surface of what’s new in Chrome OS 88. I will delve into even more new experimental features, like a lightweight theme and native screen recording, in future articles. Chrome OS 88 may take a few days to reach your device, but overall, it’s an exciting release that’s worth waiting for.