Updates to Chrome, Google’s web browser, continue with their share of fixes but also sometimes welcome new functions as in this version 123.
Google has taken it upon itself to improve its favorite Chrome browser very regularly. Thus, on March 19, 2024, the Mountain View giant began the deployment of the brand new version, numbered 123, for Windows, macOS and Linux. In the release notes that accompany this latest version, Google indicates that it has corrected no less than 12 security vulnerabilities. But above all, the firm is introducing two new very practical functions. The first concerns everyone – and there are many – who use Chrome on multiple devices with their Google account. A bit like Microsoft offers with Edge or Apple with Safari, Chrome now allows you to find recently opened tabs on all computers or mobile devices connected to the same Google user account. A tab opened in Chrome on a PC can thus be simply retrieved from Chrome on macOS, Android or iOS. A list of these visited websites is now immediately displayed as soon as a new tab is opened. A very practical function to continue navigation more easily between the different computers, tablets and smartphones used for navigation. However, we have not yet been able to take advantage of it on our various iOS and Android smartphones as the update to Chrome 123 has not yet been deployed for these devices.
Another new feature is the appearance of a revised mini media player. It already existed in the previous version. But in a less modern version. Here, clicking on the musical note icon placed near the extension icons displays the player which now adopts the Android style. The progress bar even has a little wave movement during playback. The Cast button remains present to send content playback to a ChromeCast compatible device and the other button placed to its right allows you to detach the video in picture-in-picture mode to continue playback in a mini window. Be careful, if you close the latter, the reading stops abruptly.
These new functions are already integrated into Chrome 123 but not necessarily active for everyone. They will most likely be in the days to come. The most impatient can also activate them from the list of experimental Chrome functions by entering crhome://flags in the browser address bar. Search NTP Cross Device Tab Resumption Module to enable tab continuity and Global Media Controls updated UI to enjoy the new mini media player.