Chrome for Mac and Linux with Privacy and Translation Functionality
The features that have been available to Windows users ever since Google rolled out Chrome 4.1.249.1036 on the stable channel earlier this month, are now available to Mac OS X and Linux users. The Google-developed web browser has been updated to version 5.0.342.7 for Mac and Linux – on the Beta channel.
Both versions come with improved privacy controls. For example content settings that let the user control whether various websites can load images, store cookies, run JavaScript, use plug-ins, show pop-ups, and so on. All these content settings can be accessed by clicking the wrench icon -> going to Options -> Under the Hood -> Privacy. You could for example block specific sites from storing cookies on your computer and allow only certain sites to store cookies on your machine.
Both browser versions come with Google Translate functionality. The browser automatically detects if the language of the webpage you’re viewing is different from the language of the user interface. For example the browser detects that you’re reading an Italian webpage, while the Chrome interface is in English. When this happens an infobar appears asking you if you would like to translate the Italian page to English. The translation is done via Google Translate – and like all machine translations, it’s far from perfect. Still, it should be enough for you to get a picture of what the Italian site has to say.
Last but not least, the browsers come with an enhanced reload function. Google Chrome Program Manager, Mark Larson, explains: “Really, really reload. A normal reload causes the browser to check with the server before reusing its cached content. The server can decide whether or not the browser should use its cached content. A force reload causes the browser to ignore its cached content and ask the server for a fresh copy of the page.”
Google Chrome for Mac 5.0.342.7 also comes with full screen mode.
If you would like to get Google Chrome for Mac OS X, get on the Beta channel here.
If you would like to get Google Chrome for Linux, get on the Beta channel here.
Both versions come with improved privacy controls. For example content settings that let the user control whether various websites can load images, store cookies, run JavaScript, use plug-ins, show pop-ups, and so on. All these content settings can be accessed by clicking the wrench icon -> going to Options -> Under the Hood -> Privacy. You could for example block specific sites from storing cookies on your computer and allow only certain sites to store cookies on your machine.
Both browser versions come with Google Translate functionality. The browser automatically detects if the language of the webpage you’re viewing is different from the language of the user interface. For example the browser detects that you’re reading an Italian webpage, while the Chrome interface is in English. When this happens an infobar appears asking you if you would like to translate the Italian page to English. The translation is done via Google Translate – and like all machine translations, it’s far from perfect. Still, it should be enough for you to get a picture of what the Italian site has to say.
Last but not least, the browsers come with an enhanced reload function. Google Chrome Program Manager, Mark Larson, explains: “Really, really reload. A normal reload causes the browser to check with the server before reusing its cached content. The server can decide whether or not the browser should use its cached content. A force reload causes the browser to ignore its cached content and ask the server for a fresh copy of the page.”
Google Chrome for Mac 5.0.342.7 also comes with full screen mode.
If you would like to get Google Chrome for Mac OS X, get on the Beta channel here.
If you would like to get Google Chrome for Linux, get on the Beta channel here.
