Google Chrome 94 has been announced – at least in the beta version because the release version is still on the road with 92. x. Nevertheless, what are Google’s plans for the market-leading browser? In the announcement for Google Chrome Beta 94, they share that some new web standards are starting to appear to make browser-based the best gaming experiences there have ever been.
The WebCodecs API makes the process for programmers much easier. In the words of Google itself, this can be achieved by providing ways to use all the media components within the browser. These media components can be the raw video processing and image decoders, as well as audio encoders and decoders.
After completing the initial testing in Chrome 93, the WebCodecs component defaults in beta 94. WebGPU is only going through its testing phase in Chrome 94 for now, though Google hopes to ship it to users by Chrome 99. So it’s still a long way to go for Google, but game streaming on a browser could gain a firm ground from this.
Play Better Thanks to Chrome 94
The exact release date for the next version leap is still in the stars, but Google has already given a preview of version 94, which is currently still in beta, in its Chromium blog. Chrome 94 should be even more effective due to further improved interfaces (APIs).
Especially computationally intensive games and multimedia applications will benefit from the performance boost, according to the creators. For this, Google developers are working on optimizing and extending the WebGPU API and the WebCodecs of the Chrome browser.
What is so appealing about Chrome 94, and perhaps even the most important innovation, is that games will never be the same in browsers again. Chrome 94 has decided to incorporate the native hardware of the operating systems to achieve seamless functionality in games that have previously never seen a browser before.
If there is one environment that has benefited from these innovations, it’s the iGaming industry. Being able to play games from the browser means that casino games for Canadian players are more accessible than ever, thus favoring sites that do not yet have apps for mobile devices or tablets.
What Lies Within Chrome 93
Google has released a (still) new and complete version of its Chrome browser for desktop and Android devices. The update to version 93.0.4577.63 fixes 27 security vulnerabilities, including five that are high risk. Details about other fixed vulnerabilities can be found on the official Chrome blog. In addition, Chrome 93 has new features for its users in the bag, making browsing even more convenient and secure.
Chrome 93: New Features
For short, web apps now control and manage multiple windows on multiple screens if desired. This control should particularly please desktop users who work on more than one monitor and deal with many open windows. In addition, web apps now also execute Internet links without opening a new browser tab.
For two-factor authentication, Chrome now automatically detects when you receive a log-in code via SMS. The one-time password sent via short message, SMS-OTP (One Time Password) for short, can then be synchronized across multiple devices. This is practical, for example, if you are sitting at your computer and receive a log-in code via SMS on your cell phone, but the device happens to be in the next room. Provided you are logged into the Google account, Chrome will insert the SMS password on-demand on the desktop via the sync function.
The update brings a few cosmetic changes that affect the user interface. For example, the lock icon in the address bar, which provides information about connection security, has now been replaced with an arrow button. Design adjustments on smartphones and tablets also bring Chrome visually closer to Android 12 with the material you design.
Chrome Beta: Flags and Experiments
Google is encouraging Chrome users to use the beta version of its browser to try out new features before the release. Increasing the user base is intended to help the company push forward with the development of its browser, better adapt Chrome to the wishes of its users, and fix bugs faster.
If you want to try out new beta features in Chrome, whether on your Android phone or computer, download them to your device from the website or Play Store, respectively. Type the command chrome://flags into the address bar and activate or deactivate individual functions there. The input field at the very top of the page will quickly take you to the function you are looking for.
Google introduces a few of these new features for the beta in a blog post, which should simplify tab management, searching, and quoting. You shouldn’t be put off by any crashes that may occur. That’s just part of being a beta tester.
