Google tests out feature that recommends you which old tabs to close

Google wants to help keep our browsers clutter-free. The company is testing out a way to remind you to close old tabs. It has been working since August, but now it's showing up more prominently. The "Suggest to close Tabs" feature is hidden behind a flag in chrome://flags, but some versions of Chrome (like the Canary build) have it enabled by default.

If enabled, the feature will analyze your usage and check which tabs are unused or "stale." It isn't clear how Google determines what constitutes a stale tab beyond general activity or interaction with it. The feature won't automatically close the tab for you. Instead, it will open a window and let you determine which tabs it should close. Google hasn't announced if or when it will release this feature to the general public.

Source: 9to5Google

Google updates timeline for when it'll end Chrome apps’ support

Google has updated its timeline for when it will stop supporting Chrome apps on all platforms. The official end will be June 2022, but some platforms might lose it earlier than that.

Back in 2016, Google announced it would stop support for Chrome apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux, because of the lack of users. Only one percent of its users actively used Chrome apps at that time. So, in 2017, it took out the web apps from the Chrome 2017. In 2018, the tech giant was supposed to take it out from those three platforms, but it didn't happen.

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Google Chrome plans to let users know if a site loads slowly

What might be a headache to site owners will be beneficial to Google Chrome users. Google plans to show badges on sites that load slowly. The company didn’t talk about specifics in the blog post they released about the topic, but it described what you could expect to see in the future. Fast-loading sites get a green loading bar, while those that load slowly get a notice that says, “Loading… Usually loads slow.” Consumers win out with this development as it pushes developers to optimize their sites. It could also mean that Google might push users to visit faster loading sites.

Google says it plans to take a look at a site’s historical load times to determine if they load at a reduced pace all the time. They also want to check if a site loads slowly because of network speeds. Eventually, they might also show the loading times in the context menu when you click on the hyperlink. But nothing is set in stone yet.

Google Chrome 78 on iOS 13 now supports system-wide dark mode

Browsing through Chrome in the middle of the night on your iPhone will no longer burn your retinas. Version 78 of the browser now supports iOS 13's system-wide dark mode, which means if you have the feature enabled, Chrome will follow suit. However, Google's take on the dark theme isn't a real black background. Instead, it brings a grey background colour throughout the interface. Sites that support dark mode will change as well. 

Another change this update brings is the new card-like interface for sections like Bookmarks, History, Recent Tabs, Reading Lists, and Settings. These sections will slide up from the bottom when you pull them up, and you can swipe them away when you're done with them. Chrome now also lets you add a new credit card directly from the Settings page. This update is now available on the App Store.

Source: 9to5Google