After releasing Chrome 62 Stable on Windows, Linux, and Mac, Google brings Chrome 62 for Android with an improved user interface and many new features. Chrome 62 for Android promises an even better experience for users on Android devices.
Explore the new features of Chrome 62 on Windows here: Chrome 62 Stable on Windows, Linux, Mac
Chrome 62 for Android improves the user interface and introduces new features.
Revamp of the Chrome homepage interface
Google is continuing its redesign of the bottom address bar for Chrome, known as the Chrome Home interface. Simultaneously, the company is redesigning the browser's homepage for a more modern layout (Modern layout), essentially a version 2.0.
Despite the functions and design overhaul in the initial design, the Modern layout is mostly about aesthetics, with minimal changes so far.
Google Chrome 62 for Android enhances the Chrome homepage interface.
The first modern interface was designed and appeared on Chrome Canary 62, then redesigned with more changes when transitioning to Chrome 62 Beta. The most significant change in Modern layout design is the rounded edges of each item, including the address bar and new Tab page.
Chrome 62 for Android improves the user interface and introduces new features.
Additionally, there are other noteworthy changes: the bottom navigation bar no longer has text, the tab management has a refreshed interface with a brighter background. Bookmarks, Downloads, and History items in the Settings menu are displayed as tabs on the new Tab page.
However, for some users, this feature is not activated by default. If you wish, you can activate it by setting # flag enable-chrome-home-modern-layout to Enabled. Additionally, you will need to activate #enable-chrome-home if not already activated.
Network Information API
Furthermore, there is a new API called Network Information API, allowing websites to access network connection details such as Wifi or mobile network, connection speed (4G, 3G, ...), reducing page load time, and maximizing link load time.
Chrome 62 for Android supports several new APIs.
This API proves invaluable when websites aim to minimize page load time or assist online games in checking ping. For example, if a website detects you're using a slow internet connection, it will load a lighter version of the webpage instead of the default one.
In Chrome 62, the Network Information API is enabled by default.
Media Capture API
In addition to the Network Information API, Chrome 62 also introduces another intriguing feature enabled by default - the Media Capture API. Developers can use the captureStream() function to record video and audio from specific parts of a webpage, especially useful for multimedia players using HTML5 or canvas.
Chrome 62 on Android introduces a slew of new features
In the example above, users drag a 3D thermometer to the left, with the actual recording time visible on the right. The video/audio stream utilizes WebRTC. Online games based on the web can seamlessly integrate livestreaming capabilities, or a webapp for drawing can automatically record real-time progress during sketching.
The Media Capture API first appeared in Chrome 50, but users had to enable a flag to use it. In Chrome 62, this API is enabled by default.
Some other features
Chrome 62 brings the usual array of changes for both users and developers. Here are some additional features, including:
- On desktop, Chrome 62 no longer displays Not secure on the address bar for HTTP pages, but this feature is not present in the Android release.
- HTML tags and
- Chrome supports OpenType fonts.
- Support for 4 and 8-character color codes in CSS (#RRGGBBAA and #RGBA).
- Payment Request API is now available on Chrome for iOS.
- The property “visibility: collapse” in CSS now works on table rows and groups.
- Flag new /s for ECMAScript regular expressions allows dot ('.') matching for any character, including line terminators.
- Chrome 62 activates the Ambient Light Sensor API by default.
- For Mac users, the interface of elements (buttons, file selectors, ...) is closer to older features.
Instead of waiting for Google to download the Chrome 62 update for Android with enhanced user interface and many new features for your device, which may take days, you can now download and install Chrome 62 just like any other APK.
