A new stable release of Chrome for Android is now rolling out on the Play Store.
Chrome for Android 43 delivers the usual bug fixes, security patches and performance improvements to the table but throws in a few juicy features for tasting, too.
Among them, Google say, is a faster checkout experience using Google Wallet and —at long last— the super useful ‘touch to search’ gesture. A useful download prompt change also features.
The update is rolling out now on the Play Store to compatible devices running Android 4.1 or later. Don’t panic if Chrome says it is up-to-date as these rollouts can take a day or two to cover everyone.
If you don’t have Chrome for Android you can install it from the Play Store for the wonderfully tempting price of free!
Download Prompt
Arriving stable side with Chrome 43 is a new download prompt. Its job: to keep your downloads folder nice and tidy.
When you next try to download a file that has the same name as one already in your downloads folder you’ll be asked whether to ‘create a new file’ or ‘replace’ the existing one.
No more will your downloads directory be stuffed full of cat.gif, cat.gif (1), cat.gif (2), cat.gif (43) as a result of impatient download button mashing!
Touch to Search
As the name might otherwise explain, touch to search lets you touch a word to ‘search’ for information on it. It’s currently only working in mobile versions of the browser (not tablet) but with a quick tap of your thumb on the name of person, a place or an unfamiliar word you’ll be able to pull up and peek at a sheet of information on it, right there in the web-page you’re reading.
Essentially letting you “google” without needing to leave the page you’re on:
The word or term you tap is sent to Google along with the words around it to provide context. In return you get dictionary definitions, pictures, search results or any other information the big Google brain deems relevant presented in a ‘draggable’ drawer.
Touch to Search has been available in the Beta channel since around late 2014.
When you’re next faced with a word you don’t understand, a person you wish to learn a little more about, just give it a tap to try it out.
Spotted any other new features? Be sure to give us a yell about them in the comments below.