Google Chrome gets redesigned for its 10th birthday

Ten years after first launching, Google’s Chrome browser is getting a new look and features. The first version of Google Chrome was released on September 2nd, 2008, and in honour of its tenth birthday, this new UI is being rolled out across desktop operating systems, Android, and iOS. According to the Google Blog post on the subject, the biggest of the new features are the new design, how the address bar works, better password management, and a speedier experience.

In terms of the new look, Chrome has gotten round tabs and a more rounded look overall. It also got a new color palette and updated icons to match the new aesthetic. Tab shapes have been changed up so that the website icons are easier to see, making it easier to navigate between a multitude of open tabs. Mobile browsing has also been made faster by moving the toolbar to the bottom on iOS where it’s easier to reach. Prompts, menus, and even the URLs in the address bar have been simplified.

Chrome can more accurately fill in your passwords, addresses, and credit card numbers with all of that information saved to your Google account. It can also be accessed safely through the Chrome toolbar. Just the way that Chrome handles passwords in general has been greatly improved. Whenever an opportunity to create a new password arises, Chrome will now generate one for you. This is to stop users from using the same password for multiple sites, creating a more secure browsing experience. Don’t worry about losing this randomly generated password though, because Chrome will save it and have it ready the next time you sign in on both your laptop and phone.

The Search/Address bar at the top of Chrome, also know as the Omnibox, is designed to produce search results as fast as possible. With the new update it’s even more convenient to use because it now shows answers directly in the address bar without having to open a new tab. It produces richer search results in an instant. You can also search for a website and if it’s already open in a tab somewhere, you can simply click “Switch to tab”.

It is so much easier to personalise Chrome. Create and manage shortcuts directly from the new tab page by opening a new tab and selecting “Add shortcut.” Even the backgrounds of new tabs can be customised with personal photos.

On the more technical side of things, a new ad blocker was launched to keep you safe from malicious and annoying ads, the web was moved to HTTPS to keep you secure online, site isolation was launched to provide deeper defense against many types of attacks including Spectre, and VR and AR browsing was brought to Chrome. Google is also working on improving Chrome’s startup time, latency, usage of memory, and usability. There’s also the addition of Chrome Dino, the new password manager, but more on that soon.

By Daniëlle Kruger
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