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Google Updates Chrome Browser for iOS With Notification Center Widget, App Extensions

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Google today released a significant update to its Chrome browser for iOS, adding several features to improve its compatibility with iOS 8. There's a new Notification Center widget that includes controls to let users launch a new tab or initiate a voice search directly from the Today view of the Notification Center.

Tapping on "New Tab" or on "Voice Search" will automatically launch the Chrome web browser with a new search tab open or an activated voice search, making it handier to look things up quickly. There's no comparable Safari widget for quick launching searches, so the new Chrome widget gives it a bit of a leg up over Apple's built-in browser. Safari users can, however, use Siri for quick searches.

chromeupdate-800x709.jpg
The app also includes support for iOS Extensions for apps like 1Password and LastPass, so it's now easier to input passwords into Chrome with those apps.

Other new features include the ability to pull to reload and open and close tabs and easier-to-open links copied from other apps.
What's new
- Start searching and browsing faster: quick access to Voice Search and open new tabs from the Today View
- Ergonomically-designed: Pull to reload and open/close tabs
- Support for iOS App Extensions, such as 1Password and LastPass
- Easily open links copied from other apps
Click to expand...
The Chrome web browser can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Updates Chrome Browser for iOS With Notification Center Widget, App Extensions
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/16/google-chrome-widget-update/
sweet, now if only i could make it my default browser.

speaking of App Extensions, is it just me downloading the wrong apps (over 120) or are devs barely implementing it? i mean i got 14 Photo Filter Apps and only 2 take advantage of App Extension from within the Photo app.
 
Google Updates Chrome Browser for iOS With Notification Center Widget, App Ex...

Wow! That was really unexpected. They did pretty well with the widget. Extension support is a nice bonus too.
 
lastpass, finally!

not sure if it's new or not, but the handoff from google chrome websites to OSX seems to work too.
 
Zxxv said:
notification centre seems to becoming a bin area for messy OS integration
Click to expand...

Too true. I keep adding things, then realizing I never use it because I have too much in there, so I delete stuff then continue to not use it. And when I want to use it, it defaults to notifications when I have notifications, and not the Today part which is what I really want. Off topic rant, sorry.

Good to see Google continuing to update Chrome for iOS. I abandoned it a while back for Safari but have been thinking of returning.
 
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"There's no comparable Safari widget for quick launching searches, so the new Chrome widget gives it a bit of a leg up over Apple's built-in browser. Safari users can, however, use Siri for quick searches."

A bit of a leg up? In what universe is pulling the Notifications window down, scrolling for the Chrome widget, selecting an option and then typing a query easier than pressing the home button and asking Siri? I think the Chrome changes are great, and I love when the competition puts the heat on to make Apple elevate it's game, but Google is playing catch-up with the home team in terms of integration/speed here.
 
Meh. Javascript is crippled on third party browsers. Gonna stick with Safari.
 
Zxxv said:
notification centre seems to becoming a bin area for messy OS integration
Click to expand...

I know right. Soon it will be the HOME screen. Just one long screen with everything on it. Why even go into the device. LOL

Seriously tho how much harder is it to just tap the Chrome icon when you need to open the browser.
 
Zxxv said:
notification centre seems to becoming a bin area for messy OS integration
Click to expand...
That's why its optional and up to the user to decide what, if anything, they want to use there out of what's available for the apps they have and use.

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sidewinder3000 said:
"There's no comparable Safari widget for quick launching searches, so the new Chrome widget gives it a bit of a leg up over Apple's built-in browser. Safari users can, however, use Siri for quick searches."

A bit of a leg up? In what universe is pulling the Notifications window down, scrolling for the Chrome widget, selecting an option and then typing a query easier than pressing the home button and asking Siri? I think the Chrome changes are great, and I love when the competition puts the heat on to make Apple elevate it's game, but Google is playing catch-up with the home team in terms of integration/speed here.
Click to expand...
Well, in a situation when you don't want to or can't really speak?
 
C DM said:
That's why its optional and up to the user to decide what, if anything, they want to use there out of what's available for the apps they have and use.

----------

Well, in a situation when you don't want to or can't really speak?
Click to expand...
Seriously like how hard is just tapping an app icon? Why is swiping from the top and then tapping suddenly considered a "shortcut"?
 
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mKTank said:
Seriously like how hard is just tapping an app icon? Why is swiping from the top and then tapping suddenly considered a "shortcut"?
Click to expand...
mfvisuals said:
LOL. I was thinking the exact same thing.
Click to expand...

Probably because you can generally access it easily from anywhere with just a swipe. Similar to having a shortcut to something on the dock on your computer where you can usually access it quickly vs opening up Finder finding the right filder and the right file and all that.

It's all simply an option that someone can decide to use or not. Anyone can use it as they see fit, the good thing is that the option is available.
 
C DM said:
Probably because you can generally access it easily from anywhere with just a swipe. Similar to having a shortcut to something on the dock on your computer where you can usually access it quickly vs opening up Finder finding the right filder and the right file and all that.

It's all simply an option that someone can decide to use or not. Anyone can use it as they see fit, the good thing is that the option is available.
Click to expand...
"from anywhere with just a swipe" + a tap

Same as "from anywhere with just a click" + a tap. Again, it's still 2 steps.
 
C DM said:
... It's all simply an option that someone can decide to use or not. Anyone can use it as they see fit, the good thing is that the option is available.
Click to expand...

Sometimes it's hard for people to understand what option means.

mKTank said:
"from anywhere with just a swipe" + a tap

Same as "from anywhere with just a click" + a tap. Again, it's still 2 steps.
Click to expand...

Exhibit A:D
 
mKTank said:
"from anywhere with just a swipe" + a tap

Same as "from anywhere with just a click" + a tap. Again, it's still 2 steps.
Click to expand...
Is it usually just a quick click and a tap? If you are within an app that is within a folder that is on some page that is different where your Chrome app is--how many taps/swipes/clicks would that be? Seems like a different number in different cases, vs. basically the same two actions (swipe down and tap) pretty much no matter where you are.

And again, if you don't care about it or don't find it useful, simply don't use it. Why do people need to justify why the way they use something is better for them to someone who doesn't care about it or just uses it differently? Everyone uses things how they want to, and having more options is a good thing as people can decide for themselves as to what they want to do or don't want to do (as you can simply not make use of those options and have it exactly as if the option doesn't exist).
 
bushido said:
sweet, now if only i could make it my default browser.
Click to expand...

I'd be happy if Google Hangouts didn't try to push Chrome on me every. time. I. open. a. link. Yes, I know you want my usage habits Google, let me select a default browser too, please. :)
 
I love the reload // new tab // close tab gesture, but if already had it not work twice.

What happens is that I will drag down, and the reload // new tab // close tab buttons won't appear at the top of the screen.

Is this a bug or a feature I don't understand?
 
It would be nice if there was a way to configure the pull down spotlight search to default to other browsers like chrome if preferred.
 
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