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GOOGLE HAS been pushing its paper-like art style Material Design onto all of its products since it first revealed it back in 2014.
While many of its products like Android have adopted it, the desktop version of Chrome has remained virtually the same over the past few years.
A redesign is currently in the works and when Chrome version 50 arrives (the latest version available to all users is version 48), it will include Material Design as standard, bringing it more in line with the Android and iOS versions.
The changes may seem subtle but those using the most recent version of Android will recognise them. Among the changes are an all-black incognito mode, a greater focus on animations (for example, ripple-like actions when you click on a link or hold down) and a redesigned web player.
The other deeper changes are how it handles settings. While it breaks up the screen into basic and advanced, a greater focus is placed on security as well as accounts and startup plugins.
If you’re feeling a little impatient, you can still get some of the features included with it by going into its experimental features.
Type chrome://flags into the address bar and activate ’Material design in the browser’s top Chrome’ and ‘Enable Material Design downloads’. There is a third option called ‘Material Design policy page’ but all it does is tell you that the page is under construction.
When you restart your browser, the top part of Chrome will change to complement the new design. You can also go into settings (chrome://md-settings) and the new downloads page (chrome://downloads) to give you an idea of what you’ll get.
Since it’s still under development, some parts of the download page like Wallpaper and People won’t work properly, but you can see how it wants to simplify the page by splitting it up into basic and advanced settings.
There’s no word as to when this new version will arrive – version 49 is still in the beta phase – but it’s in the works.
Google originally revealed Material Design back in 2014 during its developer conference Google I/O.
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That incognito mode…so handy for online shopping and then surprising loved ones with gifts.
You’re fooling nobody
I’d say there’s many a bloke has ended up having to get engaged to get out of a situation involving why they were using incognito and had to shut down their screen so quickly.
Ok, I get it ! I hear you all! Thanks.
Orla if you like chrome and use Googles other services like docs and slides and drive then you can download chromium os and load that onto your old pc. It’ll turn your pc or laptop into a chrome book, be safe and secure and allow you to continue with your hardware as is for a while longer. Really though, have a look on Amazon, there are some very nifty windows 10 tablets that come with a keyboard cover for around €150. They’ll do just fine for Web and media handling and a bit of word processing. If you can stretch a bit further amazon also have some really very decent laptops in their warehouse section being sold off at time to time. If you time if right you could nab yourself a nice new laptop for not a lot of money at all. No idea what your budget may possibly be or if you have one at all but there are options out there from free, using Ubuntu or chromium OS, or cheap for Windows 10 tablets. I’d highly recommend windows 10.
There is an estimated 2 Billion computer users worldwide, 2% will loose support on Google Chrome from April 2016. Anyone who has Windows XP, and Vista will have No Support, after April. That’s 40, 000,000, million worldwide. Where will these computers go? I won’t be buying another, I can’t afford it, like many others! If you can afford to buy a new computer, then that’s ok. I love my Windows XP, A lot of libraries use XP & Vista, and older people,
I understand they have to keep users safe, as Google Chrome is secure, but its not enough to block hackers completly. They should give us 2% free vouchers twords a newer model as other browsers are hopeless! Iv tried them last night, and was so relieved to get back Chrome! (even only for a while) Thats my Monday Blues story anyway! I know younger hip people have better computers and browsers , good for you, but for the 40,000,000,million of us out there…..We are doomed!
Orla. You are already doomed if you are using XP.. You 110% have viruses and other malware on your PC now.
It doesn’t matter if you *love your XP*, XP is dead, it is no longer receiving security updates the sooner people drop it the better. If your computer was bought with XP, that means it has given more than anyone would typically expect to get out of a computer. Having to upgrade computer hardware at some point is to be expected. If you value your security you should just install Ubuntu and be done with it.
If you are using Windows XP still ye got lot worse issues than Chrome no longer supporting it.
Imagine walking into a shop with a coat that you’d bought 7 years ago demanding they pay for the replacement because now its worn out and has holes in it etc. so it let’s rain through and doesn’t keep you warm. They’ve since released a nice new range of coats, so of course they owe it to you to give you money towards one of these new coats, yeah? See how ridiculous you sound…
You are using XP: your argument is invalid
You can still use Chrome 48 after April, you just won’t receive any future software updates, just like you are currently still using XP but not receiving any security updates from Microsoft. This just makes you more vulnerable to being attacked.
Alternatively as Alan suggested you can replace XP as your operating system with a free and open source operating system like Ubuntu which is more secure than Windows and will allow you install future version of Chrome.
Unless it’s a 32-bit installation of Ubuntu (or any other distribution). Google is killing support for Chrome running on these platforms in early March. From that point on it’ll be 64-bit only.
Change your XP OS to a Linux Distro. This will extend the life of your hardware. XP’s dead, ActiveX is dead, HTML5 is where it’s all at. Even MS have moved to the new Edge Browser
“A lot of Libraries use XP & Vista, and Older People”
What are libraries using these older people for?
Computers cost feck all these days. Even the cheapest celeron model will be more powerful than an old XP computer. Still having an XP computer has little to do with lack of finances and more to do with priorities or simply not liking change.
If you want to use chome but not change your hardware, change your OS at least.
Sorry but I’m afraid you clearly know zip about computers. Saying using XP is still grand is like saying why did they they change from coal for powering cars.
More updates.That all we need.
have your say