Google released an update today for Chrome OS devices. The update bumps the browser-based operating system up to version 66.0.3359.137. While not the most exciting update, it brings a number of small improvements, bug fixes and security updates.
Most notable are the improvements to picture-in-picture mode and video recording in the Chrome camera app. The update also brings extended device support for Magic Tether, a Chrome OS feature that allows easy data tethering through paired Bluetooth devices.
Additionally, it brings a number of tweaks to Google Play on Chrome OS, including native printing support, screen sharing support for Android apps installed through Google Play and improvements for maximized windows in Chrome OS.
The update also brings the new keyboard shortcut viewer to Chrome OS. The tweaks to the shortcut viewer were criticized for not being as useful as the old style. The shortcut viewer was update to use Material Design and while certainly looking better, is less functional than the original virtual keyboard style viewer.
Another important update is a security patch for devices on Intel kernel 3.8. It brings a Meltdown mitigation known as Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI).
KPTI forces computers to set up page tables, a virtual memory system that stores data vital to computer operations, at the most secure level, instead of at the less secure user level where it can be accessed using the exploit. The Chrome OS update will be the final step in securing all Chrome OS devices against Meltdown.
The full list of updates can be found here.
Source: Android Police
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