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
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

The Chrome web browser can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

bushido Avatar
118 months ago
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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C DM Avatar
118 months ago
Seriously like how hard is just tapping an app icon? Why is swiping from the top and then tapping suddenly considered a "shortcut"?
LOL. I was thinking the exact same thing.

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.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Bogeyman Avatar
118 months ago
Google already knows far too much about us. Why use their browser and tell them even more??? Crazy.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sbailey4 Avatar
118 months ago
notification centre seems to becoming a bin area for messy OS integration

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.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mKTank Avatar
118 months ago
Meh. Javascript is crippled on third party browsers. Gonna stick with Safari.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sgh808 Avatar
118 months ago
Hoping this is an indicator for potential integration of the Google app into Notification Centre.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Friday April 12, 2024 11:11 am PDT by
iOS 18 is expected to be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more...
Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...
iGBA Feature

Apple Removes Game Boy Emulator iGBA From App Store Due to Spam and Copyright Violations

Sunday April 14, 2024 9:22 pm PDT by
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company's App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut's open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
iGBA Feature

Game Boy Emulator for iPhone Now Available in App Store Following Rule Change [Removed]

Sunday April 14, 2024 8:06 am PDT by
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that...