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Google Chrome 67 is now rolling out to Android devices, with the latest version of the popular Internet browser being expected to be fully deployed in the coming weeks, Alphabet’s subsidiary said Thursday. The build already started hitting desktops, having exited the beta development stage after just under a month of testing. Google Chrome now features the WebXR Device API meant to standardize virtual and augmented reality experiences in the mobile browser, with the tool being open to all developers who agree to participate in its experimental program. The API itself also works on desktops and is yet another step in Google’s efforts to bring AR — both mobile and otherwise — into the mainstream, with its other recent push to do so coming in the form of ARCore.
The WebXR Device API is compatible with everything from Google’s own Daydream platform to Samsung’s Gear VR lineup of headsets, as well as tethered solutions such as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and even all contemporary Mixed Reality headsets for Microsoft’s Windows. Google Chrome version 67.0.3396.68 also ships with a number of bug fixes and minor performance optimizations for Android smartphones and tablets, according to the app’s official changelog. The new build will be installed on your device as soon as it becomes available, provided you have the app set to update automatically. Users can refer to the Play Store banner below to either see whether the latest version of Google Chrome is already available for download in their territory or at least check whether their existing settings allow for automated app updates.
A new flag allowing you to replace the vertical tab switcher to a horizontal one is now also part of the package, though Google Chrome only allows you to use one or the other as being able to quickly shift between the two currently isn’t an option. The Mountain View, California-based company recently rolled back a portion of an update that saw its browser accidentally mute a number of web games, having also started implementing artificial intelligence solutions into the tool so as to address one of its most frequently highlighted issues – inefficient RAM usage.