- Chrome OS update focussed mainly on usability experience
- New Gallery, HDR support, Security features added to Chrome OS
- Intelligent suggestions while typing and emoji suggestions in social media
- The update celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month
Google started rolling out Chrome OS 86 to eligible Chromebooks. The Chrome 86 OS was earlier made available on all Google supporting devices.
Google is on schedule with its 6-week updates. Users will be seeing the new updates soon. Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android have received this update last Tuesday. The update brings numerous usability improvements. Google is focusing on making Chromebooks more accessible for disabled people.
Google has made the following changes in the new update
- A renewed Gallery app UI: unlike the previous design, the new UI uses deeper blacks and brighter accent colors to make it more integrated into the Chrome OS. With the complete UI overhaul, the photo editor in the app is also improved. This makes cropping and applying filters feature a fluid experience. Google adds the ability to playback video and music in the Gallery app. Users can just drag and drop the desired files into it.
- Custom cursor colors: despite providing cosmetic functionality, these cursors have more to offer. The seven new color options provided by Google improve the legibility of the Chromebook. This will help people with impaired vision. Cursors are available in red, green, blue, pink, yellow, cyan, and magenta.
- Export PDFs in Chrome: this functionality adds usability for the visually impaired. In Chrome, users can easily convert websites into accessible PDFs. They can also add headings, links, tables, and alt-text. Thus helping screen-readers and making content easier to read.
Further additions to the Chrome OS 86
There are many more features that Google has released with the Chrome OS 86 update. They include the following features:
- Simplified logging-in to Chromebook. The new login screen has an option to view passwords and PINs. This reduces errors and typos while entering passwords. Users can view their typed passwords by clicking on the eye-shaped icon. The visible password will be automatically hidden after 5 seconds of inactivity. And the input will be cleared within 30 seconds, thus adding security.
- Auto-submit PIN feature: Chrome OS added the setting that allows users to choose whether to automatically sign in after entering the correct PIN.
- Android apps support in school accounts: Google adds the ability to use Android apps with the school apps. The Family Link on Chrome OS 86 has access to previously restricted apps.
- HDR support in Chrome OS: Chrome OS now supports high-dynamic-range imaging by default. Thus users can now enjoy HDR contents from YouTube and other sites.
- Emoji Suggestions: Now the Chromebook can automatically suggest the relevant emoji. This works while typing a social media post.
- Explore app gets a new navigation pane. The ‘what’s new’ pane shows highlights in current and past Chrome OS versions.
- Intelligent suggestions while typing phone, addresses, and names. This will improve the Chrome OS experience and speed up typing.
There is a strong focus on accessibility features, as a celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month. The new Chrome OS ensures that Chromebook users have a reliable, productive, and comfortable experience.
