Chrome Beta: New Tab Page, Web Highlights & Search Updates
Google Chrome Beta Receives Significant UI and Design Updates
A new iteration of the Google Chrome Beta browser has been released today, introducing substantial modifications to its user interface and overall design.
Updated New Tab Page
The browser now features a revamped New Tab page. This update incorporates cards that direct users back to previous web searches. This is a departure from the previous format, which primarily displayed shortcuts to frequently visited websites.
This design shift aims to facilitate quick access to past online activities. Users will no longer need to delve into their browsing history to recall websites used for tasks like finding recipes or completing shopping.
The New Tab page also provides convenient access to recently used documents within Google Drive, effectively cross-promoting Google’s suite of services.
Instead of simple links, the page now utilizes “cards.” These cards can lead to recently visited recipe websites, Google Docs requiring editing, or online retailers where shopping carts have been saved.
This enhancement aligns with Google’s increased focus on online shopping. The company has already been actively working to expand its market share in this sector by offering free product listings and collaborating with e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
Google is keenly aware of the growth of Amazon’s advertising revenue. This revenue stream, a significant component of Amazon’s “Other” category, experienced an 87% year-over-year increase, generating $7.9 billion in the second quarter.
Consequently, Google is leveraging Chrome’s New Tab page to promote shopping activity. The goal is to encourage users to finalize their purchases.
Improved Web Research Capabilities
Another key change focuses on streamlining web research. Google recognizes that users often consult multiple web pages to find comprehensive answers to their queries.
The updated Chrome version introduces a new approach to connecting users with search results. A row will appear beneath the address bar on Chrome for Android, displaying additional results. This allows for seamless navigation between web pages without repeatedly using the back button.
New “Quote Cards” Feature
A new experiment, also available in Chrome Beta on Android, introduces “quote cards.” This feature enables users to create visually appealing images for social media sharing, featuring text extracted from websites.
Taking screenshots of website text is a common practice, particularly for sharing key insights from news articles on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
With this new functionality, users can long-press text to highlight it, then tap Share and select a template by choosing the “Create Card” option from the menu.
Enabling Experiments
All these features are currently part of the Chrome Beta browser. To activate these experiments, type chrome://flags into the browser’s address bar. Alternatively, click the Experiments beaker icon and enable the corresponding flags.
The specific flags for these experiments are: #ntp-modules (New Tab page), #continuous-search (search results changes), and #webnotes-stylize (quote cards).
It’s important to note that experiments do not automatically translate into permanent Chrome features. They serve as a mechanism for Google to gather extensive user feedback on new design concepts.
This feedback allows Google to refine and optimize these features before a wider public release.
