Google adds features to Chrome browser

SEARCH OUTFIT Google has put out another beta of its Chrome browser that adds a number of improvements to the application.

The firm said that the added features include automatic translations as well some privacy and content controls.

Google exlained that the beta's translation feature will let users instantly translate websites without the need to install any browser extensions or plugins. So, should users visit a website that uses a different language they will be greeted with a prompt asking them whether they would like to translate it. Of course, there are no promises about the accuracies of the translations.

"We hope that the development of online translation tools like this one will help make all the world's information universally accessible in an easy, frictionless way - imagine reading a diversity of foreign language news sources in your mother tongue, or easily conducting online commerce across borders and languages", wrote Wieland Holfelder, Google's engineering director in Munich in a blog post. Yes, just imagine.

On the security front, Google has increased the scope of Chrome's content settings and will let users decide how to control things like cookies, images, Javascript, plugins and pop-ups on a site by site basis. It said that, for example, users can allow trusted sites to leave cookies but forbid others from doing so.

Holfelder added, "Browsers are perhaps the most important piece of software for computer users today. We're innovating quickly with Chrome, and continue to work towards our three central principles: speed, security and simplicity. With the new release, we also give users even more choice and control over their own privacy while surfing the web. The translate feature will hopefully open up the web for people to discover new, compelling content - no matter what language it's written in."

The beta is available for download now, and users on the beta channel will get their browser updated automatically. µ