Chrome 16 enters beta, adds support for syncing multiple accounts
Source: Google
Google has released version 16 of Chrome into the WebKit-based browser's Beta channel. The new beta, version 16.0.912.21, expands Chrome's sync capabilities by adding support for syncing multiple browser profiles.
With Chrome 16, additional users can now sign into a shared computer and access their own data, such as bookmarks, apps and extensions, to personalise their experience. The feature can be found under Options (Preferences on Mac) > Personal Stuff > "Add new user". Once a new user has been added, a "fresh instance" of the browser will open with all of that user's data, and a badge in the upper left corner will show which account is currently in use. Users can switch between accounts by clicking on the badge.
Google Software Engineer Miranda Callahan points out that the new feature "isn't intended to secure your data against other people using your computer, since all it takes is a couple of clicks to switch between users", noting that users are advised to "protect your data from being seen by others, please use the built-in user accounts in your operating system of choice".
Further information about the update can be found in a post on the Google Chrome Blog. Version 16.0.912.21 of Chrome for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Chrome Frame is available to download from dev.chromium.org. Alternatively, existing beta channel users can use the built-in update function by clicking Tools, selecting About Google Chrome and clicking the Update button. The current stable branch of Chrome is version 15 from late October.
See also:
- Chrome 15 brings redesigned New Tab page, closes holes, a report from The H.
- HTTP pipelining to arrive in Chrome 17, a report from The H.
(crve)