Chrome 64 is scheduled to be released in January, which means we get a beta version this month. In Chrome Beta 64, the blocking feature for redirecting ads is enabled by default, there’s a white navigation bar for Android 8.1, and plenty of smaller changes for users and developers are included.
What we covered?
Chrome Beta 64 Bit
Blocking redirecting ads
The redirects ad blocker is enabled by default in Chrome 64. When an embedded frame tries to hijack the parent page, Chrome will automatically block it, and show a small warning at the bottom.
On a related note, Tab-under Navigations (when a page opens a popup, and then the original page redirects to another page, usually an ad) are now blocked as well. Chrome will inform users when the navigation is blocked, in case they want to see the redirected link anyways.
White Color Navigation Bar
Google has moved the white navigation bar up to Chrome 64. There’s not much else to say about it. I do wish the navigation bar color would match the theme color for the site you’re viewing, similar to how the status bar and address bar already changes color.
Other New Features
- The Media Capabilities API, which allows sites to determine what media codecs and formats your browser works with, is now supported in Chrome.
- Sites can now determine if you have Data Saver enabled with the new saveData JavaScript boolean. This is expected to be enabled by default in Chrome 65.
- Chrome now shows native notifications on Linux, similar to notifications on macOS.
- The ResizeObserver API is now supported.
- JavaScript alerts can no longer change the tab you are viewing.
- Chrome now supports HDR video playback on Windows 10 (as long as Windows is in HDR mode).
- Autoplay behavior is now identical across desktop and mobile.
