Google is now rolling out Chrome version 70 for Windows 10, macOS, and Linux. In this new update, the company is adding support for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) on Windows 10, new AV1 video codec, and it reverses the controversial option that signed users automatically to their Google accounts.
If you’re not familiar, Progressive Web Apps are a modern approach to design apps. Basically, these are web apps with a browser wrap-around without address bar or tabs, and they offer more functionalities that make them behave pretty much like native apps. Some of these features can include push notifications, background data refresh, offline support, and more.
Microsoft Edge also supports this technology, but you can now get these apps using Google Chrome, and once you install them, they will appear in the Start menu and desktop.
Chrome 70 is also updating the credential management API to support public key credentials, which allows websites to use biometric authentication, similar to Microsoft Edge with Windows Hello.
In addition, you’ll find support for the AV1 video codec that replaces the VP9 codec to offer improved compression, users now get the ability to restrict extensions to access specific sites, websites now can communicate with your Bluetooth devices, and moving forward, the browser will start blocking sites using older security certificates issued before June 2016.
Google Chrome 70 is available now. It should download and install automatically, but you can always force the update going to chrome://settings/help using the address bar.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.