Chrome OS is getting some new features with version 79, launched just recently according to the company’s release log. Google says there are three major changes to watch for but two, in particular, are going to be great news for users. Not only is media playback moving in a much more mobile-like direction. The company is also finally opening up the ability to make mouse movement more natural and comfortable.
The latter change is being brought via the addition of mouse acceleration controls. Now, this isn’t granular like it could be but using a touchpad is also almost never ideal out-of-the-box. For now, users will be able to either re-enable or disable mouse acceleration in the Settings menu.
That’s found in the app launcher as its own standalone app. It can also be found by clicking the profile on the bottom right-hand side of the UI, near the clock. Then, the gear-shaped settings icon needs to be selected. A search for „mouse” on the resulting page will pull forward the appropriate section.
More monumental, Google is also finally allowing users to take more control over their lock screen in Chrome OS. Namely, users will now be able to play, pause, and skip media that’s playing with the screen locked. They’ll be able to access those controls on the lock screen itself.
The search giant says that lock screen media controls work with apps like YouTube Music and Spotify, but also with dozens of others.
What else about Chrome 79 is new?
Aside from the addition of media playback controls from the lock screen and more control over the mouse, Google is also changing how Chromebook’s handle their end of life.
Namely, Chromebooks, Chromebases, and Chromeboxes will no longer require math based on their launch date to tell when they’ll stop receiving automatic updates. Instead, Chrome OS will tell users simply by checking the About Chrome OS section of settings.
To check the effective EoL, users simply need to navigate to the settings app. That can be done via the app launcher or by clicking the clock at the bottom right-hand side of the UI. Then click the settings gear-shaped icon brings those forward. At the bottom of the list of settings categories on the left-hand side, click or tap About Chrome OS. Now, the details will be on that page, informing users of when their device will stop receiving automatic updates.
That will presumably also be possible for users to do in-store when the devices are in display mode. So buyers will be able to check up on that typically 6.5-year period before purchasing.
Chrome OS 79 additionally brings user-facing security changes from the milestone 79 Chrome update.
This may take some time to hit you
As is always the case, the updates for Chrome OS are relatively random. So there’s no guarantee that will have arrived just yet for every user. It should, however, arrive at some point over the next few days or up to a couple of weeks, according to Google’s announcement.
So users may want to navigate to the About Chrome OS settings page mentioned above and tap or click the check for updates button.
The post Chrome OS 79 Improves Media Playback & Mouse Movement appeared first on Android Headlines.

Source: ndroidheadlines.com