The ChromeOS 128 update released by Google is particularly notable for its Snap Groups feature, which makes it easier to organize apps on the device. This feature works very similarly to Windows 11’s Snap Layouts system. Users can group apps open on their screens into various full-screen layouts, and they can do this by hovering over the app window maximize button, just like in Windows.
Another important feature in the new update is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support added to the ChromeOS camera app. This technology allows text to be extracted from photos or documents. Users can copy text from captured images, search for it, or convert it into searchable PDF format. ChromeOS’ built-in screen reader can also read this text out loud. Google says its OCR technology can detect horizontally and vertically in 77 languages. However, this feature is disabled by default in photo mode.
ChromeOS offers more convenience for visually impaired users
In addition, a new feature has been introduced that allows ChromeVox and Magnifier to work together. This feature automatically follows words with the screen magnifier when reading text aloud. This feature, which is a great convenience for visually impaired users, is disabled by default and users must enable both Magnifier and ChromeVox from the settings.
There are also some major improvements to the camera and microphone settings. Using the camera and microphone on ChromeOS used to require privacy controls and app permissions to be turned on from two different places. However, these settings have been simplified with the new update. Software permissions granted to apps can now be managed from the apps section of the ChromeOS settings menu. There’s also a new Automatic Gain Control (AGC) feature that automatically optimizes microphone volume and improves audio quality, especially in video calling software. The feature notifies users in the quick settings panel when manual volume controls are disabled.
In conclusion, this new ChromeOS update includes many improvements that further enhance the user experience. In particular, features such as Snap Groups and OCR offer great convenience for users who want to use their devices more efficiently. These updates show that Google has successfully integrated the prominent features of Windows 11 into the ChromeOS ecosystem.