One of the nicest things about using Google Chrome is that the Internet giant releases updates to its browser regularly. While Firefox does a decent number of releases and Internet Explorer does almost none at all, Chrome is able to stay ahead of the curve with version releases whenever it spies something it thinks it can do just a little bit better.
The newest release, Chrome 22 is not going to set the world on its ear, but at the same time there are a couple of features which make it worth using and make it just a little better than the previous version.
The two biggest advances from Chrome 21 to Chrome 22 is the “pointer lock” and the continued work on the browser’s API for WebRTC. The pointer lock is a pretty simple advancement that will surely make some developers happy when they realize what could have been much earlier. The pointer lock is basically an override for when you are playing games on your browser. As a general rule there is a limit to how far you can turn in those games, with this new API you should be able to turn as long as you are telling your character to do so, there is no “locking up.”
WebRTC or Web Real Time Communication updates in Chrome 22 build on the ability of the browser to actually access a computer’s microphones and webcam. The concept is actually another simple one that could be the difference between adoption rates once the news gets out.
The explanation for how this updated WebRTC API operates is that as a general rule you don’t need to press any buttons in order to have your browser access your computer’s speakers. If you are watching Netflix on a browser, the sound automatically filters out of your speakers. When accessing a webcam or microphone, the browser generally needs special software. Chrome 22 is actually packaged with that special software already. Chrome 22 is reportedly the only browser that can make that claim.
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Edited by
Brooke Neuman
