Google has made the ‘Canary’ version of Chrome available to Android users, allowing them to test out future features before their official release.
Previously, what Google calls the “most bleeding edge version of Chrome” was only made available through the Canary channels on Mac and Windows.
But the company has now provided access to the pre-release version of its mobile browser through the Google Play Store.
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In a blog post, the firm states “new versions are built from the most recent code available and often contain a variety of new features, enhancements, and bug fixes”.
Of course, those of us who do venture ‘down the mine’ will almost certainly encounter a number of bugs, with Google warning that the Canary version of the browser “can be unstable and may even stop working entirely for days at a time.”
But it’s worth giving it a go, as you won’t have to uninstall the standard version of Chrome in order to test out the pre-release build; both can run simultaneously.
And while the Canary version of Chrome is intended mainly for developers, there’s nothing to stop anyone downloading it and testing out new features before they go live.
Google says new Canary builds will ship every weekday but updated versions may eventually be available on weekends.
It’s worth noting, however, that the constant new releases mean the app will consume a decent amount of data downloading the latest versions, so, if you plan on giving Canary a go and you have a data cap, make sure you’re not using cellular data to automatically update apps.
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Let us know if you give Canary Chrome a go in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.