Google is putting a temporary stop to new Chrome and Chrome OS updates. The company says it is aiming to ensure stable, functional online working for the huge numbers of people who have now been forced to work from home.
The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has forced many companies to ask their staff to work from home. Google itself is included in this and, as a result, can definitely understand the need for efficient home-working. Google workers in the US have been told to work from home until April 10.
Related: Best Laptop – The best laptop you can buy today
The announcement, put out on Google’s Chrome Developers Twitter account, said:
“Due to adjusted work schedules, we’re pausing upcoming Chrome & Chrome OS releases. Our goal is to ensure they continue to be stable, secure, & reliable for anyone who depends on them. We’ll prioritize updates related to security, which will be included in Chrome 80. Stay tuned.”
Hopefully this move will prevent any updates loading into Chrome with teething problems that need to be ironed out, as slowing down people’s internet usage at the moment could have particularly notable repercussions.
Chrome updates have tended to be fairly regular, though not all equally successful. An update can cause a temporary slowdown, so we can see why Google is holding back on putting new Chrome updates out.
Related: Best Android Phones
However, the other importance of browser updates is on the security side. Google has said this will be prioritised and that Chrome 80 will pack all of the important security updates the people need.
Chrome users will have to hope that no major usage issues rear their heads in the meantime, while updates are temporarily on pause.
Are you a Chrome user and, if so, are you relieved or worried about this update pause? Let us know. Get in touch on Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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.
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.
