Google Chrome 18 is now in the beta channel

Google Chrome Beta Channel Update (February 9, 2012)
Google Chrome Beta channel has been updated to 18.0.1025.11 for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Chrome Frame platforms. This update is the first Beta version of the Google Chrome 18 Beta channel. Chrome 18 contains some really great improvements including GPU accelerating 2D Canvas, and enabling 3D content for older GPUs.

For most Windows and Mac users, Google've enabled GPU-accelerated rendering of 2D Canvas content, so that canvas-based games and animations run faster and feel smoother. You can go to chrome://gpu to see which features are being accelerated

Chrome 18 Beta is now able to display 3D content via SwiftShader, a software rasterizer Google licensed from TransGaming, Inc. Although SwiftShader won’t perform as well as a real GPU, it will be an improvement for many of our users on older operating systems such as Windows XP.

Overview
Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. It has one box for everything: Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages. Will give you thumbnails of your top sites; Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. Desktop shortcuts allow you to launch your favorite Web apps straight from your desktop.

Download Google Chrome Beta
Interested in using the Google Chrome Beta channel please visit www.google.com/chrome beta website.

Google Chrome 18.0.1025.11

New features in Google Chrome 18 Beta
Google Chrome 18 Beta contains a number of new features including:
  • GPU accelerating 2D Canvas.
  • Added support for 3D content on older GPUs.

The full details about what changes are in this build are available in SVN revision log.

Source: Google Chrome Releases

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