Chrome (for android) updated

[makken]

Looks like Chrome was just updated today.

Changes:
-You can now request the desktop version of a website, in case you would rather not view the mobile version.
-You can now add bookmarks as shortcuts on your home screen, so you can get to your favorite sites faster.
-Choose your favorite apps to handle links opened in Chrome.
-Have a proxy setup for Wi-Fi access? You can now use Chrome with the system proxy configured in Android settings.

http://www.chrome.blogspot.com/2012/04/chrome-for-android-update.html

With the ability to request the desktop site, I will probably replace my stock browser with this now. I still seem to have issues with the text rendering, half the time the alignment goes all out of whack.

 

[soccerballtux]

little unrelated, so they have chrome to phone, why no phone to chrome?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Shame that I still can't make "desktop" the default agent in settings though. It's just like with the stock ICS browser, they added a "request desktop site" option on the menu button. This bugs me with Google's browsers, seem odd they don't have such a basic feature. I guess it's not there intentionally, but can't imagine what they reason is.

Still a real nice browser though.

 

[iahk]

little unrelated, so they have chrome to phone, why no phone to chrome?

Assuming you are using chrome for android, depending on the situation, you may not need it. If you were on your device and had a webpage open and wanted to view it on your laptop/desktop, you can just open chrome desktop browser (this may or may not only be beta right now) and use the other devices tab similar to in the chrome for android version.

You'll be able to open any open tab sessions on any other device running chrome.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

Have they made bookmarks more readily accessible? The last time I tried Chrome on my phone or tablet the UI was horribly clunky in that regard. Sticking with Dolphin where I can just swipe the side of the screen to bring up my bookmarks until that changes.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I tried it this morning but it wouldn't pull up my software keyboard when I selected a text entry field. I could slide out my keyboard and use that, but I prefer Swype and I don't like to have to change to landscape orientation just to type stuff.

Giving the stock ICS browser another shot though. It's much improved over what I had on my stock TouchWiz ROM before upgrading to CM9. Not sure if I'll be able to use it full time over Dolphin, but I'm not married to Dolphin either.

Oh yeah, those of you who DO use Dolphin, are you using HD or Mini? I normally use HD but it looks like they added a few missing features into Mini and made some settings easier to access, like user agent.

 

[WelshBloke]

Have they made bookmarks more readily accessible? The last time I tried Chrome on my phone or tablet the UI was horribly clunky in that regard. Sticking with Dolphin where I can just swipe the side of the screen to bring up my bookmarks until that changes.

I find the bookmarks easier to find than the desktop version.

I have this wierd bug where it sometimes refuses to scroll unless I change from landscape to portrait (or vice versa) which is a pain as I normally have auto rotate turned off.

 

[tfinch2]

Did they fix the bug that causes my tablet to reboot when I have more than 3 tabs open using heavy Javascript?

It is a great browser when it works.

 

[ponyo]

I don't have any of the problems you guys have on my GNex. Great browser and really fast. I use it as the default browser except for Flash sites.

 

[Dulanic]

Works flawlessly on my Touchpad /w CM9. However, on the Sprint E4GT it crashes almost instantly. This, however, from what some rom devs say is due to a kernel bug in the leaked ICS code. Should be fixed by OTA time... If I still have the phone.

 

[zsdersw]

Meh... I'm more than satisfied with the stock ICS browser.

 

[makken]

I tried it this morning but it wouldn't pull up my software keyboard when I selected a text entry field. I could slide out my keyboard and use that, but I prefer Swype and I don't like to have to change to landscape orientation just to type stuff.

Blah, I'm getting this issue as well. Not only is the soft keyboard not coming up, but it won't register the shift or function keys on my hardware qwerty either. I wonder if this is an issue limited to phones with hardware qwertys; I haven't seen anyone else mention this issue.

Oh well, back to the ICS browser for me.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Have they made bookmarks more readily accessible? The last time I tried Chrome on my phone or tablet the UI was horribly clunky in that regard. Sticking with Dolphin where I can just swipe the side of the screen to bring up my bookmarks until that changes.

No, unfortunately that's still an awkward experience that needs improvement. What I do though is just add the bookmarks widget to one of my home screens, and just hit my home button and click on bookmarks from that widget, seems faster for me that way than using the bookmarks through Chrome.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I find the bookmarks easier to find than the desktop version.

You need to enable "always show bookmarks bar" in the desktop version if that's the case.

 

[WelshBloke]

No, unfortunately that's still an awkward experience that needs improvement. What I do though is just add the bookmarks widget to one of my home screens, and just hit my home button and click on bookmarks from that widget, seems faster for me that way than using the bookmarks through Chrome.

? My bookmarks come up when I open a new tab, if I want them on an existing one it's menu>bookmarks. Is that a problem?

 

[Ravynmagi]

? My bookmarks come up when I open a new tab, if I want them on an existing one it's menu>bookmarks. Is that a problem?

For me yeah, I don't like having to open a new tab everytime I want to go to a different page. So I have to click the tabs button, close the existing tab, click new tab, then choose my bookmark. It just isn't a fluid experience compared to other browsers.

I like with Dolphin I just slide from the left edge to get my bookmarks immediately. Or Opera I just tap the O and the Startpage.

Chrome should at least have an easy way of getting to it's start page on the current tab without having to open a new tab.

 

[WelshBloke]

For me yeah, I don't like having to open a new tab everytime I want to go to a different page. So I have to click the tabs button, close the existing tab, click new tab, then choose my bookmark. It just isn't a fluid experience compared to other browsers.

I like with Dolphin I just slide from the left edge to get my bookmarks immediately. Or Opera I just tap the O and the Startpage.

Chrome should at least have an easy way of getting to it's start page on the current tab without having to open a new tab.

What's wrong with pressing menu then bookmarks?

 

[Ravynmagi]

What's wrong with pressing menu then bookmarks?

You know what, I keep forgetting that's there. I'm so used to bookmarks being accessible through the UI, not the app menu. I seem to forget about that. Naturally I feel a bit silly, but I still would like to see a Dolphin like approach to bookmarks.

 

[WelshBloke]

You know what, I keep forgetting that's there. I'm so used to bookmarks being accessible through the UI, not the app menu. I seem to forget about that. Naturally I feel a bit silly, but I still would like to see a Dolphin like approach to bookmarks.

I think Google want the soft keys to be an integral part of the app UI. I like the swipey tab switching chromes got going on so I'd not want the dolphin system.

As an aside the latest chrome update has broken chrome on my touch pad. :-(

 

[poofyhairguy]

I really like Chrome on my phone. It is so-so on my tablet and prefer Opera Mobile there.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Blah, I'm getting this issue as well. Not only is the soft keyboard not coming up, but it won't register the shift or function keys on my hardware qwerty either. I wonder if this is an issue limited to phones with hardware qwertys; I haven't seen anyone else mention this issue.

Oh well, back to the ICS browser for me.

Hmm, my shift/function keys work, but I have to hold them down. I can't just tap Fn and then hit whatever key, it won't stick like it will in every other app.