Google wrapped up and posted the finished version of Chrome 17 for the desktop on Wednesday. The new browser update takes site prerendering beyond just search results to include autocompletion. If the autocompletion in the address bar is headed towards a likely web address, the browser will start loading content in the background to speed up the perceived load time. It can give the impression that favorite sites load almost immediately, Google suggested.
The new version also introduces whitelist-based screening for downloads. Along with checking for confirmed malware, it has a set of known good executable files. Any file that falls outside of either list has its basic information passed to Google to see if the site host is a regular source of hostile files. If so, Chrome warns the user so that they can reconsider the download.
Downloads are available for Mac, Linux, and Windows users. Chrome OS should get the update along with a new image editing tool and a better 3G activation process for Verizon subscribers that lets them determine when the auto renew process starts.
The company just a day earlier posted Chrome for Android, its first-ever mobile version, with feature parity closer to Chrome 16.
