Chrome For Windows Gets Battery-Saving Feature, Do Not Track

Google has released version 23 of its Windows Chrome browser, which includes a feature designed to save users' battery life. Unlike with previous versions of Chrome for Windows, the latest version provides enhanced video decoding, which reduces hardware usage and thusly increases battery life. This is in addition to a couple of other handy features, including Do Not Track.

This feature works by shifting the process of video decoding from the CPU to the GPU, which requires less power. Google's tests on the new feature showed a 25-percent battery life increase. Said Google software engineer Ami Fischman, "Now Chrome users on Windows will experience longer battery life so they don't get cut off while watching their favorite YouTube video on repeat."

Other new features include the addition of "Do Not Track," something that has been available on Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera for a while now. Users who enable DNT will provide a simple header notifying websites of the user's preference. According to Fischman, Google is working "with others" towards an industry standard on handling DNT requests.

Also added is an aggregation of permissions in a menu that can be accessed via an icon next to a website's URL. When the icon is clicked, a menu will appear detailing various permissions that can be changed, such as access to the system's webcam and microphone. Previously, users had to navigate through the browser's "Settings" options to alter these permissions.

[via Chrome Blog]