ChromeOS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google. It is a derivative of the Chromium OS open source project and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its user interface.
The release of ChromeOS 112 has been announced, which includes changes, improvements, and bug fixes. Among the most significant changes are improvements to Fast Pair and the ability to recover forgotten passwords, among other features.
For those unfamiliar with Chrome OS, you should know that the system is based on the Linux kernel, ebuild / portage build tools, open components, and the Chrome 111 web browser.
Main new features of Chrome OS 112
In this new Chrome OS 112 release, the Fast Pair utility once again stands out among the changes. It's worth remembering that Fast Pair was introduced in the previous version, Chrome OS 111, and it essentially provides a simpler and faster way to pair Bluetooth devices with Android smartphones. This new release adds a dedicated section for saved devices connected via Fast Pair. Google says this "experience reflects the management capabilities already available for Fast Pair on Android today."
Another notable change in the new version is the updated quick settings menu , which features larger buttons and grouped similar functions for easier navigation. A separate notification panel has been added, with its indicator displayed to the left of the date. The parameter "chrome://flags#qs-revamp" is suggested to control whether the new menu is enabled.
In addition, this new version of Chrome OS 112 also includes the ability to recover a forgotten password , based on an online process to regain access to a Google account. For the recovery to work, you must explicitly enable this feature in the settings (Security -> Sign-in -> Local data recovery).
On the other hand, the Screencast application (a utility that was introduced in Chrome OS 103), which allows you to record and watch screencast videos, added a new function and that is that until now, the transcriptions of the screencasts were only available in English for EE In the US, this release of ChromeOS 112 sets the stage for "a wide range of languages, including Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, and German."
Google says this multilingual transcription is coming soon, so a ChromeOS update might not even be required to enable it. The transcription feature uses Google's S3 transcription API, which means Google could add new languages ​​at the push of a button.
Also, to prevent incorrect settings from compromising your privacy, a feature has been introduced to clear Hidden Networks connection settings if they haven't connected in the last two weeks.
Finally, it's also worth noting that this new version of ChromeOS 112 has improved the screenshot function so that mouse clicks and keystrokes can be included in the recording. Keyboard shortcuts can also be displayed in an easy-to-understand way, which is useful when creating animations that explain the GUI and instruct on operations.
Of the other changes that stand out:
- 16 security fixes
- Chrome apps disappeared from Mac, Linux, and Windows (but not ChromeOS)
- More data options in Google Chrome Takeout
If you want to learn more about this new version of the system, you can find the details by going to the following link.
Download Chrome OS 112
The new build is now available for most current Chromebooks , and third-party developers have also created versions for common computers with x86, x86_64, and ARM processors.
Last but not least, if you are a Raspberry user, you should know that you can also install Chrome OS on your device, only that the version you can find is not the most current, and there is still the problem with video acceleration due to hardware.