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Google Brings New Changes to Chrome 94

Including the controversial idle detection

By Cesar Cadenas Cesar Cadenas Writer California State University - Long Beach Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry since 2016 on a variety of topics like cryptocurrency, video games, the latest gadgets, and much more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 22, 2021 04:56PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Software & Apps Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Google officially has released Chrome 94, the latest version of its web browser, adding new features and tweaks to existing elements. According to Android Police, the new changes include idle detection, an API that notifies the developer when someone is idle, and design changes to Material You on Android 12. Strauss/Curtis/Getty Images Idle Detection knows when a user is gone by recognizing the lack of input, like when the keyboard or mouse aren't being used. The feature even can detect whenever a screen is locked, or a user has moved to a different screen. Google's motivation for this feature is to get more information about when a user is idle and use that data to create better collaborative applications. However, not everyone is happy with this change. Mozilla web standards lead Tantek Çelik wrote about their displeasure in a post on GitHub. Çelik states that websites can use the API to invade personal privacy and "keep long-term records…" of their users. Currently, Idle Detection is only on the desktop version of Chrome 94. Material You is a feature on Google Messages that changes the look and theme of the messaging app. The new update unites the Android 12 design by grabbing colors from a user's phone wallpaper and using those colors across the device. Oscar Wong/Getty Images The changes are visible on the tab page, tab switcher, and address bar in the web browser. It’s unknown if Google plans on expanding the design elements elsewhere. Other new changes include new scheduling APIs for more responsive web apps latency improvements. Chrome 94 will roll out in the coming weeks. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Android 13: News, Release Date, and Features How to Use Firefox's Privacy and Security Features How to Change the Color of Your Apps on Android What Is the Google Chrome Browser? The Official Android Versions Guide: Everything You Need to Know The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 16.0 How to Change the Color of Text Bubbles on Android How to Use WhatsApp on Your Apple Watch The 10 Best Android 12 Features Google Chrome Themes: How to Change Them The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2022 What Can You Do With Android’s Driving Mode? How to Change the Color of Your Apps on Samsung Android 12: Release Date, Rumors, Features, and Supported Devices The 17 Best Plugins (Extensions) for Chrome in 2022 The 8 Best Books for Android App Development Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies