Google’s ChromeOS Embraces a Top Feature from Windows 11

Most users would concur that Windows 11 isn’t without its flaws. Just today, we highlighted a bizarre underlying issue that can lead to a fully optimized setup experiencing significant performance drops for no obvious reason.

Despite these setbacks, there are various valuable features within Windows 11 that often go unnoticed. One noteworthy feature is Snap Layouts, which organizes windows and enhances multitasking efficiency.

In a move to take cues from this functionality, Google has introduced a similar feature in its latest ChromeOS update. The newly released version in the Stable channel, ChromeOS 128, includes a Snap groups feature that enables users to group windows, mirroring the functionality found in Windows 11.

According to the official release notes from the ChromeOS team, here’s how this feature operates:

Snap groups on ChromeOS

Snap groups allow users to organize multiple windows on a single screen. When two windows are paired for split-screen viewing, ChromeOS automatically creates a Snap group. As part of a Snap group, these windows can be brought back into focus simultaneously, resized together, and moved as a single unit.

This update introduces more than just this feature. Additional enhancements include Isolated Web Apps (IWA), privacy-related improvements, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR), among others.

ISAs have been implemented to bolster protection against server attacks. Rather than being hosted on live web servers and retrieved via HTTPS, these apps are bundled into Web Bundles and are signed by their developers.

The ChromeOS team mentions that, in this initial rollout, IWAs can only be installed using a new policy IsolatedWebAppInstallForceList on enterprise-managed ChromeOS devices.

Additionally, the ChromeOS camera application has integrated Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which allows users to extract text from captured images utilizing a machine learning-powered text extraction service.

Other notable changes include:

• Geolocation privacy controls

• ChromeOS privacy control reminders

• Pinned notifications on ChromeOS

• Auto Gain Control enabled by default

• Access Point Name (APN) management

• Admin-configurable site search

• Data processor mode: EU-wide rollout

• Store aggregated vitals data with a one-year retention policy

You can review the complete release notes on the support document here on ChromeOS’ official website.

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