Google has put plans in motion for the upcoming Chrome and Chrome OS operating system for Chromebooks, version 69, which will introduce many exciting new features and improvements.
Chrome OS is the Linux-based operating system for Chromebooks, and the tech giant is currently testing support for installing and running Linux apps on Chrome OS, a feature that will be introduced en masse with the next stable version of the operating system, Chrome OS 69, although it will still be available in beta form.
“Linux (Beta) for Chromebooks lets developers use editors and command-line tools by adding support for Linux to a Chrome device,” Google said. “Once developers are set up, they’ll see a terminal in the Chrome launcher. Developers can use the terminal to install apps or packages, and the apps will be safe inside a virtual machine.”.
However, support for Linux apps will be available on a limited number of Chromebooks, which will increase each month as Google finalizes the new feature. After updating to Chrome OS 69, Chromebook users with a supported device will be able to enable the new Linux (Beta) feature in Settings. They can then install Linux apps on their Chromebooks, which can take several minutes.
Chrome OS 69 will also improve the Files app to allow users to manage files from Linux, introduce Night Light support to Chromebooks, make the voice dictation feature standalone and therefore accessible from anywhere via a small button at the bottom of the desktop, and add a new global text-to-speech settings page.
Scheduled to be released early next month, the Chrome69 browser adds a password warning policy to allow users to specify Google and non-Google accounts, blocks third-party software by default to reduce Chrome outages, improves Chrome management with Intune, Legacy Browser extension support, and adds a new reporting tool.
With Chrome 69, Google is also extending its new Material Design 2.0 interface design to all supported operating systems, including Windows, GNU/Linux, and macOS.
