Those of us who are old enough to remember the internet making a sound every time it would boot up are probably also old enough to remember when there were different browsers -- a lot of them.
Let us harken back to the days of old, when Internet Explorer, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, and yes, even Netscape Navigator were widely in use rather than simply memes about those living in the dark ages.
DON'T MISS: Walmart makes a first-ever change to prevent crimes in superstore
These days, one web browser rules them all. While Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer (technically) are still around, a majority of the world now turns to Google Chrome when they access the worldwide web. With over 62% market share, Google's (GOOGL) -) beloved internet browser has become unanimous with its also heavily-used search engine.
It's not hard to understand why. Google plus Google Chrome pair quite nicely together. Chrome is also looked to as a particularly safe bet when it comes to data and security. Chrome typically flashes a warning before you navigate to a suspicious site and regularly issues software updates to keep it running smoothly. It also stores and keeps your passwords safe and works seamlessly across all Google services; if you use Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, or any of Google's other offerings, that makes a big difference. And it is typically the fastest.
Google Chrome gets a major update
It's hard to believe that Google Chrome is just a year away from legal driving age, but in September the browser turns 15. In honor of its birthday, Google Chrome will receive a slew of updates and feature additions to help digital citizens keep browsing smoothly.
"In the coming weeks, Chrome will get a new look on desktop. Based on our Material You design language, we’ve refreshed Chrome’s icons with a focus on legibility and created new color palettes that better complement your tabs and toolbar," Google Chrome VP Parisa Tabriz wrote in a blog post.
Differentiating color palettes can also help you distinguish between different Chrome profiles, for example, if you and your family or significant other share a browser.
You'll also be able to toggle between dark and light modes, depending on your preferences or what time of the day you like to surf the web.
"You’ll notice some other improvements that make it easier to use Chrome — like a more comprehensive menu for faster access to Chrome extensions, Google Translate, Google Password Manager and more. (To access the menu, click the three dots in the top-right corner of your browser,)" the post continues.
Users will also be able to search the internet for similar images on a given web page and install artificial intelligence features to help make their browsing easier.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the new Chrome will also bring a slew of safety updates.
"To block these dangerous sites the moment they launch, we’re upgrading Safe Browsing so it will now check sites against Google’s known-bad sites in real time. By shortening the time between identification and prevention of threats, we expect to see 25% improved protection from malware and phishing threats. This update will roll out to Chrome in the coming weeks," the post reads.
