Google is making a huge change to Chrome updates – but there’s a catch

A LUCKY few could be in line to get brand new Chrome features before anyone else does.

Google has revealed plans to completely revamp the way it releases updates next year.

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Usually the company puts out a really early build of Chrome for developers to test.

This version isn’t suitable for day-to-day use.

It’s buggy which is why Google has a beta programme for techies to identify problems.

Once those are found and fix a proper release is unveiled for everyone.

But now Google wants to create another tier just before it goes to the general public.

This special group will get hold of an “early stable” version of Chrome.

The tech giant said the perk will be available to “a small percentage of users”.

Pretty much everyone else will be able to use it on the normal schedule date a week later.

The idea will apparently help the company iron out any last minute issues that come up.

“By releasing stable to a small percentage of users early, we get a chance to monitor the release before it rolls out to all of our users,” Google techie Rachel Andrew said.

“If any showstopping issue is discovered, it can be addressed while the impact is relatively small.”

Bosses are planning to start the new release scheme on Chrome 110.

It means technical beta testers will get hold of it on January 12 as normal.

Then the new cohort of early stable users will follow on February 1.

Finally, a full release for everyone will happen on February 7 – so long as no problems are identified, of course.

Google is constantly developing new ideas and tools to improve Chrome.

Most recently it added a special battery saver mode.

You can choose to switch on Battery Saver at anytime, or you can set it to automatically kick in whenever your battery is below 20 per cent.

It’s not clear how Google will go about selecting the lucky few just yet.

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