Chrome OS 96 is rolling out today with a number of camera-focused improvements and other general app upgrades. Version 95 has been skipped as part of the transition to updates every four weeks, while an LTS version for Chromebooks is now offered.
Camera app
For this release, Google is particularly focused on improvements to the Chrome OS Camera app. Devices with a rear-facing/”world-facing” camera will particularly benefit from an integrated document scanner capable of converting captures to PDF and JPEG.
There is a new “Scan” tab, where the “QR Code” option is now. The Camera app will automatically detect the edges, but it is user adjustable. This feature may have already rolled out to your device running Chrome OS 94.
Meanwhile, those using supported external cameras can control angle and crop with Pan-Tilt-Zoom. Adjustments made with the Camera app’s new D-pad (check the bar on the left) persist across various use cases.
Next year, the Chrome OS Camera client will get a GIF maker that lets you record up to five seconds of video. Google is also testing Assistant integration to “take a photo”, “record a video” and “take a selfie”.
Share Nearby
Nearby sharing is now available in Android apps and their sharing sheets. The feature was previously limited to the Files app, Progressive Web Apps, and System Apps.
Chrome OS app settings
In Chrome OS 96, there’s a new Notifications page in Settings > Apps that was previously only available in Quick Settings to turn on/off immediately. This differs from website alerts.
Similarly, apps in the “Manage Your Apps” list now have an “Opening Supported Links” section to determine whether URLs open the installed client or “in Chrome Browser”.
Meanwhile, the Wallpaper app has been recently redesigned with a larger grid UI and is accessible from an app launcher icon instead of a simple right-click on the desktop.
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