Google Chrome 107 is now available in the stable branch. It's a major release that adds support for Encrypted Client Hello, hardware accelerated HEVC, a new UI for downloads, password import/export to a file, and more. Besides, Google revealed their plans regarding support two legacy Windows versions, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, in the browser.
Chrome 107 is available for download from its official website. Existing users will receive it automatically.
Here are the key changes.
What's new in Google Chrome 107
- Added ECH. Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) is an extension of the TLS 1.3 protocol that encrypts the earlier connection stage. A web server on the Internet can serve several domains/websites from the same IP address, which is very common on virtual and shared hosting. To avoid server name interception and data manipulation, ECH encrypts the whole payload with a public key known to the browser. You can manage ECH in Chrome via the chrome://flags#encrypted-client-hello flag.
- There's now a new download UI. Instead of the bottom line with data on the download progress, it shows a new toolbar button with a progress circle. When you click it, a flyout opens and shows the progress of downloading files and a list of already downloaded files. Unlike the bottom bar, the button is permanently displayed in the toolbar. It allows you to quickly access your download history. The new interface is being rolled out gradually, so it may be not available right after you install Chrome 107.
- Enabled support for hardware accelerated video decoding for H.265 (HEVC).
- For desktop users, Chrome now provides the ability to import passwords saved in a file in CSV format. Previously, you could only transfer passwords from a file to the browser by using the passwords.google.com service. So now it can be done through the password manager built into the browser (Google Password Manager).
- if you added a new user profile, Chrome will now prompt you to enable synchronization, set the profile name and select its color theme.
- Chrome will now automatically revoke permission to display notifications for sites detected sending notifications and messages that annoy the user. Moreover, for such sites, requests for obtaining permissions to send notifications will be suspended.
- On Windows, Chrome will provide a limited OS version info in the user agent string and JS properties navigator.userAgent, navigator.appVersion and navigator.platform. More details on this change here.
- Chrome on Android requires at least Android 6.0.
- In addition to new features and various bug fixes, 14 vulnerabilities have been fixed.
Google Chrome to end support for Windows 7 and 8.1 in February 2023
Google Chrome will end support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 starting with version 110, which is slated for release on February 7, 2023. Older versions of the browser will continue to work on these operating systems, but users will not receive updates, including security updates.
This could be expected. The ESU Paid Support for Windows 7 and Extended Support for Windows 8.1 will end on January 10, 2023. Google recommends that you upgrade to a supported version of Windows before Chrome 110 is released to continue receiving new features and security fixes.
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HEVC is supported only on Windows 8 and later it seems as per httрs://саniusе.сom/?search=hevc. Not on Windows 7 :(