Google Chrome’s v64 brings permanent solution for web pages with autoplay videos

Chrome 64 also comes with fixes for Meltdown and Spectre attacks.

Google Chrome 64 is available for Windows, Mac and Linux users (HT File)

Google on Wednesday announced a new update to its Chrome browser that brings a range of new features including security fixes for the CPU vulnerabilities Meltdown and Spectre. It also includes a better solution to pesky autoplaying videos on some websites.

Permanent mute for autoplay videos

The most useful update Chrome 64 brings is the feature to mute autoplay videos on websites. Most websites come with not just autoplay ads but videos as well. Browsing on Chrome 64 will give users the option to mute websites.

This feature can be accessed by right clicking on top of the respective website tab and selecting the "Mute site" option. This will stop all videos set to autoplay by default, reports The Verge.

Google is also addressing the problem of pesky pop-ups that appear on websites. Explained last November, Google addresses this problem in Chrome 64 by displaying an info bar instead of opening a redirect page on a new tab.

Popups often open a new page containing third-party content, but in Chrome 64 the user will be shown an info bar which will prevent opening a redirect tab. This will keep the user on their present tab instead of being redirected to a new one.

Fix for Meltdown, Spectre

In terms of security, Google has released fixes for the latest Meltdown and Spectre flaws which affected Intel chips. Chrome 64 comes with fixes for Meltdown and Spectre security flaws which could affect websites.

Earlier this month, security researchers detected major security flaws on chipsets from Intel and AMD. These flaws, Meltdown and Spectre, can allow sensitive data like passwords to be read. This flaw then creates a process called 'speculative execution' for computers to guess what the next move of the users could be.

HDR support

Another feature Chrome 64 brings is HDR (High Dynamic Range) compatibility, but only for Windows users. Also, to use this feature one needs to have an HDR compatible device which runs the latest Windows 10 Falls Creators Update.

The trend of streaming HDR content can be seen increasing with Google extending it to desktops as well. HDR compatibility on desktops will be beneficial for users who regularly stream content on apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies.

While TVs do offer HDR quality, there are some premium smartphones as well with this feature. Some of these include Galaxy S8 duo, Google Pixel series, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, among others.