Skip to main content

Google transforms your browser into a digital easel with Chrome Canvas

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google quietly launched a new doodling app that allows you to draw or take notes right within the browser. Called Chrome Canvas, the app helps showcase the power of the digital stylus that is available on many convertible and detachable laptops on the market today, like the Pixelbook Pen that can be purchased alongside Google’s Pixelbook laptop or Pixel Slate tablet. All you need to do to access the app is to navigate to canvas.apps.chrome in your browser.

The web app will work on the browser in Chrome OS, Windows, and MacOS, so you’re not limited to a Chrome OS-powered device. We tested Chrome Canvas by firing up the Chrome browser on a Windows 10-powered Surface Book, and Google’s new drawing app works as intended. Once Chrome Canvas launched, we were able to doodle using the Surface Pen, or my gliding my finger across the touchscreen. If you’re on a system without support for a touchscreen or stylus — like Apple’s line of MacBook laptops — Chrome Canvas also works with a mouse or trackpad.

Recommended Videos

The interface for Chrome Canvas is very simple. Users can select a number of pre-defined or custom ink colors and drawing tools include a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, and eraser. With the pen tip, you can also adjust how thick you want the ink flow. Sketches are automatically saved to the cloud on your Google account and you can also export your drawing as a PNG download. The app is great for drawing quick sketches or jotting notes while on the go. Users looking to take detailed notes during a meeting or a class lecture will want to find a more advanced note-taking software that supports handwriting input.

Even though the app has “Chrome” in its name, you can use it with any web browser that supports WebAssembly, like Mozilla’s Firefox browser, Engadget noted.

Chrome Canvas is a basic app and doesn’t come with any bells or whistles — you can check out our guide for some of the best drawing apps on the market today if you need additional functionality — but it does a good job of showcasing what you can achieve on a laptop with a touchscreen and a digital stylus.

Chuong Nguyen
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
Google Chrome may start resurfacing tabs from your other devices
Google Chrome browser running on Android Automotive in a car.

Google has announced that it is currently "experimenting" with a feature that suggests pages to you based on open tabs from other devices. Chrome is already handy at picking up where you left off on other devices through tab syncing. To bolster this seamless handoff between devices, this potential new feature will serve up these tabs.

Google didn't detail exactly how this would look, but the blog post reads that it would "proactively suggest pages" on the Chrome New Tab page. Right now, this page is filled with quick links to your most viewed websites and hand-picked shortcuts. For what it's worth, to me this seems like a convenient place to put these tabs.

Read more
Don’t trust that Google sign-in — how hackers are swiping passwords in Chrome
Google Chrome browser running on Android Automotive in a car.

Hackers are swiping passwords from Google accounts in Chrome, and it can happen from the official Google sign-in page. The vehicle being used is called the AutoIt Credential Flusher, and it was discovered by the researchers at OALabs. The attack locks you into your browser at the Google sign-in page and doesn't allow you to leave, all while logging your email and password as you sign into your Google account.

The attack leverages "kiosk mode" in Chrome, which is a limited full-screen interface that doesn't have elements like the address bar or navigation buttons. It's used mainly for demonstration purposes -- think a laptop on display at Best Buy. And this attack is using kiosk mode to annoy users enough that they give up their passwords. It also blocks some normal commands to exit full-screen mode, such as Esc and F11. 

Read more
Google is about to make it a lot easier to customize your Pixel phone
A person holding the Google Pixel 8.

When you first set up a phone, it's essentially the same as every other phone. Customizing it to suit you is part of the fun. Google looks to be making this process a lot easier with a redesigned "Wallpaper & style" page for Pixel phones and tablets.

The news comes courtesy of Android Authority, which first discovered the updated wallpaper app in the Android 15 QPR1 beta (with a full release expected in December).

Read more