Skip to main content

Google's finally got something to offer iPhone users

google chrome beta ios 3d touch on force
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Waiting for the next stable build of Google Chrome on iOS? Stop begrudging users with beta access on other platforms: Chrome is now available for download through Apple’s TestFlight service, which gives developers the ability to grant beta access to their applications.

To sign up, iOS users must first download the app from Google’s beta download page, enter an email address, and wait for an email with a link to download the app through TestFlight.

The TestFlight service is usually limited to a pool of 2,000 users per app. This time, it appears that Google and Apple have talked things over to allow a larger test group, as there is no mention of an upper limit. The search giant has long since had beta and development channels for its software on other platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, and Android. In short, they’ve waited an awfully long time to get iOS onboard.

The beta grants users a number of new features, but the most interesting one is the addition of 3D touch features. Those with Apple’s latest iPhone 6S and 6S Plus will be able to deep-press the Chrome icon on the home screen to either open a new tab, start voice search, or switch to incognito mode. Bluetooth keyboards also get support for a small set of new shortcuts, including the ability to open, close, or change tabs, as well as voice search.

Beta access means happy faces. Not only will Google get even more feedback on the features it plans to implement in future stable builds, the beta also allows it to fix critical bugs and improve the overall user experience on iOS. For more adventurous users, this should come as a pleasant surprise, as they can expect future beta builds to expand upon the software’s current functionality.

Editors' Recommendations

Dan Isacsson
Being a gamer since the age of three, Dan took an interest in mobile gaming back in 2009. Since then he's been digging ever…
Your iPhone just got a new iOS update, and you should download it right now
iPhone 15 Pro display with iPhone 15 Pro Max in background.

Apple has just released a new security update, iOS 17.4.1. This comes a little over two weeks after iOS 17.4, which was a big update. iOS 17.4.1 doesn't add any new features, but it's still an important update you'll want to download as soon as you can.

With iOS 17.4.1, Apple states that the update “provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.” Apple doesn’t mention any specifics of these bug fixes, but more details on what this security update addresses may be revealed at a later date.

Read more
YouTube TV just got even better on iPhones and iPads
Multiview on YouTube TV on an iPad.

If you use the most popular live-streaming service on an iPhone or iPad, things just got even better. YouTube TV — which boasts more than 8 million subscribers — just pushed multiview live on Apple's mobile devices, as previously promised.

It works basically the same way it does on a television. YouTube TV picks the programs available in multiview, and you get them all at once, with audio coming from one of the shows. Tap another, and the audio switches. And just as before, you can get multiview for sports, news, business, or weather. (Though we definitely don't recommend watching four news channels at once in an election year.) It's just in time for March Madness, which is great, though we hope you'll be able to pick your own games instead of just sticking with the multiple viewing options YouTube TV gives. This will be great come fall, though, when the new season of NFL Sunday Ticket takes hold.

Read more
My iPhone’s keyboard is driving me crazy
Words displayed on an iPhone's screen in the Notes app, with the keyboard below them.

Abe, Ann, Anne, Anna, Ana, Ave, AB’s. These words are the bane of my life, as all too often my iPhone thinks I'm typing them instead of the word “and.” It happens shockingly often, to the point where I begin to think it’s doing it deliberately to troll me.

I’m an iOS keyboard fan, but it’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to make a big change unless Apple does something about it.
It’s always the word 'and'

Read more