Owners of Chromebooks running the Chrome OS should expect to see a feature from the Android platform make its way over to their devices before much longer. Google has added support for Google search, including Google Now cards, to the next version of their Chrome Launcher 2.0. Testing of the new launcher is rolling out within the next week for users who are on the Chrome OS Beta Channel.
The Chrome Launcher on Chrome OS probably plays a bigger role for users than it might on other platforms, so the team working on the next update to the launcher wanted to make sure it would be “the best way to start new activities on Chrome OS, like performing a Google search or launching apps.”
Users who receive the updated launcher will see that it is much roomier so that more features could be packed into it, like the presence of Google Now cards. Google says the new format will also provide a better platform for managing apps. Enhanced search results and improved voice search integration are also being added to the new launcher.
While it may be a few more days before the Chrome Launcher 2.0 update starts to appear in beta testers’ Chrome OS, there are some other new Beta Channel features that are available now. One of these is the introduction of Material Design to the File Manager. Users will also find the system now supports unpacking password-protected ZIP archives and the system will now use the detected location of a Chrome OS powered device to automatically update the timezone.
source: Google Product Forums
via: OMG!Chrome!
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