Chrome 59 Unveiled: Native macOS Notifications, Material Design & Key Developer Tools

Google has officially rolled out Chrome 59 for Windows, macOS, and Linux, introducing a suite of powerful features for users and developers alike. This update brings native macOS notifications, a Material Design refresh for settings, the Image Capture API, Headless Chrome, and significant service worker enhancements.

Key Features of Chrome 59

1. Native macOS Notifications

• Chrome now integrates seamlessly with macOS’s native notification system.
• Notifications sent via the Notifications API or chrome.notifications appear as system alerts.
• Developers should review the migration guide for optimal compatibility.

2. Material Design Refresh

• The browser’s settings page has been redesigned to align with Google’s Material Design principles.
• Aesthetic improvements create a cohesive experience across Google’s ecosystem.

3. Image Capture API

• Enables websites to capture higher-resolution images with granular camera controls (zoom, ISO, white balance).
• Ideal for applications requiring advanced photography features.

4. Headless Chrome

• Run Chrome without a GUI for automation, testing (e.g., Selenium), or PDF generation.
• A game-changer for developers and QA teams.

5. Navigation Preload API

• Accelerates page loads by preloading resources while service workers initialize.
• Reduces latency for a smoother user experience.

Additional Developer Enhancements

• MediaError.message: Provides detailed error insights for <audio>/<video> elements.
• WritableStreams: Enables efficient data streaming with built-in backpressure handling.
• Stream Piping: New pipeTo() and pipeThrough() methods simplify stream management.
• Enhanced Privacy: CSS stylesheets can now define their own referrer policies.
• Permission Request Limits: Chrome temporarily blocks permission prompts after three dismissals.

Security Fixes & Bug Bounties

Chrome 59 addresses 30 security vulnerabilities, including:

• High-risk issues: Type confusion in V8 ($7,500 bounty), out-of-bounds reads, and address spoofing.
• Medium/low-risk fixes: CSP reporting leaks, UI spoofing, and extension verification bypasses.

Google awarded $23,500+ in bug bounties for this release, underscoring its commitment to security.

What’s Next?

• Chrome 60 is slated for mid-July, continuing Google’s 6-week release cycle.
• Android Update: Chrome 59 for Android (rolling out now) boasts faster JavaScript execution and reduced memory usage.

Why Upgrade?

From streamlined workflows for developers to robust security patches, Chrome 59 delivers tangible improvements. Update via the browser’s silent updater or download manually.

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