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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Chrome just got three new features, none of which use AI.
- One new tool lets you fill out PDFs without downloading.
- Another tool automatically backs up your PDF downloads.
Google just announced a trio of new productivity features for Chrome, all aimed at increasing your productivity. In a surprising departure from the norm these days, none of them use AI.
Chrome seems to get new features regularly, but as of late, they almost always included some form of AI, such as Auto Browse, which lets Gemini perform multi-step personal tasks across the web.
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The latest additions are aimed at making your life a little easier, from filling out forms to finding your downloads.
Here's a look at what's new.
Automatic Drive backup for PDFs
This useful feature automatically saves any PDFs you download straight to Google Drive. If you've ever struggled to find a previously downloaded file, you can see the benefit here. Any PDFs will go into a "Saved from Chrome" folder, Google said, making them easy to find in your Drive.
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As a bonus, your documents will also be backed up for security and accessible from any device. This capability is especially helpful when you download something on your desktop and need to access it again quickly from your phone.
Split view
If you're the type of person who's constantly working on multiple tasks across several tabs or windows, this new feature is for you. Chrome's new "split view" mode lets you see two tabs at the same time, split vertically (you can resize the split when one window needs to be larger than the other).
Instead of bouncing back and forth between tabs, you'll have all the information you need in one view. Google offered a few examples of how you might use this feature, including taking notes on a video, grading papers while entering data in a spreadsheet, and referencing a document as you code.
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To use split view in Chrome, drag a tab to the left or right edge of the browser window, or right-click a link and choose "Open Link in Split View." Windows does have a similar feature built in, but it uses two separate windows.
In-browser PDF annotations
Chrome PDF Viewer already makes it easy to see documents, Google said, and this feature lets you add annotations to a document without actually downloading it. Previously, you had to download a document when you added anything. You can't actually change text, but you can add a digital signature, fill out a form, or write notes to a PDF right from your browser.
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Google said this feature is useful for tasks such as quick digital signatures, reviewing a work report, making notes on a class syllabus, or adding personal notes to an important file.
The new features should be available now if you have the latest version of Chrome.
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