The Google Chrome 2.0 Web Browser is Now Ready for Prime Time

Google has upgraded its Chrome 2.0 Web browser from being in test mode (beta) to its final version ready for download and general use. With this latest update, compared to early beta 2.0 releases of the browser, Google adds new features includeing full-screen mode, an improved new tab page, and the support for auto-fill of text within Web page forms.

Google says if you already are running Google Chrome your browser will be automatically updated to the final 2.0 release “soon.” Otherwise, to download the latest version you can get it directly from the Google Chrome download page.

This update comes six months after Google announced the final version of Google Chrome 1.0. Google Chrome 2.0 was first previewed in January in beta form. Google developers say they have squashed over 300 bugs from earlier Chrome 2.0 beta releases. Google is also touting this latest version of Google Chrome as “faster than ever” able to render JavaScript-heavy Web pages 30 percent faster than it previous version of Chrome. (see releated: Google Chrome Is Fastest Browser in Site-Loading Tests)

Please check back soon for a hands-on review of final Google Chrome 2.0 Web browser.

Here is a breakdown of the new features introduced Thursday with the final Google Chrome 2.0 release:

Improved New Tab Page: Give you the ability to remove thumbnails from the New Tab page. This allows you to, as Google puts it: “hide that embarrassing gossip blog from the Most Visited section.”

Full Screen Mode: In this mode you can hide the title bar and the rest of the browser window by hitting F11 or selecting the option in the Tools menu.

Form Autofill: This feature, a staple in Internet Explorer and Firefox, auto-fills text boxes in Web page forms with information you’ve previously entered.

Google released a short video outlining the latest improvements to the final release of Chrome 2.0.