Chrome for Android Update Adds Swipe Gestures for Tabs

The new gestures

• Swipe horizontally across the top toolbar to move quickly between open tabs.
• Drag vertically down from the toolbar to enter the tab switcher view.
• Drag down from the menu button and release on an item to open the menu and pick an entry without lifting your finger.

How much it changes day to day

The writer described the change as modest. Tab switching by swiping the toolbar is quicker than swiping from one edge of the screen to the other, and the tab switcher can now be reached by a downward drag instead of tapping the icon. The icon stayed in place, so nothing was taken away. It was not expected to change productivity much.

What was still missing

There was no option to close every tab except the one you are using. Some people would have found that handy, but it was not part of this release.

Getting the update

The rollout was gradual, spread over the next few days. The way to check was the My apps section of the store, which lists available updates for installed apps. This was an older release, and Chrome now updates itself in the background on most phones.