Google Chrome Introduces New Features for Convenient Work Directly in the Browser
Google Chrome developers have released version 145 — an update that will delight users accustomed to handling most tasks in the browser without third-party utilities. The new version introduces two significant features: a split-screen mode for tabs and full-fledged PDF editing directly in the browser window. Additionally, a convenient button for saving PDFs to Google Drive has been added.
Google considered that switching between tabs while working on two tasks can be inconvenient — it disrupts focus and breaks the workflow context. Now, Chrome allows you to open two tabs in one window by splitting the workspace into two independent panels. Activating the mode is easy: select the "Split" option in the menu to the left of the address bar. The browser will then split the screen, and the width of each panel can be adjusted by simply dragging the slider. Meanwhile, the address bar displays the URL of the active tab, and the tab bar shows the split pair as a single element.
This approach opens up numerous use cases. For example, you can watch a YouTube video while simultaneously taking notes in Google Docs, participate in a video conference while editing a spreadsheet, or compare information from two sources without constantly switching between tabs. Essentially, Chrome is gradually transforming into something akin to an operating system for those who spend most of their working time in the web environment.
Previously, Chrome's built-in viewer only allowed opening PDF documents. Now, users can leave annotations directly in the tab — without installing additional software like Adobe Acrobat or switching to third-party services. A wavy line icon has appeared in the toolbar, providing access to annotation tools. With these, you can highlight text, add notes, leave comments on the document, emphasize important sections, and sign scanned documents. This is especially convenient when you need to quickly process a document: for example, highlight key paragraphs in a report, leave "margin notes," or sign an agreement.
Another small but useful addition is the "Save to Google Drive" button directly in the PDF viewer interface. When clicked, the file is automatically uploaded to the cloud, into a specially created "Saved from Chrome" folder. This saves time and eliminates extra steps: there's no need to download the document to your device and then manually upload it to the cloud.