Yesterday Google released its first non-beta Mac and Linux versions of its Chrome web browser. The new version includes new features and faster performance. Google did not say if the never version is feature-equivalent to the Windows version, which Google has previously said was a goal of the Mac version. The Windows version of Google Chrome has been available for some time. Google calls this the first "stable" version. Although this version is the equivalent of a 1.0 release, Google identifies it as version 5.0.375.55 in the About box. This new Mac version sports a Windows-like feature of full-screen mode (Command + Shift + F). There is also file drag and drop, for attaching files in Gmail messages.

Another new feature, automatic syncing of browser settings, joins previously support for bookmark syncing. The browser can now sync preferences to copies of Chrome on other computers through an on-line Google account. The changes to settings on one computer are automatically synced to other computers, without user intervention. Google warns of possible privacy concerns, saying that if two people use the same computer, each signing into different Google Accounts, their settings may be synced, possibly without the users' knowledge.

Google also intends to integrate Adobe's Flash Player into the browser, but it is not included in this version. HTML5, already part of Safari and FireFox, is supported in this stable Chrome for Mac release.