Chrome 42 for iOS arrives with Today View widget, new gestures, and support for password managers

Following the release of Chrome 42 for desktop two days ago and for Android yesterday, Google today launched Chrome 42 for iOS. You can download the new version now directly from Apple’s App Store.

Unlike on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, Chrome for iOS is not getting native push notifications due to restrictions specific to Apple’s mobile platform. Instead, iOS 8 users can now add Chrome to their Today View. From there, they can open a new tab or start a voice search without having to launch Chrome first.

If you’re searching in the address bar, Chrome for iOS will now give you suggested answers as you type. These work with terms that Google already autofills on the desktop (weather, stocks, unit conversions, and so on) but also any URLs you’ve copied to your clipboard.

Chrome for iOS has also gained new gestures. You can now pull a page straight down to reload it, much like on other platforms and in other browsers. You can also pull down and left to open a new tab as well as pull down and right to close the current tab.

This is a bit tough to learn, but once you get into the habit, it should come easy. The longer you’ve been using Chrome, however, the more muscle memory you’ll have to fight.

Last but certainly not least, Chrome for iOS now lets you use your favorite password manager (1Password, Lastpass, and so on) to fill out website password fields when you’re browsing on your Apple device. This is possible thanks to support for iOS App Extensions, which suggests Google is considering offering a lot more integration for its browser on iOS. Password managers could be just the start.

All of these features and tweaks add up to a Chrome for iOS that is “even faster for the things you do every day,” Google says. No complaints here.