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Google Chrome beta adds push notifications

Chrome's push notification feature has graduated from the Canary channel and is now part of the latest Beta release. And you know what that means, right? It's just one step away from being incorporated into the stable browser. Chrome Beta 42 (for all platforms) comes with two new APIs that allows websites to send you notifications even if the browser isn't open. Each message comes with "Site Setting" beneath it, though (as you can see below the fold), providing a way to quickly switch off notifications from that particular service or website.

In addition, the latest Chrome beta for Android now shows banners that make it easier to add shortcuts to the home screen. Only well-made mobile websites that meet the company's eligibility criteria can take advantage of the new feature, so you don't end up with a bunch of shortcuts. Finally, the browser has a new setting that lets you pause plug-in content -- handy, if you want to prevent old computers from slowing down or to save battery when you're nowhere near an outlet.