Windows/Mac/Linux: If you're living life on the bleeding edge of Google's Chrome browser, good news: Google just pushed out an update to the dev channel, improving HTML5 audio and video for all platforms, bringing extension and bookmark sync to Macs, and more.

The Windows build didn't see many changes, but Mac users should be particularly happy with the update. Having been excluded from extension support when the Chrome extension gallery first opened, Mac users can now officially join in the fun. (See these 18 extensions worth downloading for Chrome to get started with Chrome extensions.) Mac users also gain support for much-needed bookmark sync and support for favicon-only pinned tabs.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in an interview a couple of days ago that Chrome for Mac is very important to Google, and that a final version of Chrome should be available for OS X "within months". It's pretty vague, but seems entirely reasonable, considering that the Chrome dev channel version for Macs is actually very usable. Have you been using Chrome on your Mac—or are you waiting for a stable release? If you have been using Chrome's dev channel releases for OS X, let's hear how happy you've been with it in the comments. [AllThingsD via Gizmodo]

One year ago, Google Chrome came out of nowhere to re-ignite the browser debate. Today, it's reached (development) version 4.0, and it's anchoring a much-anticipated operating system. Here's a look back at where Chrome's been in 12 short months.

If you've been keeping up with the latest Chrome releases for OS X and you just upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard, you may have been disappointed to learn that Snow Leopard introduced quite a few bugs into Chrome. Luckily, Google's just released a dev channel update for Chrome on OS X fixing issues related to keyboard shortcuts, appearance, crashes, and more. You can download the latest dev release here. [Google Chrome Releases]

Google Chrome's Incognito mode is great for doing a little under-the-radar browsing on your computer, but if you want to use Chrome to search in private from the get-go, these Windows and OS X-friendly methods can help.

Last October we showed you how to start Chrome in Incognito mode with a JavaScript file, but since then Google's added a startup flag (-incognito) you can add to your Chrome shortcut in Windows to automatically start in Incognito mode. (Right-click your Chrome shortcut, then add -incognito after the target like you see in the screenshot.)

That's simple enough, and it's not a new trick by any means, but if you're running OS X, starting Chrome in Incognito mode from the get-go is a bit more difficult. Luckily weblog Cool Geex details how to do just that with a little help from AppleScript. Head to the link below for a guide (with video) for creating and compiling the Chrome-in-Incognito-mode script and you'll be good to go.

While you're polishing up your Chrome skills, take a look at our power user's guide to Google Chrome.