Google is streaming the new Chrome 4.1 release towards all Windows clients as we speak. In the coming days you'll be automatically updated if you're running Chrome on Windows. This next version is, as it's number suggests, a minor update, by nice nonetheless.

Still I think this strategy of Google is quite nice and should be adopted by others. Google actually wants you to forget version numbers. In fact you're using Chrome, not really Chrome 4.1 or 5.0. The thing is, if all updates are "forced" to users, you can keep everybody up to date feature wise, as well as stability and most importantly security wise. Reports have suggested that a group of users tend to be slow in updating and may be in danger.

Anyway, back to the real deal today. This next release of Chrome focuses on three major new features: a new translator info-bar (which detects foreign languages and asks to translate it), privacy features (cookies, images, JavaScript, plug-ins, pop-ups), and XSS Auditor (disabled by default).

Of course security and stability issues were also addressed, making Chrome a better experience and place to stay as a web citizen. Do note that Google has published the names and rewards (yes you can earn money) for finding these!

If you have Google Chrome for Windows you'll get the update automatically (within a few days), if you want it right away, go to the about dialog and it should trigger. If you haven't got Chrome yet, you can download it from Google's site.