Google releases Chrome 11 beta with HTML5 speech input API

(PhysOrg.com) -- Ah the beta version. It is a special time in a new versions life, when the world at large gets a first look at what the end product will be. Kind of a like a sonogram for new technology. Of course, when you are looking at a human fetus, you know what the features will be: two hands, ten toes and hopefully no vestigial tail. With a beta bit of software the world will pour over it, checking out what is new and getting ready to poke at all of its features.

Google brought a new baby beta into the world this week, Google Chrome 11.

What features will this new version of Google's web browser have? Well, the features listed thus far include both support for the HTML5 speech input API (demo page). The speech input API is the real big news here, since it will allow developers to create apps for Google Chrome 11 that have the capability of speech to text technology. That's right, you talk and it types it up, without having to buy expensive software like Dragon Speech Naturally.

This new feature is not really a shocker, when you consider that this feature came to Google Voice for Android devices back in August. The Voice Actions feature on the mobile version has allowed users to dictate texts and e-mails, write notes, navigate the web and even set your alarm.

The new beta will also feature a sneak peek at a GPU-accelerated 3D CSS. This will allow developers to apply 3D effects to web page content with the use of CSS. That will allow users view websites with 3D effects very soon.

No word on when the software will get out of beat.