Google Chrome has reached version 8 with its latest stable release, and features vastly improved performance alongside a smattering of new features and a whole host of bug fixes.

One of the biggest improvements is in performance, with end users noting that Chrome 8 appears to be “two or three” times faster than the previous release.

Other new features are decidely thing on the ground: the PDF viewer is now sandboxed by default, which means you can now safely view PDF documents in the browser without worrying about whether or not they contain any malicious code that could attack your system. There are also performance improvements and a change to a lighter background colour within the viewer.

Also new is built-in support for the forthcoming Chrome Web Apps store, which will allow users to further customise their browser with paid-for and free apps.

You can now also access your sync settings from the Google Dashboard, and a link is provided on the Options dialogue box to take you there, where you’ll find you can disable sync and delete everything currently stored on Google.

Those expecting many of the features that premiered in the development version of Chrome 8 will, however, be disappointed: there’s no Side Tabs feature, and the instant search feature that was switched on from the Address Bar is also missing. With this in mind, it’s probably understandable why Google hasn’t announced this new release anywhere other than through a minor entry in its Google Chrome Releases blog.