Google has announced a feature in its newest version of Chrome that places a “Playing audio” icon on any tab that’s making noises. So, whether it’s a nasty video ad on the right column of some article you half-read, or perhaps a Spotify or YouTube player somewhere in the mix, you can more easily track it down and shut it up.
Chrome has also implemented similar “Casting to your TV” and “Using your webcam” icons on tabs that are performing those activities, too. But the most useful feature is certainly the nasty audio killer.
The newest version of Chrome (32.0.1700.77), like all updates, will roll out automatically. All you’ll have to do is restart your browser after it’s been downloaded, by closing and reopening it, in order for the changes to take effect. Click over to your Chrome browser’s menu and select About Google Chrome to see which version you’re on. If the update has been downloaded and is just waiting for a restart, then it will say so there.
