The WebView component of Android caused a general blockage last month that prevented dozens of applications from running, including Gmail, Google Pay and several banking applications. The severity of the error – which lasted up to eight hours before a permanent fix was issued – prompted Google to make further changes to avoid another disaster.
In a new status report, Google explains the causes of the crash and details the WebView enhancements it intends to implement. Any application that relied on WebView to open web pages crashed due to an error in the software configuration experiment and technology, the company said. To fix this, Google had to release new versions of both Chrome and WebView via Google Play for automatic and manual updates.
The key to WebView improvements is a new “safe mode” that would see the application return to good condition if the history repeats itself. Google also plans to speed up Chrome and WebView updates in the Play Store. In addition, it is committed to auditing the application and better communicating with users during incidents. As a nod to companies and developers who have probably been flooded with complaints about an accident they did not cause, Google says it will work with its partners to provide feedback on the impact of the incident and the status of the solution.
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