14 DAY TRIAL // Valve developers have released a new Steam Beta client and they have started another development cycle for this gaming platform, which has become a rather sought-after application.
Very few applications get this kind of fame in such a short time, but that was to be expected with Steam. It's now one of the most used apps on Linux and it's even getting embedded by default in numerous distros. It's constantly getting improved with each new release and you can tell by the number of changes in the Beta version just how many new features the developers are preparing to introduce.
Usually, Valve makes a few Beta releases before getting a stable version out the door, but rarely is the development iteration in a new cycle this big. There are a lot of new features and improvements, and you have to keep in mind that more updates like this one are on their way.
The new Steam update brings lots of new features
Not all Steam Beta releases are so interesting, but the current one is definitely an exception. There are a few regular changes and some issues have been repaired, but for the most part the updated client brings quite a lot of new stuff. They're not in the vein of Music or In-Home Streaming, but they are still important.
The developers have explained that the web browser that is integrated in the client now supports HTML videos, the screenshot manager has been improved drastically, the music function is now much easier to use, the graphics of the client have been updated, and the stability of the connection when downloading with concurrent p2p connections is now much better.
In addition, the client should now be a lot better at providing information to the user regarding the playable games in the library and in the store. The software will now make a determination based on the operating system, the controls used, and the platform.
"For those Big Picture and SteamOS users who want to keep a broader eye on all New Releases, Specials, and the like, we've got you covered too. We know many Steam customers play games on multiple machines, often with different operating systems and input devices. So we've also created an advanced option that lets these users quickly swap between viewing all content and locally playable content while shopping. You'll find this under the new Store Settings in Big Picture mode and SteamOS," write the devs.
More details about this Steam release can be found in the official announcement. Keep in mind that you need to enroll in the Beta program, from Steam Preferences, in order to get all these new features. They will eventually land in the stable client as well, if you don't want to use the Beta.