Google Chrome 89 is here, and it’s rolling already to users today. With it comes a range of user-facing augments that users might want to keep a note of. Especially for Android phone users or people who share computers with others. Here are some of the essential information about Chrome 89 and its features.
Chrome 89
The list of improvements is wide and includes everything from Tab Search to optimized controller support.
Chrome 89 Features
Below is a list of amazing important features now available:
Tab Search:
Which initially made its debut back in December with Chrome OS, is now available to users.
The feature allows you to compile a listing of pages across all windows, with up to 5 displayed at a time. Users can also close tabs from this view as well.
This is often certainly a helpful method to keep dozens of tabs from overtaking your browser. Especially if you’re the kind of person who can’t help but keep tabs open.
Chrome 89 also adds a reading list which will be viewed by clicking the star icon. It’s now placed where you’d normally see the bookmark options.
There, you will see a new “add to reading list” option that allows you to increase a specific folder within the Bookmarks location.
Sort by items you’ve read and people you still want to and delete when finished. The fast view allows you to easily discern which pages you are still interested in reading.
Phone Hub
There’s also the Phone Hub for those with Android devices. If you access Chrome regularly and have an Android phone, you’ll manually enable the Phone Hub through a Chrome flag with Chrome 89’s debut.
Basically, you’ll be able to link your phone with Chrome to check notifications, recent tabs, and other pertinent mobile information from your computer.
WebHID
The update also brings about default support for WebHID, an API that helps make some controllers, like keyboards and gamepads.
This works more smoothly with Chrome. Items that need additional, more complex logic types, can now see significant improvement across Chrome 89 users.
It eliminates the necessity to enable the method for a more seamless transition. Of course, with all the new additions to Chrome 89, this brings a couple of removals also.
Chrome will not support older x86 processors. To continue supporting Chrome 89, devices are going to be required to fulfill Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3).
Developer Features
Chrome 89 is very heavy on the under-the-hood improvements and developer features. You’ll check out many of the changes on its developer site and also the Chromium blog. We’ll highlight some of the changes here:
Debugging support for Trusted Types violations:
Developers can set breakpoints and catch exceptions on Trusted Type Violations through the Sources panel.
Capture node screenshot beyond viewport:
It’s now possible to capture screenshots for a full node and also the content below the folder from the elements panel.
New Trust Tokens tab for network requests:
A replacement API called “Trust Token” can help fight fraud and distinguish bots from real people without passive tracking.
The Lighthouse panel is now running Lighthouse 7.
AVIF Image Decode:
Chrome can now load AVIF content natively with AVI decoders on Android and WebView.
Cross-origin opener policy reporting API:
A replacement API allows sites to trace usage across different domains.
Forced colors property:
The new forced-colors CSS media query allows sites to detect whether the device is ready for high-contrast display mode.
