Google Chrome89 is here - these are the best new features

Google Chrome89 is here - these are the best new features

Google Chrome 89 is now available and will be distributed to users starting today. With it comes a variety of notable user enhancements, especially for users of Android phones and users who share their computers with other users.

The list of improvements is extensive and includes everything from tabbed search to optimized controller support. Below is a list of the most important features currently available.

Tabbed search first appeared on Chrome OS in December, but is now available to all users. This feature allows users to compile a list of pages across all windows, up to five at a time. You can even close tabs from this view. This is certainly a helpful way to keep dozens of tabs from overwhelming your browser. This is especially good if you are the type of person who can't help but keep tabs open.

Chrome 89 has also added a Reading List that appears when you click on the star icon. It is now located where the bookmark option normally appears. There you will see a new "Add to Reading List" option that allows you to add to a specific folder in your bookmark location. You can sort the ones you have read and those you still want to read, and delete them when you are done reading. The Quick View makes it easy to identify pages you still want to read.

There is also Phone Hub for those with Android devices; if you use Chrome regularly and have an Android device, you can manually enable Phone Hub with the Chrome flag when you debut Chrome 89. Essentially, you can link your phone to Chrome and see notifications, recent tabs, and other relevant mobile information from your computer.

With the update, WebHID, an API that allows controllers such as keyboards and gamepads to work more smoothly with Chrome, is now also supported by default. Items requiring additional complex logic types have been greatly improved across Chrome 89 users. Processes no longer need to be enabled for a more seamless transition.

Of course, the new additions to Chrome 89 also include some deletions: Chrome will no longer support older x86 processors; to continue to support Chrome 89, users will need to have at least SSE3 (Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3) and must cover devices manufactured after 2005.

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