The latest version of Google Chrome, version 99, is out, and it brings a plethora of enhancements and additions. As the first step toward Chrome 100, the next major release of the popular browser, Google Chrome 48 is now available.
A handwriting recognition API, dark mode support for web applications, and origin trials are just some of Chrome 99’s major new additions. Several more developer-oriented features have been incorporated into this version.
As of February 3, 2022, these new capabilities were available in the latest Chrome beta channel update. There is a version for Android, ChromeOS, Linux, Windows, and macOS. While we wait for Chrome 100, have a look at some of the highlights of Chrome 99.
Chrome 99: What’s New and Improved?
The following features have been added or enhanced in Chrome 99, according to a recent Chromium blog article.
Assistive Technology for Handwriting
An ink-to-text Handwriting Recognition API has been added to the latest version of Chrome. Chrome 99 will be able to read your handwriting and convert it to text in real-time, right on your smartphone.
Chrome 99’s Handwriting Recognition API may be used without any other dependencies even while running in a standalone mode. Instead of using OCR (Optical Character Recognition), it employs “online” or “near real-time” recognition technologies.
In order to use Chrome’s Handwriting API, you’ll need a service that recognizes handwriting on a variety of platforms and devices.
Progressive Web App Window Control Overlay
In addition to the reduce, maximize, and close buttons, the Window Controls include the buttons on the right and left of the title bar area. Included in here is the application’s name.
Custom content may be placed in the title bar region of Chrome 99 and the title bar replaced with a tiny window control panel overlay. Adding this feature to your Chrome browser makes it seem more like an app.
A client area is expanded to encompass both sides of a window, extending from the title bar to the window controls.
Create a Shortcut
It used to be that downloaded files were shown in a bar down the bottom of Chrome. In Chrome 99, this will all change.
As with Edge (also based on Chromium), Chrome 99 will include a specific icon for downloading files. When you’re downloading anything, it will pop up and disappear when it’s done.
This functionality is currently under construction but will be included in a future stable release when it is complete. It may also be possible to pin the download Shortcut to the upper toolbar when the feature is released.
Programmatic Pickers
Chrome 99 web app date picker
Without using bespoke widgets or CSS hacks, web pages may open a browser picker for input components such as date, color, and data list.
Allowing developers to customize the browser selector to work with users’ devices, might assist enhance web app interfaces.
The Glitch demo site offers a variety of date pickers to try out, including user-created ones that may be uploaded and tested. When you want to preview, just select Show from the Show drop-down menu.
Origin Trials
It’s now easier than ever to sign up for Chrome Origin Trials with the release of Chrome 99. New features may be tried out, and you can give input to the web standards community on how well they work.
If you sign up for the Origin Trials program, you can check out dark mode support for online apps. For dark mode, it lets web applications choose and utilize any color they want to use.
Using the Chrome Origin Trials dashboard, you may sign up for any of the origin trials that are currently accessible in Chrome.
Chrome 99 Offers a Lot More.
On the other hand, Chrome 99 offers several intriguing new capabilities, although it looks to be primarily targeted at developers. Chrome 99
Additionally, CSS calc (), CSS Color Adjust (), new Canvas 2D capabilities, and unprefixed text-emphasis properties are all included in Chrome 99.
Every four weeks, Chrome releases a new version of the browser. For those who wish to experiment with different browsers, we’ve compiled a list of powerful Chrome alternatives.
