Chrome 99: Here are the new features of Google’s flagship browser

Google has just announced the distribution of version 99 of Google Chrome. Unsurprisingly, this new version doesn’t bring big changes before big changes come with Chrome 100. However, Chrome 99 includes some new features, here is the detailed presentation of them.

let’s get started first appearance of a new shortcut this will make life easier for users who download files regularly. In the effect, an icon will appear in the toolbar Top right when a download starts. This icon will turn blue when the download is complete and gray when the download is complete.

Be careful though, as Google has decided not to enable this feature by default, you may have to wait a bit to take advantage of it. The manufacturer has confirmed that it needs to make some changes to ensure its stability. Another point and this is a feature specifically requested by developers, Chrome 99 finally uses a system date picker for forms.

Also read: Chrome 97 – Google puts more emphasis on personal data protection

Google integrates some minor new features in Chrome 99

Web apps can use your device’s date picker instead of resorting to CSS tricks and custom widgets. Let’s continue with the arrival of handwriting recognition support. Experiments with this “feature” started in Chrome 91 and will make it much easier for developers to create note-taking and drawing apps. Previously, developers had to use third-party integrations for this to work.

let’s end with Google’s changes to ad blockers. Chrome 99 does indeed adopt Manifest V3, an API that risks greatly reducing ad blockers. Indeed, these anti-ad extensions will now have a maximum of 30,000 filters, compared to 100,000 currently. For now, extensions available in the market to stay in Manifest V2 for a while. However, from 2023 they will have to deal with Manifest V3.

As a reminder, versions of Chrome and Firefox 100 may prevent certain sites from working properly. Why is that ? Unable to read the three-digit user-agent strings for these sites. For now, Google, Mozilla and Firefox are trying to definitively mitigate the impact of the transition to these 100 releases, which is expected in 2022.