Google has released Chrome 99; here’s what’s new (APK Download)
Table of contents
Google moves at an incredible pace when it comes to releasing Chrome versions. Just a few weeks after launchingChrome 98, Chrome 99 has already arrived on the stable channel. This time around, a lot of changes are happening under the hood for developers, but only a few interesting tidbits will have a visible impact on us regular folks.
Chrome 99 lets you uninstall web apps via the Windows OS settings
The new browser release will let you uninstall web apps via the Windows OS settings, just like you could uninstall regular Win32 apps from them. This makes the gap between native applications and installed progressive web apps even smaller, making it ever so harder to distinguish between the two and having us ask what’s really the difference anymore — at least for consumers.
Chrome 99 introduces a handwriting recognition API
Google wants to finalize an older experiment that it first started in Chrome 91: abuilt-in handwriting recognition API. It will allow developers to create note-taking or drawing apps more easily, as they won’t need to rely on third-party integrations any longer. There are already many APIs out there, but they’re often system-specific, so having one standard that works across different platforms is neat to have. For now, the handwriting API is only available on desktop Chrome, though.
Chrome 99 allows web apps to use your system’s date picker
Starting with Chrome 99, web apps canuse your system’s date pickerat their discretion using a new class, which could make for a prettier experience when you need to enter a date on your phone or desktop. The advantage here is that unlike with a third-party widget from a website, you can rely on the familiar date picker you know from your operating system.
Google’s controversial Manifest V3 is poised to take Manifest V2’s spot
Google wants to changehow content blockers (read: ad blockers) work in the browser. The company says it’s done to reduce the resources used up by content blockers, but many developers suspect Google wants to push the change to make blockers less efficient. Either way, while already released browser extensions will be able to use the old method until next year, Google now doesn’t allowany new extensions to use the so-called Manifest V2— they will have to rely on Manifest V3, which only allows for smaller blocklists.
Chrome 99 lays the foundation for a new download workflow on desktop
Your browser is the application to go to when you need to download files from the web, but Chrome has gone out of its way to bury quick access to all of your downloads in the top right overflow menu in the past. It looks like the companyis exploring to gofor a similar design to Microsoft Edge in the future, though. A more prominent shortcut for downloads could soon move right next to the overflow menu to the right of the address bar. This has yet to go live by default, and while you could manually activate it in the beta with a lot of fiddling, the feature hasn’t made its way to the default state in Chrome 99.
Further changes
Download Chrome 99
Chrome 99 is now rolling out on the Play Store. You can download it there, but it’s also available over atAPK Mirrorif you prefer.
Smaller and better emoji fonts, better PWAs, and more to come
A great choice for those looking for value
No more excuses
It’s been a while
It helped me wind down before bed
Project Moohan? More like Project Moolah
