Chrome 89 Beta Enables WebHID By Default, Other New Web APIs

Following last week's release of Google Chrome 88, the Chrome 89 beta is now available for testing.

There is a lot of new additions with the Chrome 89 beta, particularly around new web APIs and other notable additions for web developers to begin making use of. Chrome 89 beta highlights include:

- WebHID has previously been available in Chrome as an origin trial but is now enabled by default on the desktop. WebHID API support that allows for implementing device-specific logic within JavaScript for handling HID input devices where there is no system device driver available. WebHID is intended for devices too new, too old, or too uncommon to be supported by the operating system level drivers that functionality could be implemented within JavaScript. The main motivator of WebHID has been around supporting gamepads better within browsers.

- Web NFC has been promoted for reading/writing NFC (Near Field Communications) tags. This is initially enabled for Chrome 89 on Android.

- Web Serial API support for allowing interfacing with micro-controllers, 3D printers, and other devices over a serial interface. This allows for the direct communication between the web browser and the device/peripheral.

- Web sharing on the desktop support has now arrived for Windows and ChromeOS, complementing the earlier Android support. There isn't yet any Linux support.

- Chrome 85 added AV1-based AVIF image decode support on the desktop while now there is support for AVIF in Chrome on Android and WebView with the 89 milestone.

- Chrome 89 beta brings an AV1 encoder for the WebRTC use-case. The AV1 encoder in use is based on the libaom code.

More details on this sizable Chrome 89 beta update via Thursday's announcement on the Chromium.org blog. More information on the Chrome 89 features can be found at ChromeStatus.com.