How to Customize the Best New Features in Chrome OS 89
Chrome OS 89 is now rolling out, adding a lot of functionality to Chromebooks and tablets that run Google’s operating system. You’ll probably notice the fairly new app icons first, but there’s a lot more new lurking beneath the surface.
To help you get the most out of your updated OS, here’s a list of all the new features or apps that Google has added to Chrome 89 and how you can use them.
Telephone hub
The first major update to Chrome OS 89 is the new Phone Hub app, which allows Android users to connect their phone and Chrome OS devices via Bluetooth. Phone Hub monitors and controls many of your phone’s features from the Chrome OS desktop, allowing you to:
- Read and reply to messages
- View notifications
- Mute your phone remotely
- Locate your phone
- Sync recent tabs of the Chrome browser
- Save and share Wi-Fi passwords between your devices via Wi-Fi Sync
- View your phone’s network signal and remaining battery power.
Phone Hub is available on all Android phones with the latest version of Google Play Services (available on Google Play ) and on all Bluetooth-enabled Chromebooks.
To use Phone Hub:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your Android phone and Chromebook.
- On your Chromebook, click the phone icon in the lower-right corner, then click Get Started.
- Follow the instructions.
- After pairing the devices, click the phone icon again to open the Phone Hub.
Updated virtual tables
Chrome OS 89 makes several changes to the Desks virtual desktop feature, including:
- Supports up to 8 desktops simultaneously.
- The desktops now remain active even after restarting the Chromebook.
- Right click on the application window and send it to a specific table.
- Swipe four fingers across the mouse pad to switch between tables.
To use desktops, open browse mode (swipe up on the screen or press the browse key) and select New Table.
File Manager Tote
The new Tote app makes it easy to keep track of important files on Chrome OS. The tote pops up on the shelf of your app whenever you download a file, record a video of your screen, or take a screenshot. You can also drag and drop files into and out of the Tote window, or right-click> Pin Document to add it to the Pinned Tote Files section.
Other updates
In addition to the new Phone Hub, Tote, and Desks features, Chrome 89 has many smaller features:
- Annotate Images: You can now write and draw images in the Chrome OS media app. Just open the image and select the new Annotation tool located next to the Edit button.
- Clipboard Manager: Chrome OS’s new clipboard manager stores the five most recently copied text strings or images. Press All + V to view the clipboard items.
- Simplified media playback controls: Media controls are now available through the Quick Access menu, and you can pin controls to the app shelf for even faster access.
- Google Assistant Quick Replies: Right-click a word while browsing the web to open the Google Assistant-enabled info card. The card shows definitions, translations and other useful information about your chosen word.
- New Family Account Settings : Family settings have been simplified, making it easier to add a child’s school account to your device. The new settings will appear the first time you launch Chrome OS after installing version 89, or you can go to Settings> People> Username and select Add School Account.
- Personalized Lock Screen: You can now use your Google Photos album as your lock screen background, or choose from “hundreds” of preloaded images in Settings> Screensaver.
- Scan app : A new scan app is available in the app launcher. You can use the connected scanner to download physical files as images or PDFs.
- Screenshot from Quick Access: The Chrome OS Screen Capture Tool is now available from the Quick Settings menu.
This is for the most important new changes in Chrome OS 89, but as you can see, it was a significant update. There are probably even more settings and features in the new version of Chrome OS. If you spot anything we missed, be sure to leave a comment below!