If you often find yourself browsing another tab while listening to a YouTube video or a podcast playing in the background, Google is preparing to make your life a little easier. A new, automatic Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature is currently in development for the Chrome app on Android that streamlines media playback when you switch between tabs.
The discovery comes from Leopeva64-2 on Reddit. Their post reveals that Chrome will soon be able to automatically minimize media into a small, floating window within the browser when you move away from the tab playing it. This is a subtle but significant change for anyone who juggles multiple activities inside Chrome.
Google Chrome on Android will add automatic PiP feature
It’s noteworthy that this differs from the standard, system-level PiP you already know. The traditional feature turns a video into a small window that floats outside of the Chrome app, allowing you to use other apps entirely. This upcoming feature, however, keeps the mini-player contained inside the Chrome application.
Imagine you are listening to a news broadcast on one tab and then quickly switch to another tab to check an email or look up a recipe. Instead of the media simply stopping or disappearing, it will shrink down into a small, floating player anchored to the corner of your screen. This means your audio (and video, if you want to keep watching) continues without interruption while you engage with the new tab.
A feature that has been available for some time on desktop
This capability is not entirely new to Chrome. The desktop version of the browser already handles media playback this way. Bringing it to the Android app will solve a small but constant annoyance for mobile users. It will move the mobile browser experience closer to the desktop standard. Overall, the feature will boost productivity and the media consumption experience on phones and tablets.
Of course, control remains a priority. The feature will include a setting that allows users to specifically enable or block the automatic PiP function on a per-site basis. This will give you the final say over which tabs stay active when you switch away.
Google has not yet officially announced a launch date. However, the development suggests this handy upgrade is progressing well. This smarter PiP implementation will be a small but mighty addition for anyone who treats Chrome as a true multitasking hub on their Android device.
The post Chrome for Android Will Let You Browse While a Video Plays in PiP appeared first on Android Headlines.
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