Google Chrome for Android Gets an Interesting New Feature: Picture-in-Picture Minimized Tabs
Google Chrome is reportedly testing a new and exciting feature that will fundamentally change the way users interact with Chrome Custom Tabs on their Android devices. This new feature allows users to minimize a custom tab into a picture-in-picture (PiP) window. This means you can browse a page, or even navigate other tabs without losing track of the information on the original tab. This advancement could revolutionize the way we multitask on our smartphones, particularly when navigating through links within apps that use Chrome Custom Tabs.
How it Works
This innovative feature, currently under development, is exclusively available for Chrome Custom Tabs. These tabs are often encountered when clicking links within apps like Gmail. Once a Chrome Custom Tab is open, a downward arrow will appear next to the back icon. Tapping this arrow will minimize the tab, creating a PiP window.
This PiP window is more than just a minimized tab—it displays vital information about the website, including:
- The website icon
- The site or page name
- The domain
The feature was spotted in Chrome 122, which is a stable version of the browser. While it is currently being rolled out to a limited number of users, wider availability is likely in the near future.
PiP Window Functionality
Currently, the PiP window does not display the content of the minimized page, but further details about content visibility, particularly for video streaming services like YouTube, are yet to be disclosed.
The report highlights some key functionalities of the PiP window:
- Resizable—The PiP window can be adjusted to different sizes.
- Movable—The window can be easily dragged around the screen.
- Docking—The window can be docked to either the left or right edge of the screen.
Getting back to the full-screen page is simple:
- Tap on the PiP window to bring up the full-page interface.
- Click the fullscreen icon in the center of the window.
Closing the PiP window involves either:
- Swiping the window to the bottom of the screen.
- Tapping the "x" icon.
Benefits of Minimized Tabs in PiP
The introduction of minimized tabs in PiP adds a significant layer of functionality to Chrome Custom Tabs. This feature addresses a key challenge faced by users: the inability to open multiple tabs within Chrome Custom Tabs.
Here’s how this feature improves user experience:
- Seamless Multitasking: Allows users to browse external pages while keeping their current tab accessible. This is invaluable for situations where researching information on a different site is necessary without losing the previous page’s context.
- Enhanced Navigation: Simplifies returning to a previous page by avoiding the tedious process of navigating back through multiple subpages.
- Greater Efficiency: By allowing seamless navigation between tabs and external pages, users can complete tasks more quickly and effectively.
Conclusion
The addition of Picture-in-Picture minimized tabs for Chrome Custom Tabs is a welcome development that enhances the user experience and improves multitasking capabilities on Android devices. This feature makes Chrome more intuitive and efficient by addressing a long-standing limitation of Chrome Custom Tabs. It allows users to remain focused on their current activity while seamlessly exploring other sites, ultimately boosting productivity and simplifying the browsing experience.
As this feature continues to evolve, it is likely to incorporate additional functionalities such as content visibility within the PiP window and the ability to have multiple tabs open in PiP simultaneously. These advancements would further enhance the usefulness and flexibility of this feature, making Chrome even more adaptable to users’ needs.
