Learn how to easily enable Picture-In-Picture Mode and new material design interface on desktop version of Google Chrome before the official release. The desktop version of Chrome is getting a new UI with the version 68, which you can go ahead and test using the instructions in this tutorial.
Google has been working on a new version of its popular Chrome for quite awhile now. It is planning to bring a radical overhaul to the interface, perhaps biggest to date when it comes its web browser. The change is expected to arrive starting with version 68 and so on. The new interface is being dubbed as Material Design Refresh (Material Design 2) to give a new look to the entire interface of the browser for all major platforms, including Windows 10, Mac, and Android.
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Picture-In-Picture Mode
One of the most in-demand features for Android was picture-in-picture mode, which came to Android Oreo. Google Chrome allows fulls screen videos in a smaller window which can be placed anywhere on the screen and drawn over other application, allowing you to watch your favorite videos while multitasking on Android 8.0 or later. YouTube has this feature but it’s only available to YouTube Red subscribers. However, this appears to be changing as several non-YouTube Red users have also been able to access it lately.
When it comes to desktop version of Chrome browser, the story is altogether different where this feature was promised to users last year as a Picture-In-Picture Web API specification. It basically allowed websites to start and control PiP behavior, but nothing official was heard of it, until now, when XDA developers found out that the feature is on its way to desktop version of Google Chrome.
The desktop version of Picture-In-Picture mode on Chrome is purported to mimic the functionality of its mobile counterpart already available on Android 8.0 and later versions on mobiles.
Google Chrome Redesigned Interface Features:
In the new interface design, you’ll notice that Chrome is using more curves in the elements, such as in tabs and address bar. The light-grey color scheme is replaced by a white color pattern.
The user profile sign-in button now appears next to the main menu button. The new tab button is moved to the far-left side. You will also notice a new bookmark experience, new visual effects and many useful minor tweaks. One of these features on Chrome desktop browser is the Picture-In-Picture mode in which you will be able to play a video in a small window while surfing the web, working, or doing any other task without getting distracted.
Although this feature is available, albeit not officially yet, which requires a bit of workaround to get it. Follow the steps below to see how to use an extension to enable PiP mode on your Chrome browser.
In the guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable the canary version of Chrome and then turn on the picture-in-picture mode in it.
How To Enable Picture-In-Picture Mode On Google Chrome Version 68
Step 1 – Download the beta version of Google Chrome Canary from here.
Step 2 – Launch Chrome Canary and type the following command in the address bar:
chome://flags/
Step 3 – Now perform the following steps one-by-one:
Under “UI Layout for the browser’s top chrome,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Refresh option.
Under “Material Design in the rest of the browser’s native UI,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
Under “New style notification,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
Under “Enable Material Design bookmarks,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
Under “Enable Material Design extensions,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
Step 4 – Restart your computer after which you’ll see a new interface the next time you open Chrome Canary.
Step 5 – Open Chrome and type the following commands and hit enter after each:
- Enable Web Platform features: chrome://flags/#enable-experimental-web-platform-features
- Enable video composition feature features: chrome://flags/#enable-surfaces-for-videos
- Enable picture-in-picture mode for videos: chrome://flags/#enable-picture-in-picture
Step 5 – Now download a Chrome extension from this GitHub link and extract it on your device.
Step 6 – In the Chrome Canary browser bar, type Chrome://extensions and hit enter. Make sure the “Developer Mode” toggle on the top-right of the interface is switched to ON position.
Step 7 – Select Load unpacked and then select the src folder in the previously downloaded and extracted Github file.
Step 8 – You’ll now see the Picture-in-Picture extension enabled on your Chrome.
That’s all. You can now visit YouTube, play any video,and tap the picture-in-picture icon next to the address bar to enjoy the magical new feature.
You have successfully enabled the new Google Chrome interface as well as the picture-in-picture mode on desktop version for Windows, Mac and Android.
Source: XDA Developers | PiP Mode Reddit
