For years and years now, mobile users have clamored for the same experience watching YouTube on their small devices as they have on a computer. You can keep YouTube playing and switch to another tab or app, you can resize that window and open another one side-by-side, and all of that without paying for a subscription. On mobile, however, non-paying users had to wait until 2016 and YouTube's multi-window support to be able to do something else while watching a video. If you wanted more perks like background playback and picture-in-picture, you had to be a Red, now Premium, subscriber.
Read MoreOpera for Android version 50 introduces a more publisher-friendly ad blocker, faster scrolling, and PiP [APK Download]
For its latest big Android update, Opera is including a key new feature that makes it easier to whitelist websites from the in-built ad blocker. Other enhancements include the addition of Picture-in-Picture video and a new fast-scrolling handle.
Read MoreGoogle extension enables picture-in-picture for Chrome OS version 72
When you're watching a video from a site, such as YouTube, you might want to do something else and navigate to other tabs while not missing out on what you were watching. That's where picture-in-picture comes in handy as it allows the video to be pushed to a mini-player on your screen so you can do other stuff.
The feature has been in the works for the Chrome browser for a while and is enabled by default as of version 70 for Mac, Windows, and Linux. For Chrome OS, you'd need to manually set a flag to enable picture-in-picture, which didn't always work.
Read MorePicture-in-Picture now enabled by default in Chrome for Mac, Windows, and Linux
It's a popular feature on Android, especially useful if you want to watch YouTube videos while you do other things, and now Picture-in-picture (PiP) is officially coming to the desktop. As of version 70, when you're watching a video in Chrome, you'll be able to minimize it and carry on pretending to do some work.
Read More[Update: Official] YouTube picture-in-picture Miniplayer now being tested on the web
For a while now the YouTube app on both Android and iOS has allowed users to minimize a playing video into a floating window, letting them browse other content without interrupting playback. A similar floating mode is apparently being tested on the web now.
Read More[Update: Rolling out widely in the US] YouTube testing picture-in-picture mode for those without Red subscriptions
When Android 8.0 Oreo introduced picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, the obvious beneficiary of the new feature was Google's first-party YouTube app. Unfortunately, Google decided at the time that the advantage of nested playback was best locked behind a YouTube Red subscription. Based on recent developments, though, that may be set to change. We've seen several reports that some videos are allowing for PiP playback without a YouTube Red subscription.
Read MoreAndroid P feature spotlight: Settings button added to Picture-in-Picture
There are plenty of wide-reaching changes in the first Android P Developer Preview, but there are a few smaller tweaks worth covering. Picture-in-Picture mode was first added in Android TV 7.0, and later arrived on phones and tablets with 8.0 Oreo. One of the many additions in Android P is a new settings button for PiP mode.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
Pluto TV 3.5 adds picture-in-picture for Oreo, On Demand resume, and stream quality settings [APK Download]
Free television streaming service Pluto TV updated its Android app to v3.5, adding Oreo picture-in-picture support, the ability to resume previously-watched On Demand content, and settings to configure the stream quality to conserve data.
Read MoreEssential Phone Oreo Beta 2 now rolling out with more 8.0 features and bug fixes
The Essential Phone might not have been our favorite, but the company has been undeniably quick with updates. Essential first rolled out the Android Oreo 8.0 beta program for the PH-1 back in November, and now, a month later, the Beta 2 OTA is rolling out. According to the changelog, this latest build includes the December security patches, Oreo features like Smart text selection, instant apps, PiP mode, Google Play Protect, as well as performance improvements and bugfixes.
Read MoreLatest Deals
-
1
Grab a pair of Jabra Elite 85h noise-cancelling headphones for $250 ($50 off)
-
4
Galaxy Buds on sale for $80 ($50 off) after rebate at Verizon
-
9
You can snag a Not Pink Pixel 3 for just $500 ($300 off) at B&H
-
2
Canary's all-in-one indoor security camera is down to $50 ($120 off)
-
9
Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is $399 ($50 off) at Best Buy
-
1
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
26
The GE C-Life Multicolor smart bulb is perfect for your Google Home, no Wi-Fi necessary
-
20
Autosync for Google Drive can replace the outgoing Photos sync functionality
-
43
Huawei makes the best $99 wireless earbuds you can’t buy in the US
-
8
Moshi’s Symbus Q is a USB-C dock and wireless charger combo that’s too simple for its own good
-
16
The Arlo Ultra is a good security camera with a bad price
-
26
Latest Roundups
-
4
21 best new Android games released this week including Grimvalor, Nonstop Knight 2, and Spirit Roots
-
5
All the Android games announced at E3 2019
-
2
20 best new Android games released this week including Angry Birds Explore, Dawn of Isles, and Auto Chess
-
23
20 of the best Android TV games available on the Play Store in 2019
-
2
13 new and notable Android apps and live wallpapers from the last two weeks including Audm, Anyride, and Portal from Facebook (5/25/19 - 6/8/19)
-
4
Recent Apps and Games
-
4
21 best new Android games released this week including Grimvalor, Nonstop Knight 2, and Spirit Roots
-
5
Google app starting to show 'in this video' bookmarks for YouTube search results
-
28
Chrome Beta 76 adds lazy loading for images, supports site dark themes, and even sneaks in a Tron reference
-
5
All the Android games announced at E3 2019
-
57
Google Assistant can automatically remember where you've parked for you
-
4
Blast from the Past
-
45
1 Year Ago Today
Samsung's cancelled 'Project V' foldable phone from years ago shows up in leaked photos
-
120
2 Years Ago Today
Cortana can now be set as the default assistant on your Android device
-
148
3 Years Ago Today
5 years later, ADW Launcher 2.0 has been released - no, you are not dreaming - and it's insane
-
51
4 Years Ago Today
Google Releases Topeka Demo Project For Android
-
85
5 Years Ago Today
Insult Your Friends In Style – Unicode 7.0 Standard Has 250 New Emoji, Including A Middle Finger
-
99
6 Years Ago Today
[Weekend Poll] What's Your Preferred Tablet Display Size?
-
4
7 Years Ago Today
Review: For Those Willing To Part With The EVO LTE's Paper-Thin Frame, Seidio's Surface, Active, And Convert Combo Cases Offer A Full Spectrum Of Protection
-
36
8 Years Ago Today
Editorial: Android Tablets - Is It Just A Summer Fling, Or Are Manufacturers Here To Stay?
-
13
9 Years Ago Today
Google Wants The Next Version of Android’s UI to Blow Your (And Manufacturers') Minds
-
45
YouTube's 'miniplayer-bar' test lets you keep watching your video as you read comments
We only just wrote about YouTube's new picture-in-picture test on the web, but it's common knowledge by now that Google loves running limited tests. The world's largest video sharing site is now testing a feature it calls 'miniplayer-bar' in its code, and it's something that really should have been implemented a long time ago.
Read More