Media Controls Coming to The Lock Screen On Chrome OS
When Google announced it was bringing Android to Chrome OS, it practically threw the entire community into a frenzy. The excitement was difficult to hide as many like myself rush to try out many of the Android apps we were dying to use on our Chromebooks.
It was union bound to happen as many argued, as the two would immensely benefit from each other should they ever be conjoined.
But Android on Chrome OS still feels off after several years. Apps don’t feel natural within the backdrop of Chrome OS mainly due to the fact that Android apps are designed from the ground up to run on smartphones hence, lacking the functionalities required to transition fully as desktop programs.
However, Google seems to want to put emphasis on making Chrome OS a little less rigid and more flexible by adding features similar to those you would normally see on a smartphone running Android. Not only will this make Chrome OS practical with touch-based devices, but it will also guarantee the smooth integration of mobile apps.
About a year ago, the company added a lock-screen notification for devices running Chrome OS allowing users to see and interact with notifications even while the computer is locked.
According to the guys from XDA Developers, Google is bringing more features to the lock screen by adding media control functionality.
The screenshot that accompanied the post shows a senior XDA member playing a YouTube video while showing off the media controls (play/pause, skip, FF/rewind, and seek).
The feature is currently only available on Chrome Canary 79 meaning those on stable will have to wait a little longer to get it. The screenshot didn’t just stop at showing the media controls, you can also see a preview of the media being played and the source URL.
Though not new to some — the feature was available behind a flag under older Chrome OS builds– the flag that enabled it was removed but its arrival on Chrome Canary 79 means Google is vying for wider adaptability.
Despite not being a groundbreaking feature, its addition to the platform is the right step in making Chrome OS more tablet friendly.
