YouTube is reportedly testing a picture-in-picture feature for the web, which would enable users to browse the site while watching a minimized video at the bottom of their computer screens. This popular capability already exists on YouTube’s mobile apps.
The feature is being piloted on both Chrome and Safari browsers among a small user subset, reports 9 To 5 Google, which notes that the only user on its team who is seeing the test happens to be a YouTube Red subscriber. It is unclear if the feature would be exclusive to YouTube Red — which offers premium programming, no ads, and background viewing for $10 per month.
Picture-in-picture is activated on the web when a viewer clicks anywhere on a webpage while watching a YouTube video, per 9 To 5 Google — including the homepage button, search bar, or a channel link. Subsequently, the video that a user has been watching will continue to play within a floating window at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, with its title displayed underneath. Minimized videos can be paused or replayed, and users can also proceed to the next video or access pertinent playlists — all within the floating window.
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While third party developers have created picture-in-picture web extensions, this marks YouTube’s first official stab at the feature — though it is still unclear whether it will ultimately go to market. Check out a screenshot of the test in action, courtesy of 9 To 5 Google, below:
