Back in the year 2015, Google Chrome introduced its data saver mode which could save up to 70% of users’ bandwidth by not loading images on a webpage when the users were on a slow connection. Later in 2019, the company replaced the data saver functionality with a Lite Mode. In the Lite mode, photos and other large files are compressed server-side. It also aims to enhance Chrome’s performance on budget Android smartphones.
Now, it seems that the company is working on a Lite Mode that extends to videos, and forces them to play in SD quality. Techdows reported that Google is bringing LiteVideo support to Chrome for Android to complement Lite Mode to further increase data savings for users by playing clips in low-resolution quality. Chromium bug tracker spotted that the new feature is known as LiteVideos, and forces sites return SD quality videos in favor of HD quality clips.
The new feature simulates low bandwidth conditions by throttling media responses and allow MSE players to lower the resolution of videos and increase data savings for users. The resent report from Techdows also notes that the LiteVideos feature will not be limited to the Android version of Chrome. It will also be available on the Windows, Linux, and Mac versions of Chrome as well as Chrome OS.
Currently, the new feature is available in the Canary release of Chrome 86. The option is scheduled to go stable in late September or early October of this year. You can activate the new option by turning on two flags in chrome: //flags. The two flags are ‘Enable LiteVideos’ and ‘Force LiteVideos decision.’ After enabling both flags, you will need to restart the browser for the new changes to take effect. When the flags will be enabled, the browser will automatically instruct media players to run clips at the lowest possible resolution quality.
Users who are currently stuck working from home in a metered connection may be delighted to know that the new test is also available on the desktop version of the browser. If a user wants to try the new feature on their Android smartphone, they will have to download the Canary release of Google Chrome from the Google Play Store or APK Mirror. You may also note that the Canary is the most unstable release of the browser.
The company is still working on the new feature, and it is also possible that the company scraps the project altogether even before the new feature is rolled out.
Read next: Google Chrome 86 Will Reduce Battery Drainage By 28%, That Is A Rough Translation Of 2 Hours By Killing Unnecessary JavaScript Trackers
Now, it seems that the company is working on a Lite Mode that extends to videos, and forces them to play in SD quality. Techdows reported that Google is bringing LiteVideo support to Chrome for Android to complement Lite Mode to further increase data savings for users by playing clips in low-resolution quality. Chromium bug tracker spotted that the new feature is known as LiteVideos, and forces sites return SD quality videos in favor of HD quality clips.
The new feature simulates low bandwidth conditions by throttling media responses and allow MSE players to lower the resolution of videos and increase data savings for users. The resent report from Techdows also notes that the LiteVideos feature will not be limited to the Android version of Chrome. It will also be available on the Windows, Linux, and Mac versions of Chrome as well as Chrome OS.
Currently, the new feature is available in the Canary release of Chrome 86. The option is scheduled to go stable in late September or early October of this year. You can activate the new option by turning on two flags in chrome: //flags. The two flags are ‘Enable LiteVideos’ and ‘Force LiteVideos decision.’ After enabling both flags, you will need to restart the browser for the new changes to take effect. When the flags will be enabled, the browser will automatically instruct media players to run clips at the lowest possible resolution quality.
Users who are currently stuck working from home in a metered connection may be delighted to know that the new test is also available on the desktop version of the browser. If a user wants to try the new feature on their Android smartphone, they will have to download the Canary release of Google Chrome from the Google Play Store or APK Mirror. You may also note that the Canary is the most unstable release of the browser.
The company is still working on the new feature, and it is also possible that the company scraps the project altogether even before the new feature is rolled out.
Read next: Google Chrome 86 Will Reduce Battery Drainage By 28%, That Is A Rough Translation Of 2 Hours By Killing Unnecessary JavaScript Trackers
