Picture in Picture Mode on Chrome is About to Get a Lot More Useful

The release of picture in picture mode on Google Chrome was a welcome addition to the browser because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to watch videos in a floating window. It turns out that Google might be taking things to the next level, at least if the beta version from Chrome 111 is anything to go by.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the new version of Chrome might allow users to not just watch videos in a floating window, but really any web content that they prefer. This would make the feature far more useful than might have been the case otherwise, since it would facilitate multitasking which is something that users have been quite adamant about for quite some time now.

The updated version of this feature is being referred to as Document Picture in Picture (chrome://flags/#document-picture-in-picture-api ), but it can be used for far more things than just documents with all things having been considered and taken into account. APIs are already being developed such as a Pomodoro timer, and it will be truly interesting to see what occurs when a number of other developers start to take advantage of everything that this new picture in picture mode can offer.

This feature is likely going to cement Chrome’s dominance in the browser industry. Non-Chromium browsers are going to have an even harder time competing, since users will come to expect advanced picture in picture modes from all of the browsers that they end up opening up.

Incorporating such a feature would be a challenge for Apple with its Safari browser, and the team at Mozilla did not comment on whether or not they’d be able to provide something similar in the future. Chrome might enter an even greater age of popularity, which might be important since Google may end up losing its status as the world’s best search engine if Microsoft sees any kinds of success with Bing and OpenAI.

Read next: How Noticeable Is Apple’s Latest Ratings Sweep On The App Store? The Answer Might Surprise You
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Android 14 Could Bring Regional Preferences to Calendars and Numbering

The impending release of Android 14 has gotten users abuzz with excitement about what the latest iteration of the operating system could bring to the table. Among the many new features that will be a part of the update is an increased emphasis on personalization since this can do a lot to make the user experience more satisfying than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Android 14 will give users the option to set up regional preferences. These preferences would allow users to have their calendars and numbering systems updated automatically so that they can be more in line with what they would come to expect based on wherever it is that they might be living.

Such an update might prove useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up catering to the billions of Android users all around the world. Temperature units can be a particular sore spot for users, since they often have to use Celsius instead of Fahrenheit or vice versa.

One benefit of this update is that it will no longer place the onus on apps. Instead, the apps will be able to read the user’s preferred settings and make the update after seeing that. Previously, apps had to ask users about their preferences and make changes constantly, so the update that many have noticed on Android 14 will do a lot to ease these concerns with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Users will also no longer have to adjust settings on each individual app. This will bring a great deal of ease to the user experience, and it will be interesting to see if Android is able to keep the momentum going. Chances are that other operating systems like iOS may need to introduce something similar to this in order to remain competitive. Language preferences are only the tip of the iceberg here, since there is a lot more regional variance in other matters.

H/T: XDA Developers

Read next: Android 14 is Bringing a Lot to the Table, Here’s What to Expect
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Chrome Cuts Ties with Confusing Share Sheet: Smoother Sharing Ahead

Good news for Chrome users! After much criticism, Google has finally decided to eliminate Chrome's custom share sheet, which has long been a source of frustration for many users.

The custom share sheet, which was introduced in 2015, has been criticized for being confusing and difficult to use, leading many users to seek alternative sharing methods.

The custom share sheet, which was designed to simplify the sharing process, has instead made it more complicated. Instead of presenting users with a straightforward list of options for sharing a link, the custom share sheet forced users to navigate through a series of menus and sub-menus, making it time-taking and difficult to use.

Not only do 3rd party applications ignore Android's built-in share targets and develop their own with no regard for user preference, but Google's core apps, including Photos and Maps, also display a customized menu when the share button is tapped. Given the importance of link and file transferring for all browsers, Google Chrome is likely the worst culprit in this regard.

But finally, Google has listened to its users and has decided to do away with the custom claim sheet in favor of a more traditional sharing menu. This transformation will make it easier for users to share links with their friends and colleagues, and will likely result in better overall user knowledge.

The new sharing menu will be incorporated into the Chrome browser, making it accessible from anywhere within the app. This means that users will no longer have to navigate through multiple menus to find the option they need. The new menu will also include popular sharing options, such as email, social media, and messaging apps, making it more comfortable for users to share links with their friends and colleagues.

H/T: Androidpolice

In addition to enhancing the sharing experience, the new menu will also make it easier for users to save links for later. This will be particularly useful for users who want to save articles or videos for later viewing, but do not have the time to view them immediately.

Since this is an experimental feature, it would require more work to make it the standard setting for Chrome's stable release branch. The remaining valuable functionality from Share Hub should hopefully be moved to Chrome's overflow menu, or if we're truly lucky, Android's system share menu might get genuine plugin programs to support other apps to use it rather than creating their share sheets.

Read next: Google is Not Going to Update Chrome on Windows 7 and 8, And the Users Who Are Using Them Will be At Risk
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Could Google’s Search Dominance Be in Danger?

It has been several decades since Google established itself as the single most dominant entity in the search engine space. Their influence is so widespread that the name of the company has become a broadly accepted shorthand for the act of searching something online itself. This level of ubiquity has resulted in Google holding onto the industry with a vice grip with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The search engine juggernaut owns an 84.66% share of the desktop search engine market. Meanwhile, its grip on mobile search is even stronger, with a whopping 96.45% share of the overall sector. Pretty much no other search engine can hold a candle to Google in the mobile search engine space, although Bing has done a decent job of acting as an alternative to Google on desktop by snapping up an 8.87% share of the desktop search market. Overall, Google holds 92.9% market share of search engine industry, while Microsoft Bing stands at 3.03%

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Google receives a large majority of the total revenues from online searches as well. It currently receives 58% of the revenue from this sector as of 2022.

Coming in second is Baidu with 15%, Amazon with 14%, Bing with 6% and Yahoo with just 2%. Various other search engines and online platforms end up comprising 5% of the total revenue that is received by this particular sector.

With global search ad revenues predicted to surpass $400 billion by 2026, the competition for entry into this space has started to heat up. Google has managed to hold fast in the face of countless attacks from various other companies, but in spite of the fact that this is the case a new player might have emerged that could pose perhaps the first true threat that Google since the early 2000s.

This player is Chat GPT, and it has already gotten Google pretty nervous since it can make them somewhat less relevant than might have been the case otherwise. Microsoft has already invested quite a bit of cash into Chat GPT, and the tech company has also mentioned that it will be incorporating the AI chatbot into its own Bing search engine starting from March.

More specifically, Microsoft plans to use a new generation of OpenAI models that would be even more superior to Chat GPT. This could give Google a real run for its money, since users will obviously go to the search engine that allows them to get the best possible experience.

Up until this point, search engines like Bing have struggled to set themselves apart from Google and establish a usage case that justifies people trying them out when something superior already exists in the form of Google search.

One might think that Google is too big to fail, but it wouldn’t be the first time that a dominant company ends up losing its market share because it failed to keep up with the times. Nokia used to be the single most powerful mobile phone company in the world, but these days you never even hear about it because the company was not able to hop onto the smartphone bandwagon fast enough.

Google relies on its search engine the way that Apple relies on the iPhone, and it will be interesting to see how the company manages to weather these storms. They have attempted to create an answer to Chat GPT with Bard, but these efforts have not borne any real fruit yet. Only time will tell whether or not Google is able to provide something that will keep users visiting its search engine. The way things are looking right now, Google has clearly been blindsided and it will take a lot of effort for the company to regain some lost ground.

Read next: Battle Between Google And ChatGPT Heats Up As Search Engine Labeled ‘Lethargic Search Monopoly’
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Apple’s iPhone Hardware Subscription Is Not Ready For Launch Due To Engineering Delays

Apple says it is nowhere near ready for the launch of its new iPhone hardware subscription.

The news comes as the Cupertino firm suffers more engineer delays on this front, quite similar to how its Apple Pay Layer feature is getting delayed.

The news was published today through an insightful report by Bloomberg which spoke about the launch of both these pivotal rollouts.

But that does not mean the hard subscription service feature for iPhones isn’t being worked on.

As recently put out by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there are a total of four great offerings up on the cards for Apple. This entails the likes of two that have been unveiled publicly. They include Apple Pay Later and Apple Savings Account.

Meanwhile, the other two are still awaiting a more public reveal but they entail the Apple Pay Monthly Installments feature and the subscription program for iPhone hardware. Moreover, the latter was scheduled for a launch to arise side by side with the iPhone 13, two years back.

Clearly, that didn’t end up happening because of some major setbacks due to delays in engineering and more technical issues. This has enabled slow progress and a lot of missed deadlines to arise.

But the project still remains in the company’s pipeline and is yet to be completely deleted.

This feature has been discussed as offering a number of financing choices for those with iOS devices as the cost for monthly charges does get split up across a span of just one or two months. Instead, it would arise at a monthly fee that totally depends on the likes of what kind of device a user selects.

All of the company’s fintech services that were outlined above are curated on Apple’s own base. And that is what makes it so exclusive and very ambitious in its world of finance efforts.

The feature is called project breakout and this type of platform is what the tech giant would make use of to completely shift so many projects to a more in-house location. This entails the likes of checks, histories of past transactions, and also approvals. For now, they’ve been overlooked by the tech giant’s own partners.

Apple realizes that the current financial push on this front has been more difficult than many people may have anticipated. And the delays on these projects are all due to engineering hurdles and its desire to make a new financial system that may end up supporting them in a better manner.

As far as an expected launch date for Apple Pay Later is concerned, rumor has it that we should be seeing something arise toward the end of March or even April. And that’s a prediction that’s also set out by Gurman. For now, there is yet to be any form of an update speaking about a timeline that handles the likes of the Apple Card Savings Account or the iPhone Subscription, which isn’t even planned yet. The same stands true for the company’s Pay Monthly Service feature.

Read next: How Noticeable Is Apple’s Latest Ratings Sweep On The App Store? The Answer Might Surprise You
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Unawareness Reigns: Majority of Search Engine Users Underestimate AI's Impact

According to a recent survey, nearly 59% of search engine users do not fully understand the role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in the search process.

Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), a well-known YouTuber and knowledgeable tech critic, asked his 6 million followers on Twitter whether they wanted to use Google as it is or Bing with Chat GPT enabled. Over 320,000 people responded to the survey, and about 58.7% of them said they preferred using Google right away.

The lack of understanding of AI in research could lead to a lack of appreciation for the benefits that AI provides, including faster, more accurate search results and a better overall search experience.

The results showed that a significant number of users did not realize the extent to which AI is used in search.

This lack of understanding is particularly concerning given the increasing use of AI in search. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and provide more accurate results, based on the user's search query. For example, AI can provide personalized results based on the user's location, previous searches, and other relevant factors.

Despite the clear benefits of AI in search, many users still prefer traditional search methods. This may be because they are not aware of the advances made in AI and the benefits it provides.

To help raise awareness about the role of AI in search, it is important for search engine companies to educate their users about the technology and its benefits. This could be done through a variety of channels, including online tutorials, blog posts, and customer support materials.

Read next: Researchers Suggest AI Chatbots Might Make Disinformation Worse
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Apple May Include Only Certain Features Into Its New USB-C Charging Ports For iPhones

There’s plenty of discussion surrounding the likes of tech giant Apple making a particular USB-C charging port that complies with the EU.

Plenty of discussion surrounds the ordeal as the tech giant makes way for such a huge change with all new devices so that it doesn’t have to worry about being fined for breaking the law.

A recently published post by Weibo (Via 9to5Mac) shows how the tech giant has created a new circuit board including the Lightning compatible feature. This would be used alongside the usual USB-C, the company confirmed.

But off of this, it has been suggested that this board may end up exactly controlling which features are located on a particular device or cable having the USB-C design.

What is even more interesting is which features would be enabled or disabled as Apple is rumored to be very particular about its selection.

For now, the speculations on Weibo are plenty and there is yet to be any form of a confirmation coming forward from the Cupertino firm at this moment in time. But if the rumor does appear to be true then it would give rise to compatibility in a backward direction through the likes of Lightning accessories.

The launch of the iPhone 15 is due to arise during the latter part of this year. And given that it would entail the USB-C charger across various models, we could be seeing a major change arising.

Remember, the lightning-powered technology dates back to the year 2012. This is when iPhone 5 was launched. Moreover, there’s also a possibility that such calves end up supporting slow chargers along with different accessories.

It would also enable more features to be brought to the spotlight including those that most people are familiar with. Common examples include external displays but we could see such launches restricted just to the company’s Pro variant.

Read next: Reasons Why Apple Hasn’t Started Firing Employees While the Other Tech Companies Have
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World