Full screen browsing is top of many an Android fans wish list for Google's mobile version of the Chrome browser. On smartphone screens in particular, display space is important. It seems it might not be all that far away, as a recent discovery has shown off a hidden full screen browsing mode.
Shared by Reddit user smackel, there is a bit of light work to be done to bring it about. So, while there, our thinking is that this is something to be rolled out properly in future updates. It's also a little buggy, but doesn't take any genius level work to enable. Click on past the break and we'll walk you through it.
As we know, the latest beta build brought about support for WebGL in the mobile browser, and the first thing we need to do is go ahead and enable it. Type the magic line -- "chrome://flags/ -- into the address bar, and scroll down the list presented before you until you find WebGL. Tap on enable, then follow the prompt to restart the browser.
When Chrome has restarted, you want to head on over to the Chrome Experiment Boids and Buildings. Tap on the "launch experiment" button, then the "run" button when the main screen pops up. Then it's simply a case of sitting back and watching. You don't need to let it run right through, but it is pretty cool to watch this city get drawn out and constructed in front of you. At this point it's also worth noting that it seems to run pretty well in the mobile browser.
When you come back out of the experiment though, you'll notice the status bar at the top of the screen has vanished, and the address bar in Chrome has gone a little translucent. After a couple of seconds of doing nothing it just disappears completely. And there we have it, full screen browsing.
It is buggy, but it does work, and expands your web pages to take up the full display -- on screen buttons not included. To get the address bar back takes just a swipe down from the top, although said swipe doesn't bring the status bar back with it. Full screen mode seems to stay in place until you exit the app completely.
So, it's a nice little hidden treat, and though buggy works pretty well. The fact it isn't something we can just turn on leads us to think that it's there on purpose, but isn't ready for the big time just yet. Looks like its on the way though. If you go ahead and play around with this, be sure to jump into the comments below and share your experiences with us.
Source: Reddit
Have you listened to this week's Android Central Podcast?
Every week, the Android Central Podcast brings you the latest tech news, analysis and hot takes, with familiar co-hosts and special guests.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Don't buy a cheap Apple Watch or Fitbit knockoff on Amazon
We've all been tempted by a seemingly good tech deal, however, you should avoid those cheap Apple Watch and Fitbit knockoffs on Amazon. Here's why.
Samsung will soon let you unlock your Galaxy phone with just your voice
According to a new report, Samsung will introduce the ability to use Bixby Voice as a biometric option with One UI 3.1.
Watch all your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies for just $10 — here's how
Hallmark movies are a staple of any Christmas tradition. Whether you want to binge those or anything else you can think of, this $10 Black Friday deal for a month of Philo is a streaming offer you can't ignore.
Get the most out of these smart devices and services with Google Assistant
The Google Assistant is the most useful smart voice assistant for getting your questions answered and keeping track of your digital life, but it's also great at helping you control your smart home devices and services.