Google implements an uglier "Modern" Chrome Global Media Control

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by Surur Davids 

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Google is working on a new UI for the Global Media Control in Chrome.

The GMC provides a single location to control the playback of media from any tabs in your browser, allowing you to pause, mute and pop them out in a new window.

Google is working on a new version which looks a lot less polished than the current design, which Techdows managed to capture below:

The new design features a small, discrete thumbnail versus the attractive bleed version, and the controls are no longer in a single horizontal line, with the PiP button moved above the reverse button. The new design however appears somewhat more compact.

Google says “the change implements a newer version of Global Media Controls UI based on updated UI mocks.”

To activate the new look enable the “Global Media Controls Modern UI” flag in Chrome://flags in the latest canary version of Chrome 87.  Note that this did not work for us, suggesting there is a lot more work to do.

Which version of the GMC do our readers like? Let us know below.

Surur Davids

Surur Davids Shield

Smartphone Expert

Surur Davids is the founder of WMPoweruser which later became MSPoweruser.com. He's a smartphone expert with over a decade of experience.

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