The days of Chromebooks being single-purpose devices are coming to an end. With the release of Chrome OS 70, Google is introducing a new feature called “Chromebook Multitasking.” This new feature will allow Chromebook users to run multiple applications at the same time on their devices. This is a big deal for Chromebook users because it means that they can now do things like work on their homework while watching a movie or browsing the web. Chromebook Multitasking also allows users to switch between different applications with ease, so they can get the job done quickly and without having to worry about any conflicts. Chromebooks have always been great for basic tasks like browsing the web and writing documents, but they have lacked some of the features found on more advanced laptops. With Chromebook Multitasking, Google is finally giving Chromebooks the ability to compete with more expensive laptops in terms of functionality. ..
Chrome OS already has basic window snapping, where you can drag a window to the left or right sides of your screen to ‘snap’ the window into taking up half of the screen. Then you can drag another window to the other side, and instantly have a split-screen layout.
Google is now working on a ‘Partial Split’ mode, which seemingly divides the window snapping layouts into thirds — meaning one window can take up one-third of the screen, while another app can use the remaining two-thirds of the screen. The feature isn’t functional in Chrome OS yet, but it should appear in the Canary and Dev Channels soon with the feature flag #partial-split.
Partial Split sounds like it will be most useful on devices with wide displays, such as Chromeboxes connected to large 16:9 or 21:9 screens. Even on normal laptop screens, the smaller side of the split could still leave enough room for most Android apps, or web apps properly optimized for smaller views. Importantly, it doesn’t seem like having three windows that are 1/3 each will be supported, at least initially.
It’s not clear yet when the feature will roll out to everyone. If there are no noticeable bugs, it could arrive in the Stable Channel within a month or two.
Source: Chromium Gerrit Via: Chrome Story, Chrome Unboxed
