A magical multitasking upgrade

This can save you tons of time.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Mint Mobile logo]()​ We share a lot of useful services and off-the-beaten-path discoveries here in Cool Tools. But I'm always fascinating by the Cool Tools we already have — the ones we aren't using to their full potential. This week, I want to focus on the wonder of picture-in-picture mode — a powerful feature built into modern browsers like Google Chrome and modern mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. But while it's technically built into the browser you're using, there's a picture-in-picture powerup that will make it even more useful. Ready? Let's go! [Chris Hoffman, Author of Windows Intelligence] Chris Hoffman​ Author of Windows Intelligence --------------------------------------------------------------- Pop a video out of a web page or app Picture-in-picture mode is a very convenient feature that's slowly become more widespread over the years. It's built into modern browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox, but it's really easy to miss — especially on YouTube. ➜ Picture-in-picture mode is useful both on your computer — Windows PC, Chromebook, Mac, Linux laptop or anything else — and your phone or tablet. ⌚ You can start using picture-in-picture mode in just 5 seconds. 💻 In Chrome or another desktop browser: To find picture-in-picture mode in YouTube on the web, right-click a YouTube video twice — not just once. You'll see a menu with a "Picture in picture" option in Chrome — it may be named something slightly different in another browser. Click that option and you'll see a thumbnail of the YouTube video floating on your computer's desktop, staying on screen no matter what application you use. [The "Picture in picture" option that appears after right-clicking a video in Chrome.] 🎁 Upgrade picture-in-picture mode: Google offers a convenient [Picture-in-Picture Extension for Chrome](. This gives you a toolbar button that pops a video out of a web page so you can skip those double-right-click shenanigans. (You can also use it in other Chromium-based browsers, like Microsoft Edge.) Google's extension also works on Netflix's website. It launches a video in picture-in-picture mode even when the double-right-click trick doesn't work. It'll work all over the place, all over the web. [The Picture-in-Picture extension button in Google Chrome.] 📲 On Android or iPhone: You can do the same thing on your phone or tablet, and it's even easier. For example, to watch a YouTube or Netflix video in picture-in-picture mode on Android or iPhone, just start watching the video in the YouTube or Netflix app and then switch to another app while the video is playing. (Note that, for YouTube's app on phones, free picture-in-picture mode is only available in the USA. If you are outside the USA, you will need a paid YouTube Premium subscription to do this. Also, certain videos — like music videos — may not play in picture-in-picture mode in the USA without a YouTube Premium subscription.) ✨ More mobile picture-in-picture powerups: Other apps can use picture-in-picture mode, too. On Android, you can have a Google Meet call and switch apps to continue the call in picture-in-picture mode. On iPhone, you can start a FaceTime call and switch apps to continue in picture-in-picture mode. 🗺️ Get directions with picture-in-picture mode: Only Android offers picture-in-picture mode for maps — sorry, this isn't available on iPhone. Start navigating in Google Maps, and then switch to another app. You'll see a small map in picture-in-picture mode, making it easy to follow directions while using other apps. 📌 Google's [Picture-in-Picture extension]( is available on the Chrome Web Store, and browsers also have built-in picture-in-picture features. 💰 The extension is free. 🕶 It's covered by Google's standard terms of service and privacy policy. Now, speaking of other excellent tips... ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Don’t get duped by Big Wireless 🧐 [Queen from Snow White saying "I've been tricked."]()​ For the love of all things cellular, why are you paying so much $$$ for your bleeping phone bill! And before you say “speed, data, mobile hotspot, unlimited talk and text” heed this: Our partner [Mint Mobile gives you all these premium features for as low as $15/month]() on the Nation’s largest 5G network! What’s the secret? Mint is 100% direct-to-consumer, meaning you're not paying ~extra~ for stores or pushy sales clerks. Making the [switch to Mint Mobile]() is delightfully easy: ✅ Free Unlimited Talk ‘n’ Text, mobile hotspot, and Wi-Fi calling 🤝 Optional BYO phone (and #) and flexible monthly plans 🛜 Digital eSIMs for same-day activation 👪 Mix ‘n’ match Family Plans, also starting at $15/month/line No wonder Mint scored “Best Cell Phone Plans” by U.S. News and The New York Times… ➜ [Ready to save a fistful of cash? Make the switch to Mint Mobile today!]()​ [SWITCH IN JUST 15 MINUTES ➜]() * Service currently available in the U.S. only. ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz When did YouTube launch? Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [2001]( [2005]() [2007]() [2010]() Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which of the following has never been a shopping-related service offered by Google? Google Deal Finder. Such a service has never actually existed, believe it or not — which can’t be said for Google Product Search (a former name for what’s now Google Shopping), Google Catalogs (a shopping app released in 2011 and shut down a few years later), and even Google Froogle (the original name for Google Shopping when it first launched in 2002). 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]() [Thumbs Down](=) Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Cool Tools, Android Intelligence, or Windows Intelligence (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider,](=) our one-of-a-kind community where you'll have access to power-packed advanced resources, an on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable! # #