Google is currently working on a new data optimization feature in Chrome It will allow users to save more on bandwidth consumption by focusing on playing videos from the web. It’s about the LiteVideo function, and that it will be complementary to the data saving function that has been integrated as standard in the browser for some time in the case of Android devices.
At the moment it is a new function that is present experimentally in version 86 of Chrome, available on the Canary channel. To make use of this new function, you will first have to install version 86 of Chrome, taking into account that it is a still unstable version, then enable these two flags (chrome: // flags): Enable LiteVideos and Force LiteVideos decision, and finally restart the browser, as discussed in Techdows.
As described in this thread on the Chromium bug tracker:
LiteVideo is a data-saving optimization that simulates low-bandwidth conditions by limiting media responses, to allow adaptive MSE video players to lower resolution and consume less data.
This new experimental feature will not only be for Chrome on Android, but it will also be for Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS systems.
If all goes according to plan, and Google continues with this feature going forward, users will be able to use LiteVideo between the end of September and the beginning of October this year, which is when the launch of version 86 of Chrome in the stable channel, or what is the same, officially reach all users.
LiteVideo optimization will be disabled the moment the user reloads the same page, or navigates back and forth in the browser.
In addition to getting to be working on this new optimization function, the current data optimization function of Chrome in Android will also synchronize with the system’s battery saving mode, and will also respect the data saving settings in Windows 10 and on iOS.
