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Chromebooks Adding Pull-To-Refresh To Browser

By 15 Comments

by Gabriel Brangers
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I have to admit when I stumbled upon this recent addition to the Chromium repository, I probably got more excited than one should for such a simple feature. For those of you that may be a bit confused about the title, let me clarify.

Pull out your mobile device and open Chrome. Now, go to whatever website tickles your fancy. I recommend Chrome Unboxed but hey, I’m a bit biased. Okay, refresh whatever page you have opened.

Simple, right? 

Most likely the majority of you just swiped down with your thumb or index finger to refresh the page. It’s quick, simple and we do it countless times without even thinking about it.

We have found ourselves with a number of convertibles and even a touchscreen Chromebase scattered around the office. Times when I happen to have my device in tablet mode, I find myself trying to do this very action. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on Chrome for desktop.

That soon may change.

Earlier today, a new commit was added to the Chromium code review regarding this exact feature.

Add –pull-to-refresh flag for pull-to-refresh

You may be thinking “why would you need this on Chrome for desktop?”

Well, I’ll tell you why. The very reason I mentioned above. There have been near a dozen new Chrome devices released in 2017. Of all of them, only one doesn’t offer a touchscreen and it’s a Chromebox. More and more devices are offering a convertible form-factor or at least a touch display and a swipe to refresh feature is sort of a no brainer.

Did I mention this won’t be just for Chromebooks?

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In the commit I found a link to a Chromium bug report regarding this upcoming function. Under the operating systems listed was not only Chrome but Windows as well. Window 2-n-1 devices are becoming exceedingly popular as well and this “pull-to-refresh” function will benefit Chromebook and Windows users alike.

What about iOS?

Good question and one that took me a minute to wrap my head around. Then it hit me. Apple doesn’t make touchscreen computers and likely never will according to a CNET interview with Apple software engineering lead Craig Federighi.

It’s because Apple decided a touchscreen on a Mac wasn’t “particularly useful,” says Ive. And on the MacBook Pro, which keeps getting thinner and lighter, it could be “a burden.

Makes sense. No reason to waste time coding this feature into Chrome for MacOS if it will never even be used.

The new pull-to-refresh feature has yet to find its way to the Chrome OS channels. However, with the continuing push of convertible devices and the Play Store slowly making its way to more devices I doubt it will be long before this one becomes reality.

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*Note: If you have a Chrome device with access to the Play Store the pull-to-refresh feature will work on the Android version of Chrome.

Sources: Chromium repository, CNET

  • Alex Macafee

    Holy crap! I have been hoping this feature would make its way to the desktop version of chrome for ages 😀

  • Zarin Loosli

    I think something glitched:

    “Well, I’ll tell you why. The very reason I mentioned above. There have been near a dozen new Chrome devices released in 2017. Of all of them, only one doesn’t offer a touchscreen and it’s a Chromebox.

    Well, I’ll tell you why. The very reason I mentioned above. There have been near a dozen new Chrome devices released in 2017. Of all of them, only one doesn’t offer a touchscreen and it’s a Chromebox.”

  • Yeah! I too have wanted this.

  • Sid

    Again, for a ChromeOS site, you have a massive disregard for Linux, and that`s pathetic.

    • MrWilsonxD

      But this is a chrome os site.. Chrome os… Not Linux..

      I get why you’d like to see more linux content, as it’s somewhat more popular in the chromebook community than say windows or mac, but I don’t fault a website focused on ChromeOs for focusing on ChromeOs and not linux..

      • Sid

        I saw some mentions of Windows and Macs, ergo the question…

        • MrWilsonxD

          Yeah, but it was just a mention within the article? Not a full article dedicated to windows or mac right?

          • Sid

            That`s all I ask, a mention of the relevant feature irt Linux as well… After all, Google does release Chrom(e|ium) for Linux too…

          • MrWilsonxD

            I see! That doesn’t seem to be an unreasonable request, maybe you should send the writers an email just asking to cover this affect of the chrome linux relationship. I don’t think saying anything is pathetic about them would get you very far..

          • Sid

            No, the fact that Linux doesn`t get any coverage is due to non-coverage on many tech sites, which in turn cover telemetry covered crap, with BSODs on demand, is not fair re: Linux. The 2% market share of Linux is not due to any distro`s dev skills….

          • MrWilsonxD

            Like I said, I think you should send the writers a kindly worded email. Maybe suggesting different topics in the chromeos-linux relationship that they could possibly cover.
            You attract more bees with honey than vinegar. ??

  • MrWilsonxD

    As long as they don’t throw out navigation by swiping from the edge of the screen, I’ll be happy. Google needs to stop removing features..

  • ChrisGX

    “a touchscreen on a Mac wasn’t “particularly useful,” says Ive. And on the MacBook Pro, which keeps getting thinner and lighter, it could be “a burden.”

    In my view, the opinion offered here about touchscreens on laptops, by Federighi and/or Ive, is valid but one-sided. But, there are two important points glossed over by comments like this. First, the absolute thinnest and lightest is not necessarily a worthwhile goal. Structural integrity of a laptop is important, too, and, beyond a certain point, thinner and lighter come at the expense of the structural integrity of the laptop. Similarly, the laptop case also plays a role in the management of heat being produced by different electronic components and there must always be a sufficient amount of case material as the scaffolding for an effective heat spreading solution. Second, it is also quite common to see laptops (although not maximally thin or light laptops) employs certain mechanical principles that allow them to be folded in such a way to offer a second tablet mode that is very useful and absolutely requires a touch interface. Apple, I think, is quite correct to point out the continuing viability of the pointer and keyboard driven desktop interface on thin and light laptops but it is disingenuous to suggest that laptops should only follow that model of user interaction. A touch interface is required by a versatile laptop and versatile laptops are a very good innovation.

  • Peter Roehrich

    Another way in which Chrome OS and Android are “merging”. I believe the merger will take the form of the best features from both being exchanged, rather than a wholesale convergence.

    • Waethorn

      That’s what Google says.

      I’d rather it be a single product for simplicity though. Also for clean phone images.