Chrome OS is getting old-fashioned cool with upcoming productivity feature
Chrome OS has grown steadily over the years, with support for Linux and Android applications helping it move away from its “just a browser” roots. With powerful multitasking features like virtual desktops and window snapping, Google’s operating system is a solid productivity choice for consumers and many professionals. To help you work even faster, Chrome OS will soon incorporate a classic productivity feature that will give your Chromebook the old-fashioned freshness you never thought you needed.
Chrome Story recently spotted Focus Follows Mouse (FFM) in the Chromium repository, a legacy feature commonly used by Unix. baby boomers developers at the time. Chrome OS outperforms its Windows and macOS competitors by integrating FFM natively into its window management system – no third-party mods needed. If you are on the Chrome OS Dev or Canary channel, you can try it out by copying and pasting the following Url in bold in the Chrome address bar.
Activate the focus of the window by moving the cursor. – Chrome OS
Toggle its drop-down list from Default to On, then restart your Chromebook. FFM will be in effect immediately upon return from your office.
Focus Follows Mouse improves your copy and paste game.
The concept behind Focus Follows Mouse is simple: whenever the cursor moves over the window, the system keeps it focused. It uses the more modern sloppy focus model – moving your mouse over the desktop or taskbar will keep the active window focused. This template will not bring up windows hidden by an active application, which means you can copy and paste text from a webpage into a document without any additional clicks. However, we’re not sure if other options like Auto-Increase and Mouse Focus Follows (no sloppy) will arrive with this feature.
I never would have expected Google to add this old-fashioned powerful user functionality to Chrome OS, especially with the company’s recurring attempts to loosen up its products. As someone used to Focus Follows Mouse on my traditional Linux system, switching between my Chromebook and my desktop was really painful. FFM allows me to copy and paste text into Google Sheets without clicking, which is much more intuitive than without. I can also interact with two windows at once – scroll window # 1 with a mouse, type with window # 2. It opens up multiple avenues for powerful multitasking opportunities, helping you get to work even faster.
Focus Follows Mouse is a big step in the right direction for many of us working in a multi-window environment. I’d also like to see additional windowing options in Chrome OS, such as Auto-Elevating Windows, Focus Follows Mouse (without the sloppy model), and Always on Top. I imagine that once FFM arrives for the Stable channel, you will be able to customize it in the Customize section of system preferences. Hopefully that will come soon rather than later.