Browser Extension in Chrome.

[nlinecomputers]

I henceforth declare it normal, it seeming to be just a quick access shortcut to play/pause, on videos

This. I get the concern over the sudden appearance of it and the fear that it is a third party, drive by installation. But now that you know it's not what is the problem?

 

[britechguy]

But now that you know it's not what is the problem?

I don't think he's declaring that there is one. Just the opposite, in fact. It's just normal, and a feature, not a bug.

 

[GTP]

From what I can see there is no longer a flag to disable it. You would have to modify the shortcut and add this parameter:

 --disable-features=GlobalMediaControls

I tried this and several other "fixes" from the internet, but it persists regardless.

 

[GTP]

But now that you know it's not what is the problem?

There is no problem. I never said there was a problem.
I just dont like things appearing in browsers that cant be disabled or removed.
My initial concern was that it was a crypto miner in disguise or similar.
This is on a client machine so I'm acting on her behalf.
I've informed the client that its a feature.
She doesnt want it there, she didnt ask for it, so I'm trying to help in whatever way I can.
Edge apparently will have a similar feature shortly.
It doesnt concern me (personally) in the least because I dont use Chrome nor Edge (and never will).



I can always tell the client to use Opera or Firefox or any one of a dozen others.

 

[britechguy]

I've informed the client that its a feature.
She doesnt want it there, she didnt ask for it,

Then, in my opinion, the best thing she can learn from this is that you just ignore features you don't want or use.

They will appear, repeatedly, over time. Nothing is so constant as change, and nowhere is change more constant than in computing. Obsessing over their appearance is a huge waste of cognitive effort.

If it's not malicious, and it can't be turned off, you learn to ignore it.

 

[mikeroq]

I tried this and several other "fixes" from the internet, but it persists regardless.

I tested it on my chrome and it worked.

 

[Blues]

If it's not malicious, and it can't be turned off, you learn to ignore it.

I'd argue you find a new vendor/application otherwise you condone behavior you don't like by merely ignoring it.

 

[britechguy]

I'd argue you find a new vendor/application otherwise you condone behavior you don't like by merely ignoring it.

Good luck with that, particularly when it comes to web browsers. They're all constantly integrating "new features" introduced by their competitors to keep up.

There are times when "jumping ship" in protest can be reasonable and practical. This isn't one of them.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I'd argue you find a new vendor/application otherwise you condone behavior you don't like by merely ignoring it.

It's one icon to control volume. It's like suddenly objecting to the browser back button or the favorites icon. I'D wager the ONLY reason that the client is noticing it is because @Barcelona noticed it, and not knowing what it was, understandably was suspicious of it and asked the client about it. So suddenly the client is upset about it too.

 

[britechguy]

It's like suddenly objecting to the browser back button or the favorites icon.

My feelings exactly.

The smart individual adjusts to the changes in the world around them to the maximum extent possible when that's necessary. The internet and web browsers are one of the most actively and constantly changing arenas in computing. That's one of the things that poses real challenges to those who use accessibility software, because even how web pages present content is constantly evolving at a rapid pace "under the hood."

If you can tweak something to adjust it then, by all means, do so. If you can't, and you are otherwise attached to something, then if you can't learn to ignore features you don't use you're going to have a very miserable life when it comes to using a computer. No matter what the software, you can be virtually certain it will be receiving updates and some of those will include the introduction of new features you don't give a flying rat's patootie about but that you also cannot "hack out" of the software. Life can, and should, go on.

And it's way more important for clients to learn this, to the center of their being, than to waste time, repeatedly, trying to find hacks to get rid of things that you can just not use.

 

[GTP]

she can learn from this is that you just ignore features you don't want or use.

It's one icon to control volume.

I've had several other clients ask about it now. I've told them it's not malicious and that it's just Google adding "features" to their browser.
I have some Edge users that are seeing it now as well.
A couple seem to feel it might be useful, others don't really care about it after I explained what it is.

I'm always suspicious of browser extensions. We all know what they are capable of now.

 

[britechguy]

I'm always suspicious of browser extensions. We all know what they are capable of now.

As am I. But, as we all now know, that's not what this is so concerns about extensions suddenly "showing up, unbidden" don't apply here.

Note well a general, "I told ya so!," with regard to other browsers playing catch up when any one of them introduces something "interesting."