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Feature #1083

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AL SS

Media playback config support

Feature #1083: Media playback config support

Added by ask low about 3 years ago. Updated almost 3 years ago.

Status:
New
Priority:
4.x
Start date:
09/11/2023
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Estimated time:

Description

Disabling images is useful to reduce data usage on lower bandwidth. But videos still continue to buffer.
In a typical chrome scenario, there's Media Autoplay config within site settings that offers on & off toggle. That helps us to turn off whatever rogue media from autoplaying, such as news sites.

SS Updated by Soren Stoutner about 3 years ago Actions #1

Are you aware of any way to do that with Android's WebView?

AL Updated by ask low about 3 years ago Actions #2

Welp. I'm not sure, which is why discussing about the possibility.

Btw, I can't seem to edit the posted comments. Why so?

SS Updated by Soren Stoutner about 3 years ago Actions #3

  • Assignee set to Soren Stoutner

I have not see any controls for that type of thing, although you are welcome to look through the Android WebView documentation. The controls for displaying images is at:

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/webkit/WebSettings#setLoadsImagesAutomatically(boolean)

Note that media autoplay is already disabled by default, so whatever behavior you are seeing is somehow working around that.

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/webkit/WebSettings#setMediaPlaybackRequiresUserGesture(boolean)

Also, because most websites require require JavaScript to play videos, I would imagine that browsing with JavaScript disabled would prevent most videos from automatically downloading.

AL Updated by ask low about 3 years ago Actions #4

Yes you are right. No script session doesn't even have the video player pop ups at all. Although, controlling this behavior in JS session like how chromium does, would be a delight anyways.

Btw, all it does is interrupt autoplay. The buffering, like initial 10 seconds still happens, which is annoying asf... especially when I'm on metered network while traveling...

I guess nojs session would be better alternative for now.

SS Updated by Soren Stoutner about 3 years ago Actions #5

  • Priority changed from 3.x to 4.x

It might be possible to control this behavior with Privacy WebView in the 4.x series. I will have to take a look at the options then.

AL Updated by ask low about 3 years ago Actions #6

Btw, is there an issue lying around that mentions the detection of metered/unmetered network ?
Having access to a full bandwidth unmetered network, would mean that user can keep images toggle enabled throughout the browsing session.

SS Updated by Soren Stoutner about 3 years ago Actions #7

For security and privacy reasons, Privacy Browser Android will never include the android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE permission.

https://developer.android.com/training/basics/network-ops/reading-network-state

As such, there is no way for Privacy Browser Android to automatically determine if a user is on a metered network. It is up to the user to know that and adjust their behavior accordingly.

SS Updated by Soren Stoutner almost 3 years ago Actions #8

  • Subject changed from media playback config support to Media playback config support
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