Google has made the desktop windowing feature available to Android developers. On tablets, it provides the ability to flexibly adjust the size of app windows and use apps simultaneously. So far, the new function is available as a developer preview for Google Pixel tablets.
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Desktop windowing from a user’s perspective
Desktop windowing allows tablet users to use multiple apps at the same time. Individual app windows can be maximized or minimized to the desired size. A pinned menu bar is also available. It shows the currently running apps and provides the option to pin apps there for quick access. Each app also has a header bar with window controls.
Google shows an example of desktop windowing on a Pixel tablet — with a note that images of the new feature are currently just examples and subject to change.
(Image: Google)
By default, apps on Android tablets start in full screen mode. Users can enable desktop windowing on Pixel tablets by pressing and holding the window icon at the top of the screen and dragging it to another location within the user interface. If you are in desktop view, all other apps also start in this view. After closing all desktop windows or dragging an app to the top of the screen, the mode is deactivated again. It is also possible to start and stop desktop windowing using the Meta keyboard shortcut.
Desktop Windowing from a Developer Perspective
Developers whose apps already have the second highest quality level, Tier 2 (large screen optimized). Large Screen App Quality Guidelines According to Google, the new feature only requires you to make minor adjustments. Desktop windowing can currently be tried out on Pixel tablets before becoming more widely available through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The project already includes the source code for Android 15.
Existing tablets must be updated to Android 15 QPR1 beta 2 to support desktop windowing. As an alternative to Pixel tablets, developers can also use the tablet emulator in Android Studio Preview and target Android 15.0 (Google APIs Tablet). After preparing the device Enable freeform windows under Developer Options To select.
As announced by Google, the purpose of the new function is promising and it will also find its way into the wider Android ecosystem.
The company provides more information about Android Developer Blog,
(May)
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