TL;DR
- Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 has added desktop windowing to the Pixel Pill, making ready for an eventual rollout to the Android platform sooner or later.
- Desktop windowing permits customers to run a number of apps concurrently and resize app home windows, identical to on standard desktops.
- That is at present out there as a developer possibility for builders to check their app with this new consumer expertise format.
Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 is now out there for supported Pixel gadgets. It brings one large change to the Android platform: desktop windowing. We’ve talked about this before, however now Google is formally introducing desktop windowing to Android tablets and advising builders on the most effective practices for his or her apps to adapt to this new UX.
Google’s blog post doesn’t give attention to when desktop windowing will roll out to the Android platform. Nonetheless, it formally pronounces that freeform windowing is being enhanced for pill customers. Android tablet lovers will now be capable of run a number of apps concurrently and resize home windows on the fly, bringing the freeform window implementation to par with options like Samsung Dex.
As talked about, desktop windowing permits customers to run a number of apps concurrently and resize app home windows, identical to we’re used to doing on standard desktops. Google has mounted the taskbar’s place to the underside of the display, and it could present operating apps and apps pinned by the consumer. There’s additionally a brand new header bar now, which homes window controls.
Invoking desktop windowing on Android tablets will likely be straightforward. All apps will open in full-screen mode by default, however you may press and maintain the window deal with/tablet within the standing bar and drag it wherever to come out the UI into its personal window. As soon as an app is windowed and you’re in desktop house, all future apps will likely be launched as desktop home windows till you exit all desktop home windows.
There are different alternate methods to invoke desktop windowing, too:
- Invoke it from the menu under the window deal with while you faucet/click on on it.
- Invoke it utilizing a keyboard shortcut: (Home windows/Command/Search) button + Ctrl + Down.
You may exit desktop windowing by individually closing all home windows or dragging the window deal with again to the highest of the display. You can too use the keyboard shortcut: (Home windows/Command/Search) button + H to run apps as full display once more.
The remainder of Google’s weblog publish describes some really useful practices for app builders to adapt their apps to this new consumer expertise. Builders ought to use adaptive layouts of their apps and look to help multitasking options like drag-and-drop to share content material between apps. They need to additionally think about whether or not they need to help launching a number of app cases, akin to for browsers.
Desktop windowing is out there on the Pixel Pill operating Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 earlier than it’s launched to AOSP extra broadly (possible with Android 16). You have to to pick the choice in Settings > Developer choices > Allow freeform home windows.
Have you ever tried out desktop windowing on the Pixel Pill on Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 but? If that’s the case, how was your expertise? Tell us within the feedback under!
