Mobile development: Google launches desktop view for Android tablets
The Developer Preview for Desktop Windowing allows the flexible arrangement of app windows on Android tablets, similar to a desktop PC.
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Google has made the Desktop Windowing feature available to Android developers. It offers the option of flexibly adjusting the size of app windows on tablets and using apps simultaneously. The new function is currently available as a developer preview for Google Pixel tablets.
Desktop windowing from the user's perspective
Desktop windowing allows tablet users to use several apps at the same time. The individual app windows can be enlarged or reduced to the desired size. A pinned menu bar is also available. It shows the currently running apps and offers the option of pinning apps there for quick access. Each app also has a header bar with control elements for the window.
(Image:Â Google)
By default, apps on Android tablets start in full screen mode. Users can activate desktop windowing on a Pixel tablet by holding down the window icon at the top of the screen and dragging it to another location within the user interface. If you are then 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 end Desktop Windowing using meta keyboard shortcuts.
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Desktop windowing from a developer's perspective
According to Google, developers whose apps have already reached the second-highest quality level Tier 2 (Large Screen Optimized) in the Large Screen App Quality Guidelines only need to make minor adjustments for the new feature. Desktop Windowing can currently be tested on Pixel tablets before it becomes more widely available via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The project already contains the source code for Android 15.
An existing tablet must be updated to Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 to support desktop windowing. As an alternative to a Pixel tablet, developers can also use a tablet emulator in Android Studio Preview and set Android 15.0 (Google APIs Tablet) as the target. After preparing the device, select Enable freeform windows under Developer options.
According to Google, the new function is set to have a promising future and will also find its way into the wider Android ecosystem.
The company provides further information on the Android developer blog.
(mai)
