Google's Pixel 8 series gets USB-C to DisplayPort; desktop mode rumors heat up
How does the new desktop mode enhance multitasking and window management on Android devices?
The new desktop mode in Android enhances multitasking and window management by introducing several new features. These include:
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Improved Windowing System: The new desktop mode includes an improved windowing system that allows apps to be moved around and resized freely using a handle at the top of the app3.
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Title Bar Addition: A title bar is added to each app window, which shows the app's name, icon, and additional controls to maximize or close the window.
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Resizing App Windows: Users can resize app windows, and while resizing, the app content temporarily disappears to make the process more seamless.
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Automatic Window Tiling: The OS supports automatic window tiling, allowing users to drag a window to the side of the screen to snap it into a split-screen mode.
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Multi-Window Experience: The OS now supports showing two Android apps side-by-side in split-screen mode and more apps in freeform mode1.
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Menu Options: A small menu is accessible through a handle at the top of each full-screen app, offering options for full-screen, split-screen, or freeform mode6.
These new features aim to make Android a more capable desktop computing platform and improve the overall multitasking and window management experience for users.
What has been Samsung's approach to desktop mode in its devices, and how does it compare to Google's efforts?
Samsung's approach to desktop mode in its devices is through its DeX software, which is built into many high-end Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets1. DeX, short for "Desktop Experience," transforms the interface on a Samsung phone or tablet into something that looks closer to a Windows PC or Mac desktop. When a compatible Galaxy device is connected to a larger display, keyboard, and mouse, DeX Mode is activated, providing a familiar desktop operating system interface with a "desktop" for folders and apps, a taskbar across the bottom, and windows that can float and be resized1.
On the other hand, Google has been experimenting with a desktop mode for Android since Android 7.0 in 2016. Recently, Android Authority's Mishaal Rahman has managed to get the new desktop mode running, which looks like a real desktop OS with title bar window decorations, app icons, labels, and maximize and close buttons5. However, it is still uncertain if this will turn into a real product.
While both Samsung and Google are working on desktop modes for their devices, Samsung's DeX has been a feature for years, providing a more mature and developed experience for users. Google's efforts, in comparison, are still in the experimental stage and have not yet been officially released as a product.
What are the key features of the newly tracked Android desktop mode by Mishaal Rahman?
The newly tracked Android desktop mode by Mishaal Rahman includes several key features that make it more user-friendly and akin to a real desktop operating system. These features include:
- Title bar window decoration: Every app gets a title bar with an app icon, a label, and maximize and close buttons.
- Window management: Users can drag windows around and resize them, making multitasking easier.
- Automatic window tiling: The OS supports automatic window tiling by dragging a window to the side of the screen.
- Drop-down menu: There's a drop-down menu in the title bar app icon, offering additional options for managing windows.
These features, combined with Android's existing split-screen and freeform modes, make the new desktop mode a more viable option for desktop computing. However, it is still uncertain if this revamped desktop mode will become a real product, as no official announcement has been made by Google.