During a recent AMA of sorts on reddit, a member of the Pixel C team was fielding questions from the Android community. When asked about Android’s ability to run a split screen UI, where a user can have two apps running simultaneously, the Googler mentioned something quite interesting.
According to Andrew of the team, Google is already working hard on features for Android “N.” He states that split screen functionality is “in the works,” which means that it might be likely we see the feature debut alongside Google’s next version of Android.
As for mentioning other features we might see included in the release of Android N, Andrew says Google does not want to spoil any surprises.
When should we expect Android N? Good question. Usually, Google tends to release a new version of Android each year, except for one time where they gave us two servings of Jelly Bean. It’s possible Google will showcase what’s next for Android at 2016’s Google I/O in San Francisco, with a release later in the year like we saw this year with Marshmallow and last year with Lollipop.
For those in need of split screen action right now, you can tweak your OS via editing the build.prop to enable it, but do note that this feature is incredibly buggy and hidden for a very good reason.
I know this for a while.. I had Nexus 6p development version and it had features like multi window and twist to lauch camera.. Multi window was there but wasn’t working great of course that was experiment.. once Installing latest ROM those features are gone.
Finally. Been waiting for this for years.
This should have been done 2 years ago. How can Google let Apple get the jump on them?
Maybe Android will become more robust. Almost like Windows is trying to change their OS to suit mobile and Android is changing it’s OS to suit power users.
If Android does this I can justify the pixel C
Yup and I can’t wait for the next Nexus. Rocking the Nexus 6 until then.
I think Google had some kind of reason for not implementing this, they could have easily introduced this year’s ago. Are they really that bad at coding or was it some kind of tactic? Problems with patents, software partners (Samsung), etc
Not bad tho you might argue that they are not trying to release something half baked
That and I just don’t think it has been a priority for Google until recently.
I wonder what Android “N” will stand for though? I’m more curious about that
I was thinking that too, haha. Nougat?
Nutella, I hope
Nutella ftw
Presenting Android Nutella:
*Flows so smoothly
*Spread over any screen size (cue Multiwindow features)
😀
My bet is on Neapolitan.
I’ve got splitscreen enabled on my 6p, and its super glitchy.
Yes same on mine.. but after updating to latest android that feature is gone..
With the high resolution displays we have on tablets and phones today it would make more sense to just allow applications to “float” in arbitrarily resizable and relocatable frames. We could call them “windows”. Instead of just having two apps open next to each other you could have three, four, maybe even FIVE of these “windows” on screen at once allowing you to copy and paste data between them. Revolutionary!!!!
Split screen doesn’t really make sense on a phone, IMO.
Even on a 10″ or smaller tablet, I just don’t really see the point in having more than two apps running side by side. The more apps you have, the less space they each take up. And without a mouse, I just don’t think it’s very practical.
I would have said the same thing until it came in extremely handy on my G4. I was able to have the picture of the shipping label opened while I was on FedEx to enter the tracking number.
I’ve been using it for a few years now, and won’t consider a phone without it. Right now it’s just one more reason a Nexus phone is not for me. I would love it if they could implement it as a mixture of split screen, and Qslide form LG (Samsung has a version also). I’d love having the ability to have two apps in split screen with other apps floating that can be “disabled” by a slider until you need it again. It is so useful for many different things. I use split screen and Qslide multiple times every day.
samsung had that for the s6 edge and I haven’t tried the new note series but I’m sure they have it for that too. Its pointless its more of a nuisance than anything its just going to be a hassle switching through windows.
I have a Note 4 and it can run up to 5 windows simultaneously in floating space. In fact, as of 4.4 (I think, maybe even earlier) my old GS3 had split screen usability. Am I missing something here? Is this something different than that?
It’s probably the same thing I just never had the note 4 so I couldn’t speak on it
Finally
This is a must-do for them if they want to enter the tablet market seriously.
pls
But lg and Samsung already have multi task or dual window.
they are nothing but bloat..looking forward for RIP Touchwiz.
Haters gonna hate.
they are bloats and only support few apps. i would love to see system wide support and support for all apps
I just looked on my S6 and there are 38 apps that can use the split screen. Most of the mainstream google ones and social media stuff. Even HBO GO.
It’s still a bloat tied only to touchwiz.
Is it bloat if it’s useful?
I’m with you, Sopapilla. It works well and there are more and more apps that work with it. I do wish it were system wide though. And I don’t run TouchWiz on my Note 4.
Some people just troll anything touchwiz. If Google does the same thing and its available on the Nexus, the DL forums will genuflect over the moment. Double genuflect if it also makes it onto any Moto phone.
First of all: If its on google then it will be on moto too..
Second: Yeah people sometime overbash touchwiz
Third: Google’s version will be available to all and easy to build apps for and will have wider support, so… yeah
I look forward to this becoming native, but I doubt Google will get it right with the first release. Samsung and LG have had it right for about 3 years and just keep improving it. There were only a few apps that didn’t work well on my Note, and only a few that are finicky on my LG. I hate Samsung and all of their bloat, but this isn’t one of them.
Yes.
Exactly. Split screen was about the only thing that wasn’t bloat on my Note. Split screen and Qslide are about the only things not bloat on my LG.
exacly.. dont you want every app to support multi windows? this is what this will do and will be available for everyone rather than just samsung and lg
Yes. I’m all for it. I just wanted to point out there were quite a few apps compatible with the version on the S6. I think of bloatware as useless. In this case, it’s not. If it were a built-in function on a custom ROM, it would be a “feature” and not “bloatware”.
I can use any app in my LG split window. Only a few will act up if they are not full screen. Native support would be better though, but I doubt Google will get it right with the first release. I do wish LG Qslide would support more apps though.
What does that have to do with Google implement it?
Just shows Google is slow. They don’t even support native RAW photos.
Right – this is something I use all the time. You mean it’s not in stock Android? That might dash my dreams of upgrading my S5 to a Moto X Pure…
You can enable a little buggy version of multiwindow which is available in AOSP tho you will have to root it
http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1513/15139076/2802383-the+rock+finally.jpg
Seriously this should have been since lollipop of even jelly bean. But I guess better late than never
Meh. Not that big of a deal for me
I use it about once a week, but I don’t know if I would really miss it if I didn’t have it.