Split-screen Multitasking May be Available on Android N
If the gap between laptops and tablets is to be truly bridged, split-screen multitasking is just one of the features needed to bring Android tablets closer to the PC in terms of productivity. The team behind Google’s first hybrid laptop, Pixel C, gave an hint on split-screen multitasking on Android today in a Reddit AMA session.If there’s anything that hasn’t actually made tablets replace laptops over the years, it’s effective multitasking that actually aids productivity. With this in the works, things may eventually change. This feature already appeared on Microsoft tablets like three years ago and recently, Apple introduced it on certain devices running iOS 9, but we’ve seen some manufacturers trying to incorporate the feature into their Android devices.
The problem is that app support is limited and only a few native apps by these vendors work in split-screen. Huawei recently introduced it in EMUI 3.1 but only a few default apps are supported.
In the Reddit AMA, Android and Chrome UX director Glen Murphy said:
There are many things, like multi-window, that we’ve been spending a lot of time on — hopefully we can share more about this soon… We’re working on lots of things right now for N that, of course, we wish we had, you know, yesterday… But we’d spoil the surprise of N if we shared all of them. Split screen is in the works!
He continued:
We’re working hard on a range of enhancements for Android in this form-factor – there are many things, like multiwindow, that we’ve been spending a lot of time on – hopefully we can share more about this soon.If this becomes reality, tablets may enjoy better patronage from those who have always been skeptical about them. Besides, with Google planning to merge Chrome OS in to Android OS, one can only expect the platform to get better and actually get ready for the desktop experience someday.