The Newest Beta Makes Your Phone a Compact Desktop with Floating Applications
The newest Android 17 Beta 3 version finally fulfills its commitment to convert your phone into a compact desktop with enhanced multitasking features. This update presents the “Bubbles” system, enabling users to operate almost any application in floating windows, which enhances the multitasking capability on mobile devices.
Thanks to the Bubbles system, users can launch applications in floating windows that remain above other applications, offering a desktop-style experience. This feature can be accessed by long-pressing an app icon on the launcher or taskbar and selecting the “bubble” option. On foldable devices and tablets, users can drag an icon from the taskbar to a corner to enable the feature. Furthermore, a new bubble bar user interface is available for larger screens, allowing users to pin bubbles to the taskbar and organize them effectively.
The update also enhances screen recording with a new floating control panel providing quick edit, share, and delete functionalities. Quick Settings have been streamlined with individual toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, simplifying the management of connectivity settings.
Widgets now operate correctly on external displays, automatically adjusting padding, text size, and layout according to the display’s density. Users can also choose to hide app labels on the home screen for a more streamlined appearance, while folders and the app drawer still show labels.
Beta 3 introduces interactive Picture-in-Picture (PiP) for Desktop mode, allowing applications to maintain their PiP windows interactive while remaining on top of other windows. This is particularly advantageous for video conferencing applications, which can keep call controls accessible while users interact with other applications.
Improvements have also been made to accessibility and audio features. Users with hearing aids can now select where system sounds play, with choices to direct notifications, ringtones, and alarms either to the hearing aid or the device’s speaker independently.
In summary, Android 17 Beta 3 makes notable advancements in enhancing multitasking and accessibility, transforming phones into more versatile and productive instruments.