The next version of Google’s OS is fast approaching, Android 15, and the successive betas – the latest available is beta 4.1 – have revealed the new features: better volume manager, adaptive vibration, contrasting colors, the new ‘Private Space’, application archiving and many others that we have seen during development and that will arrive in the final version planned for fall.
However, Google continues to introduce small changes that are only visible to some users, since by default they are not active. This is the case of the navigation bar (or tasks, due to its similarity to that of PCs) of Android 15: this is how it appears on mobile phones.
Android 15 Taskbar… On Phones?
In fact, this taskbar This is not new as such.. In fact, we have seen it in previous versions of Google’s operating system: Android 12.1 integrated it for tablets and devices with larger screen diagonals. Later, in Android 13, it had a small revision that updated its design along the lines of Material You.
As we said before, the focus is primarily on tablets. So it’s easier switch between apps or open the drawer itself, regardless of the screen we are on. In addition, it streamlines the use of split screen to use two applications simultaneously. This is why its use has always been oriented towards the aforementioned devices.
However, as we read in Android Authority, Google is considering introducing it to our smartphones. As the popularity and availability of these types of devices increases, Google is looking for a way to optimize the interface from Android.
This dock or taskbar is still present in the latest version of the system, with a design that has changed since its first appearance. Although in Android 12 it remains permanently at the bottom of the screen, the update to Android 13 has made it possible to hide it by pressing an empty space on it.
So it behaves better on book-type foldable screens, not taking up valuable space for interaction with the mobile. To open it, a gesture from bottom to top is enough, although Google found it too bulky and under Android 15 get back the old style with a button.
Of course, in classic smartphones, it is necessary change screen scale to make it appear. On the other hand, to get this taskbar, we get a smaller interface that is difficult to interact with. That is why Google is working on optimizing it for smaller screens, so that we do not need to change the scaling of the interface.
According to Android Authority, there is mention of a new “small” feature in the taskbar, a sign that the system’s developers are currently testing it. an alternative to bring it to the rest of the phones. And they enabled it: their behavior is similar, but the good news is that you don’t need to change the screen scale to use it.
It is not known if it will finally be in the stable version of Android 15 or if it will arrive in one of its quarterly updates (in the case of the Pixel). This is undoubtedly an alternative path that could improve multitasking: It is not in vain that jumping between applications with gestures involves opening the recent applications screen to know which ones we have open.
Via | Android Authority
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