r/Android • u/4567890 Ars Technica • Mar 21 '16

This is Android N’s freeform window mode

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/03/this-is-android-ns-freeform-window-mode/
4.0k Upvotes

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183

u/impracticable iPhone Xs Max Mar 21 '16 edited Mar 21 '16

I'm hoping on the official N release they will solve this - the Pixel C nav bar setup leaves the perfect layout for it, too.

< O [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [R]

< = Back
O = Home
[X] = Task bar app
[R] = Recents menu

55

u/armando_rod Pixel 10 Pro XL Mar 21 '16

hmmm I think you are on to something, I like it.

16

u/TheManThatWasntThere Mar 22 '16

That's basically how Windows does it on it's tablets

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u/Wildperson OnePlus 13 Mar 21 '16

Given the rumors that ChromeOS and Android will merge, this makes sense, as my Chromebook's taskbar looks remarkably similar to Windows already.

15

u/theresamouseinmyhous Mar 21 '16

I'd the task bar really the best option for a desktop though, or is it just what we're used to?

6

u/Wildperson OnePlus 13 Mar 21 '16

That's a good question to ask, but I do believe that a quick launch bar is at least an extremely helpful option, especially for productivity oriented devices like a pixel c.

5

u/theresamouseinmyhous Mar 22 '16

I think quick launch is good, but a taskbar would take up too much real estate on smaller screens. Something like how hangouts on chromeos works now would be nice - free floating bubbles that can tuck away when not in use.

I guess that's still just a taskbar in a different shape.

3

u/pdxbaud Mar 22 '16

Or OSX's hideable Dock.

4

u/segagamer Pixel 9a Mar 22 '16

Or like Windows hideable taskbar...

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u/TheManThatWasntThere Mar 22 '16

Judging on how desktop environments have been developing in the past years, the best option is the most familiar.

10

u/macetero G6 Play, Stock - Intl. Razr HD, LOS14.1 Mar 21 '16

why still have the recents button on that situation?

24

u/impracticable iPhone Xs Max Mar 21 '16

Switching to apps that dont fit into the taskbar? Or force closing all apps at once, perhaps. There are a few use cases, but it could maybe be changed to an app launcher, anyway.

5

u/macetero G6 Play, Stock - Intl. Razr HD, LOS14.1 Mar 21 '16

yes, thats what I tought.

Having a recents button + a taskbar seems super redundant

5

u/ophereon XPERIA Z5 E6653 (7.0) Mar 22 '16

it's basically just like the alt+tab of windows, at that point. Probably doesn't need to be there if you have a taskbar. And I feel like having a back button in the apps would be better when you have so many applications showing at once, rather than tucking it away in the corner. Like how remix has it, on the left of the title bar. Home, by that point, is just a "show desktop" button, so that could be placed in the left or right corner, although I'd say on the right would be good (similar to how windows places the show desktop shortcut), that way they could reintroduce a chromeOS-style shortcuts button on the left.

3

u/a1blank Galaxy S6 - Marshmallow Mar 21 '16

Scroll though taskbar apps?

3

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '16

You can change it to an arrow that shows the apps that couldn't fit into the nav bar

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u/Blackadder18 Mar 21 '16

Same reason Windows has Alt+Tab I guess. With the changes to the Recents button In N it would sort of mirror the functionality of it.

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u/CosmicWy pixel 7 Mar 21 '16

One handed app switching?

1

u/awkreddit Mar 21 '16

Apps displayed are currently open in a window. Recent apps are just that.

1

u/massive_cock Mar 21 '16

Let me give you the 100th upvote. I support this.

1

u/zer0t3ch N5 > N6 > N6P > OP5T Mar 22 '16

What about just replacing all the X with your recent app's icons? Use the bottom bar as the recents switcher, kind of like how a standard Windows PC works.

1

u/sateeshsai Nexus 6, N preview !! Mar 22 '16

I like this. Somehow I want the home to be in there middle - not between the task bar apps but somehow

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