The recent release of Android 16 Beta 3 has introduced a significant enhancement to desktop windowing on tablets: a minimize button. This feature allows tablet users to hide applications without completely closing them, addressing a limitation present in the earlier version of desktop windowing.
Google first introduced this desktop windowing feature for tablets with the release of Android 15 QPR1 back in December, following months of development. Mishaal Rahman, an Android expert, highlights this much-anticipated addition in his analysis for Android Authority.
Prior to this beta, users had the options to close or resize their app windows, but there was no way to simply minimize them. This posed a challenge for users concerned about losing progress in their applications since closing an app would terminate any ongoing tasks.
The newly included minimize button resolves this issue, allowing users to temporarily hide apps while they continue to operate in the background. Positioned alongside the maximize and close buttons, this feature offers a more traditional desktop experience for tablet users.
Although Rahman had previously noted the development of this feature in November, it has only now arrived in the latest beta, paving the way for its anticipated deployment in the stable version around June 2024. Moreover, the functionality surrounding this minimize button enhances overall multitasking capabilities.
For instance, when all apps are minimized, the desktop windowing feature is automatically disabled, yet the applications remain active, allowing for a seamless return to the desktop environment. While this multitasking approach may not cater to every user’s needs—especially those using smaller Android tablets—it does provide welcomed flexibility for multitaskers.
Users are hopeful that manufacturers will continue to innovate, much like OnePlus, which has introduced impressive multitasking features such as “Open Canvas” on larger devices.
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