Android 12L hands-on: Some large multitasking upgrades, however is that sufficient? | Engadget

Despite Google being on the twelfth era of its ubiquitous cellular OS, lately it’s felt like Android has left tablets behind. Hell, even Google gave up making its personal tablets years in the past, whereas another system makers started favoring Chrome OS over Android on bigger gaadgets. But with Android 12L, Google is making an attempt to handle a number of the OS’s shortcomings whereas additionally paving the way in which for rising kinds of devices like foldables.

Why Android 12L?

In distinction to Google’s typical once-a-year launch cadence, Android 12L is a well timed callback to older variations of Android that acquired one (or extra) mid-cycle updates. One large benefit of Android 12L is that as a result of Google doesn’t have to fret about together with bigger overarching modifications because it does with its large yearly replace, the corporate could be extra focused about what sort of options ought to (or mustn’t) be included.

Who is it for?

Google says Android 12L is a particular replace primarily meant to help larger-screen units, although all the brand new options will nonetheless make their approach into Android as an entire. Currently, Android 12L could be put in on a spread of Pixel telephones (the Pixel 3 and up, however not the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro but), Google’s Android Emulator, and critically, Lenovo’s P12 Pro pill–which is the one pill and third-party system that’s been formally authorized to run Android 12L up to now. (It’s additionally the primary system I’ve been utilizing to check 12L.)

When will Android 12L be prepared for launch?

Right now, Google is mid-way by way of its testing and growth cycle. Android 12L has already gotten two beta releases so far (relying on the system), with a 3rd beta deliberate for someday later this month previous to an eventual launch someday by the end of Q1 2022 (which ends in March).

The large modifications in Android 12L

A brand new taskbar and improved multitasking

The most necessary addition in Android 12L is the brand new taskbar. Similar to taskbars on desktop OSes, Android 12L’s taskbar sits on the backside of the display and holds a choice of apps for simple entry (although I ought to notice that on smaller units like telephones, the taskbar might not be there by default).

Unlike many Android launchers, the taskbar is pinned in place, so it’ll all the time be there except you’re enjoying a fullscreen video or recreation. That mentioned, you can also make it disappear while you need by urgent and holding. But the place issues get actually fascinating is you could additionally open up apps immediately into split-screen mode just by dragging the app icon up from the taskbar into the center of your display. From there, you possibly can simply modify the scale of the app’s window nevertheless you need.

This far into Android’s growth cycle, the addition of a taskbar and the power to pull and drop apps into split-screen mode is as near a “game-changer” as we’re going to get. It makes the method of multitasking a lot quicker and simpler—significantly for bigger units like tablets and smartphones which regularly really feel like they’ve extra display actual property than they will really make the most of.

That mentioned, there are some necessary limitations as a result of in contrast to Samsung’s One UI, there isn’t a straightforward strategy to open up three apps in split-screen on the similar time or create everlasting app pairs. But much more than that, the taskbar maxes out at 5 apps, which feels a bit restricted. I imply simply take a look at all the additional room on the left and proper the place extra apps may go. I’m actually hoping that for the ultimate construct, Google will increase the variety of apps that may reside down there, particularly when present foldables just like the Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold3 have an analogous taskbar that helps as much as eight icons (plus a launcher) with ease.

For individuals who like to observe movies, Google lately added a brand new split-screen icon to the second Android 12L beta’s picture-in-picture mode, so you possibly can extra simply go from the mini participant to multitasking with only a couple faucets.

UI enhancements

The different large space of enchancment in Android 12L are modifications to the OS’s UI for bigger screens. So as a substitute of the single-column notification tray we’re used to seeing on telephones, Android 12L contains a two-column structure that places notifications on the precise alongside your ordinary fast settings icons on the left. It’s an easy change, however it actually does make the additional show space on greater units really feel extra worthwhile. And it’s an analogous scenario for the Settings menu, although as soon as once more I ought to level out that Samsung’s OneUI has had this for a while on bigger foldables. Sadly on the P12 Pro, I observed that the two-column notification structure solely works in panorama mode, which hopefully Google can handle in a future replace.

Another intelligent quality-of-life replace is the power for Android 12L to maneuver the PIN or pattern-entry menu on a tool’s lock display to left or proper, primarily based on the place you most lately touched the display. It makes entering into your system only a bit quicker and simpler. Though as soon as once more, Google nonetheless must tweak issues a bit. On the P12 Pro, the sector exhibiting your pin seems on the high of the display, which seems a bit awkward (and in addition fairly hilarious) in portrait mode. Google additionally up to date the Recent Apps display with a brand new structure that retains the prevailing card-based system whereas higher using the house on the perimeters of your show.

Finally, whereas it’s not out there on the P12 Pro simply but, Google additionally added a brand new “double line” clock choice to the lock display. So as a substitute of getting a large clock smack dab in the midst of your show, you possibly can select a extra compact timepiece that’s tucked up within the high left nook.

Even extra under-the-hood large display optimizations

Elsewhere, Android 12L has much more delicate enhancements designed to make apps look higher on greater screens, even when these apps haven’t been up to date shortly. For apps that haven’t been already optimized by their builders, Google upgraded Android 12L’s compatibility mode to make apps robotically look and reply higher throughout numerous display resolutions and orientations. And for apps that don’t take up the whole display, Google added new letterboxing choices together with new overlays and background settings. There’s even a brand new device to use rounded corners to app home windows, although as you possibly can see by the squared-off apps from our Android 12L take a look at system, it’s as much as system makers to implement them as they see match.

In the longer term, Google may also add rankings to Play Store to assist level out which apps have been optimized for giant display units and help issues like adaptive layouts and scaling choices, which is very necessary for foldables that may change between numerous display resolutions and side ratios on the fly.

Then there are extra area of interest modifications like up to date M3 buttons (those that appear like little tablets) that ought to assist name consideration to necessary permissions, some new animations (just like the one for energy in fast settings) and extra intuitive labels for necessary multitasking features (like renaming “pin to top” to “split top”).

What Android 12L means for future units

Google has been very clear to this point saying Android 12L is meant to help “the next wave of Android 12 tablets, Chromebooks and foldables.” So whereas you may even see some enhancements on telephones, Android 12L is absolutely setting the desk for the following batch of big-screen cellular units. However, if we’re studying between the strains, maybe the larger takeaway is that Android 12L may herald the arrival of the long-rumored Pixel Fold or presumably the return of a first-party Google pill. Google hasn’t carried out a mid-cycle Android replace since Android 8.1 in late 2017, which suggests Google may need some upcoming {hardware} designed to actually showcase all the brand new options in Android 12L.

But has it labored? Compared to vanilla Android 12, the brand new taskbar in Android 12L makes a direct influence on how you employ and multitask on a pill or different large display system. With so many individuals working and studying from residence, the times when a pill may very well be a easy video watching or social media machine are over, and with Android 12L is Google acknowledging that shift.

However, it isn’t a transparent win, as a result of when in comparison with Chrome OS which already has a devoted taskbar and the power to run Android apps, Chrome OS-based units typically really feel like they’re higher suited to deal with on a regular basis productiveness or schooling wants, significantly on devices with built-in or non-compulsory keyboards. But for mobile-first hybrid units like foldables, Android 12L makes numerous sense, even when many of those new options are already out there in different variations of Android like One UI.