Android 14 quietly made multitasking higher on tablets

Over the previous few years, Google has been laborious at work enhancing the expertise of utilizing Android on large-screen gadgets. It launched its first tablet-oriented OS replace in years, Android 12L, in early 2022, and each new OS replace since has included incremental enhancements to the large-screen expertise. Final 12 months’s Android 14 launch was no completely different, including options like an improved taskbar and the flexibility to power apps to undertake a selected facet ratio. Though these two adjustments have been added in quarterly characteristic updates to Android 14, there was one change launched in Android 14’s preliminary launch that slipped beneath the radar till now: a revamped Alt+Tab expertise.

In Android 13 and earlier, urgent Alt+Tab on a Bluetooth or USB keyboard linked to an Android pill or different large-screen system would merely convey up Android’s recents display. Whilst you might cycle by apps by urgent the Tab key whereas persevering with to carry down Alt, there wasn’t a visible cue that confirmed you which of them app you chose. Moreover, shortly urgent Alt+Tab wouldn’t swap to probably the most lately used app; as an alternative, it could briefly flash the recents display after which return to the present app. In comparison with desktop working programs, the best way Android dealt with Alt+Tab presses made for a clunky multitasking expertise.

Luckily, Android has considerably revamped the best way it handles Alt+Tab in Android 14. Once you press Alt+Tab on a bodily keyboard linked to a pill (or different large-screen system) working Android 14, a small horizontal strip of apps seems close to the highest. A most of six apps seems on this strip that you could cycle by by urgent Tab whereas holding down Alt. The at the moment chosen app is highlighted with a grey line round its preview. You may as well shortly swap to the final used app by urgent after which shortly letting go of Alt+Tab, in contrast to earlier than. Lastly, if you wish to see the complete recents display, you’ll be able to preserve urgent Tab whereas holding down Alt till you attain the “present X extra apps” card on the finish of the strip. Letting go of Tab whereas highlighting this card will convey up the complete recents display.

Developer Huy Minh first observed the brand new UI whereas testing an Android 14 QPR2-based customized ROM for his or her Raspberry Pi 5. They then found that this new UI additionally seems in Android 14 QPR1, and with the assistance of developer Maxr1998, we will verify that this UI additionally seems within the preliminary Android 14 launch. One way or the other, this variation slipped beneath everybody’s radar till immediately, which suggests there aren’t lots of of us on the market utilizing a bodily keyboard with their Pixel Pill. That would change quickly, although, since Google is rumored to be relaunching its Pixel Pill alongside a new pen and keyboard accent. The way in which Android 14 handles Alt+Tab is a dramatic enchancment over Android 13 and comes proper in time for the relaunch of Google’s pill.