For years, Google has dedicated considerable effort to enhancing the Android experience on tablets and large-screen devices. With the introduction of features such as a taskbar and refined split-screen functionality, the platform has made strides. Nevertheless, many users feel that Android tablets have yet to achieve the seamless multitasking capabilities typically associated with PCs. In response, Google is reviving a powerful tool that could significantly alter tablet usage: the ability to run any Android app in a floating bubble.
Recent insights from Android Authority indicate that Google is still pursuing this “bubble anything” concept, aiming to better integrate it into existing tablet workflows with an updated interface. The company envisions this feature as a versatile tool tailored for power users.
Android tablets may get massive multitasking upgrade with Floating Apps
The forthcoming implementation revolves around a straightforward and intuitive drag-and-drop gesture. Code strings and accompanying animations suggest that tablet users will soon be able to drag an app icon directly from the taskbar and drop it into one of the screen’s bottom corners. This action will instantly launch the app in a smaller, floating bubble window, allowing users to reposition this bubble freely while concurrently engaging with other applications.
This method aligns seamlessly with existing multitasking features, such as split-screen mode, currently available on Android tablets. The intention appears to be minimizing the learning curve for users. To facilitate a smooth transition, the code hints at a new educational tutorial complete with animations, designed to guide users through the drag-to-float gesture during their initial interaction with the taskbar.
Bubble anything
At present, the Android operating system restricts the “bubble” feature primarily to conversation notifications from select messaging apps. However, the evidence strongly indicates that this new gesture will extend to any app pinned to the taskbar. Given that Android already permits any app icon to occupy this position, expanding the floating window capability to all apps seems a logical progression.
This broader application opens the door to enhanced multitasking possibilities, potentially enabling users to keep three, four, or more apps readily accessible simultaneously. Such a functional upgrade is particularly beneficial for smaller tablets, which often struggle to accommodate multiple applications within the confines of standard split-screen mode. While some custom skins from other manufacturers have already adopted similar functionalities, a robust native solution would provide much-needed uniformity across all Android devices.
Although the timeline for these enhancements remains uncertain, the presence of a fully developed tutorial and corresponding animations suggests that the “bubble any app” feature is steadily progressing toward a public release in a future update.
