Latest news with #PC-like
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
6 big features missing on Android 16
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Google's big Android 16 update has arrived a tad early in the year — and that's good news as we get to play with new software a little ahead of schedule. It also means that the upcoming Pixel flagships will likely ship with the latest Android update out of the box, unlike last year. While the Pixel 10 series may get Android 16 at launch, the latest version still misses several noteworthy features in the stable release. Android 16 brings a lot of under-the-hood changes for all Android flagships (not just Pixels), but the more user-facing changes we all have been eagerly waiting for? Yeah, you will have to wait a little longer. Android 16 stable release: Hot or not? 1550 votes Hot 45 % Not 55 % Material 3 Expressive Google A big draw of the new Android version is the updated theming engine — a step up from the older Material You we've come to know and love from previous Android versions. It's more colorful, more personalized, and Google has even played around with text, shapes, and transparency to make it feel more modern. Justifying the 'Expressive' tag in its name, this Material You iteration is quite a sensory experience. Animations look bouncier, elements follow nice motion physics, and haptic feedback brings everything to life. It would've been even better if it launched with the first Android 16 stable release — but alas, we'll have to wait a bit longer. Live Updates Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Remember when Google introduced Live Updates in Android 16 to mimic iPhone-style, omnipresent notifications? Yeah, that too isn't fully available yet. The only working part right now is the live progress bar feature in apps like ride-hailing and food-delivery services. So, you can see exactly where your order is while you impatiently stare at the front door. But the fancier bits — like the persistent iPhone-style chip and lock screen updates that rely on always-on display — are still a few months away. The silver lining is that more app developers will have time to update their apps to support the feature before the full experience rolls out. At least we can hope for that to happen. Desktop mode We've long wanted Google to roll out a Samsung DeX-style desktop mode for a full-fledged PC-like experience using just your phone and an external monitor. And every year, we get teased that it's just around the corner. This year is no different, sadly. Instead of copying Samsung, Google pulled a boss move and partnered with it. The result? A functional, PC-like windowed experience for Android apps, while your phone or tablet remains accessible separately. Our own Mishaal Rahman even put together a detailed guide if you want to dive deeper. The feature will be supported by the Pixel 8 and newer devices, though once it rolls out later this year. Redesigned Google Photos editor Google Photos is already one of the most powerful image editors on smartphones — it's actually surprising how many features Google has packed into such a simple app. However, the app's gotten cluttered over the years as more AI tools were added on top of existing ones. With Android 16, the image editor is getting a major redesign, both in terms of visuals and usability. The interface looks more modern and matches the expressive Material You design. And of course, there are AI-powered suggestions in the form of chips that appear directly on the image, so you don't have to dig through menus. Lock screen customizations Lock screens have become the new playground for self-expression across Android and iOS with flashy images and fancy clock layouts. With Android 16, Google wants to make your lock screen pop with Magic Portraits — with your photos peeking through clover and other fun shapes. They look damn cool when photos lift out of those cutouts using depth information! There's a nice little animation too as you move from the lock screen to the home screen. I've played around with the feature using my own photos, but Joe Maring's Magic Portrait of his dog? That one's adorable to the Pro Max degree — no comparisons. I just can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this and go bonkers with what they can create. Quick Settings redesign Joe Maring / Android Authority The Quick Settings panel is also in for a big revamp in Android 16, in addition to Android getting a fresh coat of paint overall. Mixed tile shapes that don't look jarring, their customizable sizes, and matching sliders for volume and brightness are all coming to your Pixel. Google even updated the status bar icons for battery, Wi-Fi, etc., moving from solid, filled icons to more nuanced designs. And yes, Google borrowed iOS's dual-shade pull-down menu — swipe down from the left for notifications and the right for Quick Settings. But you'll still have the option to stick with the single gesture for both like we do it now. Once again, though, if you just updated your Pixel to Android 16 stable, you won't see any of this yet. When should I expect these features? Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Google didn't cram all its flashy new features into the first stable Android 16 release. Instead, it's spreading them out across the year and releasing them via Pixel Drops. Many of the features above are part of the Android 16 QPR1 beta that rolled out last month, with the second beta bringing the new desktop mode for you to check out. There's no official timeline yet, but it'll likely be a few months before everything drops. Mishaal predicts an early September release for Android 16 QPR1's general release, which could coincide with the Pixel 10's speculated release. And while a lot of this is missing, sure, there's still plenty to explore in Android 16 as is. You can check out our full review to see how your Pixel is set for a big upgrade already.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
First Look at Google's Unfinished DeX-Like Desktop Mode for Android
Google is developing a new desktop interface called "Desktop View" for Android phones. "Desktop View" will include features like a persistent taskbar and freeform, resizable windows. While still a work in progress, the new desktop mode shows Google's progress towards offering a PC-like multitasking experience. For years, if you've wanted to plug your Android phone into a monitor and get something that felt remotely like a desktop, your only option has essentially been Samsung DeX. It offers a proper multi-window interface, a taskbar, and the ability to use your phone like a PC. Meanwhile, Android's offering for other devices has been extremely lacking. That appears to be changing. Last year, Google finally allowed Pixel phones to mirror their displays to external screens. Then, earlier this year, Google was working on a developer option for desktop mode. Now, deep dives into the Android code are revealing Google's ambitions for a more robust desktop environment, currently dubbed "Desktop View." This isn't just a tweaked interface for tablets; it's designed to work when you connect your phone to an external display, giving you a layout that's far more conducive to getting work done with a keyboard and mouse. 'Desktop View' includes features such as a persistent taskbar, much like you'd find on Windows or ChromeOS. This bar will reportedly give you quick access to your pinned apps and show your recently used ones, making switching between tasks much smoother than the standard Android recent apps view. More importantly, the system is being built to handle multiple apps running in resizable, freeform windows. You can apparently also drag and drop content between windows if the apps support it. This is crucial for getting that true PC-like multitasking experience. While this early desktop mode is showing significant progress, it's important to temper expectations slightly. First, it's still clearly a work in progress, tucked away in developer options in current beta builds. Right now, it's essentially a modified version of Android's windowing mode that you can currently see on tablets and foldables. So, it's unlikely that we'll see this as a finished product in Android 16. However, the fact that Google is actively developing these features and building upon the basic windowing capabilities introduced in earlier Android versions is a good sign. Google has also been working on bringing external display tools to Android–things like the ability to rearrange displays and move a mouse between displays. It feels like Google is finally ready to offer an alternative to DeX for those who don't want a Samsung phone, turning your phone into a real pocket computer. Source: Android Authority
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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- Business Standard
Google developing Samsung DeX-like desktop mode for Android: Details here
Expected to roll out with Android 16, the desktop mode will allow eligible smartphones to deliver connected external displays in to a full-fledged PC-like experience New Delhi Google is reportedly developing a desktop mode for Android devices that will allow eligible smartphones to deliver a PC-like experience when connected to external displays, similar to Samsung's DeX. According to 9to5Google, citing Android Authority, the new feature will enable users to interact with a desktop-style interface via monitors or TVs. The report highlights that Google introduced DisplayPort mirroring for Pixel devices with Android 14 QPR3, offering basic screen projection. This was followed by desktop windowing on the Pixel Tablet in Android 15 QPR1 (developer preview). These two features are now being integrated in Android 16 beta, which introduces full desktop windowing support on secondary displays. Android Authority demonstrated the feature using a Pixel 8 Pro connected to a laptop. The desktop interface showcased a taskbar with pinned and recent apps, launcher access, and three-button navigation on the right. The top of the screen displayed time and status bar icons. Pulling down revealed a dual-column Quick Settings and notifications panel—reminiscent of tablet and laptop interfaces. Apps can be resized, moved, and used side-by-side, with full keyboard and trackpad support. Notably, the phone can continue to be used independently while desktop mode is active. This mode closely mirrors Samsung's DeX, which also enables a desktop-like environment when a smartphone is connected to an external display. The feature is expected to be rolled out with Android 16, which is due for launch soon. First Published: May 05 2025 | 4:52 PM IST
