Latest news with #splitScreen
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Phone Arena
OPPO sees a bit of itself in this major Android 16 upgrade, and it's hard to disagree
Google is bringing a new multitasking feature to Android 16, and even OPPO is giving it some credit. The new system, which introduces a 90:10 split-screen layout, looks very similar to a multitasking idea OPPO has been using since 2023. That feature, known as "Boundless View" on OPPO phones and "Open Canvas" on the OnePlus Open, allows apps to sit partially off the screen. Users can switch between them by tapping the visible edge of the app, making multitasking feel smoother and less restricted than traditional split-screen modes. Android 16 's version works a bit differently, but the idea is similar. The update allows one app to stay mostly in view (taking up 90 percent of the screen), while the second app remains in a slim portion along the edge. This setup lets users switch between the two more easily, without fully closing either app. The new multitasking layout has been spotted in early Android 16 beta builds, including Samsung's One UI 8 beta. It's not currently available on Pixel phones, but that could change in future updates. The first Android 16 QPR1 beta went live on May 20, with more features likely to arrive as testing continues. After some online speculation about OPPO's role in this change, the company issued a statement to clarify. An OPPO executive had suggested on Weibo that the company may have helped bring this feature to Android, but OPPO later told Android Authority that it had no direct involvement. Instead, OPPO said Google's feature "draws inspiration" from its own Boundless View, calling it "a similar feature." How the 90/10 split feature works on an OPPO device. | Image credit — Ice Universe on Weibo Zhu Haizhou on the Android 16 90/10 split feature being OPPO's small contribution. | Image credit — Weibo In its statement, OPPO explained: — OPPO statement Whether Google's approach is a coincidence or a result of industry influence, the change is likely to benefit users—especially those using large-screen devices like foldables. And with OPPO offering praise instead of criticism, it seems the company is more interested in pushing multitasking forward than claiming ownership of the idea.
Android Authority
20-05-2025
- Android Authority
Android 16 QPR1's new recents screen makes split-screen easier to find
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 revamps the recents screen, making the app context menu for actions like split-screen more discoverable with a new pill-shaped button. This button now displays the app's name and a downward arrow, a common indicator for additional menus, helping users find previously hidden options. Other visual changes include pill-shaped containers for 'Screenshot' and 'Select' buttons and a blurred wallpaper background aligning with Material 3 Expressive. If you're new to Android, figuring out how to put two apps in split-screen mode might not be intuitive. This is because the button for split-screen is often hidden in a context menu many users may not realize exists. To access this menu, you need to press and hold an app's icon in the recents screen—a gesture that lacks a clear visual cue. This discoverability challenge might be why Google has adjusted the recents screen in the latest Android 16 beta. In today's Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 release, Google has made a subtle but significant change to the recents screen, making the context menu for each app more discoverable. Previously, only the app's icon appeared above its task. Now, the recents screen displays the app's icon, its name, and a downward-pointing arrow within a small pill-shaped button overlaid on the task. Displaying the app's name is a welcome clarification, clearly identifying which app corresponds to each task preview. The most impactful change, however, is the addition of the downward arrow. This icon is widely understood to indicate an additional menu, so its presence should help more users realize they can access further actions directly from the recents screen. In Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, the recents screen's context menu offers seven primary actions: 'App info,' 'Split screen,' 'Pin,' 'Pause app,' 'Screenshot,' 'Select,' and 'Close.' An eighth action, 'Save app pair,' appears exclusively when the context menu is accessed for a split-screen task. While dedicated 'Screenshot' and 'Select' buttons (for text or images) also remain below the task, these have been a standard feature on Pixel devices for several years. Beyond the new pill indicator, Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 introduces other subtle visual refinements to the recents screen. The dedicated 'Screenshot' and 'Select' buttons are now also enclosed in pill-shaped containers, creating a more consistent look. Furthermore, the previously solid gray background has been replaced. Now, a blurred version of the user's wallpaper or underlying content subtly shows through, a visual effect aligning with Google's new Material 3 Expressive theme. For a look at all the other design updates we've found in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, check out this article. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
