Pixel C team says split screen coming to Android N

posted by Michael H. / Dec 10, 2015, 8:34 PM

Pixel C team says split screen coming to Android N

The general consensus around the new Google Pixel C tablet is that it is nice enough hardware that suffers from a lack of optimized apps and software. The Pixel C team took questions in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) recently, and spilled the beans that one of the more useful software optimizations for Android could be on the way in the next update.

Andrew Bowers, director for consumer hardware at Google, had this to say during the AMA:

We're working on lots of things right now for N that, of course, we wish we had, you know, yesterday. But we'd spoil the surprise of N if we shared all of them. Split screen is in the works!

The team also mentioned working on DisplayPort support over USB Type-C, but it was less clear if that would be part of Android N as well.

We obviously knew that Android N was in the works, because Google never stops development on Android, but this is the first we're hearing about some of the major updates planned for Android. It seems pretty obvious that Google will be working on better multitasking options for larger screens, and there is a chance we'll see something similar to Windows Continuum start to take shape if DisplayPort support comes with Android N.

The question remains when we might see the update. It's certainly possible that we might see Android 6.1 as soon as Google I/O in June, but it also seems unlikely that Google would flip from Marshmallow to N that soon. Maybe by the end of 2016 though.

source: Reddit via Android Police

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33 Comments

1. WAusJackBauer

Posts: 454; Member since: Mar 22, 2015

Stock Android sucks. Mutli window has been around for 2 or 3 years?

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 8:45 PM 2

3. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Since Samsung Galaxy S3.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 8:58 PM 11

12. sgodsell

Posts: 7161; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

All Android devices that have Marshmallow installed have a hidden split already. Users just have to change one property in a properties file in order to enable it. It's beta right now, but its in their. Google it.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:37 PM 5

25. Shocky unregistered

It's still unusable for users unless they root so it's irrelevant. They should have had this ready for marshmallow, with the release on the Pixel C they had a lot of incentive to finish this feature. That said, it's not a feature I care about which I why I already have a PIxel C.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 3:05 AM 0

5. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

6 years on windows 7.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:05 PM 6

6. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Sucks in terms of built-in features and on privacy...but alas, both are fixable via root access and advanced software like XPosed.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:12 PM 1

21. catze86

Posts: 731; Member since: Dec 07, 2015

warranty void?

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 1:36 AM 1

28. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Not on my OnePlus One...

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 5:50 AM 1

24. Shocky unregistered

I wouldn't say it sucks, but the lack of some features is surprising. I will say the PIxel C is very fast, as a gaming device it's pretty awesome, also the display is surprisingly good.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 2:54 AM 0

2. UglyFrank

Posts: 2192; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Samsung makes the feature, then either apple or stock android add it a few years later?

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 8:57 PM 5

4. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Actually Microsoft had split screen first. In 09 windows 7 had snap, it allowed two apps to be split evenly on the screen.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:04 PM 9

8. WAusJackBauer

Posts: 454; Member since: Mar 22, 2015

I'm talking about in Android devices.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:17 PM 1

14. darkkjedii

Posts: 30955; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

I'm talking about the feature.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 10:04 PM 7

32. j2001m

Posts: 3061; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

I be thinking he means mobile OS AsWindows or a Windows plugin/app will have done anything 1st in most cases

posted on Dec 12, 2015, 8:31 AM 0

20. UglyFrank

Posts: 2192; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

I mean if you want to be a jerk about it.....

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 12:51 AM 1

7. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

what about floating windows (just like Windows OS), at this rate android will never beat windows for convertible/hybrid class :-/

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:15 PM 2

16. runzlord

Posts: 245; Member since: Oct 13, 2013

I still don't understand why at this time someone would buy an android tablet or ipad over a surface or any windows tablet or Hybrid

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 10:21 PM 7

17. Awalker

Posts: 1973; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

I use my Nexus 7 to browse the web and watch movies and I have a high end Windows laptop for productivity and gaming. I have no need for a Windows tablet.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 11:02 PM 3

19. Jason2k13

Posts: 1459; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

Price, weight, size and apps.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 12:36 AM 4

29. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

All of which are met by various devices from OEMs with varying performance like them Android tabs, and the better tablet optimized apps on the Windows Store...plus, all of them have access to Android emulators; atom processors are more than crappy enough to run them bastardized apps: bit.ly/1M7ypqh Heck, even my 2008 HP Pavilion Laptop with Intel Centrino runs them "high end" candy crush games including Asphalt 8 Airborn.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 5:57 AM 0

23. Shocky unregistered

I've already got a PC, I don't need another one.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 2:52 AM 2

31. BattleBrat

Posts: 1476; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

There are apps that allow for floating resizable windows

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 11:21 AM 0

9. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 2013

They (The Pixel-C team) got roasted on that AMA. The long knives were out quick, and they were merciless. Almost all of the top comments were removed. Pretty hilarious stuff.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:18 PM 0

26. Shocky unregistered

I don't understand the hate towards the Pixel C, it's an amazing tablet. No other Android tablet comes close, yes it lacks spitscreen but who actually uses it? really?? Maybe it was a mistake to advertise it for productivity as that's all anyone seems to be focusing on.

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 3:18 AM 0

27. Shocky unregistered

Actually I take that back, they haven't advertised this at all. lol

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 4:22 AM 0

33. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Because they are charging a lot for a mobile OS. When your going this price, you are still going to need to tote your business stuff around. If all your doing is watching Netflix, there is better options for the price. One could argue about screen resolution....but come on... basically it is for someone that has no clue it wont run windows programs, and when they do find out, will have to justify its price. I see this all all all the times in a store, where a Chrome OS gets returned because it doesn't run the software their graduate degree requires in the REAL WORLD. Yes I get these returns after they have attempted to go in internship.

posted on Dec 12, 2015, 1:06 PM 0

10. guest

Posts: 371; Member since: Jun 13, 2012

The C = crap and I am an android guy. Half baked device. Slowly switching to Ms based tablet two in ones. Bought a cheap Chinese one and have been surprisingly reaching for that instead of the iPad Air. So nice having the full website so I don't have to rely on limited apps.

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:22 PM 0

11. fyahking

Posts: 1146; Member since: Jan 28, 2015

You on slickdeals.net?lol

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:35 PM 0

22. Shocky unregistered

Half baked device? It's the best Android tablet, hands down. There is no contest,

posted on Dec 11, 2015, 2:45 AM 1

13. IOSANDROID

Posts: 120; Member since: Sep 30, 2015

So in theory IOS actually got split multitasking before android, the OS praised for its REAL multitasking capabilities, one has to laugh and look that I'm a android user, I would just like to see wich of the 2 OSes will bring it to smartphone first, will it be google or apple, we will find out in the next chapter. Note: I'm talking about stock android

posted on Dec 10, 2015, 9:55 PM 0

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