Android: This is what comes next

[Bateluer]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6965/the-next-version-of-android-some-of-whats-coming

Conclusions
Even though we weren’t explicitly told there’s a new version of Android coming, nor its nickname or version number, there were repeated direct allusions and references to it throughout this year’s I/O. Although many lamented it not being directly announced, it was there if you looked for it, including a few direct glimpses.

It’s clear that the new version will implement API level 18 and bring further improvements to 2D rendering performance throughout Android as well as support for Bluetooth Smart (LE). These are both things closer to hardware and system which require changing the platform software entirely as opposed to pushing an update out to Google Play Services.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yawn, where is the multiwindow and IR support?

 

[darkewaffle]

Improved compatibility with car head units sounds handy at least.

 

[Red Storm]

Yawn, where is the multiwindow and IR support?

Multiwindow is extremely overrated, on phones that is. Floating app windows are much more impressive and useful on hand held devices.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I'd argue the opposite. There's not enough room on a phone for floating windows and multi-window is actually a pretty good implementation.

(Floating windows have been technically possible in Android for a long time anyway. Download Dice Player and you can float a movable video window on any non-archaic version of Android).

 

[Red Storm]

I'd argue the opposite. There's not enough room on a phone for floating windows and multi-window is actually a pretty good implementation.

(Floating windows have been technically possible in Android for a long time anyway. Download Dice Player and you can float a movable video window on any non-archaic version of Android).

Multiwindow looks nice until the first time you need to use the keyboard, then it fails. Pop out windows (browsers, video players, etc.) are nice because you can move them around and resize as you see fit, not be stuck with two static windows.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Multiwindow is extremely overrated, on phones that is. Floating app windows are much more impressive and useful on hand held devices.

Multi window is exactly what makes multitasking useful. This was what Apple haters cried about from the beginning--about how their Android phones could multitask. But what use is multitasking when most apps suspend and resume anyway? Solid Explorer's split screen ability is huge for example.

Whether floating or multi, the point remains... you are displaying multiple windows at once.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Multiwindow looks nice until the first time you need to use the keyboard, then it fails. Pop out windows (browsers, video players, etc.) are nice because you can move them around and resize as you see fit, not be stuck with two static windows.

Have you even USED multi-window? This comment indicates to me you haven't.

When you're on the bottom window, it slides up when the keyboard pops out so no problem. If you're using the top window, the keyboard occupies the bottom so no problem again.

You can also dynamically slide the border, swap, minimize and maximize the two windows. Is it as flexible as floating windows? No, but it certainly doesn't lose much versus floating windows on a small phone screen. Because seriously, when a window gets smaller than a quarter of the screen, it's practically useless.

 

[Red Storm]

Have you even USED multi-window? This comment indicates to me you haven't.

When you're on the bottom window, it slides up when the keyboard pops out so no problem. If you're using the top window, the keyboard occupies the bottom so no problem again.

You can also dynamically slide the border, swap, minimize and maximize the two windows. Is it as flexible as floating windows? No, but it certainly doesn't lose much versus floating windows on a small phone screen.

I had a Note 2. I used MW to watch local or streamed videos and the functions you just mentioned ruined that, making MW next to useless for me. Doing something while watching a video is the only form of multitasking I can think of that requires both windows be open and visible at all times, which is what I hoped MW would be, but it failed at that. Any other form of multitasking I could easily use the task switcher for.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Okay, try this then. Install Dice Player use its popout video player to float a video window and then try using the keyboard. Come back and tell me it's a much different experience.

I generally used multi-window for when I needed to read something while responding/typing in another. Typing using an onscreen keyboard while not looking at it or the text I've entered is somewhat difficult. Maybe if I had a physical keyboard (but then multi-window wouldn't have to fold down).

Basically, while you're typing, you're not watching the video, maybe listening at most and that's not affected by MW.

 

[Red Storm]

I don't have the Note 2 anymore, but from what I remember it worked well with the stock Samsung video player. My video would stay open up top (or where ever I wanted to place it) while I chatted or Google searched or web browsed in the background no problem. I could not do this with MW.

 

[s44]

Yawn, where is the multiwindow and IR support?

IR? Let's see what the Nexus S4 gives us.

Multiwindow... Not going to be in 4.3, because Google is going to go big in KLP this fall. Recall this story from a month ago: Intel confirms imminent $200 Android ultrathin notebooks. You think Chipzilla would go down this path without PC-mode upgrades to Android? The most obvious is a robust windowing system.

 

[Ksyder]

I can only hope the focus for more bluetooth improvements come along with bluetooth bug fixes as well. My wife and I both have a Nexus 4 and it's quite obvious that the bluetooth functionality was a downgrade over previous Android versions. It's a major disappointment on a phone that is otherwise quite good.

Aside from the initial audio streaming issues that were fixed in 4.2.2, there are still a number of bluetooth issues plaguing Android 4.2.2:
- lack of MAP profile support. It was supported until 4.2. (https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id...
- bluetooth randomly won't turn on (https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id... https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id...
- wifi drops connection when bluetooth is in use (https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id...

I've personally run into all of these problems. When people ask me if I'd recommend the Nexus 4 to them, I tell them that it's fine as long as they don't ever have to use bluetooth.

This quote from the comments definitely caught my attention. I've been using a nexus 4 for about a month now and I have had no bluetooth problems at all, using with stereo bluetooth headset and also car head unit. It seems to work as well as the previous unlocked galaxy nexus I was using before that.

edit- none of those links seem to work.

 

[poofyhairguy]

You think Chipzilla would go down this path without PC-mode upgrades to Android? The most obvious is a robust windowing system.

Android doesn't need to go much further to be more capable than Chrome OS.

 

[Bateluer]

Multiwindow looks nice until the first time you need to use the keyboard, then it fails. Pop out windows (browsers, video players, etc.) are nice because you can move them around and resize as you see fit, not be stuck with two static windows.

I haven't experienced any issues with the keyboard using multi window on my Note 8.