Even before the arrival of Android 13, Google is rolling out improvements in Google Workspace for “Android’s largest screens”.
Choices are limited when it comes to Android tablets, but there are a few, like Lenovo’s Yoga Tab and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, that can rival Apple’s iPad Pro.
Google could turn the tide on the lack of Android tablets in 2022, after ditching the Pixel Slate in 2019. Recent improvements are coming via Android 12L – a version of Android 12 for tablets and foldable devices – and the upcoming Android 13 , currently in beta. In May, Google announced it was making a Pixel tablet, but it probably won’t hit the market until 2023.
Workspace improvements affect Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Keep
The Workspace improvements are for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep, which makes sense on “widescreen” Android devices. Drag-and-drop functionality is easier to use, keyboard shortcut support and a side-by-side view of Drive windows are also making an appearance.
“Earlier this year, Android introduced 12L, a software update aimed at making devices with large screens, such as tablets, easier to use. During the I/O conference, we announced our intention to update more than 20 “Google apps on the tablets, in order to take full advantage of the additional space”, recalls Scott Blanksteen, senior director of management. Android products.
Android tablet users can therefore now use drag and drop functionality for multitasking between Docs, Sheets and Drive. Users can drag text or images from Chrome or Sheets and drop them into an existing Docs document or Sheets spreadsheet cell and vice versa.
Side-by-side display
Google Drive now allows users to upload files by dragging and dropping them into the app. They too can add links to Drive files by dragging the file into an open app like Keep.
Drive on Android tablets also now has a side-by-side view to see two Drive windows. The second instance allows users to view the contents of folders before opening them.
To view Drive windows side by side, one needs to select the three-dot menu, on any Drive file, choose the option Open in new window > navigate each Drive window independently. According to Google, the updates will be rolling out in the coming weeks for Workspace and users with a personal Google account.
Android 13 takes over the improvements made to tablets by Android 12L
Android 13 carries over the improvements made to tablets by Android 12L. We note the arrival of notifications, quick settings, a lock screen, a preview and an improved home screen for tablets. 12L’s taskbar also allows split-screen viewing by dragging an app from the app library onto the screen.
Pen enhancements in Android 13 aim to reduce unintended actions caused by users resting their hand on the screen.
On the competition side, the iPad has already had split-screen display for some time. But iPadOS 16, currently in beta, introduces Stage Manager, which supports four different apps in resizable windows (rather than preset or equal-sized windows).
Improve app experience on Android
According to the Google Workspace blog, keyboard support, drag-and-drop, and multi-instance support are also now available in Drive. Keyboard support for Docs and Slides and drag-and-drop in Docs and Sheets will be available from July 28.
In January, Google posted jobs to improve the “Android tablet app experience,” where the web giant said it believed the world was moving towards more powerful and capable tablets.
Source: ZDNet.com