According to former XDA Developers editor Mishaal Rahman, Google is set to make major changes to the taskbar on the QPR1 version of Android 14 due in December 2023. In particular, a search bar should do his appearance.
As you know, Google lifted the veil on Android 12L at the end of 2021. This is a special version of its OS dedicated specifically to tablets and smartphones that are foldable or have a screen. Launched in March 2022 as Android 12.1 on a multitude of devices, this version drastically improves the user interface on foldable smartphones and tablets.
This notably involves the introduction of a new quick menu, but above all the integration of a taskbar. Thanks to it, users can quickly switch from one app to another, as one could do on a Chromebook for example.
However, if we are to believe the information of Mishaal Rahman, former editor-in-chief of XDA Developers and renowned expert in the Android universe, Google is about to make major changes to the taskbar precisely.
Google will review the taskbar on Android 14
First, the insider confirms the arrival of a search bar in the taskbar. Be careful however, it will be in the app drawer instead and not in the taskbar itself. Thanks to it, users will be able to quickly search for an application among those already installed on the internal memory of their device. In other words, it cannot be used to search for files or search the web.
According to Mishaal Rahman, the Mountain View firm is also considering integrate an option to add recently installed apps directly in the taskbar. As a reminder, this is already possible with several competitors, in particular on Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, but also with Xiaomi and Vivo.
But we imagine that an official implementation of this feature by Google would allow all manufacturers to benefit from it. Furthermore, and again according to Rahman, the web giant also wants to allow users to switch between a permanent or transient taskbar. Thus, it would be enough to long press on the taskbar to choose one of the two modes.
According to the expert, these new features would only be available from version QPR1 of Android 14, the deployment of which is not planned before December 2023. So don’t expect to see them on the stable version of Android. ‘Android 14, which should arrive at the start of the school year.
Google is preparing big upgrades for Android’s taskbar
With the Android 14 QPR1 release (December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop), the taskbar could get some new, very useful features!
Details available exclusively on Patreon: https://t.co/cebaSIhYVk pic.twitter.com/CIf5Q4Ya4z
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) August 14, 2023
Source: Mishaal Rahman via Android Authority