The Android 12 sc-v2 release, which we’re expecting will be called Android 12.1, will be improving upon a feature first seen in early Android 12 developer previews.
In Android 12 Developer Preview 2, we enabled a hidden “taskbar” feature in the Pixel Launcher that appears at the bottom of the screen where the navigation bar normally resides and shows a handful of your frequently used apps and recently used apps.
However, since we first saw the taskbar in Developer Preview 2, we haven’t seen any major improvements to the feature in subsequent Android 12 previews.
The reason, as we’ve now learned, is because Google was working on the feature behind-the-scenes for Android 12.1.
In addition, we’ve learned that Google is developing this taskbar feature for another class of large screen devices: foldable phones.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 even shows the tablet versions of many apps when it is unfolded, and if the rumors are true, the Google Pixel Fold could be just as big as Samsung’s foldable at 7.57-inches when unfolded.
While we can’t directly confirm if Google is developing Android’s taskbar feature specifically for the Pixel Fold, we can confirm that foldables are one of the form factors this feature is intended for.
It’s unlikely that Google swapped the image because it accidentally showed off the unreleased Pixel Fold, but the presence of the image does at least suggest that Google is developing the feature with foldable phones in mind.
That’s not the only software change in Android 12.1 aimed at improving the foldable phone experience, though.
We don’t know if Google intends to launch the Pixel Fold with Android 12.1, but it’d make sense given all the new foldable-related patches we’ve seen in the point release!
XDA » News In-Depth » Android 12.1 will improve the foldable phone experience likely in preparation for the Pixel Fold
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