Multi-window mode: Additional competitive advantage for Android applications. Virtual desktops

Apple based on iOS 9 has implemented a function of repeating many times the screen that has the name "SPLIT VIEW". The "SPLIT VIEW" option means separated windows viewing. With this mode iPad screen You can divide into several windows and you can use two different applications at the same time. Set this window separation option. iPad models Pro ipad mini. 4 and iPad Air 2.

This feature is very useful on the ipade, as it allows you to share the screen and copy data from one application to another. In addition, you can simultaneously be in the browser and work in some other applications.

To be able to work immediately on two screens, you need to activate this option. Make it on the iPad is not difficult. Just observe some sequence of actions.

To begin with, deploy the Aipad, putting it in a horizontal position. Next, run the application of the split screen that you usually use, and swipe right to left together with the frame of the tablet case. After the multitasking panel appears with the image of the multi-color modes "Split View", the secondary application will start on the left.

It remains to select the application for the right side of the display. However, note that all programs cannot support such a mode. Although you can open several applications, but the top window will be active. This mode is called "SPLIT OVER". At the same time, the window separator is set manual way. This application applies on tablets with operating system iOS 9 and recent models.

If you touch the icon separating the window, or drag the left label, the "SPLIT VIEW" function will automatically turn on, which allows you to perform work in different open windows.

Using "SPLIT VIEW" in Safari

Many ask how to open two or more windows on the Safari browser. To make this possibility, you need to install the Siderafi application for Aipad mini 4 or iPad Pr., iPad Air 2. This application is activated via the "SPLIT VIEW" mode, as it is impossible, because it allows you to set the separation strip so as to conditionally divide the screen into two parts. However, only one window from the split screen will be active.

Next try to enable "Split View" mode to start double applications In one Safari search engine window, and in another window, enable the "Send to SideFari" feature . Unfortunately, the Safari View Controller option cannot cooperate with the search string due to adherence to caution. In principle, the developers promise to expand the capabilities of the "Safari View Controller" function Therefore, it is soon to earn the options bundle options and the autofile function.

How to change windows on the screen

Using the split mode of the "Split View" windows, you can set the size of the window applications as the same or different, depending on your needs. To set the window size is wider than another, you can squeeze the first, and the second window to expand or, on the contrary, remove. To do this, it is necessary to establish which application will be the main thing for you, and which is secondary. If necessary, you can change the purpose of window programs or their proportion.

Multitasking function "Image" on iPad

Tablets with iOS 9 (iPad Mini 2, iPad Air, iPad Pro and others) among all their important functions have the "Image" option, allowing you to open the application and watch the video at the same time. Therefore, in the FaceTime program, instead of the usual video, you can use a video call.

To do this, while watching a video in the application with the films or during the call, FaceTime needs to activate the "Home" button. At the same time, the video will change its size, and half the screen will be free for other actions on the iPad.

Then you can run another application, and move the window with the video to any place, in the course of changing its size. When it is necessary to return to the former screen format, it is enough to click on the image from the video, and at the bottom of the screen, activate the "full screen" command.

How to be when the iPad does not support the SPLIT View feature.

If you have a tablet earlier version of iOS. And it cannot use the "SPLIT VIEW" mode, then there is a "Slide Over" option. It works like this: every time the new panel will be superimposed on the right on the old image in the slide mode. Having finished working with an active application, you will close it, and you will open and become an active previous window.

Where is this mode? Such a "SLIDE OVER" mode is convenient when working with messaging applications and text programs on Ipadah. When " Slide Over »The screen is divided by half and one of the open windows is active, and the other passive.

So in new generations of tablets with iOS 9 many different options have appeared, which will be able not only to work with the help of a context, but will be competitive even with google applications. New feature With the screen separation mode for tablets with iOS 9, not only helps conveniently arrange the on-screen menu and change its size, but also provided the ability to perform several actions with different applications at the same time.

Anyone who worked in multi-light mode on the Android device may confirm that in certain situations it is very convenient. Simple example: reading e-book with the electronic dictionary. Especially - on a smartphone or tablet with a large enough screen.
If the user has to choose between two applications similar to almost all, but differing support for simultaneous work with several windows, it is not surprising that it will choose that such support provides.

From the article you will learn about the multi-light mode in Android, and how to use this opportunity when building your own applications.

Overview

Simultaneous work with several windows in Android is interesting functionwhich is able to highlight your application from a variety of others, give it an additional competitive advantage. Many OEM and ODM manufacturers, such as Samsung, Ramos and Huawei, are subject to basic system Android refinement. In particular, they introduce support for multi-zone mode. They make it in order to increase the attractiveness of their smartphones and tablets, select them from the bulk of devices that do not support such a function.

Multi-Scripting Scenarios

Preliminary information

In June 2012 was presented Cornerstone - The first open source platform for organizing multitasking work on Android. In August 2012, Samsung released the first apparatus supporting the work in multi-digital mode. Starting from 2013, and at our day, you can observe explosive growth in solutions to support simultaneous work with several windows in Android.

In May 2015, Android M Developer Preview came out (today, in July, already preview 2). The official release of Android M (6.0) is expected in the fall of 2015. In addition to other innovations android M PREVIEW 2 notable in that it supports multi-window mode.

Development of solutions to support multitasking in Android

There are two approaches to working with several windows: this is the use of floating (floating) and fixed (docked) windows. Among the main possibilities of work in multi-zone modes, you can mark the opening and closing of windows (OPEN / CLOSE), changing their size (resize) and mutual location (SWAP). Opening or closing the window, we, accordingly, turn on or turn off the multi-window mode. The size change feature provides for setting up the size of the windows. The change in the location of the windows is an action that allows you to change them in places.

Modes of working with multiple windows

In 2013, many decisions designed to work with several windows appeared on the market. They were developed by OEM and ODM manufacturers, independent suppliers of software and a community of open source software developers. In the table below, you can find a comparison of various technologies for the organization of multi-color work in the Android environment.

Product	Cornerstone	Standout.	Xposed	Tieto.
Description	Framework for organizing multitasking work in Android OS	Open source library that can be used to create floating windows applications	Multi-light application that supports fixed windows	The project is aimed at creating a working environment that resembles work on the desktop PC
Support opening, closing windows, size changes, disclosure full screen	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Window style	Fixed	Floating	Fixed	Fastened and floating
Modification code	At the android platform level	At the application level	At the android platform level	At the android platform level
Application support	All applications are supported, however, not available. dynamic setting SurfaceView.	Some auxiliary applications. For example - calculator.	Compatibility and stability solutions need improvement.	Supports all applications.
Android version	Android 4.1. - Android 4.4.	Android 4.1. - Android 4.4.	Android 4.4.	Android 4.4.
Official site	Cry	Cry	Cry	Cry

Software architecture

Android platform code can be modified in order to equip it with support additional features. Android OS architecture consists of several levels.

In the case of Android 4.2 and Android 4.3., Shell (Launcher) and other applications at startup are placed in one stack, called the "Main Stack" ("Main Stack"). As you know, multi-plate mode requires more Stacks for placing several windows in them. As a result, you need to modify the system class ActivityManagerService by adding the interface to it to create a stack and control them. To modify the window of the WindowManagerService platform, which allows you to manage graphic representations of applications, you need to change inputManager. It is necessary that he can redirect the touch events with the corresponding windows.

FROM android output 4.4 and Android 5.0 approach to controlling the stack has changed significantly. The shell and other applications can run in different stacks. Support for several stacks and the ability to manage them was added. Figure below shows the differences in working with a stack in different versions Android.

Comparison of work with a stack in Android 4.3 and Android 4.4

Now focus on Android 5 (Lollipop). Android OS uses a callback mechanisms to perform the Activity interface features. However, the control function is implemented at the platform level. Therefore, now we will look at two important class: ActivityManagerVice and WindowManagerService.

Structure on the Lollipop platform

Activity Management in Lollipop

Since the ability to work in multi-block mode depends on the stack, it is shown below how you can create a stack and how to start ACTIVITY in this stack. The following functions have been added to the Lollipop in the IACTIVITYMANAGER.JAVA interface:

After starting, the SystemServer process calls the Activity Manager Services (Activity Manager Services) and windows ( windows Management. Services). In order to observe this process, we can add to the appropriate seats to call the execution time exception (RuntimeException).

The process of creating a stack in Lollipop

Now let's see how to start ACTIVITY in the stack:

Starting Activity in the stack

The following commands were added to the Lollipop in the ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge, the following commands were added:

Window control in Lollipop

WindowManagerService is the central part of the windows management system. Its functionality includes the dispatching of input events, controlling the location of objects on the screen and surfaces on which graphic elements are displayed.

The role of WindowsManagerService B. Graphic architecture Android

Problems of multi-color regime

When working in a multi-light mode, a change in the size of the windows is available. Examples are known when the size of the window that displays the game animation cannot be changed. The main reason for this is that the Android SurfaceFlinger subsystem cannot dynamically change the size of the displayed image.

Games using SurfaceFlinger cannot dynamically change the window size

Another problem is that some applications are displayed incorrectly. In the figure below, you can see that the calculator in the multi-light mode is displayed incorrectly. It's all about the application layout, which is not designed for similar use conditions.

Calculator with a layout that is not designed to work in multi-light mode

Support multi-window regime in Android M

Android M Developer Preview 2 can be launched on Nexus 5, 6, 9 and Nexus Player. If you do not have such a device, or you do not want to install OS on it, which is in the preview status, with Android M can be found with the help of an emulator in Android Studio. In particular, now we are interested standard means For work in multi-digital mode.

In order to see this mode in action, it is enough to create a new virtual device using the AVD Manager tool by selecting how the system image is one of the LEVEL MNC API. In our case, it was an image x86_64. Next, you need to start the emulator, go to the settings section for the developer and turn on the multi-window mode there. If such an option is not detected, take a look at this guide.

Now the most interesting. To begin with, you can run multiple applications, everything will be as usual. But if you press the call button of the list of recently open applications, a new icon will appear in the headers of the miniature of the windows. By default, this is a frame that indicates that the application starts in full screen mode. If you press this icon, the window layout selection menu will appear.

Menu of the window layout layout in multi-zone mode

Multi-color mode in Android M

Whether working with several windows in the official release of Android M, is still unknown. However, for example, a system calculator in this mode feels good. As a result, we have serious grounds to believe that the day is not far from the corner when the adaptation of applications for a multi-zone regime from a competitive advantage will turn into an urgent need.

If you want to equip your applications designed for more early versions Android, support for several windows, it's time to turn to solutions third-party developerswhat we were talking above. For example, to Cornerstone.

Example: Cornerstone

Onskreen has created Cornerstone - the first framework that allows you to work with several windows on Android. It is designed for devices with big screens and tablets. The source code can be downloaded to GitHub. He supports working with Android versions 4.1 and 4.2. For later versions of this Cornerstone has not yet been released. However, it can be analyzed source For Android 4.2 in order to find out the technical details of the system.

Modifications Cornerstone in Android Jelly Bean

RESULTS

In many mobile devicesworking under android management OS, Used intel processors®. How can developers improve user sensations from working with their applications? How to make applications more competitive? These issues lead us to continuous improvement in products on devices with the Intel Architecture architecture (IA). Support for working in multi-digital mode is good example Useful opportunities that gives applications competitive advantages. This is convenient, multi-plate mode gives the user the ability to perform several tasks at the same time. For example - watch a video and write to friends reviews about what looks. For example, play the game and read its reviews. Today, work in multi-light mode is supported by several devices. For example, these are Ramos I12 tablets, Teclast X98 and Cube i7, which runs running Remix OS.

Multi-plate mode on IA devices

Most of you know enough well what multitasking is, but still let yourself remind you that we are talking The ability to activate the fulfillment of a number of tasks in the background, while the user can work with another program or do not use the gadget at all. Thanks to this decision, you can quickly transition between applications and receive updated data when you return to the program.

The developers of the iPhone 6 went on and decided to simplify the work in multitasking users, proposing to activate this function with a double click on the "Home" key. As a result, you get the opportunity not only to switch open tabs And applications, but also make calls and send SMS to the necessary numbers. But, unfortunately, such a decision was far from the soul, but especially those who are used to work only in one program or use the device only as an image means of communication.

Not everyone could immediately figure out how to remove the contact icon from the multitasking window. To do this, go to the "Settings" menu and find the "Mail, addresses, calendars" section. It is there that we need the Item "Contacts" and the cherished switches "Show to Peregogram". By pressing the key, you can remove the contact panel from the multitasking mode or on the contrary, to configure it.

How often do you use the multitasking menu to close the applications from which they came out? Perhaps you just did it, or vice versa, are going to do after reading the material. Many on the "autopilot" quickly swipe on the application windows in order to release the cherished megabytes of RAM. But it takes a lot of time. Not even the process itself, but long loading Applications with it re-launch. Together with time, part of the convenience of using the smartphone is lost.

What about Android?

By and large, constant closing of applications can harm the speed and time of the smartphone.

Android is very well managed with resources (especially in new versions). There is some number of RAM with which applications can work. And applications are not shy of this to use. If the memory is missing for launched program, OS will close the ones that have not been used for a long time.

Thus, applications can remain in the system memory several hours, days and even weeks. And this is good. They do not discharge the battery, they do not limit the resources of the system (for the most part). In addition, applications will be loaded much faster when re-started, right from the place where you are finished. However, this applies only to the usual swipe according to applications in the multitasadium window.

Many in order to improve productivity and lifetime use Task Killers. They do nothing else, how to unload rAM, closing processes. Here are several important moments. First, it does not affect performance at all, but the number of processor cycles done (associated with the number of available memory at the time of closing the program). Secondly, the "killers" closure all applications without parsing, while using the processor resources. It is worth saying that because of this, an alarm clock or an important reminder may not work. Some applications will open after such an aggressive closure, which, again, "eats" processor. Of course, after closing all the programs, the phone may have to work much better. However, this is happening only because from the whole heap of applications was one or more "bad" who are trying to make some cost maneuvers in the background. In the fight against such task programs Killer just can come to the rescue, but it is better to remove such pests immediately after detection.

What about iOS?

Since the particular freedom of action, the user on iOS does not have, the only way to close the application (provided that there is no jailbreak) - through the multitasking window. The principle of work is practically no different from that in Android. There are various applications that can exercise full work In the background, for example, Navigator or Skype. In this case, at the top of the screen there will be a large color cry, resembling that work takes place in the background.

There are applications that partially "live", for example, music player. However, it works as long as the music is playing. In all other cases when pressing hOME buttons The program first "hanging" at first, after which it just stops its work, but it remains in the device's memory (if you stop listening to music). In the future, the OS itself will decide what to do with it in case of launch of the resource-intensive software.

What about Windows Phone? Output

Of course, you can decide whether to get rid of the habit of "closure" or not. This is your device and you are free to do everything with him anything. And if it seems to you that the phone from all the manipulations done works better, then so be.

Clean buffers and caches in RAM pretty stupid. Imagine a teacher who, instead of writing to all the length of the coolboard, as soon as the offer immediately erases it and again writes, starting with the top left edge of the board. Or imagine: you liked the song. You record it at the beginning of the cassette. When you want to write one more, do you write over the first or after all after it?

It seemed, even just a few years ago, creating Windows 8, Microsoft was close to turn everything to what we were accustomed to, making a bet on full-screen applications and a tile interface. However, the years passed and in Windows 10 at the head of the corporation again puts nothing but the windows.

Unlike the predecessor, where the window control functionality did not receive practically no development, Windows 10, as if catching up, is ready to offer a whole arsenal of new features, one way or another associated with windows. Let's take a look at what Microsoft worked on all this time.

The SNAP function debuted in Windows 7. She allowed the gesture to open windows on the entire screen, open them along the vertical axis, as well as position side by side, sharing the screen into two equal parts. The latter, perhaps, turned out to be the most convenient solution, as in two movements it allowed to quickly create a semblance of a two-chapted file manager.

However, time goes, permits and diagonal displays grow, in connection with which Microsoft enters in Windows 10 new feature called Corner Snap. Thanks to her, you can now arrange any window exactly to a quarter of the screen. This feature, in turn, allows you to create not only the two-page manager, but also a little more specific combinations of windows.

In Windows 7, it is enough to "bring" the window to the left or right edge and it will be opened at half the screen. However, the option of divisions is not always intelligent. In Windows 10, auto scaling supports asymmetrical layouts of windows. This feature was named SNAP Fill. Thanks to it, when scaling one window, the system takes into account the location of the other and fills all the unoccupied space.

For example, in previous versions Windows When scripts depicted in the screenshot above, the "This computer" window would take exactly half the screen, leaving the part of the desktop visible and another window.

Windows 8 has already been able to something similar for full-screen applications, now the same mechanism is also available for desktop mode.

For a long time, the SNAP feature was answered only for scaling and binding windows, but not for their ordering. The new subfunction of the SNAP mechanism, which received the name Snap Assist, solves this flaw.

Suppose you led the window to the edge of the screen and thanks to the SNAP it filled it with half. Now you are looking for another window to make the same with him. During this search, as a rule, several clicks are performed. Thanks to the Snap Assist, you can save them: as soon as you bind one window, the rest will be automatically ordered on the remaining part of the screen.

One click on any of the preview and it immediately will take free space. The function can work together with the CORNER SNAP described above.

This changing Windows 10 It is difficult to name the innovation, rather a long-awaited resolution of the disputed point made in Windows 8. In the "eight" Microsoft added a whole group of new programs called universal applications that could only work in the full screen mode, without reflecting even the header string and default task bar.

For tablet owners with small screens Such programs turned out to be quite convenient, which you can not say about the users of desktops. Not all of these, the data "innovation" fell to taste. In Windows 10, on desktops, all universal applications learned how to work and run by default as conventional windows.

Return to them full-screen view, you can activate the tablet mode.

Scroll inactive windows

In current windows versions The user can perform a scrolling of just the window that is active. To scroll through another window, it must be predetermined, that is, click on it. In addition to the need to constantly do an extra click, remember how many times you just mistaken when instead of the window, over which the cursor was rotated, the contents of a completely different window began to scroll.

In Windows 10, everything became different, the scrolling of inactive windows began to work here. Thanks to her, it will be scrolled by exactly the window over which this moment There is a mouse pointer.

Updated Alt + Tab interface

Window switch activated by pressing Alt + Tab - very long windows featurewhich Microsoft last Once paid serious attention only in Windows Vista. Then the Alt + Tab interface received the official name Flip and learned to show visual miniatures in addition to the icons. In Windows 8, this switch looks almost as well as in Vista:

But in Windows 10, the Alt + Tab interface was finally upgraded. First of all, markedly redrawn appearance Switch. Instead of tiny miniatures, on which it was sometimes difficult to see something, now large and high-quality previews are now used.

The ALT + TAB interface no longer displays the desktop, so for this there is a PEEK function. In addition, the closing buttons appeared in the corners of the visual previews.

Virtual desktops

After the release of Windows 8 over the network, rumors began to crawl about the fact that Microsoft in the next Windows generally intends to abandon the traditional desktop. In fact, Windows 10 not only has saved this basic interface element, but also allowed the user to create virtual desktops.

This well-familiar Linux and OS X users feature is designed to group open windows and, accordingly, tasks. Each desktop will contain one and the same set of icons, but the set of open windows everywhere will be yours. For example, on one desktop you can send everything related to work, and on the other - entertainment applications. Thanks to this innovation, you can organize your work in such a way that the task not related to each other does not form a porridge from open windows on your screen.

View task (Task View)

Task View is a special interface, closely related to the previous innovation activated by clicking on a new same name in the taskbar. At the top there are arms open windows, and in the bottom - desktops. From this interface, you can quickly switch to need app or desktop, create desktops and move the windows between them.

In terms of convenience new interface Implemented great: To see a set of windows on a particular desktop, just suggest the mouse over it. In turn, move windows from one desktop on the other Thanks to the Task View mode, you can simply drag and drop.

New Life for Touchpads

If you have a device or a separate keyboard with a touchpad, then Windows 10 will be able to prevent one more pleasant surprise. Now here, like OS X, three-and-four-plated gestures on the touchpad can be used to control windows and virtual desktops.

For example, swipe with three fingers down will roll all the open windows, and the similar gesture will restore them in the initial state. With the help of new multiphal gestures, you can additionally switch between applications in ALT + TAB mode, call Task View mode, voice assistant Cortana and new notification center.

Multitasking settings

For the first time in Windows, the system settings appeared separate sectionDedicated to windows and multitasking management. The settings here, however, while a little, but first and it is not bad.

The first setting on the screenshot above will disable all SNAP mechanisms on the scaling of windows. The second and third separately disconnect the functions of the Snap Fill and Snap Assist respectively. The following are settings, thanks to which you can specify the display of windows from inactive desktops on the taskbar and the ALT + TAB switch.

Summing up

As it is easy to notic, various functions for working with windows in Windows 10 has become more noticeable than their predecessors. Microsoft finally turned away from the idea of \u200b\u200bobsessive full-screen on desktops and again bets on such traditional elements of the interface, like windows and desktop.

Name the entire functionality listed above is revolutionary, of course, it is impossible. However, these are exactly the smallest and pleasant little things that will make work on the PC of everyone without exception to the user a bit more convenient.