Android’s upcoming ‘App Handles’ will bring clever multitasking to Pixel Fold [Video]

Google has announced an upcoming feature called "App Handles" for foldable devices such as the Pixel Fold series. Currently available in the latest Android Canary build (2608), this feature aims to enhance multitasking capabilities on these devices. "App Handles" function as pinned applications attached to the taskbar, enabling easy access without interfering with the content behind them.

For instance, the Calculator app on a Pixel Fold device can be placed in an "App Handle" and opened as a pop-up window on the right side of the screen, while Chrome runs full-screen in the background. This allows users to quickly shift the app into a full-screen or split-screen format, and even add more than one app in this format using a "+" button next to the app icon.

This feature could prove beneficial for various tasks, including note-taking apps, monitoring background processes, and more. While Samsung's pop-up windows and Google's Bubbles offer similar functionalities, "App Handles" represent a notable advancement in Android's multitasking approach. The feature will roll out in future Android releases, but remains active only in the latest Android Canary build for now.