Android 14 new features exposed: support for tablets and foldable phones to switch taskbar mode

June 29 news, according to the latest   Android 14   The beta version shows that Google may allow users to customize the taskbar style on tablets and foldable devices.

Mishaal Rahman of Android Police discovered a hidden ENABLE_TASKBAR_PINNING flag in Android 14 Beta 3, indicating that Google plans to allow users to choose "persistent" or "ephemeral" mode for the taskbar.

The "persistent" mode was introduced in Android 12L, which makes the taskbar always appear at the bottom of the device screen, occupying the entire length horizontally. Users can place six apps of their choice on the taskbar, and can easily click to switch apps or drag an app into split-screen mode to improve the efficiency of multitasking.

The "ephemeral" mode was introduced in Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2. Users are required to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the taskbar, which will display some recommended apps based on user habits.

IT Home noticed that currently in the latest Android 14 beta version, the flag for switching the taskbar mode is not enabled by default, so users can only use the "ephemeral" mode. It is also unclear when Google will officially launch this feature. However, if this feature is available when Android 14 is officially released, it will be a popular option for Google, which has just released the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold.

Google is expected to release the official version of Android 14 in August, but one or two beta versions are expected before the official version arrives.