Google optimizing Drive, Docs, and other Workspace apps for Android tablets

Google has announced that it will be rolling out some much-needed improvements to its Android tablet applications, as the firm strives to make them function better on tablets with larger displays. Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep are among the apps that will get updates; Google's announcement suggests they'll become available in the weeks ahead.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive are all being updated to enable drag-and-drop between apps, allowing you to easily move things like text and images from one program to another. Meanwhile, Drive will be able to open two files side by side in a similar fashion to the iPad's 2019 iPadOS upgrade, which gives it the ability to do so. Keyboard shortcuts will soon be available for Drive, Docs, and Slides on Android tablets with Bluetooth or wired keyboards connected; they should make them much easier to use.

Beginning at the start of 2020, Google has been paying closer attention to Android tablets than it had in recent years. Android 12L, an update to the operating system designed for big-screen Android devices like tablets and foldables, was released in early 2022. Then, during its I/O developer conference in May, Google announced that it wanted to improve the app ecosystem for Android tablets. It said it was working with third-party developers to make apps like TikTok, Zoom, and Facebook more efficient, and that it would release updates for over 20 of its own applications — several of which we're seeing today

There are several theories as to why Google is paying more attention to Android tablets now, after years of arguably ignoring this area of development. First, Google plans to make a large comeback to the Android tablet market next year, hunting for its first-ever tablet launch since the 2018 disappointing Google Pixel Slate. Investing in its tablet app ecosystem right now will undoubtedly aid the release of this device. It will also benefit other Android tablet vendors who'll see their software improve.

There's also the continuously expanding market for foldables, which require software that has been tailored for big-screen devices (i.e. tablets) in order to get the most out of the additional screen space. Although they are still niche gadgets in light of the broader smartphone industry, interest is on the rise. Samsung recently revealed that last year saw a 300% jump in the number of foldable phones shipped, suggesting that demand is growing. There have also been persistent reports claiming Google is working on its own foldable gadget.

Source: www.theverge.com