[APP][7.0] Parallel Windows for Nougat - enter into GOD mode at multitasking!

[ForgottenDude]

https://reddit.com/r/Android/comments/5p4o7n/parallel_windows_for_nougat_you_can_mirror_any/

 

[robotkoer]

Thank you for the suggestions, and I do plan to continue development.

#1 QS tile would be nice indeed, but at the moment I want to create a standardized default way to access the tools (mirroring, launcher etc.) Tiles and other ways to access would be optional and additional based on an individual user preference. Want some standard way to represent the App's usage.

#2 Again it won't be a standard feature, for example on a tablet with multiple windows open, it would be hard to determine which window to mirror. Again, may be as an additional feature in future.

#3 I agree with that, infact I have thought about it way before the development began, but again 'standardization'. I can't find a suitable place to put the tools on recent Apps window - One Plus ROMs have clear all button at bottom, standard Android has at top, putting at either place may obstruct views, and then putting on side may ruin the look of the recent apps page, etc.

Still brainstorming on the idea.

Thanks for the reply!

1) Right, makes sense.
2) Thanks for considering the suggestion, but if you don't want it to be default (or can't because of freeform multiwindow), you should still make the default behaviour a bit more straightforward.
The problems I see with it:

• Since it says "pick an app" with no further explanation or dialog, an user might want to go to home screen to launch an app, right? Boom, an error comes up that the app is not supported (because PW thinks user wants to clone the home launcher).
• Second time, the user can try and use the Overview/Recents and if it is one of the last apps (that become visible right away), they will succeed. Otherwise, if they scroll too much, the timeout will end and the app will not be cloned.
• In the third try, user might use the app drawer button (first on sidebar) and succeed. However, it isn't intuitive because the button is otherwise supposed to do something else.

The solution I see is to open the same app grid as in the toggle button, filtered for apps that can actually be launched twice (if that's possible) and maybe a FAB for quickly cloning the last used app.
BTW, what's weird is that I had enabled the developer setting Force activities to be resizable, but the cloning feature was still hit-or-miss. What does an app need to have to support cloning?

3) Yeah, it's hard to standardize it when the UI looks differ. Instead of one-size-fits-all or hardcoding positions by OEMs you could just let the user drag it around wherever they want - maybe also rotate vertical or horizontal - and then fix it in place.
Personally I have an OP3 and would love to get rid of the clear all button, so I would appreciate if I could put something actually useful on top of it

 

[jagan2]

It's update time!

What's new in v2.0_Alpha?

* Significant improvement in the UI controls, you should feel everything super snappy now.
* App drawer now supports fast scrolling.
* You can now adjust the placement of the hotspot to trigger Parallel Windows side bar - length, width, location (up/down/left/right.)
* A new panel is now available, 'RECENT ACTIVITY' - whichever App you launch/mirror using Parallel Windows, goes here. This panel will have more additions in future - shortcut to launch multiple Apps, widgets etc.

 

[jagan2]

Thanks for the reply!

1) Right, makes sense.
2) Thanks for considering the suggestion, but if you don't want it to be default (or can't because of freeform multiwindow), you should still make the default behaviour a bit more straightforward.
The problems I see with it:

• Since it says "pick an app" with no further explanation or dialog, an user might want to go to home screen to launch an app, right? Boom, an error comes up that the app is not supported (because PW thinks user wants to clone the home launcher).
• Second time, the user can try and use the Overview/Recents and if it is one of the last apps (that become visible right away), they will succeed. Otherwise, if they scroll too much, the timeout will end and the app will not be cloned.
• In the third try, user might use the app drawer button (first on sidebar) and succeed. However, it isn't intuitive because the button is otherwise supposed to do something else.

The solution I see is to open the same app grid as in the toggle button, filtered for apps that can actually be launched twice (if that's possible) and maybe a FAB for quickly cloning the last used app.
BTW, what's weird is that I had enabled the developer setting Force activities to be resizable, but the cloning feature was still hit-or-miss. What does an app need to have to support cloning?

3) Yeah, it's hard to standardize it when the UI looks differ. Instead of one-size-fits-all or hardcoding positions by OEMs you could just let the user drag it around wherever they want - maybe also rotate vertical or horizontal - and then fix it in place.
Personally I have an OP3 and would love to get rid of the clear all button, so I would appreciate if I could put something actually useful on top of it

Appreciate your interest in giving a feedback!

Alright so, I have some things addressed in the latest update (see the change log in the first post or the immediate previous post).

Further,

#1 Much needed ability to customize the size, position, location of the hotspot is now added.
#2 Clicking the mirror function now hides the side bar and adds a red rectangle to the screen with a toast message - hopefully this is more indicative of what to do next to mirror an on screen App.
#3 There is a possibility to let the user select which window to launch the new App on - but then it would require one more step in launching App, clicking icon in App drawer > tapping on the screen. I will see in future how can this be streamlined.
#4 There is no fool proof way for now to detect in advance if an App can be mirrored or not. So, the mirroring is likely to be experimental always, you may try on your favorite App and remember if you can use mirroring on it in future.

I have a lot of really cool ideas/extensions for the App, but not enough time and resource is available for me at the moment. But I do plan to update the Apps - but don't expect any nightly builds.

 

[jagan2]

Minor update, v2.1_Alpha.

* The white background of "RECENT ACTIVITY" panel is now toned down.
* Recent activity removes Apps which are uninstalled.
* Added/changed UI texts wherever needed.

 

[Zoresta]

what to do ?
how to install ?

Device : non rooted redmi 2 prime on miui 8 GLOBAL beta . ( android 5.1)

 

[Prinus]

what to do ?
how to install ?

Device : non rooted redmi 2 prime on miui 8 GLOBAL beta . ( android 5.1)

I don't know miui 8 (ROM) or redmi (phone) in detail but you write android 5.1
The OP states clearly Nougat....
Cheers.


Sent from my lazy chair using Tapatalk

 

[xdaCyborg]

I wish you could tweak the recent apps tabs, or maybe integrate it in the right side.

 

[ZRK_NanDRD]

Been using your app for 3hrs now & I gotta say, it's definitely an upgrade/update for Android Nougat Split-screen &/or Multitasking. Thanks a lot @jagan2
Running on S3 i9300 Resurrection Remix 5.8.0 N 7.1.1

Edit: app shared* on S3 RR 5.8.0 Official thread..
I forgot to mention this, with Parallel Window enabled, one has to disable PWFN 1st (Draw over other apps+Accessibilty) to be able to install apk's manually as the on-screen "install" button won't work except the "cancel" button next to it.

 

[jagan2]

I wish you could tweak the recent apps tabs, or maybe integrate it in the right side.

Hi! If you move the hotspot to the left side (customizations available in the Settings) then the Recent Activity tab will appear on the right side.

Been using your app for 3hrs now & I gotta say, it's definitely an upgrade/update for Android Nougat Split-screen &/or Multitasking. Thanks a lot @jagan2
Running on S3 i9300 Resurrection Remix 5.8.0 N 7.1.1

Edit: app shared* on S3 RR 5.8.0 Official thread..
I forgot to mention this, with Parallel Window enabled, one has to disable PWFN 1st (Draw over other apps+Accessibilty) to be able to install apk's manually as the on-screen "install" button won't work except the "cancel" button next to it.

You're welcome.

I noticed your post on the ROM thread, thank you!

And wow, I thought that the whole 'Screen overlay detected' and preventing you to grant permission/click install button issue was over with Android Nougat.

Anybody else face the same issue? If so, I will issue a patch with a workaround.

 

[ZRK_NanDRD]

I will issue a patch with a workaround.

:highfive: Sweet, thanks again

 

[slimdizzy]

Posting to say I can reproduce that manual install behaviour in split mode.

 

[pratyush28]

Could you please add an alternative way to run this app? Almost all accessibility services cause series lag issues on my device, i cant even use keyboard to type properly i just loved the concept of this app and want to use it without any lag on my device... using it on my Oneplus 3T it cant be my phone which is lagging because ive tested with and without accessibility service and there was absolutely no lag whn the service was off! Thank you in advance ive also written same review on play store and have given 5 stars as i know you are working really hard on this project! Good luck!

 

[jagan2]

Posting to say I can reproduce that manual install behaviour in split mode.

Hi! I am sorry but I couldn't understand, could you please elaborate?

Could you please add an alternative way to run this app? Almost all accessibility services cause series lag issues on my device, i cant even use keyboard to type properly i just loved the concept of this app and want to use it without any lag on my device... using it on my Oneplus 3T it cant be my phone which is lagging because ive tested with and without accessibility service and there was absolutely no lag whn the service was off! Thank you in advance ive also written same review on play store and have given 5 stars as i know you are working really hard on this project! Good luck!

Oh wow! I was just done responding you on Google Play Store. Thank you for your support and review on Google Play Store, much appreciated!


@All others

Do you see any visible lag when the Parallel Windows for Nougat is turned on? I didn't expect it to make any significant visible lag. But if some/all devices do experience that please let me know the intensity - like it is visibly lagging?

I will try to optimize to reduce the effect as much as I can in future versions.

 

[slimdizzy]

Hi! I am sorry but I couldn't understand, could you please elaborate? .

Manually install an apk. Try to tap install button. Nothing happens due to the screen overlay.

 

[LBA97]

Thanks for this app. I saw it on the playstore and I found it very interesting. I'm not gonna give it a lot of use, because I don't need to mirror apps, but I thinks it's a great work. Congratulations and thanks, it works perfectly!

 

[guillermorojaz]

Some possibility of compatibility with Marshmallow :crying:

 

[Daedulus Minion]

Some possibility of compatibility with Marshmallow :crying:

This app's function is to enhance the usability of Nougat's default multiwindow mode. It isn't possible to have it on Marshmallow due to absence of multiwindow itself.

 

[cmglng]

Not working with Chrome Canary, it kinda works with the Youtube app but if you watch the vid in fullscreen, the other window will just have black screen. (Device: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3/Slim7)

 

[DocteurN]

Not working with Chrome Canary, it kinda works with the Youtube app but if you watch the vid in fullscreen, the other window will just have black screen. (Device: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3/Slim7)

Same here on my Nexus 6P