Google has unveiled new improvements in Android 15 that will enable developers to create apps and games that can easily scale to devices with larger screens like foldable phones, tablets, and laptops running Chrome OS.
This announcement continues the company's efforts since the launch of Android 12L in 2021 as it encourages developers to focus on devices with larger screens, but progress has been relatively slow.
In a recent demo, Google showed developers how to build apps that adapt to different screen sizes using dynamic layouts that change depending on the state of the device (whether the phone is folded or unfolded).
Developers can create these adaptive apps using a new API the company calls “Compose,” which makes it easy to extend the interface to a variety of devices, including foldable phones and Chrome PCs.
Google has introduced an advanced scope feature that allows apps to show more details when needed. For example, the Google Calendar app can enlarge the screen to display more details, improving the user experience.
Additionally, Google encourages developers to support keyboard, mouse, and pen shortcuts to improve the experience of using apps on keyboard-equipped tablets. Developers can make these shortcuts more visible by adding them to the system's Keyboard Assistant feature.
On the other hand, Android now supports pen writing improvements that reduce latency and allow users to write and draw more accurately.
Google recommends that game developers use a library called Jetpack Window Manager to support dynamic layouts in foldable phones, support a wider color gamut for HDR visual content, and provide higher brightness and customizable graphics options to improve gaming performance.
With these improvements, users can expect a better experience on larger screen devices, making apps and games more efficient on these devices.