One of the features that Samsung has used to try to sell the usefulness of their Touchwiz interface is the ability to open two apps at once, splitting screen real estate between them in a multi-window configuration. Sources have revealed that Google was working on a similar feature in late 2013 and early 2014 for possible inclusion in Android.
Like other implementations of a multi-window function, Google's attempt would let users effectively split their screen into two “panes” which could each handle an app. Unlike what others have done, it appears Google would let users keep one pane open to their home screen.
Like Samsung or LG, Google would let users slide a divider between the panes to adjust the size of the pane. If a user scaled one pane down to only 25% of the total screen width, the app would automatically flip to a phone layout. Sliding the divider all the way to one edge, or 0%, would give the other pane full control again.
Like Samsung's recent implementation of multi-window in Touchwiz, Google was exploring the possibility of enabling users to drag and drop items like images or highlighted text from one pane to another.
Although reports indicate the feature does not work very well yet, Google appears to be trying to embed this at a relatively low level in the operating system code. This would mean any app would be able to be opened in a pane. Reliance on app developers to include the appropriate code has been an annoyance for users who get a multi-window feature via a manufacturer's implementation.
The source did not indicate whether Google decided to proceed with including a multi-window feature in Android L, some future version of Android, or possibly abandoned the effort altogether.
Would you use multi-window if it were available on your device?
source: Android Police
Nexus 9!