Freeform Multi-Window, Like It or Not

Android 7.0 offers a freeform multi-window mode.
We do not have an official freeform test environment.
And, since Google has not yet published a
Compatibility Definition Document
for Android 7.0, it is unclear to what extent device manufacturers are
authorized to enable freeform multi-window mode.

However, you ��� and perhaps power users of your app ��� can play around
with freeform multi-window on Android 7.0 devices, with the help of
the Android SDK or the combination of a developer setting and
third-party apps.

Developers can enable platform-level freeform multi-window support by
running the following adb command:

adb shell settings put global enable_freeform_support 0

Note: this works without root. At that point, you will have the same
freeform mode that we could play with on N Developer Preview environments.
Pressing the RECENTS button brings up the overview screen, where the cards
will now have a button in their title bars to move that app into freeform
mode.

However, even non-developers can play around with this, courtesy of apps
like Braden Farmer���s Taskbar���
or the Freecar sample app
from my latest book update.
These apps rely on power users enabling developer mode (i.e., the Seven
Build Number Taps to Glory) and toggling on ���Force activities to be resizable���.
Then, from the home screen or overview screen, a third-party app can launch
an activity into freeform mode. In the case of Taskbar, it does this via
an always-available floating bar; in the case of Freecar, it does this via
a notification shade tile.

Will many power users do this? No. I would expect it to be roughly on par
with the number of power users who force your app into multi-window mode, possibly even with multiple instances of your activities.
However, some might play with your app this way, particularly if your
app has a large user base. I would not be surprised if third-party home
screen app developers elect to integrate these sorts of features, either
in baseline functionality or in some sort of ���experimental mode���.

How close is this freeform multi-window behavior to the ���real thing���? I
have no clue. This freeform mode is very limited, and so it is difficult for me
to believe that Google really wants manufacturers employing it in this state.
But, since Google has released what we have without much guidance, we have
no good way to know right now.

But, since some users will start playing with it, like it or not, you
may need to consider spending a bit of time trying it yourself. You
may want to understand
how your app behaves and whether there is anything that you want to do
to help those power users use your app in freeform mode��� and perhaps set
yourself up to handle freeform better when it is more widely available.