Posted by Joshua Hale – Software program Engineer
As giant screens develop into more and more vital throughout the Android app ecosystem, we’re dedicated to boost instruments to assist Android builders adapt their apps for these giant display kind components. In doing so, we attempt to make sure that we will convey impactful instruments to boost the general expertise for constructing for all giant screens reminiscent of foldables, tablets, and Chromebooks.
Over the past yr, the crew has labored on bringing Android 13 to the Desktop AVD, together with some extra enhancements to enter assist throughout the emulator. The Android 13 launch of the Desktop AVD is now accessible inside Android Studio. To check utilizing this emulator, create a brand new digital machine.
What’s the Desktop AVD?
Android Studio comes bundled with varied digital gadgets that run on totally different API ranges and architectures. These emulators assist builders take a look at Android apps throughout a wide range of gadgets, permitting for testing throughout totally different display sizes, kind components, and APIs.
When an Android app runs on a Chromebook, it makes use of performance that mirrors desktop behaviors, reminiscent of minimizing, maximizing, or resizing to a user-specified dimension. The Desktop Android Digital Gadget (AVD) is an emulator that enables testing in a freeform windowing mode, just like a Chromebook, to assist this performance.
For a deeper dive into the Desktop AVD, try Desktop AVD in Android Studio.
What enhancements include the Android 13 desktop AVD?
Most laptops use a keyboard—and it’s a standard enter machine for elevated productiveness with tablets and foldables. Previous to Android 13, the Desktop AVD relied solely on uncustomizable enter mapping constructed into Android Studio, which may trigger friction factors for customers who depend on bodily gadgets for mapped enter and shortcuts. The Android 13 launch of the Desktop AVD provides assist for widespread keyboard interactions with Android apps. Now you can take a look at shortcuts, assist keys, and mouse assist that can assist you adhere to the large screen app quality guidelines.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Nearly all of apps inside Google Play are designed for cellular utilization and as such don’t at all times assist keyboard interactions. In Android 13, the Desktop AVD provides assist for generally used shortcuts, reminiscent of Ctrl+C (Copy) and Ctrl+V (Paste). These shortcuts can be utilized when copying textual content from a TextView/Textual content composable or pasting textual content into an EditText/TextField. These shortcuts are intercepted by the system and mechanically utilized.
Customized shortcuts (which aren’t intercepted by the system) are additionally included on this launch. An instance of any such shortcut: a media participant app that makes use of the Spacebar to play or pause media. You should use the brand new {Hardware} Enter function inside Android Studio Hedgehog to make use of customized shortcuts. This can enable Android Studio to cross customized shortcuts on to the emulator. If this isn’t enabled, Android Studio might devour the important thing mixture.
Help keys
Android 13 helps extra keymappings for assist keys. These keys are mapped to controls which can be just like experiences for keyboard shortcuts on a desktop. Some examples of those assist keys embrace:
- Esc: Dismisses pop-ups and notifications.
- Delete / Backspace: Deletes textual content inside an EditText or TextField
- Arrow Keys: Offers in-app navigation (Arrow Up/Right down to scroll).
Mouse assist
Along with enhanced keyboard assist, there are extra mouse controls built-in into the Desktop AVD. Utilizing the scroll wheel sends a mouse scroll occasion to the app that has enter focus. Proper-clicking the mouse sends a right-click occasion—which can be utilized to point out context menus if the app supports it.
The place are you able to begin?
Large screen app quality supplies steering round creating top quality giant display apps throughout all kind components, outlining a complete set of high quality necessities for many forms of Android apps. Not all necessities must be met, however it’s greatest apply so that you can adhere to the necessities that make sense on your apps.
Create a desktop emulator at present in Android Studio Hedgehog to see how your Android app responds to keyboard and mouse inputs and freeform window resizing.
