Android 17 Beta 1 is now available for Pixel phones. There’s also a blog post from Google that focuses on what it brings to the table and explains what developers should focus on while updating their apps. Among the changes and improvements, Android 17 finally enforces app orientation and resizability restrictions. These restrictions should make a significant difference, especially with Android laptops coming out very soon.
Android 17 will enforce app orientation and resizability restrictions
Google, in the blog post, says that Android 17 (API level 37) removes the developer opt-out for orientation and resizability restrictions on large-screen devices (sw > 600 dp). This change means that five attributes and APIs will be ignored when an app runs on a large screen or when an app is categorized as a game. If you own an Android tablet, foldable phone, or Chromebook, you undoubtedly know that some apps lock in a single orientation.
While we rarely use some apps outside of our mobile phones, developers don’t optimize some apps for large screens. This can be especially frustrating on Android tablets. Samsung foldables allow the user to force orientation changes. This usually results in a stretched-out app UI that’s just ugly. Well, that is all about to change with Android 17.
Unified experience
To developers, Google says that when their app targets SDK 37, it must be ready to adapt. “Apps targeting Android 17 must ensure compatibility with the phase-out of manifest attributes and runtime APIs introduced in Android 16,” notes Google. However, Google says that users remain in control. They can explicitly opt-in/opt-out using an app’s default behaviour via the system’s aspect ratio settings.
This shift will force developers to update their apps to accommodate new orientations. But, in the long term, these restrictions will pay off. These changes will improve the experience of app experience across foldables, laptops, and tablets. Aluminum OS, an upcoming Android-based OS that replaces ChromeOS, needs Android apps to work seamlessly in landscape mode.
It looks like Aluminum OS is Android optimized for desktop screens. This is likely why Google is forcing developers to adapt to these new restrictions.
The post Android 17 Fixes Long-Standing App Orientation Frustrations appeared first on Android Headlines.
