In a show of its commitment to the form factor, Google announced at I/O 2022 that over 20 of its first-party apps will be updated for large screens. This will undoubtedly improve the experience for existing owners and encourage other developers to follow suit. Here’s how Google apps are improving for tablets:
Gboard – The keyboard app now has a handy toolbar when using a physical keyboard connected to a tablet. It provides suggestions and shortcuts. With a stylus you can write in text fields and use gestures like delete and select.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides – These apps now have a useful sidebar for formatting instead of just the toolbar. You can see more people editing documents at once too.
Google Maps – The bottom bar takes up less space so you can see more of the map.
Google Drive – It’s starting to look more like the website with folders and files organized on the left. You can also view PDFs split across two pages.
Gmail – It has the handy navigation sidebar like foldable phones do now. Links also open beside your email instead of taking over the whole screen.
Google Home – The tabs are centered at the top now instead of along the bottom so you don’t cover anything up.
Google Keep – You can look at your notes list and a note side-by-side making it easier to find what you need.
Google App – The menu is now beside your search rather than at the top so your thumb can reach it better in one hand.
Google One – The confusing bottom bar is gone, replaced with neat left-side menu like the website.
Google is continuing to improve their apps to make the most of bigger tablet screens. Most updates organize information better or allow seeing more at once. This should lead to an even better tablet experience!
