Second, I have a Galaxy Note 2. Applications that support multi-window on my phone (i.e. where the application developer has opted into the feature) include: Gmail, Chrome, (Google) Maps, YouTube and (Google) talk. I'm sure all of that was done over the vociferous objections of Dianne Hackborn and the rest of the Android team.
Right now, a large number of Android sales are Samsung devices. Samsung is very profitable. [1]
There is a risk to Google that if there is not sufficient diversification in the Android market then Samsung can do what they want - including in an extreme scenario forking away from stock Android and creating their own lock in ecosystem to go up against Apple. (this is an extreme scenario - but I don't think its impossible)
Remember non-tech savvy people may just enter a store and think do I want an Apple or Samsung phone/tablet.
I also wonder if the real purpose of the Nexus devices are to help get other devices makers up to speed to compete with Samsung.
Oh, please no. Why would you want floating windows on a tablet? Can you really envision yourself dragging several windows at a time on a small 10" screen, or even smaller than that? Not to mention the kind of battery and CPU drain that would be.
If the perception that "Android is a battery hog" because of widgets and having a more "real" multi-tasking system, hasn't negatively impacted Android yet, this certainly will. At most Android tablets just need a split-screen view.
I agree. Floating windows would be horrible on tablets. I don't think this Samsung implementation is great for usability either.
Microsoft is at least heading in the right direction since Windows 8 allows two programs metro apps to run side-by-side. Unfortunately, even their implementation has flaws: it only allows fixed sizes of 70%/30% or 30%/70%. Users can't manually adjust the divider between the apps to 50%/50%.
First, Samsung did exactly what Google suggested to Cornerstone / CyanogenMod - make it an optional extension that apps can opt into. Here's some (unofficial) documentation about that: http://www.modaco.com/page/news/_/android/developers-add-sup...
Second, I have a Galaxy Note 2. Applications that support multi-window on my phone (i.e. where the application developer has opted into the feature) include: Gmail, Chrome, (Google) Maps, YouTube and (Google) talk. I'm sure all of that was done over the vociferous objections of Dianne Hackborn and the rest of the Android team.