The Android Mobile Application That Lets Users Multitask Without Having To Minimize An Interface

Multitasking is one great feature for completing different tasks at a minimized time. Many computers lacked this feature several years ago. But we are glad and appreciative for the advancement of technology in our society. Nowadays, a cheap, portable, and smart device are now able to multitask without needing any prerequisite.

The inability for a system to multitask slows down the rate at which a system completes different tasks. I can still remember the last time I tried running two or more applications on a Java device, I had to close one application for the other to function. This issue made me want to get a phone or a device that can minimize apps at any time.

There are different ways to know if your device or computer is able to multitask. For example, if your system is able to successfully open an application while there are other applications, task, or any type of event running in the background, then, it simply means your device can multitask. As I have previously said, the advancement of technology has made things easy. Nowadays, users can be on a particular application on an Android phone and at the same time access other folders, files, applications, or any other interface on the same device by minimizing the initial interface. That's awesome, right? But do not forget that this is only possible if the user has minimized the current interface.

How about accessing other apps without minimizing the current interface you're on?

Well, I know most people will say it's not possible. However, this is the main reason why I'm here today to share with you the app that made it possible.

In today's article, we will be looking at an application I came across a few days ago. The application is known as TaskBar; A project that lets its users view the list of applications installed on a device, and at the same time select to open any of the applications from the list without minimizing the previous interface. The great developer behind this project is Farmerbb and he has officially released 7 different app updates for this project. I'll be reviewing this project with its latest version which is Taskbar 4.0.3.

Download Links

Unlike most mobile applications, the very first interface that displays after installing and launching them are the interface that asks for the user's permission. But after I installed and launched TaskBar, the first interface that displayed was its homepage.

The main reason why applications ask for user's permission is for them to be able to function as intended. TaskBar does ask for user's permission but in a different style. There's a button on TaskBar's homescreen that prompts an interface explaining how the user should grant the app the needed permission. While the app was requesting for the permission, I took a screenshot of its interface.

The first screenshot below is an interface displaying how it requested me for the permission immediately after I toggle the switch button on the homescreen. While the second screenshot is an interface of a similar application displaying how it requested for user's permission without toggling any button.

After I granted Taskbar the requested permission, it then promoted another interface requesting me to accept it to display my recent apps as an overlay. After that, the screenshot below showing my recent apps was the interface that popped up next.

Simplicity

One of the interesting features I noticed about Taskbar is its simplicity. After granting it the necessary permissions as explained in the previous paragraph, a button displayed on the left-hand side of my screen. This button is similar to a floating button. This simply means it can display on the device screen regardless of the interface you're on.

The overlay button is not unique because its competitor's app also displayed an overlay button. However, I prefer Taskbar to its competitor's app.

Homescreen

This is not the first time I'll be comparing two different application interfaces that look similar. Both interfaces for TaskBar and Overlay has a similar style in their texts, buttons, and UI design. I have uploaded the two interfaces below for a visual understanding.

The buttons displayed on the first interface are few, while the second screenshot has a lot of scrollable options on its homescreen. This is one difference between the two interfaces. I love how the developer behind Taskbar made his app simple to use.

Taskbar In Action

I am one of those mobile phone users who love switching between different apps within seconds. Using TaskBar is of high advantageous to me because of its ability that allows me to access the list of the application on my device regardless of the interface. The first screenshot below is an interface showing how I was able to view the list of apps on my phone from my homescreen, and an interface listing the same apps while I was surfing the net with Chrome browser.

As you can see from the pictures above, Taskbar's interface doesn't cover the whole screen, and it's very convenient to use. The pictures you see above are displaying how TaskBars displays the list of applications by default. The look is customizable from the settings page, giving every user the opportunity to set how they'd love to use the app.

The app has different options on its main screen for its users to customize how they'd love it look like. The options are listed below;

• General settings
• Appearance
• Recent apps
• Freeform mode
• Advanced features

General settings

The general setting is an interface that lets every user customize the position, size, and other things in the app. By default, the taskbar is displayed at the bottom left (horizontal) of my Android screen. This option can be changed to a different type of position from the General Settings.

During my time with the general settings, I was able to change different options and styles of the app. For example, I set the app to always minimize its overlay button whenever my virtual keyboard appears. I also enabled the option that lets the app start up immediately after my phone is booted.

The images below are the different screenshots displaying how the Taskbar looked before and after I made some changes.

Some of these options are available on other similar applications. However, I prefer to use the General Settings option on Taskbar, simply because of how easy it is.

Appearance

The title of this section gives the users the idea of the type of option it holds. Just as other applications will do, the Appearance option is an interface where users can change the theme of the app. The screenshots below are the two interfaces displaying the two different theme available in the app.

Despite the fact that the theme option is a common feature in so many apps, some of the apps with similar features still lacks the ability to change the feel of their apps.

Apart from being able to change the app theme from the Appearance interface, the developer behind Taskbar also included different options to change the background tint and accent color of the app.

Freeform mode

The freeform mode is my favorite feature in the app. This is simply because of how it functions. With the freeform mode, I was able to launch apps in a desktop style. Before this was possible, it required me to set up my mobile phone for the feature. The prerequisites for the setups are;

• Command prompt (the software)
• USB cable.

I connected my mobile phone to my computer, and then entered the lines of code below. it also required me to reboot my phone for the feature to function.

adb shell settings put global enable_freeform_support 1

---

The freeform mode cleared every other app on the homescreen, making it easy to launch an app in a desktop style. I have uploaded a gif file displaying how I enabled the freeform mode, and how I accessed and scrolled an app.

The above features are unique because they are not available on other similar apps I used while writing this review. As you can see, the app doesn't just let users multitask but also to customize the app to their taste.

Project update

The latest version of the app was released 23 days ago as of when I published this post. The project owner only made three changes to the previous version before releasing the current one. The changes are;

• Support for locking the device's screen has been removed
• Updates for Android Q
• Minor bug fixes

The only detailed changes he made is the removal for the support for the lock screen, which disabled the feature that lets users lock the screen.

Conclusion

Are you a user that love switching between apps? Try to use Taskbar for it is very convenient to multitask on an Android device. It's easy to use, giving users different options to customize the app.