topic Where are the small apps ??? in XZ Series

Where are the small apps ???

Lcritter — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:09:50 GMT

I just received my new phone. What have you done with the small apps?

Third party apps are no good.

I want them back please. I used them automatically all the time.

Devastated.

Re: Where are the small apps ???

Jophy — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:16:30 GMT

Ya. I was curious too.. I always use the small calculator . Very convenient

Re: Where are the small apps ???

najodleglejszy — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:29:19 GMT

Small Apps are gone, as most of their functionality has been replaced by Android Nougat's multiwindow mode. just press and hold the recent apps button to split screen and use two apps simultaneously.

Re: Where are the small apps ???

Lcritter — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:59:57 GMT

Well I just tried the split screen and the functionality is not at all the same.

Also not all the apps are compatible would seem. A major app instagram is not compatible. And constant notifications that 'they may not work with split screens' such as Facebook just told me.

The small apps had 'active clip' which doesnot exist out side small apps it would seem. It's functionality was much more intuitive than the option we're left with - holding the power button to capture screen and then having to then go into photo editor to crop it further to the exact bit wanted.

Active clip awesome. Click on the small apps, select active clip size it around the exact image wanted crop, done.

I used it for insta Facebook messenger all the time.

The calculator was very handy to pop up over the screen when needed then turn off.

Split screen is more fiddly and as before half the apps don't work with it.

Sad face.

(Then there's also the matter of getting rid of the photo widget and today I found out there is no more answering machine. So now I'm really sad that the new phone I was eagerly waiting for can't do half the things my 3 year old phone could do 😧. If I wanted an iPhone I would have got an iPhone)

Re: Where are the small apps ???

Jophy — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:02:48 GMT

Ya. Agreed . So sad many things gone. Answering machine . Small apps. Screen recording . Double tap wake and sleep.

Re: Where are the small apps ???

Lord_viridis — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:24:14 GMT

Small apps were removed with the first X device,

See here for more info

/t5/Xperia-X/Where-is-mini-apps/m-p/1129559#U1129559

Re: Where are the small apps ???

2Req — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:06 GMT

Multiwindow mode isn't a replacement for Small Apps which are gone.

First, I need to go to the home screen app drawer or multitask manager in order to go to the 'second' app. It makes the 'first' app stopped or switched off in many cases (like YT).

Second, many apps don't work in multiwindow mode or work with limited functionality. Anyway, even if they work, they take minimum 40% of the screen while small apps (let's take SA calculator or SA timer, or SA web browser, my favorite SA lately) needed just a piece of the screen.

Third, small app SMS notifications were perfect, much more better than Android notifications, cause they didn't disappear after a time or after an action - and using SA SMS notifications I could always leave the notification for quite long time and then go back to it and answer an SMS directly from the small app. Using Android notifications I am able to do it only directly after receiving an SMS and sometimes it stopps my current activity, what SA SMS notifications did never.