Emir BardakçıIt has been a long time since Apple’s “Handoff” feature made seamless cross-device workflows a reality for their users, and Android users have been waiting for a similar experience. The ability to begin a task on an iPhone—like browsing the web or writing an email—and instantly continue it on a MacBook has long been a dream for Android owners hoping for the same level of integration between their Android tablets or Windows PCs. The wait may finally be over, as Google is creating a new, system-wide solution for task continuity that will work across Android phones, tablets, and future Android-based PCs. The good news is, Google’s new feature sounds a lot like the one Xiaomi fans already enjoy with Xiaomi HyperConnect on devices like the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Xiaomi Pad 7. This is great news for the broader Android community, as it means this kind of convenience will soon be available to everyone, no matter their device.
Google Is Developing “Task Continuity”
Technology media outlet Android Authority has analyzed the core Android operating system code and revealed that Google is developing a new feature called “Task Continuity.” This feature will enable a more powerful cross-device collaborative experience. It’s a significant step toward solving the long-standing issue of fragmentation in the Android ecosystem. By building this feature into the core Android framework, Google is giving all Android developers and device manufacturers a unified, standardized way to enable cross-device features.
Google’s goal is to make the process completely seamless for users. The “Task Continuity” feature will transfer the exact state of an application from one device to another nearby device. For instance, if you’re working on a document on your phone and want to move to a larger screen, a small icon will appear on your tablet’s taskbar. Tapping this icon will instantly sync your session to the tablet, allowing you to pick up exactly where you left off. According to IT Home, this is a two-way system, with Google’s new framework handling task discovery and status packaging between devices. Because it’s a built-in system feature, it won’t need bulky third-party apps or custom manufacturer implementations to work.
Why This Is So Important for Android
Apple has long had an advantage with features like “Handoff” because it controls both the iOS and macOS platforms, ensuring a unified software interface for developers. In the past, any collaboration between Android and Windows relied on a complex and often unreliable partnership between Google and Microsoft. While Microsoft has experimented with tools like Phone Link, they have often been one-way and unreliable, with a high barrier to entry for developers that has limited widespread adoption.
By taking control and integrating the feature directly into the core Android framework, Google is making it possible for any Android user to have a smooth and reliable cross-device experience, similar to what Xiaomi users already enjoy. The new framework will manage task discovery and status packaging between devices, making the process much more efficient and reliable.
Timeline for Release
Code for this feature has appeared in early development versions of Android 16. However, due to the complexity of system-wide integration, the feature is not expected to be officially released until Android 17 next year. Still, the groundwork has been laid, signaling a new era of cross-device collaboration that will bring a loved Xiaomi HyperConnect feature to all Android devices, making the ecosystem more cohesive and user-friendly.
Source: Android Authority
