See Your Notification At A Glance With Android Dots On Chromebook

Google is pulling notification dots over to its Chromebook platform from Android. That's co-ordinate to a contempo study from Android Police force, who spotted the alter in the Chrome Os Dev Aqueduct.

For clarity, notification dots are colored dots that appear on an app icon on Android. Google engineered the dots to show users which apps were throwing notifications at a glance. Those show up just when that application has a notification. The dots then disappear. Simply only once the users clears out or checks the notifications.

All of that makes it easier to run into which apps have notifications. And to prioritize which apps become attention first. As of this writing, there are even so a few missing features in Chrome Bone, of course. Merely it does appear to be stable overall.

This is incomplete, so what'due south notwithstanding missing with these dots?

The missing features from this iteration of Android notification dots on the Chromebook platform is a significant one. Namely, Google hasn't added in whatsoever shortcuts associated with the notification dots feature.

On Android, long-pressing a notification dot brings up a context menu. That contains the usual app shortcuts. So, on Android, it'due south possible to bound straight to an interaction with apps without opening the app first. For instance, the mobile OS lets users long-press on the Gmail icon and select to commencement an email. That'southward as opposed to opening the app and clicking a few more than times to go started.

Those shortcuts are missing entirely from Chromebooks. And they likely will exist for some time nevertheless. Simply at that place's a secondary characteristic tied in with that. App notifications. On Android, long-pressing on app icons that prove notification dots brings up a preview of the notification but not on the Chromebook platform. At least not in the current test iteration of the feature.

It's possible and even likely that Google will add the feature afterward on. Especially since its still trying to strike a balance for consistency between its operating systems.

Android notification dots on your Chromebook won't come soon

Now, this change was specifically spotted in the programmer variant of Chrome OS. But it also doesn't apply flag settings to actuate. Then Android notification dots appear to exist a guaranteed stock Chromebook feature. But that doesn't hateful it will get in presently.

Summarily, this appeared in Chrome Bone version 87 in the developer channel and that version isn't slated to arrive until December 1. Additionally, Google could push back development to a afterward version. That'south if progress is dull in terms of all of the features the company wants to add in.

Chrome Bone 88 doesn't land until January. So users are going to be stuck waiting for but a flake longer unless they're willing to switch channels to one that'due south much less stable for their Chromebook.