I tested Android 17 on my Pixel 9 Pro - its app bubbles are a multitasker's dream

I tested Android 17 on my Pixel 9 Pro - its app bubbles are a multitasker's dream">

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It's here, it's here! Android 17 is here !

OK, it's not that exciting. Sure, it's a new release of our favorite mobile operating system, but this isn't comparable to the jump from Android 15 to Android 16. That doesn't mean it's missing anything new and exciting. In fact, there's one particular feature that nearly had me shouting, "Huzzah!"

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The upgrade arrived on my Pixel 9 Pro this morning and took roughly 30 minutes to download and install. If you have a Pixel phone, you can expect the upgrade any time now; for other Android handsets, you'll need to wait until the OS arrives for your device.

What are the new features that immediately grabbed my attention?

I've already written about the new Android Desktop Mode , so I won't go into too much detail. Suffice it to say, this could very well be one of the features that changes the game for so many Android users. Imagine plugging your Android phone into an external monitor, and then attaching a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to transform your phone OS into a full-blown desktop. That's what Desktop mode does.

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Desktop mode is Google's version of Samsung's DeX, and it works to perfection. Considering my testing was during the Android 17 beta phase, you can guarantee that it's even more polished now.

So far, this is my favorite new Android 17 feature.

This, right here, is another big-ticket item (for me). I've used message bubbles before, so I knew how handy they could be. But app bubbles take using Android to a whole new level.

App bubbles allow you to "bubble" apps, so you can then more easily switch between them. Essentially, this is as close to desktop-like multitasking as has ever been applied to Android, and it works great.

To activate it, all you do is long-press an app launcher and then tap either Bubble or the small square in the upper-right corner of the pop-up menu. I'm not quite sure why some apps include a Bubble entry and why some don't, but either way, it's easy to use.

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