Android P to support iPhone X-like gesture navigation control
What's the story
Google's upcoming operating system Android P will reportedly support iPhone X-style gesture navigation. Unlike the traditional set of Back button, circular Home button, and squared Recent Apps button, the new navigation bar will now have a hollowed, triangular Back button, a pill-shaped Home button, and no Recent Apps option at all. This all-new home button will supposedly enable gesture control on Android P devices.
Background
Google itself unintentionally leaked the news
The news came after Google itself unintentionally leaked the new navigation bar. It put out an official blogpost to highlight the availability of a Private DNS mode on the first Android P Developer Preview release. Along with showcasing the DNS settings in a screenshot, the image also captured the new navigation bar. However, Google has since cropped the screenshot to hide the new controls.
Twitter Post
Sources confirm that gesture navigation is coming to Android
It's gesture navigation 100% per my source.
— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) April 13, 2018
Details
But this is where it gets increasingly iPhone-like
The Back button only appears when a dialog box is open and is otherwise hidden. In the Google screenshot, a dialog box is open which is why the Back button is visible. If you imagine the pill-shaped Home button as a gesture indicator without the presence of the Back and Recent Apps button, you will get a look-alike of iPhone X's gesture navigation system.
Information
iPhone mania: Android P to also be optimized for notches
Since Android smartphones are increasingly resembling the iPhone X in look and design, the upcoming Android P OS will also be optimized for notches and multi-camera setups. It will also prevent background apps from accessing a device's camera and microphone.