Home / Technology / Googlebook Keys: Android's Past Navigates Your Future
Googlebook Keys: Android's Past Navigates Your Future
8 Oct
Summary
- Googlebooks now feature classic Android navigation buttons.
- These keys replicate the back, home, and app switcher functions.
- The buttons are a nod to Android 5.0 Lollipop's design.
Googlebooks have reintroduced a feature reminiscent of older Android phones: the F1, F2, and F3 keys now display the classic triangle, circle, and square navigation icons. These buttons, first seen with Android 5.0 Lollipop, function as the back, home, and app switcher controls, respectively. The back button is particularly helpful for navigating Android applications not optimized for desktop use.
The circle button minimizes all open applications, acting as a home function. While a second press does not restore app positions, this functionality is available via a separate shortcut. The square button displays open applications in a tiled view, similar to Mission Control on macOS or Task View on Windows. These retro buttons offer a functional fallback for users, integrating a piece of Android's history into the Googlebook experience.
