Android has been round for over a decade, and developer previews are sometimes launched within the first quarter of yearly. Maintaining with the custom, the Android workforce has simply launched the primary developer preview, giving us a primary have a look at all the brand new options that we are able to count on to see within the upcoming Android 14 software program replace.
Whereas Android 14 remains to be below improvement, there might be some options that may not make it into the beta, and, in the end, into the ultimate model. Every new developer and beta launch comprise bug fixes, new options, and enhancements, making the OS extra streamlined.
Earlier than we go into what’s new and why we are able to’t wait to get our palms on Android 14 in in fall, we should warn you that we don’t suggest putting in the developer previews, or the Beta variations in your major and solely machine. These early releases usually comprise bugs that might render your machine ineffective and break important options and apps you depend on.
With that out of the best way, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the brand new deal with that Android and Google have been engaged on previously few months.
What’s Android 14 referred to as?
Google now not follows its dessert naming scheme and, as a substitute, applies a numerical quantity for every new launch. That being stated, Google internally continued including candy names to its OS variations, and Android 14 is formally referred to as “Upside Down Cake”.
Upside Down Cake is the following new model after Tiramisu (Android 13), Snow Cone (Android 12), and Purple Velvet (Android 11).
When is Android 14 popping out?
Supply: Google, Illustration by Roland Udvarlaki (Pocketnow)
Android 14 follows an analogous timeline to the earlier releases. The timeline shared by Google reveals when the Developer previews are anticipated to be launched. Google additionally confirms the date when it expects to launch the Beta model of Android 14 to the general public, opening up the suggestions course of for anybody with an eligible machine.
Traditionally, the corporate has at all times launched main Android variations in August and September, and we count on an analogous timeline in 2023.
What units are appropriate with Android 14?
Alongside the timeline, Google additionally introduced the appropriate units eligible to enter the Developer preview program. In a common trend, the listing solely contains the most recent and at present supported Pixel units, going all the best way again to the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G). You will discover the total listing under:
For those who’re enthusiastic about attempting out Android 14 in your appropriate Google Pixel machine, our sister website XDA-Builders has a superb information taking you thru the steps.
What’s new in Android 14?
Higher accessibility options
Google provides new accessibility options in each new Android launch. In Android 14, customers will be capable to scale textual content as much as 200%. The scaling choice beforehand maxed out at simply 130%. The scaling curve can even change to forestall scaling points with the structure to a brand new non-linear choice.
Moreover, there’s proof suggesting that Android 14 might make including listening to units and listening to support potential by way of Bluetooth. The settings might present extra options to supported units, offering higher audio for the customers.
New again gesture animation
Earlier Android variations included the again gesture animation, however let’s simply say, they weren’t at all times apparent. It was usually irritating and complicated, because the animation blended in with the background, making it laborious to see. That seems to alter in Android 14, as Google unveiled a brand new design with a singular animation.
Mishaal Rahman activated the flags, required to check out the brand new again gesture, and right here’s the way it seems to be in motion. As you’ll be able to see, the applying provides a peeking animation, indicating customers that they’re about to depart the app, or return to a earlier state or window.
Whereas that’s all good and appears good in follow, the primary concern seems to be the brand new means this can be carried out. Because it stands, builders must implement and assist this characteristic on a per-app foundation, and it gained’t be the default conduct in Android 14. The benefit is that builders can additional optimize and improve the expertise with extra visible variations. Nonetheless, the draw back is that there could also be much more confusion when utilizing the again gesture.
Solely time will inform whether or not builders will use this, and issues can nonetheless change when Android 14 Beta and the ultimate construct turns into obtainable later within the fall.
Blocking the set up of older apps
Android 14 will stop and limit sideloading functions by default. Because of this customers gained’t be capable to obtain and set up functions which can be concentrating on SDK variations 23 or decrease. For these unaware, the SDK dates again to 2015 and Android model 6.
Google explains that the older SDKs are used to put in malware and different malicious software program on Android units, and this restriction is geared toward stopping that from occurring. The transfer will make it tougher to put in malicious software program on newer Android units. Happily, Android will allow customers to bypass this by overriding the settings by way of an ADB command.
adb set up --bypass-low-target-sdk-block APPLICATION.apk
Improved per-app language, and new regional preferences choices
Android 13 launched the choice to alter the language on a per-app foundation, enabling you to alter the language for choose functions. In response to the most recent findings, builders can show choose languages within the settings, permitting them to point out totally different choices for various areas.
Moreover, there could also be one other “regional preferences” choice in settings that will allow you to alter the temperature items, and different quantity preferences inside the menu. This could enable customers to alter the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius, use totally different calendars, and alter the primary day of the week, and the quantity system you favor utilizing.
The Regional Preferences choice offers extra customization to each customers and builders. The choice might lastly imply that conversions are now not needed, and so they might be completed robotically in only a few faucets.
App cloning
Twin messenger on Samsung One UI 5.1
Many producers mean you can clone functions, akin to WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and extra. These clone apps allow you to add a number of accounts to messaging apps, that will in any other case restrict you to a single account on a tool.
In response to the most recent discoveries, the Android workforce could also be engaged on bringing the brand new characteristic to Android 14, permitting customers to do the identical app cloning that has been obtainable on some units for a number of years.
Community modifications and the flexibility to modify to eSIM throughout Android units
Bodily SIM, eSIM, iSIM, Supply: Pocketnow
Customers who depend on and use two SIM playing cards of their units might need encountered an issue the place they needed to swap between the 2 numbers to get a greater reception. In response to some new findings, the method might quickly be automated, permitting customers to robotically swap between the 2 sim playing cards, primarily based on the sign of their native space. The choice will allow customers to briefly swap between networks to extend the sign energy to make calls and entry the web.
Moreover, Android 14 might allow customers to show bodily SIM playing cards into eSIMs on the machine itself. Assuming that the service builds an answer to assist this methodology, it might make switching and upgrading to new Android units a lot simpler sooner or later, decreasing the necessity to contact the service every time the SIM must be transferred.
This characteristic dates all the best way again to Android 13’s Developer Preview builds, and it might quickly arrive in Developer, and Beta builds in Android 14.
Choice to uninstall bloatware
Carriers love putting in bloatware on smartphones, and Google may be trying into including an choice to take away these from the units. A brand new discovering means that “Apps put in within the background” might quickly allow customers to take away these functions that will have been put in by carriers and producer companions. We are able to solely hope this makes it onto the ultimate construct of Android 14 later within the fall, because it might lastly release precious house on units and permit customers to eliminate functions they by no means use.
The share menu has undergone a number of modifications previously few years, and whereas it’s come a great distance, it’s nonetheless removed from excellent. Many functions have totally different layouts and designed share menus, making it troublesome and generally complicated to pick out the platform or contact you wish to share data with.
To fight this, the share menu might quickly turn into unbiased of system updates, making it simpler for Google to implement and replace on units. A common share menu might be a actuality as Google works on an answer to have one common share sheet throughout all Android 14 operating units.
Android 14 new options: Extra to return
Android 14 is below energetic improvement, and whereas the Android workforce has already revealed the primary developer preview, it’s simply that, a preview. Many extra options are coming, and current choices might make it into the ultimate and Beta builds, coming later this 12 months. We’ll usually replace this put up with new updates, so don’t neglect to save lots of or bookmark it.
What options would you prefer to see carried out and supported in Android 14? Tell us within the feedback down under!
