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 crew 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 anticipate to see within the upcoming Android 14 software program replace.
Whereas Android 14 continues to be beneath growth, there could possibly be some options which may not make it into the beta, and, finally, into the ultimate model. Every new developer and beta launch include 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 arms on Android 14 in in fall, we should warn you that we don’t advocate putting in the developer previews, or the Beta variations in your major and solely system. These early releases usually include bugs that would render your system ineffective and break important options and apps you depend on.
With that out of the way in which, 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 mentioned, 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 subsequent new model after Tiramisu (Android 13), Snow Cone (Android 12), and Pink 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 system.
Traditionally, the corporate has all the time launched main Android variations in August and September, and we anticipate an analogous timeline in 2023.
What gadgets are appropriate with Android 14?
Alongside the timeline, Google additionally introduced the appropriate gadgets eligible to enter the Developer preview program. In a normal vogue, the record solely consists of the most recent and at the moment supported Pixel gadgets, going all the way in which again to the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G). You’ll find the complete record under:
In case you’re thinking about attempting out Android 14 in your appropriate Google Pixel system, 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 of scale textual content as much as 200%. The scaling possibility beforehand maxed out at simply 130%. The scaling curve can even change to stop scaling points with the format to a brand new non-linear possibility.
Moreover, there’s proof suggesting that Android 14 may make including listening to gadgets and listening to help attainable by way of Bluetooth. The settings may present extra options to supported gadgets, 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 all the time apparent. It was usually irritating and complicated, for the reason that animation blended in with the background, making it exhausting to see. That seems to alter in Android 14, as Google unveiled a brand new design with a novel animation.
Mishaal Rahman activated the flags, required to check out the brand new again gesture, and right here’s the way it appears to be like in motion. As you possibly can see, the applying provides a peeking animation, indicating customers that they’re about to go away the app, or return to a earlier state or window.
Whereas that’s all good and appears good in follow, the primary challenge seems to be the brand new method this can be carried out. Because it stands, builders must implement and assist this function on a per-app foundation, and it received’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 accessible later within the fall.
Blocking the set up of older apps
Android 14 will forestall and limit sideloading purposes by default. Which means customers received’t be capable of obtain and set up purposes which might be focusing 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 gadgets, and this restriction is geared toward stopping that from taking place. The transfer will make it tougher to put in malicious software program on newer Android gadgets. Fortuitously, 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 purposes. In accordance with the most recent findings, builders can show choose languages within the settings, permitting them to point out completely different choices for various areas.
Moreover, there could also be one other “regional preferences” possibility in settings that might allow you to alter the temperature models, and different quantity preferences throughout the menu. This might enable customers to alter the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius, use completely different calendars, and alter the primary day of the week, and the quantity system you favor utilizing.
The Regional Preferences possibility offers extra customization to each customers and builders. The choice may lastly imply that conversions are now not obligatory, they usually could possibly be accomplished robotically in just some faucets.
App cloning
Twin messenger on Samsung One UI 5.1
Many producers will let you clone purposes, resembling WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and extra. These clone apps allow you to add a number of accounts to messaging apps, that might in any other case restrict you to a single account on a tool.
In accordance with the most recent discoveries, the Android crew could also be engaged on bringing the brand new function to Android 14, permitting customers to do the identical app cloning that has been accessible on some gadgets for a number of years.
Community adjustments and the flexibility to change to eSIM throughout Android gadgets
Bodily SIM, eSIM, iSIM, Supply: Pocketnow
Customers who depend on and use two SIM playing cards of their gadgets may need encountered an issue the place they needed to change between the 2 numbers to get a greater reception. In accordance with some new findings, the method could quickly be automated, permitting customers to robotically change between the 2 sim playing cards, primarily based on the sign of their native space. The choice will allow customers to quickly change between networks to extend the sign energy to make calls and entry the web.
Moreover, Android 14 may allow customers to show bodily SIM playing cards into eSIMs on the system itself. Assuming that the provider builds an answer to assist this technique, it may make switching and upgrading to new Android gadgets a lot simpler sooner or later, lowering the necessity to contact the provider at any time when the SIM must be transferred.
This function dates all the way in which again to Android 13’s Developer Preview builds, and it may quickly arrive in Developer, and Beta builds in Android 14.
Choice to uninstall bloatware
Carriers love putting in bloatware on smartphones, and Google is likely to be wanting into including an choice to take away these from the gadgets. A brand new discovering means that “Apps put in within the background” may quickly allow customers to take away these purposes which will have been put in by carriers and producer companions. We will solely hope this makes it onto the ultimate construct of Android 14 later within the fall, because it may lastly release invaluable house on gadgets and permit customers to do away with purposes they by no means use.
The share menu has undergone a number of adjustments previously few years, and whereas it’s come a great distance, it’s nonetheless removed from good. Many purposes have completely different layouts and designed share menus, making it tough and generally complicated to pick the platform or contact you need to share data with.
To fight this, the share menu may quickly grow to be unbiased of system updates, making it simpler for Google to implement and replace on gadgets. A common share menu could possibly be a actuality as Google works on an answer to have one common share sheet throughout all Android 14 working gadgets.
Android 14 new options: Extra to return
Android 14 is beneath energetic growth, and whereas the Android crew has already revealed the primary developer preview, it’s simply that, a preview. Many extra options are coming, and current choices may make it into the ultimate and Beta builds, coming later this yr. We’ll usually replace this publish with new updates, so don’t neglect to avoid wasting or bookmark it.
What options would you wish to see carried out and supported in Android 14? Tell us within the feedback down under!
