Google I/O 2023 is nearly right here, which implies we’re about to get a full rundown of Android 14 and its options. And there are a variety of fascinating upgrades already rumored, or current within the Android 14 beta, to look ahead to.
The present Android 13 OS was a comparatively laid-back launch after the large adjustments launched by Android 12. Based mostly on the present rumored options, Android 14 is shaping as much as be a sensible improve, providing no specific killer characteristic, however a number of adjustments that customers will recognize.
Wanting over the at the moment noticed options in testing, I’ve picked out the 5 following options as possible highlights of Android 14’s change checklist. Maintain a watch out for these at I/O on Could 10, together with Google’s new {hardware} just like the Pixel 7a.
Passkeys
(Picture credit score: Google)
Lately confirmed by Google on your general Google account, passkeys are additionally tipped to look for Android 14, with an API designed to work with passkey administration within the software program.
These exchange your normal textual content passwords with two biometrically-authenticated “keys”: one generated by your telephone, and the opposite by the service you are utilizing. It is each easier and safer than conventional passwords, so it will be excellent news for everybody if this was accessible as normal on new Android telephones going ahead.
Break up ringtone and notification quantity sliders
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
One of the irritating components of native Android is that turning the notification quantity up or down additionally impacts the ring quantity, and vice versa. That is a ache when you’re desirous to hear out for an vital incoming name, however you do not need to be bothered listening to a loud ding, beep or no matter noise for each e mail or textual content warn you occur to get.
Android 14 appears to be lastly introducing particular person quantity controls for these two important smartphone options. That is apparently been in growth since no less than the Android 13 betas, so hopefully after a full yr of potential tinkering Google shall be able to make this accessible for everybody.
Predictive again gesture
(Picture credit score: Google)
Swiping again on an Android telephone works high-quality proper now, however Google appears to have considered an fascinating manner of constructing it higher in Android 14.
Much like how swiping up from the underside of the display after which pausing reveals you all of your open apps, swiping from the facet after which pausing will present you a preview of the web page you may be heading again to. This, together with a brand new arrow indicator to indicate the telephone’s recognizing your enter, ought to make navigating by lengthy sequences of pages a lot easier. I would think about navigating by the Settings app, or by plenty of linked webpages, can be made a lot easier by this technique.
App clones
(Picture credit score: XDA Builders/ Mishaal Rahman)
If you happen to’ve bought a number of accounts on one app, resembling private and enterprise social media accounts, it may be a ache to continually swap between log-ins. Android 14 might simplify this by including app clones as a default characteristic.
Already accessible on sure Android launchers, app clones allow you to hold two variations of the identical app on your own home display or in your app drawer, every logged right into a separate account. It seems that it’s going to solely work with sure pre-selected apps resembling Fb, Discord or Telegram in the meanwhile, however hopefully this potential will ultimately be opened to any and all apps that might profit from it.
Optimization for bigger shows
(Picture credit score: Google )
It is no secret that Android’s a smartphone-first OS, which implies with out a variety of tweaking by {hardware} producers, it would not really feel good to make use of on bigger-screened gadgets operating Android. Luckily, Google seems to be persevering with to make Android higher on bigger gadgets by dev choices for home windows, sliding panes and extra.
This shall be crucial for the Google Pixel Fold, a foldable telephone now confirmed to be showing at I/O, and the already public Google Pixel Pill. However assuming these options all find yourself within the open-source model of Android, it will make utilizing the most effective foldable telephones and the most effective Android tablets far more pleasant as soon as the replace is on the market.
Past Google I/O
We nonetheless have a wait on our fingers to strive the ultimate model of Android 14, even as soon as I/O’s over and accomplished with. Google’s present growth timeline has the steady version of Android 14 showing after July, and probably it will not be accessible on any new telephone till it debuts on the most recent flagship Google telephone, which ought to be the Pixel 8 collection in October.
This looks like an replace that’ll be price ready for, or presumably even upgrading for in case your telephone’s too outdated for a software program refresh. Nothing’s as flashy or as enjoyable as Materials You was in Android 12, however we are able to look ahead to a collection of welcome optimizations in Android 14 going by the betas. And, in fact, we should still see some surprises introduced throughout Google I/O that the betas have but to see, so fingers crossed for much more new options to look ahead to.
Extra from Tom’s Information
