In a nutshell: Alongside the brand new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional smartphones, Google has totally unveiled and launched Android 14. The brand new OS’ headline options concentrate on customization, safety, and accessibility. A number of the new performance employs AI to supply elevated intelligence and adaptability.
House owners of Google Pixel telephones (going way back to Pixel 4a, Pixel 5, and later fashions) ought to start receiving replace notifications for Android 14 this week. The brand new OS will arrive later this 12 months to the remainder of Android telephones from the likes of Samsung, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi.
Android 14 considerably expands customization choices for the lock display and residential display. Customers can set app shortcuts on the lock display to make sure fast entry to their favourite options just like the calculator or QR code reader. A number of pre-set templates for shortcuts and widgets can also be obtainable.
The brand new customization options additionally allow customers to alter wallpapers extra simply. Furthermore, the brand new Pixel 8 telephones introduce the power to create new wallpapers by way of text-to-image generative AI. The function will finally arrive to different fashions, however Google hasn’t stated which or when. AI may mechanically reorganize the display in quite a few methods to go well with totally different conditions, like making a climate widget simpler to achieve throughout a storm.
Relating to safety, the brand new OS delivers extra management over what info apps share. Customers obtain clear notifications when apps ask for issues like location information and after they share that info with third events. Furthermore, Google made PINs safer and simpler to make use of by mandating a minimal of six digits and now not requiring customers to hit enter after accurately getting into the PIN.
Android 14’s new accessibility options concentrate on helping listening to and visually impaired customers. They will choose which a part of the display to enlarge and inform the magnifier to stay engaged throughout a number of apps. Altering font sizes can also be faster and smoother. Moreover, Google reorganized the accessibility settings to facilitate connecting a tool to listening to aids. New flashing notifications can be found for customers who cannot hear conventional notification sounds.
A earlier beta take a look at revealed the corporate’s reply to Apple’s Continuity Digicam, permitting Android telephones to develop into webcams for Home windows, Mac, or ChromeOS PCs by way of a USB connection. Whereas this is not publicly obtainable but, Google guarantees it is coming quickly. To enhance webcam use and video calls, a brand new auto-frame operate adjusts the digital camera to keep up concentrate on contributors.
Android 14 is accessible now, and the most recent Google Pixel telephones ship on October 12. Pre-orders are up for the Pixel 8 at $699 and the Pixel 8 Professional at $999.