Google launches the primary public beta of Android 14

Picture credit score: TechCrunch

Google’s Android growth cycle strikes at a reasonably predictable tempo today. At this time, after two developer previews, the corporate launched the primary of 4 deliberate public betas of Android 14. As with earlier releases, the primary beta can also be the primary that anybody can set up over-the-air, offered they’ve a supported Pixel machine that dates again to the Pixel 4a 5G (however not the Pixel 4).

There isn’t any official assist for non-Google telephones but. As at all times, keep in mind that these are betas for a motive and are nonetheless primarily for builders who wish to check their apps with this new model and for early adopters who simply can’t await the steady launch. Issues can – and can – break.

Picture credit score: Google

For essentially the most half, there aren’t many new options on this beta, though there are two user-focused UI updates price trying out. The primary is a brand new again arrow (sure — we’ve reached the purpose in cell working system historical past the place new again arrows are just about essentially the most thrilling factor). As Google notes, the gesture navigation expertise now consists of “a extra distinguished again arrow when interacting with an app to enhance the understanding and usefulness of again gestures”. This arrow will match your wallpaper or machine theme. Thrilling issues.

Builders may also now add customized actions to the system sharesheet, and the sharesheet will now be smarter about the way it ranks your sharing objectives.

Aside from that, there’s not a lot that’s new right here. Per-app language settings are right here, as are Google’s beforehand introduced new privateness settings.

I count on we’ll hear just a little extra about what’s new in Android 14 and see extra user-focused options at Google I/O subsequent month. For now, nonetheless, this seems to be one other evolutionary launch.

Picture credit score: Google

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