Google unveiled Android 14 today at its Made By Google event in New York. The company revealed that Android 14 brings with it new customization options, accessibility features, and more.
The Android 14 update will be available today for Pixel devices and later this year for Samsung Galaxy , iQOO , Nothing , OnePlus , Oppo , Realme , Sharp , Sony , Tecno , Vivo , and Xiaomi devices .
The company is introducing new ways to customize your device to your personal preferences. Android 14’s updated customization tool is designed to make it easier to change wallpapers and quickly make changes to what you want to see at a glance. With the new software update, users can set custom lock screen shortcuts, such as a QR reader or the Google Home, for one-tap access to their favorite apps or tools right from the lock screen.
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Users can choose from a set of new lock screen templates, including fonts, widgets, colors, and shapes. Google says these templates use artificial intelligence to adjust changes based on your current situation. For example, if you're in an area with bad weather, the lock screen will make the weather widget more prominent.
If you want a more pleasant visual experience, you can choose a monochrome theme that Google claims makes soft colors look elegant on device .
Last May, Google announced that it was working on AI-powered creative wallpapers that users could create using suggested messages. Today, the company announced that this feature will be available first for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. With this feature, Google gives users the ability to choose from preset suggestions and receive a wallpaper created by AI.
The new software update brings improvements to photo and camera quality. Google announced that Android 14 supports high dynamic range (HDR) images with Ultra HDR, thus improving on Android 13's previous HDR video support. The company says that this new improvement brings out vibrant colors in photos and displays high-definition images without compromising the original quality.
Google has announced that Android 14 will bring new features and improvements for users with vision and hearing impairments. The company has improved the Magnifier in Android 14, making it more responsive, with the ability to zoom in and out from 100%. Additionally, users can adjust the size of the Magnifier via the new “Magnifier Settings” panel. Here, users have the option to adjust the size of the screen they want to be magnified. If you want to prevent the Magnifier from turning off when switching between apps, there is a new setting called “Keep on when switching apps” that you can enable.
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Additionally, you can quickly change the font size on your device using a new feature called “Quick Settings.” This improves readability with a non-linear font scale that increases the font size more slowly when it’s larger and more quickly when it’s smaller. According to Google, this feature prevents text that’s already large from getting even larger and allows users to read without interrupting the flow of text or altering the layout of the page.
Android 14 brings a dedicated streaming setting for setup , offering a more integrated experience when connecting your headphones. Additionally, there is the easy ability to route audio to different outputs, along with the ability to access hearing aid controls via shortcut.
Specifically, users can enable “Flash Notifications” to receive visual cues with a flash when they receive a notification. Google says that notification sounds, bells, and alerts aren’t effective for all users, which is why it’s offering this new notification option.
The new update brings additional control over your data. For example, when you’re asked to grant permissions to apps, such as your location, you’ll receive a notification when an app is sharing your data with third parties. Google says that you can then make a better decision about whether you want to grant access. Additionally, Android 14 prompts you to set a smart PIN to strengthen the security of your device. Once you’ve entered the correct PIN, you no longer need to press “enter,” as the device will unlock automatically.
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Android 14 offers additional features, such as automatic framing during video calls and easy access to Google Home controls with a simple tap.
Source: techcrunch.com
