Sample Page Title

The primary beta of Google’s Android 14 OS is out there to obtain at the moment, introducing new options targeted on system navigation, privateness, efficiency, and person customization. We already had a good suggestion of what to anticipate due to the primary two developer-only previews, however the beta launch is the primary alternative for most of the people to check the modifications.

Gesture navigation has been up to date to incorporate a extra conspicuous Materials You-themed again arrow that adjusts to enhance the gadget’s theme or wallpaper. Except for arguably being extra aesthetically pleasing, the up to date again arrow is designed to assist customers higher perceive Android 14’s predictive again gesture expertise, which now previews the display customers are navigating to inside purposes.

Android 14 additionally introduces a brand new system share sheet — the web page that opens if you faucet to share content material. This permits builders so as to add customized app-specific actions to the highest of the share menu. Google describes this as a “superior” expertise in comparison with the present Android share sheets by which share targets (the app you’re sharing content material to) are at all times sorted alphabetically. The brand new share sheet additionally makes use of extra app indicators to find out the place the direct share targets that seem towards the highest of the web page ought to rank (although it’s not clear what precisely these indicators are).

This solves a couple of points. Beforehand, app builders who needed particular apps to seem increased inside the sharing menu both needed to construct their very own share sheets — which lack visible consistency and stop customers from constructing muscle reminiscence throughout purposes — or add customized share targets. Solely two share targets might be specified to seem increased within the share checklist, and Esper.io notes that even Google discourages builders from using the function, as doing so reduces the variety of share targets that may be advised by the gadget system.

Further updates within the first Android 14 beta embody new graphical options like morphing results and enhanced language settings that robotically configure purposes to assist language preferences on a per-app foundation. Privateness can also be being improved by permitting apps to limit the visibility of delicate information to accessibility providers that declare to assist customers with disabilities. These claims shall be verified by Google Play Shield. Google means that the brand new privateness protections can be utilized to assist stop extra weak customers from actions like unintentionally transferring cash or trying out in a purchasing app.

If you wish to give Android 14 a whirl earlier than its full launch, you could find extra info and directions on how one can obtain the beta on the Android 14 developer web site. Google recommends that anybody wishing to leap from the Android 13 QPR beta program does so with this primary Android 14 beta launch, as customers could finally be required to wipe their gadget’s information with future construct releases.