The primary developer preview of Android 14 dropped earlier today and we have been fast to flash it. Our Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 gadgets are up and working this new model of Android in hopes that we’d discover a complete bunch of enjoyable stuff to share again with you. Because it seems, this primary developer preview is simply that, a preview with largely developer-focused and behind the scenes stuff. If there can be a bundle of user-facing options in Android 14 to get you and I excited, it’s not right here simply but.
That stated, we dug via settings and likewise leaned on the legend, Mishaal Rahman, who did what he at all times does with new builds like these and located these little modifications that you could be not discover, however that find yourself being significant within the greater image of Android. So there may be new cool stuff on this first Android 14 Developer Preview 1, and this can be a temporary take a look at a few of it.
Android 14 is UpsideDownCake
Yep, that’s the interior dessert identify. Google doesn’t make a giant deal of those anymore, however so you understand, that’s what it’s referred to as.
Display on time is again
Android 14 vs. Android 13
OK, display screen on time reporting didn’t ever actually go away, however Google positive didn’t make it as apparent as we’d like when battery stats. In Android 13, you needed to go the battery utilization part after which scroll to the underside of the preliminary checklist to seek out the “System utilization since final full cost” part. Increasing that might then present you system utilization objects, together with display screen on time.
In Android 14, a minimum of for this primary preview, Google is placing display screen on time entrance and heart of the battery utilization part. Like, take a look at the picture above on the left and also you’ll see it as clear as ever. Yay.
Provider bloatware detection
There’s a variety of arguments about what’s thought of “bloatware”, however I feel we are able to all agree that 17 apps being put in within the background whenever you insert a service’s SIM counts, proper?!
Android 14 has a brand new function that detects and helps you uninstall that form of bloatware! pic.twitter.com/zRBEfQCkxs
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 8, 2023
Mishaal found and wrote about an “Apps put in within the background” setting that was buried behind a developer flag. When enabled (or ought to this function go reside with steady Android 14 afterward), this may establish all the apps which are put in within the background, presumably by your service who likes to load up sh*tty bloatware as soon as you put in their SIM card in your telephone.
Google seems to be making it simpler than ever for these apps to be uninstalled utilizing this new settings space, saying within the UI:
“Your machine producer could set up apps in your machine within the background, or enable your service and different companions to take action. Any apps listed right here aren’t required in your machine to perform usually. You may uninstall apps you don’t need.”
I really like the refined dig in regards to the apps listed right here “aren’t required in your machine to perform usually” and that it is best to be at liberty to uninstall any you don’t need. Good on you, Google, so long as you retain this in and don’t cave to carriers who’re about to complain about it.
Warning on apps which are too outdated to put in
Android 14 will now warn you whenever you set up an app that targets API degree 27 or decrease (ie. Android 8.1 or older). The edge that triggered this warning was beforehand set at API degree 22 (Android 5.1) in Android 10. https://t.co/dl7wRIXPvU pic.twitter.com/uFG07fS2bg
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 8, 2023
We talked briefly about this earlier right now, however there may be certainly a warning in case you try to set up older apps that Android 14 isn’t keen on. The concept right here is that any app that targets API degree 27 or decrease will produce this warning whenever you set up. Google has focused this API degree as a result of adware d*ckheads use it to keep away from a few of Android’s protections.
Higher wi-fi reset choices
You could not know this, however Android enables you to do smaller scale resets in your telephone that allow you to try to sort things like WiFi or cellular community issues with out having to totally manufacturing unit reset your telephone. In Android 14, they’re separating cellular from WiFi and Bluetooth.
This can be a very nice change. Prior to now, in case you have been having points with a cellular connection and also you went to reset it to try to repair no matter is inflicting you issues, it additionally then reset your entire Bluetooth connections and WiFi. It sucked. I simply did it with my spouse’s telephone a couple of weeks in the past and belief me after I say it wasn’t enjoyable to then reconnect all of her Bluetooth gadgets once more.
Now, in case your cellular connection is tousled, you’ll be able to simply reset cellular. WiFi and Bluetooth are nonetheless bundled in the identical, however that’s in all probability not going to be as huge of a ache to cope with reconnecting to WiFi if you’re in want of wiping Bluetooth.
App cloning!
Android 14 is making ready so as to add an app cloning function! Many OEMs/third-party apps supply this performance already, however it’s good to see work on this in Google’s model of Android. pic.twitter.com/xAynlbwmOd
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 8, 2023
Ever wished to clone an app to make the most of a number of sign-ins or accounts? Yeah, you are able to do this on a variety of different Android telephones already (like Samsung and OnePlus telephones), however not on Google Pixel telephones. That might change with Android 14! Inside the Apps part settings, we may quickly see an choice referred to as “Cloned Apps,” in response to screenshots from Mishaal above. He should have discovered one other hidden flag for it, as a result of that choice shouldn’t be current on our Pixel 7 with Android 14.
And that’s in all probability it for the largest stuff. There are in all probability dozens of different small modifications, however these handful stood out as objects you may need to make the most of as soon as Android 14 hits beta and you put in it in your supported Pixel telephone.