Droid Tools

Tag: Android 14

  • Android 14 preview to test drive the new features on Pixels

    Android 14 preview to test drive the new features on Pixels

    Google made the Android 14 Developer Preview (DP) available for testing on devices from the Pixel 7, Pixel 6, and Pixel 5 series, even the rudimentary Pixel 4a. A new DP edition is expected to be published in March, followed by a few beta releases until the summer, when more stable and feature-rich versions will be issued, and finally the final Android 14 release in the fall.

    android 14 release calendar

    New Android 14 features

    Speaking of new Android 14 features, as usual in the Developer Preview stage, there aren’t many user-facing ones, but rather deep under-the-hood changes that bring interface speed and power-draw optimizations, as well as security and privacy upgrades. Still, there is one biggie one it comes to new Android 14 feature that you will immediately notice.

    System fonts

    Bigger fonts with non-linear scaling is exactly what Google refers it as this new Android 14 option as. Instead of the current 130% threshold, Android phone owners will be able to increase the size of the system fonts by two times.

    It makes sense considering that screens are growing bigger and bigger—we now have foldables with screens north of 7 inches diagonal and difficult-to-read small print. Without a doubt, Google uses “non-linear” scaling to raise text in fonts that are already sufficiently large compared to the smaller text that receives a size increase, rather than simply increasing the font size of Android 14 in a way that is deserving of the list of the best phones for seniors.

    android 14 new features font

    Performance and battery life

    Android 14 will optimize the speed of the mobile OS system overall and offer less of a power pull from unnecessary activities thanks to a clever combination of background process optimization and presenting actionable requests to apps only when they are out of a cached state.

    Additionally, without the user’s express consent, apps that don’t need a strict timing schedule, such clocks or calendars, won’t be able to continuously probe for resources by setting precise alarms.

    Adapting to foreign language 

    With Android 14, a number of foreign language optimizations address the accessibility issues of the device by modifying the text to reflect the peculiarities of non-English speakers, such as tailored translations that take into account the different grammatical genders used in various languages.

    The ability to dynamically update the list of foreign languages in an app’s settings to reflect the location and even alter the keyboard based on the interface language that the app is displaying in is another fantastic locale adaption improvement in Android 14.

    Security and privacy

    Down on the system level, Android 14 will include several new malware-fighting features that plug known exploits by blocking app installations or only allow them if they meet certain criteria. 

    Dynamically loaded applications that can be changed by injecting code in the process will be marked to be read-only in Android 14 in order to close another door for the installation of malware and various exploits.

    Android 14 release date

    • Android 14 Beta: April 2023
    • Final Android 14 release build: October-November 2023

    How to install Android 14 Developer Preview on Pixel phones

  • Android 14 will support satellite connectivity T-Mobile/Starlink partnership

    Android 14 will support satellite connectivity T-Mobile/Starlink partnership

    Evidently, satellite communication is all the rage. While Android 13 is still gradually rolling out to devices other than those in the Pixel line, it appears that Google is already teasing features for Android 14.

    Google’s senior vice president of platforms and ecosystems, Hiroshi Lockheimer, stated in a tweet on Thursday that the company aims to offer satellite connectivity “in the next version of Android” and that he is enthusiastic about the possibilities this opens up.

    android satellite connectivity

    What you need to know – Android 14

    • A Google executive has confirmed that the next version of Android will support direct satellite connectivity.
    • T-Mobile and SpaceX recently announced a new partnership that aims to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones.
    • Apple has been rumored to have this in the works for its upcoming iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8.

    It isn’t much of a stretch to figure out what “the next version of Android” might mean, but Google confirmed to 9to5Google that this is, in fact, Android 14.

    The cooperation between T-Mobile and SpaceX, which will use the latter’s Starlink satellites to provide basic connectivity to smartphones, was just revealed. Lockheimer’s tweet is probably in response to that announcement. The goal is to eradicate so-called dead zones, where even the top U.S. carriers struggle to deliver the most basic services. This would at first encompass messaging services like SMS and MMS as well as specific chat apps and possibly even video.

    After SpaceX launches its next-generation satellites, the beta testing for this is not anticipated to begin until late in 2023. The service is anticipated to be free for members of T-“most Mobile’s popular plans,” but the businesses intend to expand it to support calls and data as well.

    Along with this collaboration, it has been long-rumored that Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 products will feature satellite connectivity. We’ll have to wait and watch what Apple says on September 7 since the company is anticipated to reveal its new smartphones.