Android 14: 5 Biggest Features We Expect At Google I/O
© Google ZeroGoogle I/O 2023 is almost here, which means we're about to get a full preview of Android 14 and its features. And there are a number of exciting updates already announced or introduced in the Android 14 beta to look forward to.
The current Android 13 operating system was a relatively quiet release after the big changes that Android 12 brought. Based on the feature rumors, Android 14 seems like a decent update and doesn't offer any special features, but it does have a few changes that users will appreciate.
Looking at the features currently being tested, I've picked the following five features as the highlights of the Android 14 changelog. Keep an eye out for them at I/O on May 10, as well as new hardware from Google like the Pixel. 7th
access key
Security keys for your newly Google-approved global Google account should also appear in Android 14 with an API for managing software security keys.
They replace your standard text passwords with two biometrically authenticated "keys," one generated by your phone and one generated by the service you use. It's easier and more secure than traditional passwords, so it'll be good news for everyone if it becomes the default for new Android phones in the future.
Separate sliders for ringtone and notification sound
One of the most annoying parts of native Android is that increasing or decreasing the volume of notifications also affects the ringtone and vice versa. It's annoying when you want to hear an important incoming call, but don't want to be interrupted by a loud volume, beep, or other noise with every email or SMS notification you receive.
Android 14 finally has separate volume controls for these two important smartphone features. This has apparently been in the works since at least the Android 13 beta, so hopefully, after a full year of potential changes, Google will be ready to make it available to everyone.
Gesture to look back
Android phone rollback works fine so far, but Google seems to have found an interesting way to improve it in Android 14.
Right when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and then pause, you'll see all your open apps. If you swipe from a page and then stop, you'll see a preview of the page you're returning to. This, along with the new arrow indicator that indicates your phone recognizes your input, should make navigating long rows of pages a lot easier. I find that navigating through the Settings app or the many related websites is much easier with this method.
app clones
If you have multiple accounts in the same app, e.g. For example, with personal and business social media accounts, constantly switching between logins can be problematic. Android 14 can make this easier by adding app clones as a standard feature.
Already available on some Android launchers, app clones let you keep two versions of the same app on your home screen or app drawer, each launched under a different account. It looks like it will only work with a few shortlisted apps like Facebook, Discord, or Telegram for now, but hopefully this feature will eventually open up to all apps that can take advantage of it.
Optimized for large screens
It's no secret that Android is the first operating system for smartphones, which means that large-screen Android devices aren't very pleasant to use without a lot of changes from hardware manufacturers. Fortunately, Google seems to continue to improve Android on larger devices, adding developer options for windows, sliding shutters, and more.
This will be crucial for the Google Pixel Fold, the I/O-confirmed foldable phone and Google Pixel tablet already publicly available. But assuming all these features are available in the open source version of Android, it will be much nicer to use the best foldable phones and best Android tablets after the update is released.
Beyond Google I/O
We are still waiting to test the final version of Android 14, even after the I/O is over. In Google's current development schedule, the stable version of Android 14 will arrive after July and will most likely not be available on new phones until it hits Google's latest flagship phone, which is expected to be the Pixel 8 series. in October.
An update seems worth waiting for, or maybe even an update if your phone is too old for a software update. There's nothing more colorful and exciting than Material You in Android 12, but we can look forward to a number of long-awaited fixes in Android 14 as they enter beta testing. And of course, we may see a few more surprises announced at Google I/O that haven't yet been seen in beta, so fingers crossed for more new features.