Features and tricks in Android 14: A useful guide to what's new
The news about releases, features, news and tricks of the various desktop and mobile operating systems are usually our thing. Also, about the various applications, websites and social media platforms. This includes, of course, your problems, bugs and vulnerabilities or weaknesses, and its various ways to solve them.
And since we recently addressed it in a recent and useful post called “Android 14 problems: know the bugs of the new update«, the bad that was known until then about such a recent mobile operating system, today in this publication we will address the good known about it until then. Focusing more than anything on pointing out and briefly describing what is known about the «known features and tricks in Android 14».
But, before entering fully into today's topic, that is, about the «features and tricks in Android 14» known until now, it is important to make it clear that this fourteenth version, officially released a few days ago (October 4, 2023), is also the twenty-first version of Android created. And it has also been developed by the Open Handset Alliance organization, which is currently led by the Google company.
The Android 14 problems are causing something to talk about among Pixel mobile users, as it seems that after the last update things have not gone as usual. For example, one of the main failures has affected the Google Pixel 6 and 6a, who indicate that from one moment to the next they lost access to their storage. So it has become impossible for them to install new apps or use their file manager.
Features and tricks in Android 14: A useful guide to what's new
List of known functions and tricks in Android 14
Features
Among the latests Moravia's compositions latest and greatest features mentioned in his Official website, we can mention the following:
- Supports image capture in Ultra HDR quality: A useful function to be able to capture HDR images and then display them on HDR screens without loss of quality, that is, with its real and bright vivid colors, and the realistic enhancement between its better defined bright areas and darker shadows.
- Supports the application of dynamic and monochromatic themes: This beautiful feature applies to both widgets, icons, buttons and backgrounds, as well as the operating system's own animations. Which creates an aesthetic with fewer distractions and greater elegance with the use of gray scale.
- Offers unique and custom wallpapers created with AI: Following the wave of other operating systems and IT platforms, Android 14 has the ability to follow guided instructions to express, on a mobile wallpaper, the creativity of its users. For now, only available on select Pixel phones.
- Includes a new and improved customization selector: Which promises to make the task of adapting the main and lock screens easier according to the needs and tastes of each user, through the use of shortcuts on the lock screen and personalized clocks.
- Integrates improved and faster information on data sharing: Which will offer access to more proactive and easy-to-understand information about the data permissions of the various installed applications. Thus allowing us to choose the access we grant to each application based on our computer and online security.
Other functions
And among many others, they stand out Using a recommended 6-digit unlock password to strengthen security within our device; better and more effective access to Health Connect in settings, to have a centralized way to connect our health and fitness applications; and Various accessibility improvements for visually and hearing impaired users, including increasing screen portions (Zoom), using larger fonts, and better integration with Bluetooth headphones.
5 Known Tricks Available
- Compose a wallpaper using emojis through the following method, Settings (Settings), Wallpaper and style, Lock or home screen, More wallpapers, Emoji workshop.
- Use your Android phone as a webcam in a video call by simply connecting it via a USB cable to a computer running Windows, macOS or ChromeOS.
- Include a larger number of participants in an ongoing video conference, by enabling the new built-in Auto Framing feature, enabling automatic Panning and Zooming to keep participants focused during the call.
- Know how much usage time we have left since the last battery charge. Very useful to know how much we have been using the mobile phone since we charged it for the last time, and how long the battery will last until it is completely discharged. To do this, we will only have to go to Settings, Battery, Battery usage.
- Give personalized access to photos by apps: This new version allows us to choose that a specific app can only access specific photos. And to take advantage of this new feature, we will only have to wait for an application to ask us for access permissions to our photos and images, to choose the option to select photos and videos, and make the desired selection. We could also remove access to apps that already have general access to all our images and photos, to force it to ask us again and take advantage of this new configuration.
Warnings about Android 14
If you are going to use Android 14 on a current or soon-to-be Pixel on your preferred brand and model of smartphone, it is good to know that, one of the main changes compared to Android 13 is that Android 14 will block all old Android apps that you want to update. That is, only those that incorporate APIs from Android 5.1 onwards will work, because if not, they cannot be installed due to security measures.
Also, it is important to take into account that, in practice, Android 14 will only support 64-bit applications, so we will literally have to tell him goodbye to 32-bit applications. And finally, using Android 14 will force manufacturers to adopt open source codecs called AV1, to improve video streaming compression. Which will require smartphones and modern apps compatible with this technology to enjoy video streaming of better quality and fluidity.
In summary, "Android 14 brings us very good new functions and tricks" that we can use for now on current and new compatible Google Pixel phones. Over time, and as usual, we will be able to get to know it and take advantage of it in the different types, brands and models of smartphones and mobile devices in the world.
However, if you are very curious and want to continue learning more about it, you can click on the following official link on Android 14, and learn more in depth about the latest feature news of said newly released version.