Android 14: Google shows first innovations

Google was already working on optimisations for larger screens with Android 12L and 13 and is now continuing along this path with Android 14. Unsurprisingly, as more and more foldable smartphones are appearing and Google has announced announced its own tablet.

Tools for app developers

The first alpha version of Android 14 is primarily aimed at app developers. Google is providing them with new tools. These are intended to ensure that the apps run everywhere that Android runs - as Google puts it itself casually. This also includes documentation on how apps can be adapted for display and use on larger displays.

Depending on the screen size, it should also be easier for app developers to use languages in their programmes that recognise grammatical genders. And the font should be able to be enlarged by 200 per cent in Android 14. On Pixel devices, the maximum is currently 130 per cent. Google hopes that this will make it easier for more people to use Android devices.

Google also claims to have optimised the internal broadcast system. Put simply, this is used for communication between the apps and with the system. You shouldn't notice much of this, but Google is hoping that this will improve battery life - although it remains unclear to what extent.

The people at XDA-Developers have already taken a detailed look at the Developer Preview and discovered a few more new features: With app cloning, for example, it could be possible to use an app on one device with two accounts at the same time. The previously optional Photo Picker, which regulates apps' access to photos, could become mandatory with Android 14.

In addition, Google now appears to be integrating Health Connect into Android 14. The interface for exchanging health and fitness data between apps was presented by Google at its I/O developer conference in May 2022. Until now, it has been a standalone app that you have to install from the Play Store.

In the presentation of the first developer preview of Android 14, Google mentions many new features, but these primarily affect developers - and only secondarily the people with the devices in their hands. Further innovations are likely to be added in the coming months. Google is also likely to present new functions that are more visible to the outside world, particularly at the I/O developer conference in May.

Try out the Developer Preview for yourself

To try out the Developer Preview of Android 14, you need at least one Pixel 4a and the confidence to perform a manual installation of the system image. However, Google points out that this is unfinished software. It should therefore only be installed on test devices that you do not need in everyday use. As in the past, the more convenient automatic installation should be possible from the beta version onwards.

The further schedule

Google's schedule for Android 14 includes a second developer preview in March. From April, beta versions will be released every month until July. The second beta is expected to be released as part of Google's I/O developer conference in May. The final version of Android 14 could then be released from August. First for Google's Pixel devices. Unfortunately, experience has shown that the update process for other manufacturers takes several months.