Android 14
Version of the Android operating system
Screenshot
DeveloperGoogle
OS familyAndroid
Source modelOpen-source software
General
availability		October 4, 2023 (2023-10-04)
Latest release14.0.0_r21 (UQ1A.240105.004.A1)[1] / January 3, 2024 (2024-01-03)
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
Preceded byAndroid 13
Official websitewww.android.com/android-14/
Support status
Supported

Android 14 is the 64-bit fourteenth major release and the 21st version of Android, the mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google. It was released to the public and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) on October 4, 2023. The first devices to ship with Android 14 are the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. With Android 14, users will no longer be able to install apps that target Android below Marshmallow 6.0 (without an Android Debug Bridge command) in an effort to increase security and privacy.[2][3][4]

History

Android 14's Developer Preview logo

Android 14 (internally codenamed Upside Down Cake[5]), was announced on February 8, 2023. A developer preview was released immediately,[6] as well as a roadmap with the dates of updates.[7] This contained another developer preview, which was published on March 8,[8] as well as four monthly beta versions. The first beta was released on April 12, which received a hotfix to Beta 1.1 on April 26.[9][10] The second beta was released on May 10, which also received a hotfix to Beta 2.1 on May 25.[7] The third beta version was released on June 7, now reaching platform stability,[11] which later received a hotfix to Beta 3.1 on June 14. The fourth beta version was released on July 11.[12] Android 14 had 1 year, 1 month, 2 weeks and 5 days between Android 13's Aug 15 2022 release, surpassing the Android 9 - 10 duration of 1 year and 4 weeks.

The beta versions are available for Pixel devices that are guaranteed Android version updates, the Pixel 4a (5G) or newer devices. Pixel 7a can also beta test Android 14 since Beta 3.[13] The Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold have been able to beta test Android 14 since Beta 4.

In December 2023, Google released the first quarterly platform release (QPR) update for Android 14, along with a feature bundle that introduced new features and improvements for Pixel devices. Some of the notable features included new Emoji Kitchen combinations for Gboard, custom PIN for FIDO2 security keys, aspect ratio control for Pixel Fold and Tablet, and more. The update also included the December 2023 security patch, which resolved 33 security issues and 33 additional fixes for Google devices. The QPR update and feature bundle were available for Pixel 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, and 8 Pro. Additionally, Android 14 brought some pixel specific additions, such as a new UI, improved zoom controls, enhanced video stabilization, and support for astrophotography and night sight modes for the Pixel camera app; more customization options, adaptive icons, and a redesigned app drawer for the Pixel launcher; bass boost, adaptive sound, and attention alerts for the Pixel Buds app; and sunrise alarm, bedtime mode, and personalized photo frame for the Pixel Stand app.

Features

User experience

Building on the new option added in Android 13 to set languages individually for apps, this feature has been expanded and is easier to implement for developers. Furthermore, a new "Grammatical Inflection API" has been added to gender users according to their preferred grammatical gender.[14][15]

Android 14 will provide the ability to increase the font size up to 200% compared to 130% in previous versions, combined with nonlinear font scaling to prevent large text elements on screen from scaling too large,[14] and it is now possible to specify the temperature unit (Fahrenheit, Celsius, or Kelvin)[16] which should be used in applications.[17]

The Material You design language, introduced in Android 12 and supplemented in Android 13, gets revised default colors in Android 14.[18] Android 14 also introduces additional lock screen customization options, such as multiple clock and weather styles.[19]

A predictive back gesture animation shows the destination of the back gesture and indicates when the back gesture will close or return to another app.[20]

For devices with a larger screen, such as tablets, the taskbar is expanded in Android 14 and now shows the names of the pinned apps.[18][21]

Android 14 will allow a phone to be configured as a webcam when plugged into a computer or another Android device.[22]

Android 14 adds support for the new image format Ultra HDR, to take and display high dynamic range photos with HDR compatible cameras and displays. The Ultra HDR format is backwards compatible with JPEG on standard dynamic range displays.[23][24]

Battery life

Android system processes are more efficient which provides battery life improvements.[15] In addition, there is now the option to choose directly between battery-saver mode and extreme battery-saver mode.[18]

The screen time since the last full charge is now displayed in the battery settings. The battery consumption is shown separately from system and user applications. This feature was replaced with the launch of Android 12 by showing battery usage over the past 24 hours.[18][25]

Privacy and security

In order to improve privacy, the user can select which images an application may access.[17]

Google is blocking the installation of apps that target versions of Android below Marshmallow (6.0). With Android 14, users will no longer be able to install apps that target SDK version 22 or lower. The change is intended to curb the spread of malware, which intentionally targets old versions of Android to bypass security restrictions introduced in newer versions. An ADB install flag has been added to bypass the restriction.[26][27]

There is also a small change for guest mode or multiuser mode, where the "Allow guest to use phone" option has been moved to the top level menu. Previously, this option was behind the guest account itself.

Health Connect

Incorporating Health Connect as one of the new features of Android 14, users can now access it through the all-new Pixel's settings menu. Health Connect collaborates with apps like Fitbit, Samsung Health, and Google Fit.[28]

Reported issues

On some Pixel devices where multiple user profiles have been configured, the user may be unable to access their data with the main user profile, or have their phone stuck in a boot loop.[29] Google acknowledged the issue on October 30, 2023, and is working on fixes.[30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "android-14.0.0_r21". Git at Google.
  2. ↑ "Android 14 blocks apps targeting old Android versions". Bayton.org. June 23, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Android 14 can block users from sideloading very old apps". Engadget. January 24, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Behavior changes: all apps". Android Developers. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Alan (April 23, 2022). "Google reveals one interesting bit of information about 2023's Android 14". Phone Arena. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Android 14 Preview". Android Developer. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Timeline, milestones, and updates". Android Developer. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Android 14 DP2 Flash Notifications". 9to5Google. March 8, 2023. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dave Burke (April 12, 2023). "Android 14 Beta 1". Android Developers Blog. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Android 14 Release Notes". Android Developers Blog. April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ Burke, Dave (June 7, 2023). "Android 14 Beta 3 and Platform Stability". Android Developers Blog.
  12. ↑ "Android 14 Beta 4". Android Developers Blog. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Factory images for Google Pixel". Android. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Features and APIs Overview". Android. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  15. 1 2 Cosmos (February 8, 2023). "Android 14 First Developer Preview Available Now". Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  16. ↑ "LocalePreferences.TemperatureUnit". Android for Developers. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Dave Burke (March 8, 2023). "Android 14 Developer Preview 2". Android Developers Blog. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 9to5Google (February 9, 2023). "Android 14 Developer Preview 1: Top new features!". YouTube. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  19. ↑ Thomas, Dallas (June 7, 2023). "Android 14's new lock screen customization is live in Beta 3". Android Police. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Update your app to support a predictive back gesture". Android Developers. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  21. ↑ Jens (February 9, 2023). "Android 14: These are the most important innovations in the first developer preview of the new operating system". GoogelWatchBlog (in German). Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  22. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (September 22, 2023). "Android phones get PC webcam capabilities in the latest beta". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Android 14: More customization, control and accessibility features". Google. October 4, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ultra HDR Image Format v1.0". Android Developers. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  25. ↑ Aashish Singh (November 3, 2021). "Android 12 ditched last full charge battery usage stats, shows past 24hrs". PiunikaWeb. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ Bradshaw, Kyle (January 24, 2023). "Android 14 set to block certain outdated apps from being installed". 9to5Google. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  27. ↑ Fingas, Jon (January 24, 2023). "Android 14 can block users from sideloading very old apps". Engadget. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ Sharma, Nutan. "6 Best exciting and new features of Android 14". The Writing Paradigm. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  29. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (October 27, 2023). "Android 14's user-profile data bug seems indistinguishable from ransomware". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Issues accessing storage after updating to Android 14 - Google Pixel Community". support.google.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.