On 4 October, Google released Android 14, progressively making its way to new smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices. This update introduces notable advancements in accessibility, customisation, privacy, and security. Here’s an in-depth look at its main features and how to utilise them.
Enhancements in accessibility
- Flash Notifications: A novel addition in Android 14, flash notifications allow the device’s camera flash or screen to illuminate for notifications and alarms, aiding those with hearing difficulties. Activate this by navigating to Settings > Notifications > Flash notifications. Users can select between camera and screen flashes and alter the flash colour on Pixel devices.
- Improved Hearing Aid Support: Android 14 now includes a specific settings page for hearing aids, accessible through Settings > Accessibility > Hearing devices. This provides options for pairing new hearing aids and creating shortcuts for easy access.
- Larger Fonts and Improved Scaling: Android 14 has increased the maximum font size to 200% (previously capped at 130%) to assist visually impaired users and employs more effective scaling. Adjust these settings in Settings > Display > Display size and text.
- Upgraded Magnification Tool: The magnification tool now allows users to select the area of the screen to enlarge and adjust zoom levels. Find this feature under Settings > Accessibility > Magnification.
Customisation features
- Wallpaper and Lock Screen Personalisation: With Android 14, users can personalise wallpapers using emojis or an AI-generated image. Access these options by long-pressing the home screen and selecting “Wallpaper & style”. The lock screen customisation has also been expanded.
- Regional Preferences: Users can set system-wide preferences for temperature scales and the week’s start day, which are retained during backups. Locate these under Settings > System > Languages > Regional preferences.
Privacy and security improvements
- Data Protection Alerts: Monthly notifications in Android 14 inform users of any data sharing alterations by apps, facilitating better management of app permissions.
- End of Support for Older Apps: To prevent malware, apps that utilise APIs older than Android 5.1 cannot be installed on Android 14.
- Photo and Video Sharing Permissions: Users now have more control over app access to their photos and videos, with options to limit access to particular media files.
- PIN Upgrades: New options in Android 14 include turning off the PIN entry animation and enabling auto-confirmation of PINs for faster access.
Additional updates
- Battery Life Optimisation: Android 14 enhances battery life through improved management of background tasks and data transfers.
- Health Connect Integration: Google’s Health Connect is now directly integrated into the operating system, accessible from the Privacy settings.
- Ultra HDR Support: This new image format enhances colour and contrast on HDR-compatible displays and is backward compatible with most devices.
Future Pixel Feature Drops
Google is trialling features for future Pixel Feature Drops through its quarterly platform release betas. Highlights include a redesigned software updates page, weather information in the Clock app, and a per-app screen recording option.
This update marks a significant step forward in Android’s development, elevating user experience across multiple dimensions.
