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Following two developer previews in February and March, Google released the first beta of Android 14 today. This means that even if you’re not a developer, you can now easily test drive the upcoming software by enrolling your compatible Pixel device at the Android Beta website.
After that, Android 14 Beta 1 will be available as an over-the-air update. It should be noted that if you are already enrolled in the Android 13 QPR Beta program with a device that is also supported in Android 14, you will receive the update to Android 14 Beta 1 automatically with no action required. Keep in mind that this is a beta, so bugs and issues are unavoidable.
According to Google’s release schedule, this beta will be followed by another in May. Then, beginning in June, there will be two “Platform Stability” releases (not Release Candidates, but think of them as such).
Android 14 Beta 1 is here! This is the first #Android14 release that’s available for users enrolled in the Android Beta program! Keep an eye out for my upcoming thread of what’s new, but first, here’s a summary of what Google announced: pic.twitter.com/FpPKmEVxiM
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) April 12, 2023
According to Google, the gesture navigation experience in Android 14 includes a prominent back arrow while interacting with apps to improve back gesture understanding and usefulness. This arrow also goes well with your wallpaper or device theme.
Apps can add custom actions to system share sheets that they invoke, and the system uses more app signals to rank the direct share targets. Hopefully, this means that future direct share targets will be more hit than miss.
Per-app language preferences, introduced in Android 13, are improved in Android 14, allowing for dynamic customization of the set of languages displayed in the per-app language list. Keyboards will also be aware of the current app’s UI language, presumably so that they can perform some input language auto-switching if desired.
Finally, accessibility services will not be given visibility unless they claim to assist users with disabilities (and these claims will be checked by Google Play Protect for apps in the Play Store).
