Android 14

With Android 14 launching into beta today, Google is making some changes to the Android Beta Program. Instead of there being two simultaneous tracks for 13 QPR3 and 14, there’s now just one OTA beta channel.

On-screen navigation is one of the things that made earlier versions of Android unique, and as time has gone on, that feature has evolved. In Android 14 Beta 1, Google is finally addressing a long-standing complaint with the navigation bar appearance that finally forces apps to have a “transparent” navigation bar.

Beta 1 of Android 14 is available today as most people’s introduction to Google’s next major OS version.

To celebrate the launch of the Android 14 Beta, say hello to our very own mascot! “Astrodroid” is blasting off into uncharted territories to help uncover all things Android 14 – and you can grab your own NewGeekGuide merch to come along for the ride.

Like last year, the first beta of the next major version of Android is launching a month before Google I/O. Android 14 Beta 1 is rolling out to Pixel phones today.

Android 14 DP2 has been out for a few weeks now, and our team is still managing to locate new features within. The latest is a new way to add more contrast to your Material You theme to make things easier to see and read.

The share sheet in Android has been updated time and time and time again, and Android 14 will be no exception as Google prepares several new tweaks.

The latest preview update of the Google Home app includes a new design for the “Device controls” area that’s accessible from the Android lockscreen.

Judging from the latest leaks, the Google Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet are both just around the corner. Matching that, Google appears to be readying more features and tidbits in Android 14 that look perfect for the upcoming Pixel foldable and tablet.

Google is preparing a delightful new “Emoji Lab” wallpaper creator for Pixel phones, allowing you to craft your own wacky looking backgrounds.

For the last few years, the Android team has been working on ways to improve the back gesture, making it more clear what going back will actually do. With the latest Android 14 preview, the Settings app has a predictive back gesture that can show which page you’ll be going back to.

As part of the second preview of Android 14, Pixel phones have gained a new monochrome Material You theme and are preparing to add custom lock screen clocks.

Following last month’s launch, Android 14 Developer Preview 2 is rolling out today before beta releases start in April.

Android 14 Developer Preview 2 is rolling out now ahead of next month’s first beta. It continues work on a number of tentpoles with more capabilities taking shape in this release.

Passkeys are coming up soon as a way of using your phone and its biometrics in place of traditional passwords, and Android 14 is set to bring native support for passkeys to apps, including Dashlane.

In Android 14, Google will roll out the new Predictive Back Gesture and its in-app version. Ahead of that, Google is surveying developers about it.

The 3GPP is responsible for developing mobile broadband standards, with 5G being the recent focus. Standards are made available as “releases,” with the Pixel 7 on the older 3GPP Release 15 compared to other available phones today.

As part of Android 14, it seems Google is gradually rebuilding parts of the Settings app using its more modern Jetpack Compose library instead of traditional Android Views.

The first developer preview of Android 14 doesn’t contain a huge number of changes, but one notable tweak comes to Health Connect, which is now baked into the system settings.