Android 14 Developer Preview: Android is a popular operating system used by over 2.5 billion people worldwide. It gets better every year with upgrades and new features. Google just released a preview version of Android 14 which includes improvements for developers, better device performance, and more customization options for users.
Android 14 is for developers only. It’s a testing version with new features. Developers use it to check if their apps work on updated devices. It may have bugs and problems, and Google wants feedback from developers. If you’re okay with potential problems, feel free to try Android 14. But if you need a stable phone, it’s best to wait for the full release later in the year.
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Android 14 Developer Preview 1 Features
The Android 14 Developer Preview 1 has some great features:
- Better API behavior for a consistent app experience and reduced resource usage. It also has updated guidance for building mobile apps on different devices.
- Improved battery life and system health.
- More customization options like enhanced accessibility, language features, bigger font size, and automatic font scaling.
- It also allows users to choose their preferred language for individual apps and support for different terms of address.
Android 14 release date
When will Android 14 release?
Google usually announces a “platform stability” for Android updates so developers know when the final APIs will be available. The platform stability for Android 14 is expected to be reached in June 2023, with a few weeks before the official release. Last year, Android 13 hit platform stability in June and was released in August. More information about the release timeline is available.
Customization options in Android 14 Developer Preview
Android 14 is even more customizable, giving users more control over what they see and how they see it.
Bigger fonts with non-linear scaling
On Android 13 or lower, the maximum font size increase is 130%. But with Android 14, it’s increased to 200%. Plus, the text won’t increase at the same rate as smaller text, making sure everything is readable, especially for those who need extra support.
Per-app language option
Developers can now choose the languages shown in their app, which makes it possible to test different options and provide updated locales through server-side localization updates.
Android 14 Privacy and security
With Android 14, it will be harder to install apps that target Android SDK level 22 or lower. This is because some harmful apps target this level to avoid security measures introduced with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. However, developers and tech-savvy users can still install these older apps using an adb command.
Apps designed for Android 14 must specify if they use dynamic Context.registerReceiver() as “exported” or “unexported
For better security, apps made for Android 14 cannot send internal intents without specifying a package to prevent harmful apps from intercepting them.
To prevent malware and other security issues, apps designed for Android 14 must ensure that any code they load dynamically cannot be changed and is protected. This is to keep users safe while using these apps.
Improved background processing
Additionally, Android 14 adds new APIs and updates existing ones to give developers greater control over how the JobScheduler operates, how jobs are prioritized, and when and how they run. This will help ensure that background tasks run smoothly and efficiently, without consuming too much battery or other system resources. Additionally, the new APIs will allow developers to better manage tasks that require network access, such as large file transfers, while improving the user experience by ensuring that these tasks don’t interfere with other activities on the device.
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Yes, that’s correct. By requiring developers to declare foreground service types, it helps to ensure that the use of these services is appropriate and aligns with the user’s expectations. With the new policies being rolled out by Google Play, the aim is to enhance the user experience while also ensuring that resources and battery life are used efficiently. This way, users can have peace of mind that the apps they use are not draining their battery unnecessarily or accessing their data in an unauthorized manner.
Optimized broadcasts
This change will help to optimize the battery life and performance of Android devices by reducing the number of broadcasts that are delivered while an app is in a cached state. The broadcasts will still be delivered when the app comes out of the cached state, ensuring that the app receives all of the information it needs. However, the change will help to minimize the impact of broadcasts on battery life and performance. Developers will need to ensure that their apps correctly handle these optimizations to avoid any unexpected behavior.
App Compatibility in Android 14 Developer Preview
To address these problems, Android 14 introduces new APIs for developers to query the form factor and screen characteristics of a device. Developers can use these APIs to determine if their app is running on a foldable, dual-screen, or other type of device, and make changes to the app’s layout or behavior accordingly. These APIs also provide information about screen size, aspect ratio, and screen cutouts, which can be used to make sure that critical elements of the app are not obscured. By making it easier for developers to support different form factors, Google is helping to ensure that apps continue to work well on new devices and that users have a consistent experience across all types of Android devices.
Easier testing and debugging
This makes it easier for developers to test their apps on the latest Android version and ensure compatibility before the public release. In addition, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) has been improved to include a new command line tool, adb shell dumpsys activity, that makes it easier to debug the state of the activity manager, which is the component responsible for managing the lifecycle of activities. Furthermore, there are new logging APIs that allow developers to log state transitions between activities and broadcast receivers, making it easier to find bugs in an app. Overall, these changes should make it easier for developers to test and debug their apps, ensuring a better user experience for everyone.
How to download and install Android 14 Developer Preview 1 on your Google Pixel device
Keep in mind that this is an early developer preview, so it may contain bugs and other issues that can cause instability on your device. It is recommended to only install this preview on a secondary or development device, and to back up all of your data before proceeding with the installation.
Also, make sure to follow the instructions provided by Google carefully, as installing the Android 14 Developer Preview incorrectly can cause harm to your device.
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