It’s finally here! After months of anticipation and speculation, Google has officially launched the Android 14 Developer Preview. This new preview comes with some major improvements and features that will help developers create better apps and experiences for their end users.
Google has just launched the Android 14 first Developer Preview for Pixel, giving developers a first look at the upcoming version of their mobile operating system. With the launch of Android 14, Google is introducing new features and improvements that are designed to make developing the platform easier and more powerful than ever before.
Five tentpoles are present as of Android 14 Developer Preview 1, with”Working across devices and form factor” as the first. In order to accommodate tablets and foldable form factors, Android 14″ builds on the work done in Android 12L and 13″ according to Google. With each new Android release, Google hopes to make it simpler to optimise apps for different form factors. They mention recent work on layouts and large screen guidelines. Google mentions the Cross-Device SDK, which will power the cross-device audio switching introduced earlier this year when it comes to operating across devices.
The most notable features of Android 14 developer preview 1 include:
- API behavioral improvements: Changes have been made to API behaviors in order to offer users a more consistent app experience across devices while reducing system resource usage. There is also updated guidance to help developers capitalize on multitasking and features unique to large screens for building their mobile apps for more devices.
- Battery life and system health improvements: Improvements to the internal broadcast system will help make device battery life and battery consumption more efficient for users.
- More customization options: Android 14 is offers enhanced accessibility and language features.
- Android 14 makes it easier for developers to allow users to choose their preferred language for individual apps and add support for different terms of address when referring to users in a gendered language.
- In accommodating low-vision users, Android 14 has an increased font size of up to 200% (up from 130%) and automatic non-linear font scaling to mitigate common layout issues and make text more readable.
Google released a schedule for upcoming Android 14 updates and anticipated releases up until its official launch. Two developer previews, one each in February and March, will be followed by four Android 14 beta releases, one every month through the end of July.
As for Android 14, the Developer Preview 1 is now available for the Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 4a (5G).
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For now, again, this is developer-only stuff and requires manual work to get running. Most of you shouldn’t take it on. Google specifically says as much in today’s announcement post, so listen to them.
