Google today released the first Developer Preview of Android 14, and Android 13 QPR2 is still in the testing phase.
In terms of new features, building on Android 12L and Android 13, Android 14 has enhanced support for devices of all screen sizes, with a focus on tablets and foldable devices. Google has provided some guidelines to help developers create better apps for tablets and foldable devices. In terms of cross-device work, Google noted that the cross-device SDK will support cross-device audio switching, which was announced earlier this year.
There are also background enhancements to improve and simplify application collaboration, with a focus on improving battery life and system health. Some examples include improvements to JobScheduler, and Foreground Services, optimization of application broadcasts in the background state, and precise alerting permissions.
Screenshot of different font sizes
With Android 14, Google has added better font scaling up to 200%, up from the previous maximum of 130%. There are also improvements to the syntax transitions API for language preference and gender for each app.
Privacy and security updates for Android 14 include changes to the way dynamic code loading works to help mitigate malware and exploits in dynamically downloaded code.
The update will also prevent older apps with SDK versions 22 or earlier from being installed on Android 14 devices. This means apps will need to use at least an API at level 23, which means they are at least compatible with Android 6, which was released in 2015.
Google has also added new developer tools, such as OpenJDK 17 support and improved change testing, with the ability to toggle changes via the adb command or the developer option on the device.
Android 14 release schedule
Google has also provided a timeline for future updates to Android 14. There will be two developer previews, one in February and another in March, followed by four Beta versions of Android 14, one each month until the end of July.
The first Android 14 release is designed specifically for developers to give them time to process and integrate API changes into their apps. the full version of Android 14 is expected to be available in late summer or early fall.
The Android 14 Developer Preview is available as a manual download and can only be installed via sideload for Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5A 5G, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
