House owners of Google Pixel telephones have been having fun with the most recent Android 14 for a number of days now, exploring the brand new AI-powered lock display screen, flash notifications and extra.
Android updates are not formally named after desserts, however they’re nonetheless internally code-named after candy treats – Android 14 is Upside-Down Cake, and the robotic mascot is a handstand.
Nonetheless, the identify shift doesn’t imply the options are much less scrumptious.
Google homeowners can scan QR codes quicker, see well being knowledge in a single spot and supply pin safety.
The replace will roll out ‘this yr’ to telephones from Samsung Galaxy, iQOO, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, Vivo and Xiaomi, Google guarantees.
Beneath are the brand new Android 14 options.
The brand new OS replace is codenamed Upside-Down Cake – therefore, the Google Android mascot is upside-down (Google)
AI-powered lock display screen choices
You are able to do rather more along with your lock display screen in Android 15, together with customizing fonts, widgets and colours.
There are additionally some super AI-powered choices – resembling if the climate is taking a flip for the more serious, your lock display screen climate widget will change into extra seen.
To vary your lock display screen choices (when you’ve put in Android 14), go to Wallpaper and Fashion > Lock display screen.
Or you may entry it by tapping and holding your lock display screen, then selecting ‘Customise lock display screen’ (you’ll be prompted to do that after putting in Android 14).
You’ll be able to customise the font and shade of your lock display screen (Google)
Scan QR codes quicker
On earlier variations of Android OS, accessing QR codes in a restaurant is a sluggish course of – now you can add a shortcut to your lock display screen to entry it immediately.
It’s also possible to entry the lock display screen’s different capabilities like digicam and torch direct.
To vary this, go to Wallpaper and Fashion > Lock display screen > Shortcuts, the place you may manually modify which apps can be found on the lock display screen from a menu together with Torch, Video Digicam, Pockets and Do Not Disturb.
Create AI wallpaper
This characteristic means that you can use AI text-to-image fashions to create wallpapers – both from pre-set options or freestyling it from textual content instructions.
The wallpaper app generates AI wallpaper from easy textual content prompts (Google)
The characteristic is at the moment restricted to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional however is coming to different telephones later, Google guarantees.
For those who’re fortunate sufficient to have a brand new Pixel 8, faucet Wallpaper & type > Extra wallpapers > AI wallpaper.
Select a theme to create your AI-generated wallpaper.
Faucet Encourage me to get a random wallpaper to your chosen immediate.
Flashes as an alternative of sound for notifications
It’s probably not socially acceptable to have your cellphone bleeping, ringing and pinging in 2023, and Android 14 introduces choices to have your display screen or digicam flash as an alternative.
The perform is just like ones obtainable on Samsung and iOS units, however hasn’t been a part of Android till now.
You may make your display screen flash any shade you want if you get a notification (Google)
The Android model means that you can select one or each choices and choose the colour of the flash.
To show these on, go to Settings > Notifications > Flash notifications and activate both Digicam Flash or Display Flash.
To vary the colour of the display screen flash, simply faucet on Display Flash and alter it to no matter shade you need out of 16 choices.
PIN safety
The brand new model of Android makes it more durable for thieves to ‘learn’ your PIN over your shoulder – however extra accessible to enter it.
The brand new replace provides the choice to show off display screen animations as you enter your PIN – making it more durable for thieves to see what you entered.
You not should hit ‘Enter’ after your six-digit PIN – the cellphone unlocks robotically.
To modify the improved privateness possibility on, go to Settings > Safety and privateness > Machine Unlock, faucet the cog wheel and select Enhanced PIN Privateness.
See well being knowledge in a single place
Well being Join permits you to management all of your well being knowledge in a single place (Google)
Plenty of us use Android smartphones to handle knowledge from well being wearables, and Android 14 now permits you to collect that knowledge in a single place.
It’s just like capabilities in iOS, and permits you full management over app entry to well being knowledge resembling step counts.
To begin utilizing Well being Join, go to Privateness > Well being Join.
