Regardless that the steady launch of Android 14 has but to drop, Google went forward and launched the primary beta of Android’s subsequent launch earlier this week. No, not Android 15, however slightly Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1. QPR1 can be Android 14’s first quarterly platform launch, an interim replace that brings some new options and lots of bug fixes (however not any new APIs for builders).
Android 14 QPR1 will doubtless be launched for Pixel telephones in December as a part of that month’s Pixel Characteristic Drop, Google’s quarterly launch of recent Pixel-exclusive options. Nonetheless, Android 14 QPR1 will even be included into Android’s supply code, so any OEM can decide the options they discover interesting. Few, if any, machine producers will roll out software program updates based mostly on Android 14 QPR1, although, as they’ll as a substitute select to attend for Android 15, which can incorporate all modifications from QPR1, QPR2, and QPR3.
Meaning if you wish to expertise what the upcoming replace presently has to supply, it’s worthwhile to have a Pixel telephone enrolled within the Android 14 QPR1 beta. If you happen to’re interested by what’s new however don’t need to take care of any of the beta’s bugs, I’ve acquired a rundown of what to anticipate.
Word: this breakdown of options in Android 14 QPR1 is predicated on findings inside the Beta 1 construct. There can be extra betas, which may add, take away, or change a few of these options.
Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1: Each new function you’ll be able to strive
Whereas not most new options are usually not explicitly highlighted by Google in its launch notes, there are a selection of user-facing options which are out there so that you can strive with the QPR1 beta put in in your Pixel telephone. Right here’s what I discovered:
Overriding an app’s side ratio
That is the one new function in Android 14 QPR1 that Google formally documented, and it’s aimed toward large-screen units just like the Pixel Fold and Pixel Pill. Via a brand new settings menu, you’ll be able to override an app’s side ratio to lastly power apps like Instagram and Reddit into full display screen. This function isn’t unique to Pixel units. My article for Android Authority has a bunch of screenshots displaying the side ratio settings and totally different modes you’ll be able to decide from.
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Utilizing your telephone as a webcam
Most smartphones supply vastly superior video high quality than your laptop computer’s built-in webcam, so why not use your Android telephone as a webcam in your PC? Whereas there are many apps that allow you to do that, they sometimes require putting in some software program in your telephone and your PC. Android 14 QPR1 on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 collection provides a brand new “webcam” choice to USB preferences that turns your telephone right into a wired webcam.
The approach this function works beneath the hood is a bit sophisticated, however the advantages are that it really works seamlessly with nearly any platform (Home windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux, and even Android itself), and it doesn’t require any extra software program. Oh, and this function additionally isn’t unique to Pixel telephones: It’ll be a part of Android 14’s supply code, nevertheless it’ll be as much as OEMs to allow it.
Viewing your telephone’s battery well being
Android 14 QPR1 permits you to see some stats about your telephone’s battery, particularly its cycle depend (what number of cost and discharge cycles it’s gone via) and manufacture date. These stats may be accessed by going to Settings > About telephone > Battery data.
Whereas any Android machine can technically present these stats, many aren’t set as much as show this data, so your mileage could fluctuate about what data you’ll see right here.
Switching to the brand new “Metro” lock display screen clock
One of many key personalization options Google developed in Android 14 for Pixel telephones is lock display screen clock customization. Pixel customers can open the Wallpaper & Kinds app to select from a set of various clock types, which now features a new “Metro” fashion in Android 14 QPR1.
Holding apps open once you shut the Pixel Fold
One of many options I wished Google to copy from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 is “proceed apps on cowl display screen,” which lets you choose apps that you simply need to proceed utilizing on the outer display screen once you fold the telephone. Android 14 QPR1 kind of has this, besides you’re not deciding on apps from a menu.
Exhibiting solely new notifications on the lock display screen
On the Pixel Pill, there’s a brand new “present solely new notifications on lock display screen” toggle beneath Settings > Notifications. This setting, which is enabled by default, “mechanically take away[s] beforehand seen notifications from the lock display screen.”
Setting a special reside wallpaper on the lock display screen and residential display screen
Imagine it or not, Android has by no means earlier than allow you to set a special reside wallpaper on the lock display screen and residential display screen, despite the fact that reside wallpaper help was launched again in 2009. Because of modifications in Android 14, although, the lock display screen can now set its personal reside wallpaper independently of the house display screen.
Though this modification solely went reside for Pixels within the Android 14 QPR1 beta, it’s truly a part of the core Android 14 OS, so any OEM can allow it. Nonetheless, Google solely enabled this modification by default in QPR1, so some OEM flavors of Android 14 could not have this.
Altering a Bluetooth audio machine’s sort
When Android connects to a Bluetooth machine, it communicates with the machine to determine what sort of machine it’s and what it helps. Extra obscure units could generally not be acknowledged and seem mislabeled in settings. That’s why Android 14 QPR1 now permits you to select the “audio machine sort” of a related Bluetooth machine. You’ll be able to decide between a speaker, headphones, automobile equipment, listening to support, or different. Sure options like spatial audio and listening to support preferences are solely out there when the machine sort is about to “headphones” and “listening to support,” respectively, for instance.
Selecting a most popular frequency in your hotspot
The “lengthen compatibility” toggle in Android’s Wi-Fi hotspot settings has been changed with a “pace & compatibility” web page, which helps you to decide between 2.4 and 5GHz or 6GHz frequencies for a hotspot.
Exhibiting bodily key presses
Android is including a brand new developer choice that “present[s] visible suggestions for bodily key presses.” If you happen to, for instance, press the quantity up key, a dialog seems on the backside of the display screen that claims “VOLUME_UP.”
Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1: Each hidden function
Whereas there are many user-facing options in QPR1 Beta 1, there are some modifications that aren’t as apparent, or that lay the groundwork for future builds. Listed below are those that I’ve discovered:
Finding your Pixel telephone even when it’s off
If you wish to discover your misplaced Android telephone, your finest guess is to fireside up Discover My Gadget on one other Android machine or PC since Google’s service is baked into each Android telephone. Nonetheless, Discover My Gadget can solely presently find units which are on-line, at the very least till the Discover My Gadget community rolls out. Even then, although, it gained’t be capable to find units which are powered off.
That would change for choose Pixel telephones in Android 14 QPR1, although, as code inside the OS suggests you’ll be capable to find them even once they’re powered off.
Looking your telephone utilizing the floating search bar
Android 12 launched a highly effective on-device search engine that allows you to search via your apps, contacts, settings, and extra. Android 14 QPR1 is getting ready a revamp to the best way you entry that search engine. The brand new floating search bar sits atop your keyboard within the app drawer as a substitute of on the high of the display screen. It additionally follows you to the current display screen, in contrast to earlier than. A video of the brand new floating search bar may be discovered on Android Authority so you’ll be able to see how this function works in motion.
Manufacturing unit resetting your telephone earlier than you ship it in for restore gained’t be mandatory
Code inside Android 14 QPR1 suggests you’ll be capable to enter a “restore mode” on Pixel telephones. This restore mode will present a “safe surroundings for machine restore,” which sounds lots like Upkeep Mode on Samsung telephones. Nonetheless, it’ll doubtless work in a different way than Samsung’s model of the function.
Bringing again Google Now on Faucet…kinda?
Google Now on Faucet could have been short-lived, nevertheless it was (and nonetheless is) a really beloved function. Its religious successor is Google Assistant’s “search display screen” button, which is powered by Google Lens. To entry that button, although, you need to first name up the Assistant. Android 14 QPR1 is getting ready a brand new long-press display screen search gesture that’ll skip that step. Sadly, that gesture presently doesn’t work.
Saving an app pair
Google has been engaged on letting you save an app pair — a pair of apps that launch side-by-side in split-screen mode — since Android 14 Beta 2. Now, in QPR1, the function is getting nearer to launch. Whereas app pairs can now be saved to the house display screen and launched, they don’t have an icon and may’t be renamed.
As I beforehand reported, Android is getting help for saving an app pair, and extra progress has been made on this function. In Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, now you can truly save and launch an app pair. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have an icon and may’t be renamed. pic.twitter.com/3AgTJHFcHySeptember 20, 2023
Turning your telephone over to panorama whereas on the lock display screen
Android’s lock display screen has been locked (no pun meant) to portrait mode because the starting, aside from on tablets and different large-screen units. In Android 14 QPR1, although, Google is making an attempt to optimize the lock display screen in order that it may be utilized in panorama mode on telephones.
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Enhancing the house display screen
The Pixel Launcher is getting ready a brand new “edit dwelling display screen” choice that may allow you to add or take away a number of objects from a house display screen web page with out having to consistently reselect objects.
Updating the firmware of the Pixel Pill’s (unreleased) stylus and keyboard
The Pixel Pill launched with none first-party keyboard or stylus equipment, despite the fact that it helps USI 2.0. Earlier this 12 months, a retail demo app leaked the existence of Google’s keyboard and stylus equipment for the Pixel Pill. Now, new code inside Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 means that each equipment can be “good,” i.e., they’ll be able to receiving firmware updates. Android’s Settings app will seemingly inform customers when both accent has a firmware replace out there.
Talking of which, Android 14 QPR1 additionally features a new “movement prediction” machine studying mannequin that’s designed to cut back the perceived latency of drawing/handwriting with a stylus.
Placing bubbles right into a bubble bar
Google’s getting ready a revamp of Android’s chat bubbles function, at the very least on large-screen units. A brand new bubble bar will seem on the backside proper that homes your chat bubbles. We don’t know what the bubble bar will seem like, although.
Turning on an on the spot hotspot
Little is thought about this hidden setting proper now, however there’s an “on the spot hotspot” function within the works. My guess is it’ll improve the hotspot function of Chromebook’s Telephone Hub in some way.
Pixel updates web page
The “system replace” web page is perhaps getting a revamp that exhibits whether or not your OS, Challenge Mainline modules, and Pixel system apps are up-to-date. At the moment, this web page solely exhibits your OS model.
Utilizing your present lock display screen wallpaper as your display screen saver
Android 14 QPR1 prepares to sync your lock display screen and display screen saver. A brand new setting will allow you to “use your present lock display screen wallpaper” as your “dream” (code-name for display screen saver).
That’s every thing I discovered thus far in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1. I do know it’s lots to absorb, however QPR1 is often the place the foremost new options are added because it’s the place Google tries to align issues with their new Pixel launch. In distinction, QPR2 and particularly QPR3 can be lighter on options, as Google can be knee-deep into Android 15’s growth by then.
