Google rolls out first public beta version of Android 14

Google has released the Android 14 Beta 1 for the public to give developers and early adopters the opportunity to access and test some of the new features in the upcoming version of Android. This is the first of the four beta versions of Android 14 and will be followed by two stability releases in June-July before the final version is rolled out to the general public sometime after August. 

Anyone with a new Pixel smartphone can access the Android 14 beta by signing up for the beta program and downloading the over-the-air (OTA) update. Users with tablets and foldable devices can access the beta version through an Android emulator. 

The big tech firm claims the first beta focuses on privacy, security, performance, customisation and developer productivity. It will also improve the experience on large screen devices such as tablets and foldables. 

Though the first beta release is a big deal for Android fans and the early adopter community, Google hasn’t put out a lot of new features in the first version. The new features are aimed at both developers and users. For developers, Android 14 Beta 1 offers the ability to add custom actions to the system share sheet. Android share sheet is the pop window that shows up when users quickly want to share a message, photo or link with another person or in other apps. 

Google said that now the Android system uses more app signals to rank the direct share targets.

Also, the beta version adds enhanced GPU capabilities for developers, which would allow them to leverage graphics chips in smartphones to offer more enhanced visual experiences in their apps. 

The beta version also offers pre-app language settings, which will allow developers to configure their app to automatically support app-specific language preferences of a user. This is an extension of a language personalisation feature in Android 13, which allows multilingual users to keep their system language separate from languages used in apps. 

Further, to enhance user privacy in the upcoming version of Android, Google will limit which private data can be accessed by app developers through accessibility features meant for users with disabilities. This will prevent unintentional execution of critical actions including money transfer or check out in shopping apps. 

For Android users who prefer gesture-based navigation over touch buttons, Google has made improvements in the system user interface. Now the back arrow button in gesture navigation will now look more prominent. 

The big tech firm is expected to unveil more features of Android 14 at its annual developer conference Google I/O 2023 on May 10.