Android 14: Google’s little big update

Android 14: Google’s little big update

The wait for Android 14 will soon be over: in the coming weeks, Google’s new mobile OS should be available for download on the first smartphones. A look at the changes shows that the big change is missing – with Android 14 there are mainly detailed changes.

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The most exciting new feature is probably the ability to “clone” apps. This allows you to use one and the same app with different profiles on the same device. This is practical, for example, if you want to separate private and professional accounts on social media platforms. The feature could also be useful for chat apps. Various manufacturers already offer such options, with Android 14 they are integrated directly into the operating system.

However, cloning will not work with just any app, reports 9to5Google. The blacklist includes many of Google’s own applications, including Android Auto, Gmail, and Youtube. The Chrome browser will therefore not be able to be copied either.

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details and accessibility

Aside from the apps that can be cloned, Google is primarily making detailed changes to the user interface. Sliders get a new look and the lock screen can be adjusted more precisely to your own needs. A preview for the “backward” gesture should make navigation easier, and accessibility should also be improved.

For example, font scaling has been improved: not every text is enlarged by the same factor from Android 14, instead smaller fonts grow more than already large font elements. This is to prevent certain elements from jutting out over menu fields or being cut off due to their size.

It is no longer linear. This means that fonts that are already large are not enlarged as much as smaller fonts. For app operators, this means testing their user interfaces at maximum font size to ensure no text is hidden or truncated.

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More security and battery life

Many improvements are aimed at defending against malicious code. As of Android 14, old apps are therefore locked out. Specifically, this affects applications that were developed for Android versions older than version 6 and have not been updated since then. However, apps already installed on the device that fall into this category are retained when updating to Android 14. The blockade only applies to installing new applications. Executable files reloaded via Dynamic Code Loading (DCL) such as JARs, APKs and DEXs must be marked as read-only in Android 14. The restriction is intended to prevent malware from changing the code afterwards. The security of mobile networks should also be improved.

Android 14 also promises improvements in battery life because background activities are optimized. The broadcast system, which distributes messages in the system, should also work more efficiently in the new version.

Release date unknown

The exact release date of Android 14 is open – Google usually releases the new Android versions spontaneously. In the past, they usually appeared in August or September, but Android 12 didn’t come until October. The new Android version will arrive first on Google’s current Pixel phones before external manufacturers also switch selected phones to the new version.

(dahe)

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