Google has officially released the stable Android 14 update, as anticipated. This announcement occurred during the Made by Google event, where the search giant introduced it’s Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices. After months of testing and a few beta releases, the stable Android version is now available, featuring numerous enhancements, new features and exclusive Google Pixel features that won’t be accessible on other OEM devices.
Generative AI Wallpapers:
An exclusive feature for Google Pixel devices, Generative AI Wallpapers, utilizes AI to generate wallpapers based on text input. This lets you personalize your device’s home and lock screens with these new AI-generated wallpapers. For those who prefer not to use AI-generated wallpapers, there are also pre-set wallpapers available for use.
Home Screen Customizations:
Android, renowned for it’s many customization options, is an open-source operating system. On Android 12, Google introduced more profound customization options, including font style, icon style, colors, icon customizations and more. On Android 14, Google has refined these customization options, enabling users to tailor their home screens to their preferences fully. Users can now customize the home screen’s fonts, widgets and colors. Additionally, Google has integrated AI capabilities to assist with customizations, providing users an excellent customization experience. Furthermore, there’s an option for a monochromatic theme for users who prefer a less colorful home screen.
Android 14 Lock Screen Customizations:
Unlike the previous two features, lock screen customization is not exclusive to Pixel devices and will also be available for non-Pixel devices. The latest Android 14 update permits users to create two shortcuts at the bottom corners on both sides for easy access to specific options. While not a new concept, it’s a standard feature on other OEM devices, particularly those from Chinese manufacturers. Users can select from various shortcuts, including Wallets, Camera, Do Not Disturb, QR Code scanner, Mute and more, and place them at the bottom corners of their lock screens for easy access.
Other Noteworthy Features in Android 14:
Google has integrated the Health Connect app into Android 14, eliminating users needing to download it separately. Additionally, there have been security enhancements to location access. Android 14 now allows users to grant location access to apps individually. When an app shares location or data with third-party apps, the OS will notify users of such data sharing.
Regarding security, Google has introduced a six-digit PIN code option, an improvement over the four-digit PIN used in previous Android versions. It is worth noting that this feature is not unique to Android 14, as many other OEMs have already implemented the six-digit PIN code option on their devices.
Availability:
Android 14 has begun rolling out to all supported Pixel devices, including the Pixel 4a 5G and newer models. If you do not own a supported Pixel device, you must wait for your OEM to release the latest Android update officially.
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