The Android team at Google LLC has been busy behind the scenes working on Android 14 and with its public release today, it’s coming with a number of new features that will enhance customization and device control for users.

With Android 14, users will find more ways to express themselves using the device by customizing the software through an updated theme picker. It will allow users to adjust their preferences more easily with an updated wallpaper picker for at-a-glance changes.

“Android has always helped you express yourself in both practical and artistic ways – from the wallpaper, style and color palette theme to buttons and backgrounds,” said Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Android. “Now, we’re introducing more ways to tailor your phone to your personal preferences.”

The lock screen has also been given a touch-up by allowing users to set up shortcuts such as a QR code reader or the Google Home app for one-tap access. It’s also getting its own touch-up that is context aware. For example if the weather changes, the lock screen weather widget will become more prominent, or if the user has an upcoming meeting their calendar widget will embolden itself.

Android 14 is also bringing generative AI wallpaper that allows users to type in English language prompts to create their own imaginative images and then apply it to their phone’s backgrounds. This feature is coming first to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro announced today at the company’s Made by Google event.

The new software also supports new media capabilities across devices for superior photos and camera quality features. Building on Android 13’s support for high dynamic range video, Android 14 is capable of delivering HDR images with Ultra HDR. That allows users to take photos that can display bright colors alongside deeper shadows – especially given new screens and cameras capable of greater range of display.

Android 14 has put more work into data sharing and security and how apps request access to sensitive information. With the new data sharing updates, when users are asked to grant permission for information such as location data, they will be informed when that data is being used by third parties. That will allow users to make more informed decisions when to grant access.

“Digital protection on Android 14 also extends to your most sensitive information,” said Burke. With the updated operating system, Android 14 will encourage users to input a six-digit personal identification number to unlock their phone and secure sensitive information. It can be input alongside biometric unlock features and other measures available on devices that support them.

Health data is also extremely sensitive and now Health Connect is built into Android 14 settings directly as a central way to store all of it in one place to control data privacy and security. All data collected by health apps is securely encrypted and stored on-device, which ensures that Google or other third parties cannot see or access it for any other purpose without permission. With Health Connect, users have a central place to set controls for privacy and can sync their fitness data with devices and apps as they choose, such as with Oura, Peloton, MyFitnessPal and Whoop.

New Pixel phone and tablet feature updates

The Pixel Fold’s dual screen makes it ideal for an interpreter mode that will assist users when bridging the language gap between people trying to communicate. The inner-facing dual screens of the Pixel Fold display a phrase and its interpretation to the user so they can see that they’ve gotten a proper interpretation, and the outer back of the Fold displays it in the language of the person they’re talking to. To help it translate, it can be set to manual mode, keyboard or to use the microphone to listen to participants.

That way they can use the device to hold a conversation with someone else in a foreign language, for example in an airport or a restaurant in another country.

The Pixel phone camera has also received an update to the camera interface that makes the different photo and video features easier to navigate between. At bottom of the screen, users can more easily switch between camera and video, which will automatically shift the screen between modes, and then allow them to choose how to take photographs or video using the different capabilities.

For parents with kids, Pixel tablets have gotten easier to use with an easier to use “kids’ space,” with an easier navigation bar that makes it simpler to switch between apps and the home screen to let them pick their apps. That will make it less likely they’ll get lost picking educational and play apps.

Pixel tablets have also been enhanced when docked in Hub Mode and using the Google Assistant, the voice assistant. It can now be asked to play news or podcasts, making the tablet an even better companion for when it’s charging on the living room table or kitchen counter.

Android 14 will begin to roll out to select Pixel devices starting today and Google said it will become available on other Android devices later this year, including Samsung Galaxy, iQOO, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo and Xiaomi.

Images: Google