The usual center of attention at the Google I/O conference, Google’s operating system has largely taken a back seat this week. However, Android 14 has its share of new features.
Pixel smartphones, artificial intelligence galore, lots of Bard, the home chatbot: the Google I/O conference held this week in Mountain View (California) delighted thousands of developers present, while changing its habits somewhat.
Usually the center of attention, Android has largely moved to the background of the event program which is traditionally and essentially intended for it. However, Android 14 was there. The operating system for smartphones and tablets, but also in versions adapted for the home or the car, has had its share of new features. They have, it is true, been less numerous than usual and far from being revolutionary.
An even more personal smartphone
The more than three billion active devices in the world will primarily focus on personalization next fall for the deployment of the OS. And unsurprisingly, it is the AI that will stick to it to personalize its experience from start to finish. Two years after the launch of Material You, which notably allows you to adjust your screen to your colorimetric tastes and desires, Android 14 goes to the next level.
On the locked home screen, it will now be possible to choose a more fun clock appearance from the wide choice offered and the arrival of a global monochrome theme which will also apply to the icons, windows and menus of the smartphone. .
The wallpaper also adapts to the user who can also choose to put emojis, change the size, pattern or color. The cinematic wallpaper is also coming and shows that AI can transform your most beautiful photos into 3D images that come to life before your eyes depending on the viewing angle.
And if you are even more inspired, the Generative AI wallpaper will offer text-image templates to generate unique backgrounds that can then be modified. Android’s color palette will also be able to automatically match its images to the tones of the photo.
More support, fewer lost devices
Google is also strengthening its application “Find my device” which allows you to quickly find any lost compatible product (Pixel smartphone, Pixel Buds headphones, etc.). All you have to do is look for where it is and rely on the help of all Android devices to scan the area around the smartphone or headphones, locate it and return its position. The application will also, from this summer, allow support for a greater number of devices, all brands combined, from headphones to tablets and others. They will all appear in Find My Device.
Google also returned to the partnership with Apple to prevent inadvertent tracking by AirTag type Bluetooth beacon. In a few months, the smartphone will send a notification if it detects tracking by an unrecognized device, a priori slipped into your bag or pocket, and will help you find the tracker. This will then be flagged and deactivated.
A hand-in-hand agreement to develop a common technological standard for identifying the tracker. But a fairly targeted agreement, because at the same time, Google did not fail to remind its Californian neighbor that it would be good if its iPhones also integrated the RCS protocol, which replaces SMS to integrate options such as sending videos or of emojis. This would have the effect of simplifying group conversations without worrying about the devices used, and of ending the cohabitation between the famous blue bubbles (for those who use iMessage) and green bubbles.
Google has also insisted on optimizing more than 50 Google applications including Gmail, Photos and Meet, as well as third-party applications (Disney+, Spotify, Minecraft, etc.). They will now bring more fluidity, be usable without problems on all screen sizes, whether for the Pixel 7a (already available), the Pixel Tablet or even – and above all, the Pixel Fold, the very first folding smartphone freshly presented.
Android 14 will also make some advances, in particular on the Fast Pair function which allows you to immediately associate headphones or other accessories with your Android smartphone by bringing them closer to your mobile. More than 300 headphones and earphones will be compatible with the simplified Bluetooth connection function. The Nearby Share function, to share files quickly and easily between smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks, is improving. In particular, it will integrate Windows PCs into the list of compatible products.
