Each quarter, Google breathes new life into its Pixel lineup with a Pixel Characteristic Drop. Every Pixel Characteristic Drop brings new software program options unique to Pixel telephones, starting from extremely helpful ones like Gemini Nano-powered AI options to extra mundane ones like new wallpapers or expanded language assist. Most new options introduced with a Characteristic Drop rollout by way of app or server-side updates to Google’s apps, however some new options come from the OS itself. A few of these new OS options get known as out in Google’s bulletins or social media posts, however plenty of them by no means get a shout-out.
For instance, Google touted the brand new Android 14 webcam function and Restore Mode in its advertising and marketing for the December 2023 Pixel Characteristic Drop, nevertheless it didn’t point out a number of the different new options the replace added, like the power to override an app’s facet ratio, view your telephone’s battery well being, or set a distinct reside wallpaper on the lock display screen and residential display screen. It’s clear that Google is choosing and selecting which options to spotlight, however which means you may miss out on the truth that a sure function you’ve been ready for has been added until you come upon it your self.
Effectively, this submit is right here to save lots of you the difficulty. I’m going to run down each new Android function that’s coming in Google’s subsequent Pixel Characteristic Drop, which ought to occur in March. Aside from the January 2024 Pixel Characteristic Drop, each Characteristic Drop coincides with an replace to the Android OS that ranges from minor to main. The October 2023 Characteristic Drop introduced Android 14, the present main Android launch, whereas the December 2023 Characteristic Drop introduced Android 14 QPR1, Android 14’s first quarterly platform launch.
The March 2024 Pixel Characteristic Drop, due to this fact, ought to deliver Android 14 QPR2, Android 14’s second interim replace that’s at present in beta. Whereas the present Beta 3.1 launch is close to remaining when it comes to performance, there’s no assure that each function I’ll point out right here will probably be included within the steady Android 14 QPR2 launch subsequent month. So preserve that in thoughts as you examine these new options.
Android’s Bluetooth tile will get a long-awaited improve
Not will it’s important to dive into the Settings app to change between Bluetooth gadgets. Now, in Android 14 QPR2, tapping the Bluetooth tile within the Fast Settings panel opens a pop-up dialog that permits you to toggle the Bluetooth radio or swap between your paired Bluetooth gadgets. There’s additionally a “pair new system” button, however tapping that simply opens the total Bluetooth settings web page.
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It is a function that different Android-based OSes like One UI have had for a very long time, so it’s good to see Google add it in Android 14 QPR2. Since this function is now a part of the Android OS codebase, any system maker that makes use of Android however doesn’t have already got this function will be capable to ship it. Nevertheless, you’ll possible have to attend till Android 15 to see it seem on different gadgets that don’t have already got it because of the (complicated) manner that the Android OS is distributed.
Updates now set up far more rapidly
Android’s seamless updates function brings minimal downtime to the OTA replace course of since your system does all of the patching and optimizing within the background. Nevertheless, one draw back is that it’s notoriously gradual, generally taking on an hour or extra to finish the replace. The excellent news is that Google labored a few of its magic and made seamless updates a lot quicker in Android 14 QPR2.
As for a way they did that, Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii shared the technical particulars over on his X profile. The excellent news is that these enhancements will come to any system that makes use of Android’s trendy seamless updates scheme. That stated, some widespread gadgets, just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 collection, don’t assist Android’s seamless updates function.
Now you can cover your notifications from display screen recordings
Have you ever ever needed to redo a display screen recording as a result of a notification popped up that you just didn’t need to share with the world? Whenever you begin a display screen recording in Android 14 QPR2, you now have the choice to vary from recording your entire display screen or recording a single app. Recording your entire display screen means all the things you see and do will seem within the ensuing display screen recording, whereas recording a single app signifies that solely the contents of that app will probably be recorded.
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This partial display screen recording function, like the remainder of the options in Android 14 QPR2, ought to make its method to different Android gadgets in Android 15.
Now you can cover your notifications whereas mirroring your display screen
In an identical vein, Android’s screencasting function in Android 14 QPR2 now additionally has the choice to solid a single app as a substitute of your entire display screen. Which means that once you mirror your display screen to any Chromecast-compatible show, you may cover any miscellaneous UI parts or, extra importantly, your notifications from showing on the show.
It’s price noting that though this function will probably be out there on different gadgets in Android 15, some OEMs like Samsung disable Android’s display screen casting tile in favor of their very own answer. Samsung’s display screen mirroring service known as Good View, although, has supplied the power to reflect a single app for some time now.
The taskbar lastly allows you to search by way of your app listing
When you’ve got plenty of apps put in, it may be a ache to scroll by way of your app listing to seek out the precise one you need to launch. If you realize what you need to launch, you may enter its title within the launcher’s search bar to filter your app listing, however the search bar is simply out there on the house web page. Effectively, not anymore, as a result of in Android 14 QPR2, the taskbar’s app drawer now has a search bar!
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It is now simpler to handle which apps have entry to the digital camera or microphone
Your telephone’s microphone and digital camera are two of its most delicate sensors as a result of they can be utilized to document your most personal moments. That’s why in Android 12, Google launched privateness indicators within the standing bar that seem every time an app is utilizing the microphone or digital camera. The UI that seems once you faucet the privateness indicator has now modified in Android 14 QPR2.
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Beforehand, tapping the indicator would open a full-screen web page that was mainly a mini model of the Security Heart expertise Google launched in Android 13, nevertheless it now opens a pop-up dialog.
This dialog exhibits you which ones apps are actively utilizing the microphone or digital camera, shut the app(s) which might be utilizing them, handle their entry to those sensors, or see latest makes use of of those sensors.
It is now simpler to share your Wi-Fi community with different individuals
The pop-up dialog that seems once you faucet the “Web” tile in Fast Settings has added a brand new “Share Wi-Fi” button in Android 14 QPR2. This button, which seems within the backside left, opens the prevailing “Share Wi-Fi web page,” which exhibits a QR code that others can scan to affix your present community, in addition to a button to share the present community’s credentials utilizing Fast Share (previously Close by Share).
Miscellaneous adjustments
- The “climate” lock display screen clock now tells you when there’s an upcoming alarm or when Do Not Disturb mode is on
- One of many extra widespread lock display screen clock kinds that Google launched in Android 14 has gotten a slight tweak in Android 14 QPR2. The “climate” type, because it’s identified underneath the hood, now exhibits an alarm icon when there’s an upcoming alarm or a DND icon for when Do Not Disturb mode is on.
- The Pixel Launcher now exhibits app labels in two strains.
- This one can be fairly self-explanatory: App labels within the Pixel Launcher now take up two strains as a substitute of being truncated.
- The “Restricted” battery optimization mode has disappeared
- If you happen to like tinkering with battery settings, then chances are you’ll discover that the “Restricted” battery optimization mode has disappeared in favor of an “enable background utilization” toggle. In the meantime, the opposite two modes (i.e. “Optimized” and “Unrestricted”) are actually in a submenu. I don’t know precisely what this variation entails, nevertheless it’s possible simply to simplify issues.
- Now you can see the bundle title for an app in Settings
- Lastly, right here’s a change that energy customers may respect: Now you can see the bundle title for an app on the backside of its “app information” web page. The bundle title is a singular identifier for an app, as in, no two apps put in on a tool can share the identical bundle title.
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That’s it for all the brand new Android options you’ll really be capable to get your palms on in Google’s subsequent Pixel Characteristic Drop! As all the time, there are masses extra hidden options in Android 14 QPR2 which might be nonetheless in growth, however these received’t go public till the following QPR on the earliest, however extra possible, they are going to be in Android 15.
