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The first Android 15 Developer Preview has been released

 

The Android 15 update will be released later this year. But if you're curious about what kind of changes and new features the update will bring to the table, you won't have to wait much longer. This is because Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android 15.

 

As with most updates, Android 15 will introduce a bunch of new privacy and security features to better protect Android users. Google is also integrating Android 14 extensions around Health Connect by Android, a centralized platform for all your health and fitness related data. We can also look forward to more granular controls when it comes to screen sharing and Android's camera.

 

There are probably a bunch of other features that Google hasn't publicly announced yet. We'll have to wait and see what else turns up. Keep in mind that developer previews are just that, previews. As we've seen in the past, sometimes some features found in the preview don't make it to the final cut.

 

There are many reasons for this, so don't get your hopes up just yet. Google has released the Android 15 Developer Preview for download, but this is aimed more at developers. For end users, it's probably not a good idea to use this as your daily driver. If you have a spare phone and you're curious, then maybe you could take it for a spin. Otherwise, you're better off waiting for the public beta or the final release.


Newest Android 14 beta changes Bluetooth Quick Settings tile to be more interactive

 

A noteworthy update has been rolled out to Pixels on the latest Android 14 QPR2 beta, bringing an exciting new feature that is set to improve user experience. Users can now enjoy an expandable Quick Settings tile, specifically designed for Bluetooth, which is poised to completely transform the way users connect or disconnect their favorite devices, providing a much more intuitive and interactive experience.

 

Before this update, the Bluetooth tile on Pixel phones functioned as a basic toggle. Simply tapping it would enable or disable Bluetooth connectivity, and a long-press was required in order to establish a connection with a specific device. This action would then prompt the full Settings app to open, directing them to the Bluetooth page. This process, although it worked, was not the most efficient or convenient and would sometimes result in accidental presses that would turn Bluetooth off.

 

As reported by 9to5Google, the latest beta version of Android 14 QPR2 changes this behavior. The Bluetooth tile has received significant improvements, making it more interactive for users.

 

Newest Android 14 beta changes Bluetooth Quick Settings tile to be more interactive

 

When you tap on the Bluetooth tile, a popup menu will appear, just like how it works with the Wi-Fi tile. The menu includes a toggle and a list of recently connected devices, along with any nearby devices that are ready for pairing. With this update, users can now effortlessly handle their Bluetooth connections right from the Quick Settings, without having to switch away from their current app.

 

Users who rely on the Bluetooth tile to easily toggle their connectivity on and off may need to make an adjustment with this update. It introduces an additional tap to the workflow, which could impact their efficiency. Fortunately, the general consensus regarding this change has been quite favorable. Being able to seamlessly connect to another device without having to switch apps, like sending audio to a nearby speaker without exiting a streaming app, has been widely praised as a major improvement.


Google could be working on their own version of Samsung's "Secure Folder"

 

We all have different apps on our smartphones, and for the most part it's generally the content of these apps that are private, less so the apps themselves. But in case there are some apps you use that you'd rather other people not know about, then an upcoming Android update could be for you.

 

According to a report from Android Police, it seems that Google is working on a feature for Android called "Private Space". This is a feature that will allow users to create a new private profile on their phones that can be locked behind a PIN or using the phone's biometric security, like fingerprints or facial recognition.

 

If you've ever used Android's Work Profile feature, then this is something you should be familiar with. In this private profile, users can hide apps that they don't want other people to see, like when you pass your phone to someone and they might scroll through your handset. It also hides the notifications coming from these apps, and the apps can only be found when searching for "private space" in the search bar.

 

If this sounds familiar, it is because Samsung has a similar feature for years called Secure Folder, but obviously that is a Samsung exclusive. With Private Space, Google will introduce it to Android and non-Samsung users will be able to take advantage of it as well. The feature appears to still be in development and it is unclear when it will be released, but the report suggests that Android 15 is a possibility, so don't expect to see it anytime soon.


Android 14 Finally Arrives for the Sony Xperia 1 V

 

With Android 14 finally beginning to roll out from different manufacturers, we're bound to see more smartphone models receive the much-awaited system upgrade from Google. More recently, Sony announced that its flagship Xperia 1 V will finally be getting Android 14 via an OTA download.

 

The update comes with software version number 67.1.A.2.112, in addition to the October 2023 security patch for Android. As per Sony's announcement:

 

The yearly Android update season is here! The long-awaited Android 14 brings you attractive new features with all kinds of updates and fun. You're going to love it!

 

Now, with Android 14, if you ever lose a device like your earphones, you can find it using the Find My Device app. Share files and photos between your Xperia device and Windows computer with the new and improved Nearby Share feature. More shortcut customization options have also been added for your lock screen.

 

And as always, Android keeps the improvements coming on the entertainment front!

 

As mentioned, Android 14 for the Sony Xperia 1 V comes with enhancements for features such as Nearby Share for Windows, Find My, as well as instant lock screen customization (which works very similar to what we've seen on the Pixel). Sony has also brought over the Video Creator app, which allows users to edit their video clips into more refined content.


Android 14 will caution clients when they attempt to sideload Google application updates

 

One of the advantages of Android is the crazy simplicity of having the option to sideload apps beyond the Play Store. This implies that clients aren't restricted to apps in the Play Store and can download and sideload applications straightforwardly from sites or outsider apps stores.

 

This is a blade that cuts both ways in light of the fact that while it frees Android up to more customization, it can likewise make the way for security and similarity issues. For this reason in Android 14, Google is presently presenting another admonition framework at whatever point clients endeavor to sideload an update to some research made apps.

 

Assuming that a client endeavors to sideload a Google application update, they will see an admonition popup inquiring as to whether they need to refresh the application, and that on the off chance that clients decide to refresh the apps along these lines, they could leave their gadget open to getting updates "from any source" from here on out. Clients can decide to continue at any rate or drop the update.

 

Right now apparently this main applies to research's center applications like Play Administrations. This is somewhat of something to be thankful for in light of the fact that there are a few worries that Google could be endeavoring a walled garden approach through "update proprietorship", implying that the organization will restrict updates that get through the Play Store.

 

This admonition and the capacity for clients to continue in any case proposes in any case, yet it is conceivable that it could change from here on out and apply to non-Google applications also. That being said, there truly isn't a justification for the typical client to refresh their center Google apps by sideloading so we envision that this shouldn't present quite a bit of an issue for most, yet for the people who do, this popup is something you can anticipate following the Android 14 update.

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