The taskbar is one of the biggest new features added to Android for foldables and tablets, and in the first developer preview of Android 14, Google is tweaking it with names showing on app icons.
When switching to a tablet DPI (600+) on the first Android 14 developer preview, the taskbar now shows text names below app icons. We’ve seen this behavior before, but not as the default look of the…
Android 14 Developer Preview 1 is rolling out today to start this year’s preview cycle ahead of an expected Q3 launch.
Over the coming hours, we’ll dive into all of Android 14 Developer Preview 1’s new features and every single change. (The newest updates will be at…
The Pixel 4a is coming up on its three-year anniversary, which is also when software support for the device will end. However, it seems the device might lose out on the next version of Android, as the first Android 14 developer preview is not available for Google Pixel…
With the first developer preview of Android 14, Google is bringing back the ability to see screen time in battery usage stats.
Google redesigned the battery usage stats screen in Android 12, a change which led to quite a bit of confusion. Instead of showing battery usage since the last full charge, Google showed stats based on the last 24 hours.
The change was walked back in later updates, with…
Google AR head Clay Bavor leaving the company after 18 years
February 9, 2023
For the past few years, Google’s AR and VR efforts have been led by Clay Bavor. The longtime executive is now set to leave the company next month.
Bavor has worked at Google since 2005. By 2013, he led product management and design for Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, and…
Android 14 DP1 preps ‘Cloned Apps’ to easily duplicate apps
February 9, 2023
Hidden in the first preview of Android 14, Google is preparing “Cloned Apps” as a more official option for having duplicate copies of an app on your phone or tablet.
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an…
The Android 14 Developer Preview and — later — Beta will follow the accelerated timeline established last year.
There are two developer previews, with the only other one coming in March:
Developer Preview 1 (February): Early baseline build focused on developer feedback, with new features, APIs, and behavior changes.
Developer Preview 2 (March): Incremental update with additional features…
Android 14 DP1: Dual-SIM can now automatically switch mobile data to the best option
February 9, 2023
Dual-SIM has been around for years, but it has always required users to manually switch their active choice for mobile data and SMS. But with Android 14, Google is adding the ability for Dual-SIM to automatically switch to the best mobile data option.
Introduced in Android…
Samsung and a Swedish carrier gave away Galaxy S23 Ultra and Watch 5 Pro for under $1,000 in limited promo
February 9, 2023
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is far from a cheap phone. Pair that with a Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and you’re looking at around $1,650 at full price. However, 100 fortunate customers in Sweden were able to get both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro plus additional Samsung…
Source: Google continues to emphasize AR, shifting work to Android and hardware teams
February 9, 2023
With longtime virtual and augmented reality boss Clay Bavor leaving next month, Google’s work on AR will now be overseen by Hiroshi Lockheimer and Rick Osterloh.
A source tells 9to5Google today that AR efforts previously under Bavor’s purview are being moved into Lockheimer’s Platforms & Ecosystems division and Osterloh’s Devices & Services. As such, there won’t be a direct…
