After two developer previews, one in February and one in March, Google has now released the first beta build for its Android 14 mobile operating system. This build is only for owners of Google’s Pixel phones – specifically the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
Google’s Android Developers Blog Post Android 14 reveals some new additions. One of them is the new on-screen back arrow. Blog says:
The gestural navigation experience includes a more prominent back arrow to help improve the understanding and usefulness of back gestures when interacting with your app. The back arrow also defines the user’s wallpaper or device theme.
Another change is the Share Sheet – this will allow developers who build apps with Share features to create custom actions. Developers will also be able to use some new graphics features in Android 14 that Google says will “make your app really stand out”.
Google will release more beta versions of Android 14 over the next few months, before the final version of the OS goes live sometime in late summer.
