The latest iteration of Google’s operating system, Android 14, introduces more personalization features, health and safety monitoring, and accessibility, with the option to set shortcuts on the lock screen, as well as a number of inclusion features for users with disabilities.

The technology company expanded details on Wednesday about the artificial intelligence-based features of the new version of its operating system at the presentation of the new Pixel 8, this day, after offering a first contact in May, at the annual developers event.

First of all, Google has recalled that with the previous version of Android, it did something “a little unusual” by introducing large screen features initially intended for Android 14 and made available to users through Android 13 updates.

Among these new features are improvements in the multitasking function, a taskbar with a new design and improved support for foldable devices, with applications optimized for them.

With Android 14, updates are introduced focused on personalizing the user experience, with greater control over health and safety, and improvements in accessibility, as indicated in a press release.

Added to the Material You customization options – wallpaper, style and color palette theme – is the ability to configure custom shortcuts on the lock screen, such as the QR reader or the Google Home application.

Thus, new lock screen templates of different styles have been implemented that also use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to adjust the screen based on the user’s situation. For example, if the weather suddenly worsens, the weather widget will be more prominent.

The wallpapers also incorporate emojis. The user can decorate the background with the emoji of their choice and select the color palette. A cinematic wallpaper is also incorporated, based on a photograph, which generates subtle movement in the background to create a 3D image effect.

Android 14 also introduces generative AI wallpapers, which will arrive first on the Pixel 8 and will allow you to create a custom background from a description, to which the color palette will adapt.

Control over health and safety

The Health Connect application is now integrated into the operating system so that users can centralize the storage of their data and have full control over it. These, by the way, are encrypted on the phone.

Users will also have greater awareness of how their data is used by applications that request access to it. That way, when they are asked to grant permission to, for example, location data, they will also be notified when an app shares it with third parties.

Another new feature of Android 14 is related to visual and auditory inclusion. This is the case of the magnifying glass, which is now more intuitive and can be configured to choose, for example, the amount of screen you want to enlarge.

For people with hearing needs, this update to Google’s operating system comes with a ‘flash’ notification setting, allowing for visual flashes of light when there are incoming notifications.

Android 14 began arriving this Wednesday on compatible Pixel devices. In addition to Pixel 8, which comes with this version by default, the update can be downloaded on Pixel 4a, Pixel 5 and 5a, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

At the end of the year the update will be available for compatible devices from OPPO, Samsung Galaxy, Sharp, OnePlus, vivo, Xiaomi, Nothing, Lenovo, iQOO and Tecno, according to an update from the brand on its developer blog.

Source: dpa

(Referential image source: Google Blog, Europa Press / dpa)

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