If you’ve got received one in every of Google’s Pixel telephones, excellent news: You’ll be seeing a snazzy-sounding replace to Android 14 any day now — if you have not already.Now, the marginally much less thrilling information: Odds are, upon getting that replace in your system, your preliminary response will fall someplace between a “huuuuh?!” and an “uhh, all riiiiiight….” (There might or might not be a quizzical expression of some kind concerned, together with the potential of a perplexed “harumph.”)That’s as a result of on the floor, Android 14 actually would not look all that new or noteworthy. In reality, if the replace popped up in your Pixel with out warning, there is a first rate likelihood you may not even discover something was totally different in any respect.But do not be fooled. First of all, as typical, Google’s newest Android model has loads of important stuff happening beneath the floor — on the subject of the much less apparent but extremely essential enhancements in areas like privateness, safety, and efficiency. And past that, bear in mind: Google’s subtly shifted towards a mannequin the place system-level updates present up year-round on Android through decoupled apps within the Play Store — one thing that is an enormous benefit of us on this facet of the mobile-tech divide, even when does take among the oomph out of the annual foundational updates.All that apart, although, Android 14 truly does have some noteworthy new touches which might be value your whereas to seek out. You’ve simply gotta know the place to look — and, in some instances, dig ’em up and uncover ’em.[Psst: If you want even more Pixel magic, check out my free Pixel Academy e-course. There’s so much more to be found…] Here are 5 of my favourite Android 14 additions to date. Try ’em out by yourself favourite Pixel system, as soon as it has Android 14 on it, and see in the event that they transfer you from a “harumph” to a “heeeey, not bad!” response.Android 14 function #1 for Google Pixel telephones: Drag textual contentThis first Android 14 goodie is perhaps the goodiest of all — but it surely’s additionally one of many least possible so that you can discover with out a nudge in the proper route. Here it’s, although: As of Android 14, your purty ol’ Pixel will allow you to spotlight textual content in a single app after which drag it immediately into one other — no reducing, pasting, or digital witchcraft required.It does require a little bit of finesse to make occur, however as soon as you know the way to do it, it is actually fairly easy:
First, open up an app with some selectable textual content in it — like, for example, Google Keep.
Touch and maintain your finger to some textual content to pick out it, utilizing the cursor to spotlight no matter particular phrases you need. Then let go.
Now, contact and maintain your finger to that freshly highlighted textual content, and it’s best to see it carry up as if it is being moved.
Here comes the enjoyable half: While persevering with to carry that textual content together with your suspiciously sticky finger, use your different hand to both swipe up or swipe sideways on the underside of the display screen to change to a different lately opened app. (And sure, this transfer requires you to be utilizing the present Android gesture system. If you are still clinging onto the previous legacy three-button nav setup, possibly it is time to contemplate a change?)
Once you land in one other app, drag the textual content into any open textual content area and let go — then take a second to marvel at what simply occurred.
JR
With Android 14’s hidden drag-and-drop choice, you possibly can transport textual content between any two apps with ease.
This transfer is even simpler and extra pure to drag off in the event you open up two apps on-screen along with Android’s split-screen mode, as you possibly can then drag and drop immediately from one to the opposite with out even having to do the nav-bar dance. (And that is much more pure to do on a Pixel Fold or Pixel Tablet, the place you’ve got received additional area for such a setup and the place multitasking actually turns into a key a part of the person expertise.)But when you get the grasp of the select-and-swipe transfer right here, it is an superior new productivity-pushing chance to own. Android 14 function #2 for Google Pixel telephones: The lock clockNext, a brand new Pixel chance you would possibly’ve heard your fellow Android-adoring animals oohing and ahhing over throughout this software program’s beta part: With Android 14, Google’s bringing some formidable flexibility into the working system’s native lock display screen surroundings.And up first is an entire new search for your lock display screen clock, do you have to select to embrace it.If you are up for the journey, do this:
From the lock display screen itself, press and maintain on any open area after which search for the Customize Lock Screen button on the backside — or, in the event you’d moderately begin from your property display screen, press and maintain any open area there after which choose “Wallpaper & style” and faucet the “Lock screen” selector on the prime of the display screen that comes up subsequent.
However you get there, slide your finger sideways alongside the picture of your lock display screen, and you’ll change amongst a number of totally different clock kinds.
JR
Google’s Pixel telephones have all types of latest lock display screen clock choices in Android 14.
You may also faucet the “Clock color and size” tile immediately beneath that picture to regulate — nicely, y’know, your clock’s colour and dimension. Notably, switching from the “Small” to “Dynamic” dimension choice will open up some fascinating new clock show choices — like this nifty little ditty that makes use of a few of your lock display screen’s open area to indicate you a big view of the date and present climate in your space anytime you haven’t any notifications pending. JR
One of the extra eye-catching Android 14 Pixel lock display screen choices.
And yet another factor, whereas we’re on this space…Android 14 function #3 for Google Pixel telephones: Sweet shortcutsTake word: With Android 14, you possibly can take whole management of the built-in shortcuts in your telephone’s lock display screen and make ’em infinitely extra helpful on your personal private wants.In that very same lock display screen customization display screen we have been simply exploring, search for the road labeled “Shortcuts.” (Depending in your particular Pixel and the dimensions of its show, you might need to scroll down a skosh to see it.)Tap that son of a goober — and hey, how ’bout that? You can transfer between the left and proper lock display screen shortcut and choose from a wide range of obtainable choices for one-tap perform flying. JR
The Android 14 lock display screen has customizable shortcuts for Pixels.
Oh, and talking of snazzy new step-savers…Android 14 function #4 for Google Pixel telephones: A secret hyperlinkHere’s one you’d by no means realized existed except you simply occurred to stumble onto it accidentally — however my goodness, is it a useful new choice to bear in mind:Android 14 brings again the once-present however long-missing shortcut to leap straight out of your Pixel’s Quick Settings part to the Pixel Clock app. I don’t know why Google eradicated this for some time, however I’m completely glad it is again!To attempt it:
Swipe down twice from the highest of your display screen to open your full Quick Settings panel.
Tap the clock within the upper-left nook of that space.
Say “Ooga-te-booga,” for good measure (and for my very own amusement in figuring out you may appear like an entire nit to anybody and everybody round you).
And that is it: In the blink of a watch, you may be zapped over from no matter you have been doing to the Clock app. It’s the quickest option to get there from anyplace — and now you know the way to make that teleportation occur.Android 14 function #5 for Google Pixel telephones: Better backSpeaking of flying from one factor to a different, one in every of Android 14’s most vital options is surprisingly additionally one in every of its most buried.I’m talkin’ a few hefty new enchancment for the system-wide again gesture — the one the place you possibly can swipe in from the left or proper facet of the display screen to maneuver again a single step in any app you are eyeing. (Again, that is particular to Android’s present gesture system and would not apply in the event you’re nonetheless stickin’ with the previous three-button nav setup.)For context: Android’s again command has all the time been a little bit of a blessing and a curse. It’s a unbelievable option to transfer round your Pixel, and it makes platforms with out such an choice really feel like locked-in messes of confusion compared.But on the similar time, it may generally be tough to maintain observe of precisely what’ll occur whenever you swipe again in sure apps or processes — whether or not you may be taken again to a different space of that very same app, for example, or dropped again out onto your property display screen.With Android 14, Google’s laying the groundwork to right that. The software program features a new predictive again setup that permits you to see a teensy peek at the place you are going as quickly you begin to swipe in from the facet of your display screen — in order that manner, you possibly can resolve on the fly whether or not you wish to hold swiping and land there or in the event you’d moderately rethink and cease.See? JR
Android 14’s new predictive again addition in motion.
Now, this is the catch — two of ’em, technically: First, the function works solely in a restricted subset of apps that explicitly help it — which mainly means a small handful of Google’s personal self-made creations, at this level. And second, you’ve got actually gotta exit of your option to allow this and get it working for the time being.In reality, you’ve got gotta spelunk deep into your system’s developer settings — which is not one thing I’d usually advise most individuals to mess with, ‘trigger you possibly can actually mess issues up in the event you hit the mistaken choice in that space. But so long as you very rigorously observe the steps right here and do not contact something past the one setting we’re in search of, there isn’t any purpose to not allow this and provides your self a style of Android’s gesture-refined future:
First, go into your Pixel’s system settings and faucet the About Phone part.
Scroll all the way in which to the underside of that menu and discover the road labeled “Build number.”
This subsequent step is gonna sound loopy, however I swear it’s going to work: Tap that line a bunch of occasions in a row till you see a message about enabling Android’s developer settings.
Put in your PIN, password, or sample when prompted to substantiate you truly wish to do this.
Now, faucet the search field on the prime of the settings display screen and kind the phrase predictive into the search space.
Tap “Predictive back animations” within the outcomes.
Flip the toggle immediately subsequent to “Predictive back animations” whenever you get taken to that line inside the developer settings and ensure that you just wish to activate the related choice.
Swipe out of that menu and do not contact the rest there!
Now simply swipe round in your system settings — or attempt a Google app like Google News or your Pixel Phone app — and you may see that satisfying new again peeking preview in motion.Not a nasty begin, eh? And to not fear: We aren’t completed but. We’ll choose up right here with one other a number of Android 14 gems to uncover in your favourite Pixel telephone later this week.Keep a watch on this column to complete our quest and join my free Android Intelligence e-newsletter to get stuff like this straight into your inbox — with three new Googley goodies to attempt every Friday.Happy exploring!
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