Mishaal's Android News Feed
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Android news from an Android nerd
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One of the best parts of Apple’s Find My is that some iPhones can be found even when powered off.

It looks like Google’s bringing this feature to Pixel, as suggested by a hidden UI I uncovered in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1.

More details on Android Authority.
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The Pixel Launcher is testing a new “edit home screen” button that lets you add/remove multiple items from your home screen without having to constantly reselect stuff.

(It currently doesn't work properly, though.)
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As I previously reported, Android is getting support for saving an app pair, and more progress has been made on this feature. In Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, you can now actually save and launch an app pair. However, it doesn’t have an icon and can’t be renamed.
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On the Pixel Tablet, there's a new "show only new notifications on lock screen" toggle that's enabled by default. This setting "automatically remove[s] previously viewed notifications from the lock screen."

This was actually added back in Android 14 DP2, as I first discovered, but it was hidden by default at the time. Seems it's intended for large screen devices like tablets.

(Thanks to anon for the tip!)
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Here’s a first look at the Pixel Launcher’s brand new “floating search bar” in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1! This search bar sits above Gboard in the app drawer and is also accessible through the recents screen!

More info plus a video over on Android Authority.
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Google is working on optimizing the lock screen for landscape mode on phones! The UI is a work in progress in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, but regardless, here’s a first look.
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With Google’s upcoming Repair Mode feature, you won't have to factory reset your Pixel before you send it for repair! Repair Mode will temporarily create a secure environment, and I have a good idea about how it'll work.

More details on Android Authority.
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Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Pixel Fold currently doesn’t let you continue most apps on the cover screen.

That’ll change with the Android 14 QPR1 update, which is adding a “continue using apps on fold” setting!

More details over on Android Authority.
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Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 has a hidden “instant hotspot” setting. Nothing launches when you tap on it right now, though. My guess is Google is working on improving the experience of using your Android phone as a hotspot for your Chromebook.
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As I previously revealed to Patrons/X subscribers, Android 14 is preparing a "bubble bar" that'll stack multiple bubbles onto the bottom right of the taskbar.

You can see the bubble bar handle where you'll swipe up in the screenshot below, but it doesn't work right now.
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Google is preparing to swap the "system update" page with a revamped version specific to Pixels.

The UI is currently empty/unfinished, but it seems like this new page will show you whether your OS, Mainline version, and Pixel system apps are updated.
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Under Wi-Fi hotspot settings in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, the "extend compatibility" toggle has been replaced with a "speed & compatibility" subsetting, which lets you pick between 2.4 and 5GHz or 6GHz frequencies for a hotspot.

(This was first added in Android 14 Beta 2 but was hidden at the time.)
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Android 14 QPR1 has a hidden screen search gesture that reminds me a lot of Google Now on Tap! The new gesture will let you hold the navigation handle to invoke search over your screen.

More details once again at Android Authority.
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The new Google Weather UI is starting to roll out to a small number of Pixel phone users!

The new UI launched on the Pixel Tablet & Pixel Fold first, but in the past 48 hours two Pixel phone users reported seeing the new UI: Reddit user nickfury9 & Twitter user KovacDenis10 (private account).

Let me know if you have the new Google Weather UI on your phone!
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Android 14 QPR1 lets you use your Pixel 6 or Pixel 7 as a USB webcam for your PC. This feature is NOT Pixel-exclusive, however.

According to my sources, it'll be part of Android 14's source code, but the DeviceAsWebcam app is not included when you compile the initial Android 14 OS release. It's planned to be included by default when compiling the Android 14 QPR1 OS, though.

If you want to know exactly how webcam support works in Android 14, check out this article.
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Fun fact: Android 14's webcam feature works with ANY platform that supports USB webcams, including Android itself!

Yes, that means you can use one Android phone as a webcam for another, though I have no idea why you'd want to do that.

For more details on how this feature works.
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Android 14 QPR1 adds a motion prediction ML model for Pixel, likely intended for improving the experience of using a stylus with the Pixel Tablet.

Motion prediction helps predict where the next stylus move will be in order to lower the perceived latency of drawing/handwriting.

The video below shows how the low latency graphics + motion prediction libraries can help reduce stylus input latency (device: Galaxy Tab S7+ with an S Pen).

Android 14 adds support for a motion prediction system API. In older versions of Android (Android 4.4+), motion predictions are provided by a library based on a Kalman filter. Version 1.0.0-beta02 of the Jetpack Input library added support for Android 14's system prediction API.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4]
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