Google says they're planning to add OEM devices to Android Device Streaming!

In a recent Q&A, Googlers on the Firebase team said that they plan to provide access to devices from many more OEMs. No specific OEMs/devices were named, though.

Android Device Streaming will soon enter its Alpha phase and will let you test apps on physical Pixel 8, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet devices located remotely in a Google data center, all through Android Studio.

(Above image from here.)

The first alpha release of the Jetpack Bluetooth library is here.

"This is the initial release of AndroidX Bluetooth APIs that provides a Kotlin API surface covering Bluetooth LE scanning and advertising, and GATT client and server use cases. It provides a minimal API surface, clear thread model with async and sync operations, and ensures all methods be executed and provides the results."

H/T Harsh Shandilya on Mastodon

The first Android 14 QPR1 beta is LIVE! Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 is now available for the Pixel 5a and later. As always, if you want to know what’s new in this update, the best source will be my socials. Keep an eye out for my upcoming posts!

Android 14 QPR1 should be released in December 2023 as part of that month’s Pixel Feature Drop. There’ll be a bunch of new features, bug fixes, and improvements in Android 14 QPR1, a lot of which will make their way to devices from other OEMs in Android 15.

The build ID for Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 is U1B1.230908.003, and it has the September 2023 Security Patch Level.

Sidenote: It’s unfortunate that Google is dropping support for the Pixel 4a (5g) and Pixel 5, even though both run on the same silicon as the 5a. I know the 4a 5G and 5 were only guaranteed Android version updates till November 2023 and October 2023 respectively, but it still sucks.

On the flip side, the Pixel 5a should at least get updates to Android 14 QPR2 and Android 14 QPR3 down the road, so 5a owners have that to look forward to.

My deep dive thread on Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 is live on Twitter! Check it out to see what's new.

FINALLY! Android is adding a way to change the aspect ratio of apps, meaning you can force Instagram to go full screen! Rejoice, Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold users!

Full details plus examples available over on Android Authority.

Say goodbye to your laptop’s crappy webcam, because you can now use a Pixel as your PC’s webcam! If you want to know more about how Android 14’s new webcam feature works, check out this article I wrote for Esper which goes DEEP into the topic!

Android now shows battery information in settings! You can now go to Settings > About phone > Battery information to see the manufacture date and cycle count of your device’s battery. Not every device will report this info, though.

Sadly, this page doesn’t show the battery stat that I think most of you are interested in: the state of health, ie. the remaining estimated full charge capacity relative to the rated capacity in %.

Pixels are getting a new lock screen clock in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1! Here’s a look at the new “Metro” clock style:

When you connect a Bluetooth device in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, you can now choose its “audio device type”. You can choose between Speaker, Headphones, Car Kit, Hearing Aid, or Other.

This could be helpful if you’re using a Bluetooth device that isn’t properly recognized, as the “spatial audio” toggle, for example, only appears when the audio device type is set to “Headphones”.

You can now set a different live wallpaper on the lock screen and home screen in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, as I previously reported would be happening! You can learn more about this change in this previous post I made.

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.

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.)

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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Follow-up: Here's a first look at the new "Repair Mode" option under Settings > System. Tapping it does nothing right now since the Repair Mode app is missing.