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.

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.

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.

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.)