Android 14 Beta 1 hands-on: Top new features

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Android 14 Beta 1 is now available to a small pool of eligible Google Pixel handsets after a series of developer-facing early previews.

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There have been several changes in the developer previews leading up to Beta 1, but the changes in Beta 1 mainly provide quality-of-life additions and refinements over Android 13.

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A long-awaited feature in Android 14 Beta 1 is the ability to turn the gesture navigation bar transparent by enabling the "Transparent navigation bar" toggle in Developer options.

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The "Pause" and "App info" shortcut icons have flipped or switched around in Android 14 Beta 1 after long-pressing an app icon, which might ruin your muscle memory when using the gesture.

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Another function that was added in Android 13 QPR3 Beta 2 and carried over to Beta 1 is the "Enhanced PIN privacy" function, which adds an extra layer of security for your PIN entry screen.

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There is an added toggle for Nearby Share in the default Android Share sheet, which might help increase usage of the AirDrop-like function when Android 14 officially arrives.

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The markup tool in Android 14 has received some quality-of-life tweaks, making it easier to see the selected color for the pen and highlighter tools by default.

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When changing the default system language in Android 14 Beta 1, a dialog box pops up to confirm your choice, reducing accidental changes.

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Android 14 Beta 1 includes the April 2023 security patch and the June 2023 Google Play system update to ensure safety for those testing the beta software on their Pixel devices.

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Some things that were added in Android 14 Developer Preview 1 and 2 have been changed or reverted to the default setting in Beta 1, such as the single-line "At a Glance" widget on the lock screen and some options in the Wallpaper & style section

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