Google is currently rolling out its latest Android 14 update to all current Pixel phones. At first glance, Android 14 may seem minor. However, it contains many useful new features waiting to be discovered that improve usability, accessibility, privacy, and more. Let’s explore some of the best hidden gems of Android 14 that are now available on Google Pixel devices after the update.
Adjust text size quickly with a new font tile
Android 14 introduces a handy Quick Settings tile to quickly adjust the font size in any app without interrupting your workflow. This is useful for temporarily increasing the font size to make small text easier to read.
To add this handy tile:
- Open Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the top of your Pixel screen.
- Tap the pencil icon in the bottom right corner to enter editing mode.
- Scroll down to the inactive tiles section and look for the “Font Size” tile. It will probably be at the bottom of the list.
- Press and hold your finger on the “Font Size” tile to grab it, then drag it up to the active tiles section. For easy access, place it in one of the four top tile slots.
Once added, simply tap the Font Size tile each time you want to make the text larger or smaller. A slider will appear allowing you to adjust the font size on the fly. This works for any application, whether it’s browsing the web, reading emails, or using social media.
For example, if you’re reading a news article and the font seems too small, simply open Quick Settings, tap the Font Size tile, and drag the slider to the right to increase the text size. The setting takes effect immediately, without having to exit the application or interrupt reading. When you’re done, tap the tile again and drag the slider back to reset the font size. It’s that quick and easy!
Zoom into specific areas with the improved accessibility feature
Android 14 also significantly improves the existing extension accessibility feature. Magnification allows you to enlarge specific sections of the screen, which is useful for reading small text or viewing fine details.
To enable enhanced functionality:
- Open the Accessibility settings on your Pixel.
- Tap “Magnification” and enable the “Magnification Shortcut” option.
- Tap “Magnification shortcut” and change the shortcut to “Hold down the volume keys” while unchecking “Tap the accessibility button.” The latter creates an annoying on-screen zoom button.
- Return to the Magnification menu and change “Magnification Type” to “Zoom in Part of Screen” from the default full-screen zoom.
With those settings made, you can now press and hold the Volume Up and Down keys for about 1 second to activate magnification. The first time, a pop-up window will appear to confirm the activation of the feature.
Once enabled, an orange box will appear on the screen. Tap the icon in the corner of the box to drag it over any area you want to zoom in on. Then use two fingers to spread them inside the box and zoom in. Pinch your fingers together to zoom out again.
For example, you can zoom in on a section of the map to see street names, zoom in on a photo to see small details, or zoom in on the text of an article to make it more readable. The box allows you to zoom in on any region of the screen without zooming in on the entire screen.
To dismiss the magnification, press and hold the volume keys again. You can disable the feature entirely by turning off the “Magnification Shortcut” in the Accessibility settings. But it is useful to have it available when needed. Additionally, you can also read about the 25 coolest features of Android 14 [Detail Guide]
Never miss notifications with new Flash alerts
To increase the visibility of notifications, Android 14 offers new flashing screen and camera flash options. These ensure you never miss anything important by physically flashing your Pixel to catch your attention when notifications arrive.
To enable alerts:
– Go to the Accessibility settings and turn on “Camera Flash”. This causes the rear camera LED to flash whenever you receive a notification.
– You can also enable “screen flash” and even customize the flash color.
With one or both options enabled, your Pixel will flash brightly whenever you receive a notification or the alarm rings. It’s hard to miss the flashing light in your peripheral vision, ensuring you’re always aware of alerts.
For example, you can enable a bright red screen flash so that priority email notifications catch your attention if your phone is not directly in view. Or have your camera flash for all notifications when your phone is in your pocket or bag.
Customize notifications and flashing alarms however you want so you never miss anything urgent. Just don’t activate the camera and screen flash together or your Pixel could fly into space!
Finally adjust notification and call volumes separately
Unlike previous versions of Android, Android 14 finally allows Pixel users to set individual call and notification volume levels. This allows you to customize volumes to your preferences instead of having ringers, media, and notifications grouped together.
To set custom levels:
- Open Sound & Vibration settings.
- Drag the “Call Volume” slider to the desired ringtone volume for incoming calls.
- Then drag the “Notification Volume” slider to a separate level for ringtones, chimes, and other alerts.
For many users, this means setting the notification volume quite high but keeping the ringer volume lower so that incoming ringtones are less annoying. You can now optimize both levels instead of having notifications beep loudly only to make ringtones audible.
It’s a small but significant improvement, especially if you often find notifications to be too loud but need audible rings. Separate controls finally give the Pixels the thoughtful flexibility they’ve long deserved.
New flexibility to display day and temperature
Android 14 offers options to customize how date and temperature information appears on your Pixel phone:
- Go to System > Languages & input > Regional preferences
- Tap “Start week on” to set which day your phone considers the first day of the week. Choose between Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
- Tap “Temperature Unit” to choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
These selections apply system-wide to any application that displays date or temperature values. This way you can configure your Pixel to match your personal preferences or location.
For example, if you move from the US to Europe, you could change the temperature to degrees Celsius and make Monday the first day of the week as commonly used there. Or maybe you’d prefer your week to start on Monday instead of Sunday.
The settings seem minor, but they provide a lot of customization flexibility that wasn’t possible before.
Find out why apps ask for location access
Apps must now explain why they need to access your device’s location before permission is granted. Android 14 tells you the intended purpose of each app with a location justification.
For example, a weather app might say that it needs location to “provide weather forecasts for your area.” A mapping app might say that it uses location to “determine your current position for navigation.”
This better informs your permissions decisions, preventing apps from vaguely requesting location without explaining why. You can now only grant access to apps for purposes you are comfortable with.
Over time, as more apps head to Android 14 and add rationales, you’ll make more informed privacy decisions regarding location access. It’s a smart upgrade that gives you better control. If you want, you can also read: Google Pixel Tablet Review: Is it worth the price? [Detail Analysis]
Manage health data with the new Connect dashboard
For Pixel owners tracking health and fitness data, Android 14 adds a new Health Connect dashboard. This centralizes control over health/fitness access and sharing.
To manage settings:
- Go to Security and privacy > Privacy
- Select Health Connect to open the dashboard.
Here you can see which apps are allowed to access health metrics from your Pixel, connected wearables, fitness trackers, medical devices, and wellness apps.
Tap any app to review the specific data it can access, such as heart rate, steps, weight, sleep patterns, or medical information. You can revoke access entirely or modify permissions.
Health Connect also allows you to share certain data with other applications. For example, share sleep data from your sleep tracker with a meditation app to suggest good relaxation times based on your sleeping habits.
Basically, the new hub gives you transparency and control over the sharing of health data on your Pixel. Customize exactly which apps can access specific health information to protect your privacy.
These are just some of the most useful hidden gems introduced in Android 14 for Google Pixel phones. There are many more updates, both big and small, to discover and try. Start exploring, customize your settings, and transform your Pixel with everything Android 14 has to offer!
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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn