Android 14 builds on core themes of privacy, security, performance, productivity
Google recently unveiled through a blog post, the release of the third beta version of your mobile operating system "Android 14", with which it marks the transition from development to the platform stabilization stage (Platform Stability), which involves fixing the behavior and state of the API for applications.
In this beta 3 version of Android 14, APIs will remain unchanged in future test releases of Android 14, which will allow developers to start adapting their applications to take advantage of the new features of the platform.
Main news of Android 14 beta 3
With the launch of this new beta version, one of the most important changes that stands out since beta 2, we can now find that added support for scaling of non-linear fonts. By default, the system allows and includes in interface testing processes the use of larger font sizes with a scale factor of up to 200%, which will achieve optimal text readability for people with visual impairments without risk of distortion in the interface design.
Another of the changes that stands out in Android 14 beta 3 is that the ability to partially grant permissions to access only photos and videos is provided selected by the user (READ_MEDIA_VISUAL_USER_SELECTED, files that the user selects access to via the photo picker interface when the permissions request dialog appears). After the app goes to the background or the program ends, the permission granted by the user is automatically revoked.
In addition to this, it is also highlighted that areas were expanded in which the system displays information privacy related defined by the developer in the Play Console Form, such as the policy on the provision of data to third parties. For example, such information is now displayed in the permissions request dialog.
The applications that use controllers That are running in the background now require the service type to be specified in background. During the operation, the system verifies compliance with the type of service specified, the permissions requested, and the API used. For example, if an application has specified a background service type of FOREGROUND_SERVICE_TYPE_LOCATION, It is understood that you can request authorization ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION.
It is also highlighted that changes have been made to improve security, since from the launch of Android 14, apps can't send intent requests to some components platform internals. The dynamically loaded code it should now be marked with the read-only access attribute. The ZipFile(String) and ZipInputStream.getNextEntry() functions do not allow processing of zip files whose paths start with the character "/" or contain the sequence ".."
On top of this change, launching work from background controllers is limited and restrictions on the scope of calls to APIs not provided in the SDK have been updated and as such the system also reserves new types for brief services, special use cases and system exemptions.
Moreover, the core java libraries platform and development tools applications have been updated to OpenJDK 17, In addition to adding support for Java classes and language features available in OpenJDK 17, such as classes, logging, multiline strings, and pattern matching in the "instance of" operator.
Finally it is worth mentioning that Android 14 is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2023. If you are interested in knowing more about it, you can check the details In the following link.
To evaluate the new functionalities of the platform, a preliminary test program has been proposed. Firmware builds are ready for Pixel 7/7 Pro, Pixel 6/6a/6 Pro, Pixel 5/5a 5G and Pixel 4a (5G) devices, as well as select iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Techno, vivo and xiaomi.