APK Insight

While the first beta preview of Android 14 may not look too different from Android 13 on Pixel phones today, there’s quite a lot happening under the surface. Our APK Insight team can now demonstrate a whole host of features that Google has prepared and could formally introduce at any time, including custom lock screen clocks, a Wallpaper & style redesign, and more.

The Nexus 5 in 2013 debuted what would become to be known as the Google Now Launcher. Nearly a decade later, Google is set to shut down the launcher.

To keep your personal property safe, Nest Cameras are preparing a new feature to monitor your garage door, alerting you when it opens and if it’s been open for too long.

Design-wise, Google has already shown off a lot about the Pixel Tablet. The latest leak goes in-depth on its “Stand,” while here are some details about the Pixel Tablet’s “Hub Mode.” 

Following last week’s announcement, here’s an early look at generative AI in Gmail for Android, with Google possibly beginning testing with a limited feature set.

Have you ever been unsure of how best to reply to a friend? Google Messages is readying a new AI generation feature that could make replying to text messages easy as can be.

Google is preparing a new feature for the Pixel 8 Pro that would combine multiple cameras to take even better Night Sight photos.

Google introduced voice message transcription with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro before later making it available to older generations. Google Messages is now improving the creation experience with a redesign of the voice recorder UI in development. 

In the latest version of Google Contacts, the company is preparing a new way to get notified when it’s a friend or family member’s birthday.

YouTube announced last month that podcasts are coming to YouTube Music, and we’re now seeing the Android app add the necessary support with version 5.48. 

In the coming months, Google is expected to add a slew of AI features to its products, with some already rumored for I/O 2023. Gboard for Android is now working to integrate the Imagen text-to-image generator.

In addition to the one we spotted in November, Google Contacts for Android is getting a second homescreen widget that will let you pin favorites.

At the start of last month, Pixel Watch Fall Detection appeared for some users, but Google has not rolled it out in an official manner. Ahead of the winter launch deadline, here’s a closer look at how it works.

Google’s Pixel Buds app readies a new settings page to showcase the difference made by enabling head tracking for Spatial Audio on the Pixel Buds Pro.

Back in September, Google confirmed our Insight that Google Tasks would replace Assistant Reminders in the “coming months.” We’re still waiting for this to launch five months later, but work is ongoing.

Google Photos first rolled out the Locked Folder to Pixel phones before bringing it to other Android devices at the end of 2021, and is now working on adding cloud backup.

New code in Android 14 shows that Google is preparing for an upcoming version of Wear OS with the fun dynamic color customization made popular by Pixel and Material You.

Hidden in the first preview of Android 14, Google is preparing “Cloned Apps” as a more official option for having duplicate copies of an app on your phone or tablet.

In recent months, Android’s Messages app quietly lost its Google Assistant integration. However, Google Messages might be replacing that functionality with something called “Spotlights.”

Google Maps for Android will soon make it easier to plan longer road trips in your electric vehicle, offering planned charging stops along your route.

Since we already have a good idea of the hardware, the remaining unknowns about Google’s upcoming fordable are focused on the software experience. The latest tidbit is how the Pixel Fold will offer the same Flip to Shhh gesture as on phones for enabling Do Not Disturb.