Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 Update Gets Touchy With New Camera and Lock Screen Tricks

Just when you thought Android 14’s feature set was solidifying, Google’s gone and thrown another beta curveball our way. Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 (try saying that three times fast) delivers an assortment of under-the-radar additions and tweaks, keeping Google’s perpetually-updateable OS…well, perpetually updating.

For the camera nerds, there’s a new “allow camera software extensions” toggle buried in the Security settings. Enabled by default, it essentially gives Android the ability to provide its own basic camera functionality when device makers don’t supply advanced vendor extensions. Good news if you’re rocking an ultra-budget handset with a barebones camera app.

Android 14 is also taking a peek at potential satellite messaging support, because why have a party if Apple’s Emergency SOS isn’t invited? The beta contains a hidden “satellite messaging” menu, though it’s clearly non-functional at this stage.

But the star of the show may be Android’s new “glanceable hub” for bringing widgets back to the lock screen – a comeback I initially reported on earlier this year. The latest beta confirms you’ll be able to quickly glance at and interact with widgets from the lock screen or launcher, not unlike Windows Phone’s beloved Live Tiles.

Speaking of glancing, Google gave the “touch sensitivity” menu a nice illustrative diagram in this beta. It may seem trivial, but these little UI flourishes go a long way in making Android’s dense settings feel more user-friendly.

Finally, physical keyboard warriors get some new accessibility perks like “sticky keys” for easier keyboard shortcuts and “bounce keys” to ignore rapidfire repeated presses. Handy options, though they’ll have to be toggled on before “slow keys” joins the party in a future release.

Between satellite texting, improved camera controls, and widget-y lock screens, it’s shaping up to be an eclectic grab bag for Android’s next big update. Eclectic in a good way, that is – assuming all these beta experiements don’t end up half-baked.

Latest

NVIDIA Project DIGITS: Desktop Supercomputer Personal AI Development, 1 Petaflop Power

NVIDIA aims to change that paradigm with Project DIGITS...

Microsoft Unveils AI Features for Copilot+ PCs: Transforming PC Experience

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of AI integration in...

Meta ORION AI-Powered Glasses: The Next Big Tech Revolution is in Sight

The tech industry is on the brink of a...

Intel Strategic Shift: New Partnerships and Restructuring Pave the Way for Future Growth

Intel, the semiconductor giant, is making waves with a...

Newsletter

Don't miss

NVIDIA Project DIGITS: Desktop Supercomputer Personal AI Development, 1 Petaflop Power

NVIDIA aims to change that paradigm with Project DIGITS...

Microsoft Unveils AI Features for Copilot+ PCs: Transforming PC Experience

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of AI integration in...

Meta ORION AI-Powered Glasses: The Next Big Tech Revolution is in Sight

The tech industry is on the brink of a...

Intel Strategic Shift: New Partnerships and Restructuring Pave the Way for Future Growth

Intel, the semiconductor giant, is making waves with a...

DJI NEO: The Pocket-Sized Drone That’s Changing Aerial Photography

DJI has thrown its hat into the ring with...

NVIDIA Project DIGITS: Desktop Supercomputer Personal AI Development, 1 Petaflop Power

NVIDIA aims to change that paradigm with Project DIGITS - a compact yet powerful AI supercomputer that fits right on your desk. NVIDIA's latest innovation...

Microsoft Unveils AI Features for Copilot+ PCs: Transforming PC Experience

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of AI integration in personal computing with its latest announcement of new features for Copilot+ PCs and Windows 11....

Meta ORION AI-Powered Glasses: The Next Big Tech Revolution is in Sight

The tech industry is on the brink of a paradigm shift, with AI-powered glasses poised to become the next disruptive form factor. With a...