What’s New with Android 15?

Google I/O 2024 has come and gone, bringing with it plenty of announcements pertaining to AI and how it’s going to shape the company’s products in the future. But they did reveal a number of new features, some of it related to AI, that will be coming to Android, as the upcoming Android 15 enters its second beta phase.

Security in general, appears to be a big talking point for these changes, and they make up a bulk of new features discussed below:

“Theft Detection Lock”

As part of its security improvements, Android’s rolling out ‘Theft Detection Lock’, which should protect your data in the event your phone gets stolen. It will make use of Google AI as well as the phone’s accelerometer and gyro in order to detect any sudden changes in positioning which indicates if a theft has occurred.

Once it detects the theft, the phone will immediately lock down the screen, protecting your data and giving you enough time to act, changing your credentials and even sending a remote command to factory reset the phone.

Speaking of factory reset, Google will be expanding on it as well. Should the thief force a factory reset of the stolen device, the only way they’ll be able to set it up again is by entering your Google account credentials, hopefully reducing the incentives for reselling the phone.

And if that’s not enough, the whole feature is also designed to work with the new “private space” built into your phone, which we’ll take a look at here:

A new “private space”

One feature planned for Android 15 is the ability to create your very own “private space” where you can store some of your more sensitive apps (banking, health, etc.). It pretty much functions as a secondary app drawer; one that requires passing a security measure (fingerprint etc.) in order to bring it up.

It’s not the biggest change but one we can see to be quite useful if you want that extra layer of caution or if you lend your phone to family and friends often.

All-in-all, these security features may not prevent a physical theft per se, but together, they should be able to buy you enough time to salvage and protect your important information.

Real-time protection against fraudulent apps

Later this year, Google’s also planning on using their on-device AI in order to secure the App Store. If it detects anything malicious or suspicious, the App’s then sent to Google for additional review. Of course, Google’s promising not to collect any personal data during this process. Only time will tell how effective this feature will be.

Enter Fast Pair

Having built their own ecosystem with things like phones, smartwatches, and even the Pixel Tablet which can even double as a smart display and hub if you wanted, Google’s bringing in Fast Pair in order to make it easier to connect these different gadgets together.

Hoping to make it easier to connect different devices when compared to traditional Bluetooth, Fast Pair can also help track your accessories’ battery life, or even locate them with the new Find My Device experience, with the help of Bluetooth tracker tags.

Digitize your passes via Google Wallet!

Google’s also planning to expand Google Wallet’s capabilities to store important documents. While it can already save digital versions of things like receipts, QR codes, and such to the wallet, users will soon be able to save event tickets, library cards, membership cards, insurance, and more to your Google Wallet for quick and easy access. No need to worry about forgetting your ticket at home!

Well, at least if you’re in the US. The feature is slated to release in the US first with no word if it’s ever going to come to phones outside of it.

More Brands for Wear OS 5

Thanks to new watch launches from Google’s own Pixel line and Samsung’s Galaxy line, the company’s also planning on expanding Wear OS to even more manufacturers such as OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Oppo! Just in time for the coming Xiaomi Watch S3 as well!

As far as improvements go, Wear OS 5 is slated to be more efficient than Wear OS 4, consuming up to 20% less battery when tracking your exercises. Google also plans to build even more tracking capabilities too, adding things like stride length, vertical oscillation (i.e. the amount of vertical movement your torso does during a run), and ground contact time.

For gadgets and electronics, get it at Kimstore!