Advanced Android search secrets

And a new Android annoyance eliminator  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Heyday logo](=)​ I have a confession to make: My favorite Android addition of 2024 so far has absolutely nothing to do with AI — or any other fancy-sounding new buzzword. In fact, while it's technically new, it's also decidedly old. We first saw it a decade ago with a different name and a less advanced engine under its hood, but it was every bit as exciting back then. And now? Now, it's pure awesomeness. The feature of which I rave is a splendid little somethin' called Circle to Search. Maybe you've heard of it. If not, you will soon. Circle to Search is in the midst of rolling out to more Android devices as we speak. It has the potential to seriously shake up the way you get around and generally get stuff done on your phone. And some of its most impressive elements are things you'd never even realize are possible unless you just randomly happened to stumble onto 'em. In this week's Things to Try section, I'll show ya some of the best out-of-sight Circle to Search magic I’ve uncovered on Android — and show you how to take advantage of some similar sorts of superpowers even if you don't yet have access to that feature. Whew. We've got a ton of fun ground to cover today. Here we go! [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 45 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. The first Android 15 beta is officially out in the wild ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's first public beta of this year's Android 15 update is here — and that's pretty forkin' significant. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This beta release marks the first time we're moving past the super-early, developers-only framework and into terrain intended for regular ol' Android-adoring mammals like us. - Anyone with a current Pixel device can sign up for the beta and try it out with a simple over-the-air update — though that's typically advisable only on an extra device, as beta software can sometimes be bumpy. - Some of Android 15's most high-profile expected additions — like the app-hiding Private Space system and the possible resurrection of lock screen widgets, in some contexts — also aren't yet active (which is pretty typical for an early beta version). - We're expecting to see three more beta releases in the months ahead followed by a final launch in the late summer. And we'll hear a lot more about Android 15 at Google's I/O conference in May. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [the full announcement](), then explore [some of the most interesting upcoming additions](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android's new Find My Device feature is finally here ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: After nearly a year of waiting and anticipation, Google's new and improved system for tracking down lost devices is at long last launched. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The new system relies on Android devices worldwide pinging each other via Bluetooth to help pinpoint lost items, and that means it should be much more effective than what we had before. - Up until now, the Find My Device feature would only know a device's last known location — which usually wasn't super-specific and also wouldn't mean much if the device had been turned off. - This new version can find a device even when it's off, if the hardware supports it. And if you have any Nest gizmos in your house, it can tell you which one of those your missing device is near, too (something my feather-headed wife will absolutely appreciate!). - Maybe most significant, the new network will work with AirTag-like accessories that you can attach to anything — wallet, keys, children, chinchillas — and then find as part of that same system. 📌 READ MORE: Google's [official Find My Device blog]( has all the high points, and you can see the new system firsthand by going to [android.com/find]( in any browser. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Your phone may soon gain a new home command center ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: A fresh crop o' code-sleuthing reveals work on a new Android feature that'd let your phone show simple controls for connected smart home devices anytime it's charging. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The system is technically a screen saver, and if the concept feels slightly familiar — well, it should! - The setup, as it stands now, would show large buttons for adjusting Google-Home-associated gadgets on your screen whenever your device is plugged in. - It's very similar to what you see on a Pixel phone when charging with a Pixel Stand. And it's not too far removed from what you see when using a Pixel Tablet on its dock, either. It's also basically the same exact interface you get when tapping the "Home" tile within Android's Quick Settings (on a Pixel, at least). - Bringing that same setup to all of Android would be a sensible expansion that'd make our devices much more useful when they're in an otherwise idle state. Bring it on, baby! 📌 READ MORE: [See the still-under-development feature in action]( — and see whatcha think. SPONSORED MESSAGE Your personal AI copilot awaits 🫡 [Minions flying a plane](=)​ Need to crank up your productivity? Don’t settle for generic AI and generic outputs — [use Heyday instead!](=)​ Heyday turns everything you’ve read, said, or written into a hyper-personalized, queryable database. Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Feed Heyday your info: Notes, emails, web articles, Zoom meetings, PDFs, etc 2️⃣ Ask any question, like “What are 3 value propositions we can tell customers?” 3️⃣ Heyday generates insights instantly: Emails, shareable quotes, meeting agendas, and more! “It basically functions as an extension of my memory that's searchable, shareable & easily manipulated.” - Kyle O'Brien, Founder, Startup ROI (Oh yeah, did we mention that Heyday was rated #1 on Product Hunt?) ➜ [PRODUCTIVITY WIZARDS: Turn your information overload into actionable insight with Heyday!](=)​ [​​TRY HEYDAY FREE FOR 14 DAYS​ ➜](=) Want a preview of how Heyday can be used in the Real World™? Read about how it can help [translate your scattered information into content you can use.](​ ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Teach yourself some advanced Android search secrets If you haven't started using Google's Circle to Search system yet, trust me: You're missing out on one of Android's best and most helpful additions. And even if you have been using it, odds are, you've been overlooking some of the system's smartest search-centric step-savers. ➜ Circle to Search, for the uninitiated, is a new Android feature in which you press your finger to the lower-center area of your screen and can then select and get additional info around anything on your screen at that moment. And, like so many Android additions, there's much more to the system than what you see on the surface. ⌚ Clear out about five minutes in your schedule. 📌 And get ready to learn something supremely useful in [my snazzy new collection of advanced Android Circle to Search secrets](). (If you're using a phone that doesn't yet have Circle to Search available, by the way, [this crafty workaround is for you](=).) --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Take total control of your Google ad experience Google's activity-tracking habits may be far less alarming than they're often made out to be, but there's no denying that the company knows an awful lot about our interests. Unless you object to it on some philosophical level, that really isn’t a problem or anything especially eyebrow-raising. Remember: Contrary to many popular narratives, Google doesn’t ever sell your personal info or share it with any external organizations. ➜ But still, there’s something to be said for fully understanding what, exactly, Google thinks it knows about you and why it shows you the ads that it does. ⌚ And with about two minutes of time, you can access and optionally even edit your complete Google ad profile to customize exactly what sorts of Google-served ads you do and don’t experience. 📌 I put together [a quick 'n' simple guide]() to help you get started. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Blast away one of the web's worst annoyances Speaking of inevitable irritation, do you find yourself as irked as I do by those incessant cookie pop-ups that show up and pester you on every flippin' website you open? I know, I know: They're there for a reason. And it's certainly a good thing to be aware of what types of data different sites might be collecting. But, still: At a certain point, it'd sure be nice if we could set our cookie preferences once and then have 'em apply automatically for us, all over the web — wouldn't it? ➜ Well, brrrrrrreaking news: As of this week, you can. ⌚ One of my favorite web browsing annoyance-blasters has just become available for Android, and it'll take you roughly 90 seconds to start using. 📌 [This tasty new guide o' mine]() will have you up and running in no time. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Astronaut cartoon and the words "The morning paper for Hacker News readers"](=) Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try TLDR’s free daily newsletter! ​ TLDR covers the most interesting tech, science, and coding news in just 5 minutes. [SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE](=) [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] We've been talkin' a ton about the Android Photos app lately — both with [our look at fantastic forgotten Photos features](=) last week and with [our reader-submitted tip around Photos' excellent search system](=) on Monday. Well, following all of that, Android Intelligence reader Stewart H. decided to put Photos' searching smarts to the test. He searched the app on his phone for the word "cat," intending to surface some of his many feline photos. Photos showed him plenty of those, to be sure. But it also gave him an extra surprise — one that really reinforces our recent learnings around the sometimes-surprising powers of Photos' search prowess: [A photo of a construction vehicle] ​ Ahem — look closely: [A zoomed in photo of a construction vehicle with the word "CAT" on it] ​ Ah, Photos. You cheeky, cheeky chum. Lator, gator Hey, thanks for havin' me over to your inbox. And no kitten around: Hope you have a purr-fect weekend ahead. (Meow.) 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up](=) [Thumbs Down]( Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? 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