More efficient Android messaging

And 36 step-saving web shortcuts  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [1440 logo](=)​ Is there anything more central to our smartphone experience than the simple act of sending and receiving messages? For all the fancy stuff our phones can do, messaging has to be among the most important things we need our mobile devices to accomplish. And yet, most of us put shockingly little thought into our mobile messaging setup and how we could make it better. My friend, that ends today. In this week's Things to Try section, I'll introduce you to a whopping 13 easy tricks for faster, richer, more efficient Android messaging. They're out-of-sight experience-enhancers already on your phone and just waiting to be unearthed. And they'll bring an immediate improvement into something you're interacting with all throughout the day. 👉 First, cast your vote​ and let's see the consensus: Which app do you use the most on your Android device? 🗳️ [Vote in our Android Intelligence reader poll](, and stay tuned for the results next week! [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 30 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Some wild new Photos features could be coming our way ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's working on a pair of intriguing new editing tools for photos and videos on our phones — and Goog almighty, do they sound incredible. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Two different under-development systems are coming to the surface this week, each with its own set of eye-catching advantages. - First, Google requested a trademark for something called "RealFill" that'd let you expand an image and fill in the blank spots with realistic elements based on other similar photos. - At the same time, some currently hidden code within the Android Photos app reveals work around a new one-tap, all-in-one option for enhancing a video in all sorts of effective ways. - It's not entirely clear when or exactly how either system could show up, but with Google's grand I/O announcement-fest right around the corner now, it's certainly something to watch for. 📌 READ MORE: Explore all there is to know about [the RealFill development](=) and [the one-tap Android video enhancer]( progress. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Google's next midrange Pixel could pack quite a punch ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Some new leaks around Google's upcoming Pixel 8a phone raise some veeeeeery eeeeenteresting possibilities. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Google's current midranger, the Pixel 7a, has a $499 price tag — and it looks like this year's 8a replacement could keep that cost while adding in a couple noteworthy new perks. - One leak suggests the Pixel 8a will include the same AI-supporting processor used in the high-end Pixel 8 and 8 Pro — at the same sub-$500 price as last year's "a" model. - Another leak indicates the 8a will be guaranteed seven full years of Android security updates, which are an important part of the picture for anyone who wants to keep using the phone beyond its first year or two of life. - What's not been said yet is if that promise will also include seven years of Android operating system updates, like the flagship Pixel 8 line receives. If it does, that'd create a crazy new option for value and longevity within the affordable Android arena. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the price and feature leaks]( and [the update-specific info](), and keep an eye out for more official info on this device soon. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. America's carriers have been sharing your location data ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: While most of us focus on apps and their ability to access our location, it turns out we've been worrying about the wrong rascal. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has officially fined AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon a combined $200 million for sharing and allowing the subsequent selling of customer location data. - According to the FCC, each of the big three carriers shared such info with companies known as aggregators, who then resell said data to other organizations. - The FCC says this was done without any form of customer consent — and that the selling continued even after the carriers were made aware of the violations. - The carriers have all indicated they'll appeal the ruling and associated penalty, but however you frame it, this sure isn't a good look. And that's putting it mildly. 📌 READ MORE: Peruse [the FCC's full announcement (in PDF form)]() and then get [all the extra context](). SPONSORED MESSAGE Why 3.5M trust this 1 daily news briefing 🗞️ [Two people sitting together and saying, "great news!"](=)​ You’re a free-thinking human, right? So why put up with biased news sources! ​[Subscribe to 1440](=). Read by 3.5 MILLION truth seekers, it’s a free, daily news email that’s edited to be as unbiased as humanly possible. Everyday, the 1440 ~humans~ (not AI) scour through 100+ sources, then send the top stories to your inbox. No editorializing, no clickbait, and no spin — just the facts! “1440 is the single best news curator, period. Absolutely no bias. I don’t need anyone’s opinion, I can form my own!” - Amy ➜ [Read what’s really happening in business, politics, and more in just 5 minutes!](=)​ [​​​SUBSCRIBE TO 1440 FOR FREE!​ ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Give yourself a more efficient Android messaging experience If there's one message to take away from our ever-evolving Android gab-fest, it's that our modern mobile devices are absolutely overflowing with out-of-sight options that can make your life immeasurably easier. ➜ And that's never been more true than in the land o' Android messaging — where Google's got gobs of goodies hidden out of sight and just begging to be found. ⌚ I put together a collection of 13 advanced tricks for a better, faster, and all-around smarter Android messaging experience. And each one will take you no more than one minute to unearth and master. 📌 [Check out the complete collection]() and get ready for a satisfyingly speedy mobile messaging upgrade. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Learn some new step-saving web shortcuts While we're thinking about efficiency and easy ways to save time, how about some sweet 'n' saucy shortcuts for the web itself? ➜ Back in 2018, y'see, Google made a minor splash when it announced a set of ".new" shortcuts for the web — simple domain-based step-savers that let you perform specific actions within online services by typing a command directly into the address bar of whatever browser you’re using. By my estimation, the presence of these shortcuts has mostly been forgotten in the years since. (I know I rarely ever remember to use ’em!) And at the same time, even more companies have gotten on board with the concept and created their own .new commands for all sorts of interesting possibilities. ⌚ They really are handy, and they'll each take you a meager two seconds to use. 📌 I put together a hefty list of [36 web shortcuts worth your while to remember](). Try ’em out in whatever browser you like and get yourself in the habit of using 'em! --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Summarize any web page in a snap Shortcuts for soaring around the web are spectacular, but what about when you need to save some time while actually reading something on these rusty ol' nets of inter? Goodness gracious, have you got some great options. ⌚ And either of 'em will require no more than 30 seconds to start using. ➜ First, if you're using a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro in the U.S.: - Fire up Google Assistant while looking at any web page within Chrome or the Google app on your phone. (You can usually do this by pressing and holding your phone's power button or by saying "Hey Google" to your device, depending on which methods you've activated.) - Look for the Summarize button in the Assistant panel at the bottom of the screen. If you don't see it, say "Summarize" out loud, and it should show up. [The Google Assistant Summarize option on a Pixel 8 Pro] ​ ➜ If you're using any other phone — or even a computer: - Open up [Andi](), an awesome free search service with AI at its core. - Paste in the link of the page you want to summarize or use the site's prompt box to search for the article's title. - Click the Summarize button within the article's card in the results. [Andi's Summarize option] ​ Whee! ​ [Subscribe]() [] [And Just for Funsies...] Here's a fun little mobile-tech history moment for ya: We've just officially passed the 10 year mark since the launch of one of Android's most memorable devices — the awkwardly named but beautifully designed HTC One (M8). Do ya remember this thing as well as I do? The M8, as it came to be known, was really the phone that catapulted HTC into the upper tiers of Android royalty — at least, in terms of the actual experience it had to offer. The sleek-as-can-be device came across as "a luxurious yet approachable object," as a certain big-word-loving Android-obsessed doofus [put it at the time](). It sported a strikingly shiny metal exterior with a beautiful screen, powerful front-facing stereo speakers, and one of the first phone cameras to focus on actual image quality instead of meaningless megapixel numbers. [[video preview]​](=) And remember, this was at a time when chintzy, plasticky phones were the norm, even on the upper end of the Android spectrum. It's easy to brush past now, but the M8 truly was a groundbreaking and just all-around delightful device for its time. It didn't do enough to keep HTC in the game, unfortunately. But it absolutely did reshape standards and expectations around design in the Android domain — and man, would it be awesome to see a modern-day version of it now. Until next time... A very merry May to ye, and stay tuned: These next few weeks promise to bring all sorts of interesting surprises as we start the countdown to Google's grand I/O gala and the Android-associated goodies around it. I'll see ya soon. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ Last week's poll results: In last week's Android Intelligence issue, I asked which was your favorite classic Android version. The winner, with a resounding 63% of the votes as of this writing, was Android 4.4 (KitKat). Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) came in second with 19% of the votes, while Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) trailed behind it with 15% and Android 2.2 (Froyo) claimed the remaining 4%. Don't forget to [vote in this week's poll]( next — and watch for the final results next week! 🤚 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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