6 secret settings

Plus a new Android widget worth noticing  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [HubSpot logo](​ Brace yourself, my Android-appreciating amigo: The way you get around the web on your phone is about to get shaken up — for the better. I've got a freshly plucked series of sweet secret settings for your on-the-go online adventures. They're all yet-to-be-released, out-of-sight options that most mere mortals are totally unaware of. But hey, you're no mere mortal. You're a smart, sophisticated, and unusually captivating land mammal — one with impeccable tastes in newsletters, no less. And by the time you're done with this issue, you're gonna be a step ahead and enjoying under-development features before anyone else even knows about ’em. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: ~20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Your phone may soon charge in a single minute ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: How's this for The Future™? Researchers think they've discovered a new type of charging technology that could allow us to completely power up phones and even laptops in as little as 60 seconds. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This, suffice it to say, would be quite the welcome practical upgrade. - Charging times have gotten so much faster over the years, but even the fastest fast-charge mechanisms still require a solid 10 to 15 minutes — at a minimum — to power up most devices. - While typical improvements to charging speed almost become academic at a certain point, bringing the total time down to a single minute could make a substantial real-world difference. - The tech is still in the early phases of development, but if all goes well, we could see it start to seep its way into actual devices soon. 📌 READ MORE: Peruse [the high points of how this could happen]() — and if you really want to geek out, peek at [the complete study]( at the most awkwardly-acronymed website of all time. 🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE: [When do you charge your phone?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Google’s Pixel just beat the iPhone ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: For the first time, Apple's admitting the limits of its iPhone support setup. And it’s telling us, at least implicitly, that Google’s Pixel phones now hold the software support advantage. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Whoa — how 'bout them apples?! This is quite a twist to a popular tech narrative, and you'd better believe it matters. - For ages, the perception's been that iPhones offer the longest shelf life and best value you can find. But in reality, Apple has never made any specific assurances about its iPhone support window. - As part of a new U.K. regulation, the company was forced to put out an explicit promise — and while it's buried deep within the Apple website, that promise is for five years of software updates for the current top-of-the-line model. Google, in contrast, now offers a seven-year guarantee for all new Pixel phones. - All value calculations aside, what’s truly striking here is the seismic shift in such a long-standing perception. Plain and simple, Apple’s iPhones are no longer leading the way when it comes to longevity. Google’s Pixel devices have taken that crown — and Apple's admitting it’s fallen behind and allowed Android to lead the way. 📌 READ MORE: [My story-breaking analysis](=) goes into deep detail about the significance of this shift and why it's bound to make a massive difference for all of us, no matter what type of device we use. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. A wild new twist is on its way to Android searching ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Some under-development code is revealing progress on a new Android search feature that could make it easier than ever to find what we need. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The system is built into the Google Lens visual search app, which is also now essentially part of the newer Android Circle to Search system. - The feature would let you point your phone at any object in the real world and then talk out loud about it at the same time to tell Android what you want to know. - So, for instance, you might show blinking lights on a dishwasher and ask: "What's wrong with my dishwasher?" — and, at least in theory, Google would figure out the make and model of your appliance and give you specific info about the error. - Google showed off this concept at its I/O conference last month, and now, it's looking like it's closer than ever to being ready. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the original visual search announcement](=) and then view [the latest info about the active progress](. SPONSORED MESSAGE Turn AI into your personal assistant (for free) Wish you had an extra set of hands to take care of all those time-sucking, menial tasks? [Cute monster with 6 arms multitasking](​ You’re not alone — millions of professionals worldwide use AI to execute work tasks, and now, so can you! The [AI Task Delegation Playbook]( by HubSpot teaches you how to[turn AI into your personal assistant]( (absolutely free). This bundle of curated Google Sheets will maximize your productivity, organization, and time, with… 💪 Plug-and-play templates you can use today 🛠️ Tools for email, content creation, lead generation, and more 🗃️ Organizers to keep your tasks nice ‘n’ tidy! The only question is: What will you do with all your newfound time? ➜ [Don’t fall behind! Download the AI delegation guide at no cost and enhance your entire workflow!]( [USE AI TO GET MORE DONE TODAY! ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Splash into some secret Android Chrome settings All right — ready to give your Android web-wading galoshes some extra oomph? ➜ The Chrome Android app is overflowing with interesting under-development options that can make your mobile web browsing more powerful, efficient, and generally just pleasant. After much careful spelunkin', I've identified six such splendid treasures that are lurking beneath Chrome's surface and well worth your while to uncover. ⌚ Each one will take you no more than a single minute to seek out and start using. 📌 [Check 'em out for yourself](), and let me know whatcha think! --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Give yourself a handy new home control widget Here's a quick 'n' easy time-saver you can add onto your home screen this minute: ➜ Google's in the midst of rolling out an incredibly useful new connected-device control widget for its Google Home Android app. See? [The new Google Home Android widget] ​ You can configure it to show any combination of one-tap tiles for easy access to all of your (allegedly) smart lights, cameras, and other connected gadgets. ⌚ And it'll take you 20 to 60 seconds to surface and set up. ✅ To start, [snag the free Google Home app]( — or check the Play Store to see if the app has an update available — and then open it once. Then: - Tap the yellow-colored beaker icon in the app's upper-right corner and follow the steps to opt into its Public Preview program. - Head back to your home screen and press and hold your finger onto any open space. - Select the option to add a new widget, then look for Home in the list of options and find the new Home widget within it. - Either tap or press and hold that widget to add it into an open space on your home screen. If you aren't seeing the new widget yet, give it a couple days, then check the Play Store for an update to the app and try again. It's rolling out pretty broadly as we speak, so it should be available for everyone any day now! --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Tap into your new Android Timeline Speaking of in-progress progressions, El Googathor's kickin' off a pretty substantial change to how it handles location history on Android. ➜ The long-standing Google Maps Location History feature is being renamed to Timeline and restructured so that all data is stored and available only locally on your phone for enhanced privacy. ⌚ You can peek in at your updated Timeline with about 10 seconds of effort. ✅ All you've gotta do is open Google Maps on your phone — then tap your profile picture in the screen's upper-right corner and select "Your Timeline" from the menu that pops up. That'll show you all sorts of interesting breakdowns of the places you've been over time. It can be a handy way to: - Search to see when you last visited some manner of business, like an auto mechanic or a store where you bought something (hello, easy purchase date confirmation!) - Revisit trips to other areas and the places you went while there - See how much you're walking, driving, and traveling each month [The Google Maps Timeline, showing total walking, driving, transit, and flying times for a month] ​ And keep an eye out, 'cause sometime soon, you'll receive a notification from Maps about moving your historical Timeline data from its previous Google-server-stored location to your device, if you're so inclined. ​ [Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]() [] [And Just for Funsies...] In this week's [Cool Tools]( quiz, my colleague and companion Chris raised the subject of iGoogle — and my goodness, did that get me reminiscing. (Fair warning: Quiz spoiler alert ahead...) iGoogle, if you don't remember, was [a personalized internet start page](=) Google offered from 2005 up until late 2013, when the company did Its Google Thang™ and sent the service off into the sunset. Back when it was active, though, iGoogle let you select and customize a series of gadgets — or widgets — that'd give you a complete canvas of personalized info every time you opened a new browser tab. Well, guess what? iGoogle may be long gone, but someone out there has recreated it. ➜ Allow me to introduce you to [iGTab](, an unofficial but impressively accurate replication of the old iGoogle concept. It works on both desktop and mobile, and it even has a built-in Reader function (!), if you're really feeling like a trip back in time. I won't spoil the surprise too much... 📌 [Check the site out for yourself](, and be sure to pour one out for our old pal Jeeves while you're there. Until next time... A very merry June to you! And hey, don't forget to stock up on anti-nausea meds this weekend: Apple's annual adjective-packed exaggeration fest developers' conference kicks off on Monday, and we're sure to see endless headlines about how the company is totally ~innovating~ all sorts of cutting-edge new AI concepts (which we've been experiencing on Android for many months already). I'll be here to balance things out and offer up some reality-grounded Android-flavored antidotes to counteract all the over-the-top pomposity. Have yourself a splendid weekend in the meantime, and I'll see ya right back here before you know it. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: A whopping 75% of you said you use Windows as your primary desktop computer. ChromeOS came in next, with 10% of the vote, followed by Linux at 9%. Just 3% of Android Intelligence readers said they use a Mac. 🤚 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? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Android Intelligence, Windows Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider](=) to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 An [Intelligence Insider membership](=) is the best way to support my work and keep this newsletter sustainable. Not ready for a membership? You can also support my work by making a [direct one-time contribution](=) (or contribute via [PayPal]( or [Venmo](=)) to ensure I'm able to keep writing for you long into the future!