10 time-saving text selection tricks

Plus a handy new fast-action menu  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [1440 logo](​ Oh, hi! Good to see ya again after my little holiday-week hiatus. I had a jolly ol' time takin' it easy and trekkin' around the Bay Area with my wife and kiddos — mostly doing family-friendly shenanigans, as you'd expect, though also with a delightful touch of tech-tinged titillation when we got to [ride in one of Google's new self-driving Waymo cars](. Man alive, lemme tell ya: It was a wild and more-than-slightly surreal experience. (I shared some in-depth impressions of the adventure [in our Insider Community forum](.) But while that bit of futuristic geekery may be miles down the road for most of us, we've got some splendid tech treats to feast on this second — all connected to Android and these powerful little gizmos we carry around in our pockets, purses, and/or pantaloons. We'll start with some attention-worthy new goodies on the horizon, then make our way to a few fun ways you can make the most of whatever gadgets you've got in front of you already. Let's get into it, shall we? [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 35 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. A new 'Google AI' package may be on its way to Android ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Signs suggest Le Googlé is cookin' up a meaty bundle of Android-destined AI features that'll fall under a new "Google AI" umbrella. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The features seem to be in the works for the upcoming Pixel 9 series, specifically — though this sort of stuff typically ends up expanding into other places before long. - According to some leaked screenshots, the package will encompass a couple of existing features — the Gemini chatbot and the Circle to Search system, both of which are available broadly across Android — along with a trio of wholly new options. - The most interesting element is a tool for turning your screenshots into a "searchable library," where AI can summarize all the text within the images and then answer questions and help you search for specific info. - By and large, just like much of the overhyped AI "magic" of the moment, most of this feels far less life-changing than its makers might like us to believe. But hey, if there's even one useful new nugget in the mix, that's a win for us — right? 📌 READ MORE: Take a peek at [the still-under-development package]( — and... 🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE: [How often are you using AI chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT right now?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android 15's less famous features are coming into focus ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: For all the buildup we've seen over the Android 15 beta period, certain features within the soon-to-launch software are still under wraps and out of the spotlight. 🔎 KNOW MORE: A handful of interesting Android 15 additions are starting to make their way to the surface — despite remaining out of sight and inactive in the latest beta releases. - The most intriguing to me is something called Adaptive Touch, which automatically adjusts and optimizes your display's touch sensitivity based on factors like your environment, what you're doing, and whether you have a screen protector present. - We're also getting a closer look now at a feature called Adaptive Timeout, which introduces a more advanced method of having your screen stay on when you're using it and then shut off when you aren't. - More often than not, it's seemingly small touches like these that end up being the most useful elements of a new Android version — even more so than the flashier, headline-making elements. 📌 READ MORE: See [how these still-hidden new features are shaping up]( for yourself — and revisit my tip for [giving yourself a smarter screen timeout this second](), no Android 15 required. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Some snazzy new foldables and wearables are here ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Samsung took the wraps off its latest and greatest Galaxy gadgets this week — including, most notably, a pair of fresh folding phones and a first-ever smart ring product. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 6 and Galaxy Ring are all up for preorder now and will start shipping in a couple of weeks. - The most important change on the phone front, if you ask me, is the fact that the Fold now has a less narrow outer screen — making it much more usable in its folded form and bringing it closer to what's offered by devices like the Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open. - The Ring, meanwhile, feels like a test of how mainstream a simple finger-worn wearable can be. - Unlike typical smartwatches, the Ring is mostly about collecting health data as opposed to giving you info or acting as an interface. The real question now is if that capability — one we also already have in so many other places — will be worth $400 to many people. 📌 READ MORE: Get [up close and personal with the new Fold and Flip 6]( and then [explore the Galaxy Ring](=) to see what you think. 💸 RESERVE YOURS: You can tap into some prelaunch savings and get a free storage upgrade if you [preorder the new devices from Samsung](. SPONSORED MESSAGE PSA: Staying informed just got easier 👌 Does finding factual, unbiased news feel more like wandering around a maze, in the dark, shoelaces tied together? [Alice from Alice in Wonderland wandering around a giant maze](​ You should [read 1440](. Written by humans, for humans, 1440 sends you 1 single email every morning containing the top news stories of the day on everything from politics and world affairs to sports, business and finance, tech, and even fun, feel good stories (you know you love those!). The best part? It’s written to be as unbiased as humanly possible. No fluff, no snark, and no spin — just the facts! Hands down, it’s the easiest way to stay informed in just 5 minutes each day. For FREE. ➜ [Simplify your life and subscribe to 1440 in just a few minutes!]( [READ TODAY’S NEWS HEADLINES ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Unearth some time-saving text selection tricks My friend, brace yourself for a major "aha!" moment. You know when you press and hold text somewhere on your phone — on a web page, in an email, wherever — and you see that menu with commands for copying and pasting and all of that? ➜ That same innocuous-seeming menu holds a host of powerful efficiency-enhancers for app-connected actions. As usual, it's just up to you to remember to look for 'em — and, in some cases, to take a quick step or two to get 'em there in the first place. ⌚ It'll take you roughly seven seconds to figure out and start doing for any given app or purpose. 📌 I've got everything you need to know in [this shiny new guide](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Find Messages' new fast-action shortcut menu Speaking of out-of-sight shortcut options, here's a nifty new one that's worth your while to notice: ➜ The Google Messages Android app is in the midst of getting a handy new pop-up panel of contact-specific actions that could be quite useful in the right sort of situation. ⌚ You'll need all of two seconds to find it. ✅ Just open up the Messages app on your phone — and for the standard disclaimer, this is [the Google-made Messages app](=), not the same-named Samsung equivalent — then: - In your main list of messages, tap any contact's profile picture along the lefthand side of the screen. - Or, in a group messaging thread — where multiple other people are involved — tap the profile picture next to any contact's name anywhere within the conversation. Either way will cause Messages' new fast-action shortcut menu to show up: [An animation showing a pop-up menu of options when tapping on a contact photo within a group messaging thread] ​ And from there, it's just one more tap to start a new individual message or voice call with that contact. Good to know, no?! --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Protect your phone number from unwanted takeovers You'd never know it, but your mobile carrier probably has a super-simple way for you to secure your number and prevent anyone else from trying to take it over. ➜ It's a fast-flip number-lock switch that makes it so your number can't be transferred out to another carrier unless you first sign in to your account and authorize it. The idea is to protect you from a type of attack in which someone pretends to be you and signs up for a new account with a different carrier using your phone number — typically in order to gain access to your digits and then use 'em for all sorts of sinister identity verification purposes. ⌚ And while the odds of that actually happening to you in the real world are generally quite low, it's well worth taking the 60 seconds to flip that switch and give yourself that added layer of assurance. If you use Google Fi for your service, the option just became available for you — but it's curiously buried and out of the way to find. 📌 I put together [a quick 'n' simple cheat sheet for finding the option on Fi](=) as well as tracking down the equivalent for other common carriers. One minute of minimal effort now could save you a whole lot of headaches down the road! ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE = Meeting scheduling magic Does scheduling meetings take longer than the actual meetings? Skip the headaches with [Bookable Schedule from Boomerang](=), which embeds your calendar directly into your email. [TRY BOOMERANG FOR FREE](=) [] [And Just for Funsies...] I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to get lost in extremely nerdy rabbit holes on YouTube sometimes. And the other day, I found myself following suggestions for old Droid videos that were an absolute delight to revisit. Whether you were paying attention to Android back in its early era or this is completely new to you, I hope you enjoy [this trip down memory lane](=) as much as I have: [[video preview]​](=) Ahh, simpler times. Also, FYI, that Sky Map app mentioned in the video is no longer maintained by Google, but it [does still exist](). And it's still pretty freakin' awesome. Happy travels Have I mentioned how great it is to be back in your inbox and hangin' out again? Thanks for inviting me in, as always. I'll see ya next week for even more Google-scented goodness. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Our last poll's results: In our previous issue's poll, I asked which upcoming Android-associated device you were most excited about. Sixty percent of you said the Pixel 9, 13% said the Pixel Watch 3, and 10% said the Pixel Fold. Samsung's Galaxy Ring came in next at 9%, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at 4% and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 at 4%. 🤚 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? 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