Advanced Android multitasking magic

And Android Messages editing — at last!  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [HubSpot logo](=)​ Oh, hey! How are ya? I missed you last week, while I was offline for a few days. While I was technically not working, though, I was toting around a bunch o' new Googley goodies — and my goodness, have I got some great stuff to share with you stemming from that adventure. We'll talk a bit about my time with the latest folding Android gadget in a second, but the part I'm most excited about is the creative practical discovery that experience inspired — namely some brilliant new multitasking magic you can bring to any Android device this instant. You'll find that, along with some long-awaited Android Messages editing enchantment, in this week's Things to Try section. Hip, hip, hoorah! It's good to be back. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 10 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 10 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 15 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. A whole new look could be coming for notifications ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's toying with a wild new revamp of the Android notifications panel that'd separate notifications from Quick Settings and shake up how you access that info. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The change, which appears to be in the works for next year's Android 16 update, would make the notifications panel a partial-screen shade — like it was in early Android versions — and allow you to see more notifications at a glance. But it'd also move Quick Settings into its own area that'd be accessible only via a two-finger swipe down on the screen, which could make it out of sight and out of mind for most people. 📌 READ MORE: [See the current state of the shift for yourself](, and remember: It's still very early in this development, so things may evolve. Cast your vote... ​[Is this split-apart setup a hit or a miss?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android tablets will soon support floating apps ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: In a surprise twist, Google just launched a developer preview of something it's calling "desktop windowing" — which basically means desktop-like floating apps for tablets. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This seriously shakes up the value of the Android tablet form and brings a much more computer-like (and ChromeOS-reminiscent) experience to that type of device. If the same sort of setup becomes available for foldable phones, too, things could really get interesting. 📌 READ MORE: [Take a closer look at how the system works](=), and stay tuned — 'cause we'll almost certainly be seeing much more soon. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google's new folding Pixel is a potential-packed powerhouse ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: After two weeks of living with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, I've gotta tell ya: This is one phenomenal device — with some eye-opening advantages. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's form makes it look and feel almost exactly like a regular ol' phone for most of the time that you use it. But with a full 8" tablet inside, it offers some really interesting multitasking and general big-screen benefits whenever you feel like popping it open. 📌 READ MORE: [Head over to my in-depth analysis]() for a thorough journal of my time with the device and what makes it so special (as well as what'd make me think twice about actually buying it). SPONSORED MESSAGE Want to automate work tasks, but not sure how? [Cyborg sorting paper](=)​ ​[Download the free ChatGPT At Work bundle](=) from HubSpot, so you can learn how — today! Designed for novices and experts alike, this course deep-dives everything you need to automate work and save literal hours. What you’ll learn: 🧠How to adopt AI into your workflows quickly ✅ Refining your inputs for high-quality, accurate results 🙌 [100+ free ChatGPT prompts](=) you can copy ‘n’ paste Ready to delegate email, data analysis, and more to ChatGPT (and finally take a day off)? ➜ [Download the free ChatGPT bundle and learn how to use artificial intelligence at work!](=) [SAVE HOURS WITH CHATGPT ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Bring advanced multitasking magic to any Android device Lemme tell ya: Some of the best parts of using a folding phone are less about the hardware itself and more about the awesome advantages offered by the software around it. That's absolutely the case with Google's latest folding Pixel phone — so, naturally, I saw that as a challenge: How can we bring some of that same awesomeness onto any Android device, new or old and with or without a fold? ➜ As I often like to say, here in the land o' Android, where there's a will, there's a way. ⌚ The first off-the-beaten-path superpower I found will take you about one minute to get going. The second — which is even more advanced, though also a touch more limited — will require about three minutes of one-time setup effort. 📌 [Check it all out for yourself](), and be sure to let me know whatcha think. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Edit sent texts within the Android Messages app I can't tell you how excited I am about this next inadvertent discovery. ➜ At long last, as of this week, the Google Messages app on Android is allowing us to edit texts after we've sent 'em! (I'll pause for a moment while you cheer and/or consume copious quantities of cookies to celebrate.) The Messages editing function was announced back in May, but in the months since then, most of us have been left waiting. And waiting. And waiting — with no sign of the feature on our devices. Over the past several days, though, the editing capability seems to have started rolling out pretty broadly. It might not be available to everyone just yet, but it appears to have reached more folks than not in my own casual observations. ⌚ And you'll need only about 10 seconds to surface it for yourself. 📌 [Here's everything you need to know to get started]( — including an extremely important asterisk about edited message history. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Scan an on-screen QR code the easy way Google's spiffy Circle to Search system is gaining useful new tricks at a staggering pace — and this week, an especially handy option is quietly coming into the mix and becoming available. ➜ It's a way to scan and activate any QR code (or barcode) on your screen simply by activating Circle to Search and then highlighting the code in question. ⌚ It'll take you about seven seconds to do, provided you're using [a device where Circle to Search is present](=): - Simply activate Circle to Search — by pressing and holding your finger to the bottom-center edge of your screen. - Once the Circle to Search interface appears, use your finger to draw a circle around any code you see. - And that's it: You'll see the results in a pop-up panel right then and there, in the blink of an eye. [A screenshot showing a QR code being interpreted by the Circle to Search feature] ​ ⛔ If you don't have Circle to Search on your device, don't worry! You can accomplish something similar on any Android device with [just a couple extra steps](. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE How to save yourself hours each week Your time is valuable, but don't worry — [Homebase](=) helps small businesses easily manage schedules and track time! Designed to streamline your operations, Homebase saves you time and reduces stress, while offering affordable pricing that scales with your team. ➜ [Try it out yourself, totally risk-free, with a 14-day free trial.](=)​ [UNLOCK YOUR FREE TRIAL ➜](=) [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] You've heard about Google's Android statues by now, right? El Googathor's been building special statues to commemorate each new Android release since the platform's earliest era. And with Android 15 now officially done with its development, we can feast our eyes on the latest lighthearted creation — made to match the software's internal codename of Vanilla Ice Cream: [A photo of the Google Android 15 statue] ​ Mmm....ice cream. Anyone else having a sudden hankering for some KitKat-flavored froyo?! Ciao for now Man — I can't tell ya how great it is to be back in your inbox and chewin' over tasty tech topics together again. Have yourself a splendidly sweet weekend, and I'll see ya right back here before you know it. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last issue's poll results: In our most recent Android Intelligence reader poll, I asked what you thought about the apparently soon-to-be-resurrected idea of a buttonless Android phone. - A whopping 79% of you said no thanks — seems like a step down in real-world usability - 12% were completely indifferent and couldn't care less - And just 9% of you thought it seemed impressively sleek and exciting [A cartoon of a Google Android robot leaning on a button and saying: "I've gotta tell ya: This question really pushes my buttons."] ​ 🤚 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! Published by The Intelligence • 2733 E. Battlefield Rd. #255 • Springfield, MO 65804