A whole new era for Android

And the best Android enhancement you'll make all year  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ # Grab your Google-proof galoshes and get ready to get giddy: We've got an absolute flood of fresh Googley goodies to wade our way through this week. Google's grand hardware gala sent shiny new phones to our sandy virtual shores, as we expected — but it also included some super-significant surprises that'll have rippling effects all throughout Android (and maybe even beyond). We'll explore it all in this week's Things to Know section, below, and don't worry: You don't have to have any of these new treats to try something new and useful this week. The first of our Things to Try is one of the coolest Android enhancements I've come across in a good long while, and it'll work on any Android phone this minute — no matter who made it or what Android version it's running. Let's get into it, shall we? Our electronic oasis awaits. JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ Want even more access and insights? 👉 I've been hangin' with members of my [Android Intelligence Platinum Community]( and sharing inside info on all these latest twists and turns all week — and soon, I'll be sharing intimate impressions of all the latest Googley gadgets and answering on-demand questions about 'em, too. 🤝 Come join the conversation and help support my work by [joining Android Intelligence Platinum]( and getting all the exclusive benefits! [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. The Pixel 8 marks a major turning point for Android ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's latest Pixel phones are finally official, but all experience-related considerations aside, the devices represent a whole new era for Android — and, no exaggeration, the most significant change we've seen to the platform this decade. 🔎 KNOW MORE: What makes the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro so significant is the fact that Google's giving 'em an unprecedented post-sales support promise — a whopping seven years of near-instant operating system updates, security patches, and feature drops. - That's more than double the previous Pixel update promise and more than what any other phone-maker, including Apple, provides. - That means these devices will remain viable and fully advisable to use all the way through 2030 — which in turn makes their effective per-year cost lower than any other flagship phone on the market. - And aside from any immediate value, the change will almost certainly lead to other manufacturers following suit and stepping up their post-sales support promises in order to avoid falling behind. It may take some time, but this is bound to create a transformative effect that'll benefit us all, no matter what flavor of phone we prefer. 📌 READ MORE: Explore more about the big-picture significance of this shift in [this thought-provoking new column](=) — and for more on the devices themselves, check out [this official announcement]( or these hands-on overviews of [the regular Pixel 8](=) and [Pixel 8 Pro](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android 14 is on its way to a device near you ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of Android advancements, El Googenthaal's latest and greatest Android version is now officially official and on its way out into the world. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Android 14 may not be the most outwardly exciting Android release of all time, but it brings some noteworthy improvements and fresh flourishes to our favorite mobile operating system. - Most noticeably, Android 14 adds a new native setup for customizing your lock screen as well as a massively improved new app-to-app sharing system that should go a long way toward fixing the annoying inconsistencies in that area. - It also includes a clever new enhancement to the system-level back gesture that lets you peek at where you're going before you finish swiping — though that option seems to be off by default and a bit buried at the moment. - And, of course, the update sports a laundry list of important (if mostly invisible) improvements to core areas like privacy, security, and performance. 📌 READ MORE: Android 14 is starting to roll out to all current Pixel devices this week. For all other Android devices, it's up to each manufacturer to process and provide the software — so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can get the lowdown on Android 14's highlights in [this official launch-day blog](, and keep an eye out for more practical tips around the update in next week's issue. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google Assistant's getting a hefty overhaul ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: In a surprise twist, Google's giving us an early peek at its plans for Assistant — which, as some of us suspected, revolve around revamping the service to feature the new Bard AI engine at its core. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Bard is Google's next-gen AI chatbot system, and it'll soon be the heart and soul of Assistant on all of your Android devices. - That should — at least in theory — make Assistant much more powerful and versatile in what it's able to accomplish. - Google says the setup will enable new types of tasks like having Assistant summarize recent emails on demand or draft social media posts based on photos you capture. - Assistant's absolutely been struggling as of late, so hopefully this explains why — and offers an answer that'll bring it back on track and make it better than ever before long. Hey, Google: Make it so! 📌 READ MORE: The new Assistant setup is showing up for a limited group of "early testers" now and will supposedly become available to all of us "over the next few months." For now, you can see all there is to see about it in [this info-light preview](. #top PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE The W8 (for the Pixel 8) is finally over! The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro made their much-awaited debut this week, and Google’s newest devices are packing a serious punch. If you are thinking of picking up one or the other, The Intelligence readers who pre-order now from Best Buy will also receive a [free Pixel Watch 2 with the Pixel 8 Pro](, and a [free set of the Pixel Buds Pro with the Pixel 8](! Additionally, using these links will ensure that a small portion of the sale goes towards The Intelligence and supporting our brand of independent journalism. (Also, we’ll think you’re cool. But, truth be told, we already think you’re cool.) ➜ [Pre-order a Pixel 8 Pro and receive a free Pixel Watch 2](, or a [Pixel 8 and get a free set of Pixel Buds Pro!​](​ [​​PRE-ORDER TODAY TO END YOUR W8 ➜]( #top [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Give your Android phone an instant standby upgrade Forget Android 14 and all that fancy new hardware for a second. Here in the land o' Googley matters, you don't need a new Android version or any special purchases to bring something new and interesting into your virtual life. In fact, I've stumbled onto what might just be the best Android enhancement you'll make all year. It'll work on virtually any device you're holding, and it won't cost you a dime to do. ➜ It's a simple app you can install on any Android phone this second to add a whole new dimension of usefulness into your current purse and/or pocket companion. - The app will make it easy as can be to configure a series of special floating widgets that show up on your screen whenever your device is charging. - It's designed to emulate Apple's iOS StandBy Mode, with even more customization and control. - And it's so useful and sensible, it really just feels like a native part of the Android experience. ​ ⌚ Best of all? It'll take you all of 20 seconds to get up and running. 📌 I've got all the steps you need in [this cheeky new guide](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Explore Google Photos' new Memories experience Speaking of simple upgrades to your Android adventures, Google's excellent Photos app is in the midst of getting a nice little improvement this week. ➜ It's a whole new approach for the app's Memories tab that automatically surfaces related photos from your past and groups 'em together in thematic clusters for your memory-revisting pleasure. ⌚ You can find it with about seven seconds of effort. 📌 Just open up the Photos app on your phone (or [download it](=), if you don't already have it installed) and tap the Memories tab at the bottom. And if you don't see the updated interface yet, give it a day or two and check back again. It seems to be rolling out near and far at the moment, but it's possible it may still be in the midst of reaching everyone as of this writing. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Add your email onto your wrist If you've got a Wear OS smartwatch, listen up: You can now bring your inbox directly onto your wrist for easy on-demand access. ⌚ It'll take you two minutes to do: - First, open up the Play Store on your phone, search for Gmail and tap its line, and make sure to apply any available updates for the app if they show up as being available. - Next, under the heading that says "Available on more devices," look for your Wear OS watch and tap the Install button alongside it. - Once the installation finishes, find the Gmail app on your watch and open it to peruse your inbox — or look for the companion Gmail complication to add a quick view of how many new emails you have pending into any customizable watch face. Once more, if you don't see the option to install Gmail onto your watch just yet, give it a few days and then try again. This one's actively rolling out as we speak, and it should show up for everyone soon — if it hasn't already! #top [] ❱❱ And Just for Funsies... Google recently revealed a new and (maybe?) improved look for its classic Android robot mascot — and this week, one of our Android Intelligence Platinum Community members made a discovery that absolutely blew my mind. First, for context: The revamped robot is a rotund little fella with a distinctive shape 'round his midsection. See? ​ And when our Community Pro Joshua [put the bot on his home screen](), he couldn't help but notice something extra-familiar about that shape. Look closely: [The Android robot with a Pixel Buds case on his belly] [The Android robot with a Pixel Buds case on his belly] Whoa. Google's greatest Easter egg ever, or pure coincidence? We may never know for sure. #top Toodle Pip, Old Beans Whew! What a week. And while the latest round of Android-centric revelations may be behind us for now, the real fun is just getting started. Stay tuned for much more detailed dives into Android 14 and the new Googley gadgets in the weeks ahead — along with some saucy news of our own for this newsletter, coming soon to an issue near you. Oink, oink. What'd you think of this issue? Pick a face to vote and let me know! [Loved it]([It was all right]([Coulda been better]( ​ ➜ Did you enjoy this issue? [Copy your custom referral link]( and share it with other people to spread the word and earn [all sorts of awesome rewards](=)! ➜ Hungry for even more? [Try a Platinum membership]( to gain access to three premium Android Intelligence publications along with oodles of other advanced resources. ➜ New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up now](). ➜ Not feelin' it anymore? Sorry to see you go — but no worries: You can [unsubscribe or update your preferences here](=). 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