3 sweet new shortcuts for your phone

And how to find Google's secret Snake game  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ # Brought to you by: [Tool report logo](=)​ If there's one area of my phone I virtually never think about, it's my contacts. It really doesn't get much more utilitarian than that, does it? With contacts, you set 'em — then you forget 'em. And maybe once every seven to 72 years, you go in and delete a few people you'd also like to forget. This week, we're gonna break that habit, and we're gonna think about our contacts together — 'cause I want to show you a few neat new shortcuts Google's added into the Android Contacts setup that are well worth your while to dig up and explore. You still won't have to think about your contacts after you uncover 'em. But, you never know. You might just want to. JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. Android security is about to get smarter ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's adding an extra layer of protection into its Android security setup this week, and the changes should be showing up on all of your devices any day now. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The new system is all about better protecting you from apps you might encounter outside of the official Play Store. - You've already gotta jump through all sorts of hoops before Android will let you install an app from an unknown source, and your device already scans any apps installed in such a scenario, too. - What's changing now is that instead of simply warning you when an app matches known malware patterns, your phone will now perform a complete on-demand code-level scan to find out for sure if anything funky is afoot. - Actual Android malware problems are exceedingly rare in the real world, despite the popular (and mostly marketing-driven) narrative around that subject. But systems like these are critical parts of a multilayered system that makes sure you don't have to worry — or even think about this sort of stuff at all. 📌 READ MORE: You can find all there is to know about the incoming enhancements in [this Google announcement]() — and for more grounded perspective on the realities of Android security, look back to [this panic-preventing refresher](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Google's next smart glasses could be back in action ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Some new code discoveries suggest Google is picking up the progress on its "Iris" augmented reality project and might just have a fresh set of smart glasses to show off before long. 🔎 KNOW MORE: We've been hearing about this Iris thing for quite a while now, but reports in June suggested the entire effort had been cancelled. And yet... - Code just added into the self-named Google Android app makes explicit references to Iris and talks about summoning Assistant on the devices by touching and holding your temple. - Earlier leaks made it sound like the glasses would be controlled by a variety of touch gestures, both on the frame itself and possibly also on a finger-worn ring accessory. - That's all fine and dandy, but I'm still not convinced most people actually want an internet-connected computer on their faces and in their vision all day, especially when so many of us are actively seeking to limit our interactions with electronics. But hey, maybe I'm wrong? 📌 READ MORE: [This code-sleuthing analysis](=) has all the ins and outs of the latest Iris clues. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Your old Chromebooks could soon get new life ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of eyebrow-raising discoveries, another bout of under-the-hood code diving is raising some really interesting possibilities for the future of Chromebooks. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This is all still very speculative, but the code suggests Google could be testing a way to let Chromebooks keep getting software updates even after they're technically no longer being supported. - It'd involve a relatively new program called ChromeOS Flex, which was originally designed to convert old Windows and Mac computers into Chromebooks and allow 'em to get ongoing updates. - But so far, it hasn't been available to use on actual Chromebooks, despite that seeming like an obvious application. - Google's been stepping up its support for both Android and ChromeOS devices quite a bit as of late, so a move like this could fit in perfectly with those patterns and bring a ton of added value to those systems. 📌 READ MORE: Pop over to [this intriguing analysis]() to check out all the latest Chromebook update info for yourself — and for a much deeper look at ChromeOS Flex and how it works, look back to [this in-depth overview](). #top SPONSORED MESSAGE Learn AI tools in just 5 minutes a day 🔧 While the neanderthals among us denounce AI in favor of doing things the hard way, [AI Tool Report]( is teaching people how to save time and earn more with AI. [Graphical representation of AI face]( Over 300,000+ productivity pros have “left the cave” in lieu of AI Tool Report’s daily newsletter, which keys you into the latest trending tools, powerful prompts, news, and more. AI is moving fast, with both Google and Microsoft announcing big AI updates recently. Keep up with it all with AI Tool Report: 🤝 Subscribe for F-R-E-E and skim in just 5 minutes 🧠Join execs from Microsoft, Tesla, Meta, and more 🤖 Learn how to automate tasks and save hours every week! ➜ [The future won’t wait. Grab the horns of AI and subscribe to AI Tool Report today with just one click!]( [READ TODAY’S AI UPDATE ➜]( #top [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Check out a cool new Contacts widget This week's tips are all about contacts, and up first is a nifty new widget option that almost certainly snuck into your phone unnoticed. ➜ It lets you create a one-stop communication hub for any of your favorite people right on your home screen, so it's always especially easy to reach out to 'em in any way needed. See? [The Android Contacts individual contact widget] ​ ⌚ Best of all? It's probably already on your phone and waiting to be found — and it'll take you roughly 20 seconds to set up. 🔴 Note that all of this is connected to [the Google Contacts app](=) — not the same-named equivalent created by Samsung and installed by default on Galaxy devices. 🟢 If you're using a phone where Google Contacts isn't already in place, you'll need to [grab it from the Play Store](=) first — and [check out this guide]() for more on (a) why that's an extremely advisable thing for you to do, anyway, and (b) how to make sure your contacts sync over to it easily! Capisce? Capisce. Now: - Press and hold your finger onto any open space on your home screen and look for the option to add a widget. - Find Contacts in the list. Tap it to expand it, if needed. - Press and hold the first option that comes up for "Individual contact" and drag it onto any open spot on your home screen. Follow the prompt to select any contact you want, and that's it: You've got a handy new hub for hitting up anyone you interact with often. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. See the weather for wherever your contacts live Here's another handy option that got added into Android's Contacts app without any fanfare at some point recently: ➜ Anytime you open up a contact's profile, you can now get a glimpse of the weather in their area — right then and there on that same screen. [Google Contacts weather] ​ The info's just there and waiting for you, if you know where to look. Nothing else to it! ⌚ It'll take you 10 seconds to figure out: - Open up the Contacts app on your phone (and remember, it has to be [the Google Contacts app](=), not the Samsung-made equivalent) and tap the name of anyone in your list. - Scroll down in that person's profile, beneath all their basic info. - And as long as you have a specific physical address saved for them, you should see a card with the current weather for that same location. ✨ As an added bonus, you can also get to this same info by looking in the Contacts tab of [the Google Phone app]() — which can also be installed and used on any Android device, no matter who made it. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Get directions to any contact in a flash Last but not least in our contacts adventure, the next time you need to make your way to the office or abode of someone in your contacts list, make a mental note of this: ➜ You can navigate to any contact's address with a single tap simply by opening up their profile within the Android Contacts app. ⌚ Seriously — it'll take you all of seven seconds: - Once more open up [the Google Contacts app](=) and find your way to whatever person's profile you'd like. - So long as you've got an address stored for said person, you should see a simple Directions button toward the top of the screen. - Tap it, and you'll be zapped over to Maps to start finding your way to that friend or foe immediately. [Google Contacts directions] ​ ✨ Again, you can accomplish this same thing within the Contacts tab of [the Google Phone app](), too. Good to know, right?! #top [] ❱❱ And Just for Funsies... For all the time we spend sussing out hidden features across our favorite Googley goodies, I've gotta admit: I had no idea this next little gem even existed up until a few days ago. But here it is: Tucked into a corner of a little-known official Google Maps web address, El Googelsplaat's got a delightfully retro throwback game just waiting to be found. It's none other than the classic old-school Snake — adapted to work within a fittingly map-like motif. You simply pick a real-world locale to use as your backdrop, then slither around to pick up passengers without letting yourself hit the edge of the screen. [Google Maps Snake game] ​ The game honestly isn't that exciting to play, and it doesn't last long. But knowing it exists? That, my fellow slitherer, is worth everything. 📌 You can play the game on any device (though, fair warning, it's easiest on a screen you can touch) by [heading to snake.googlemaps.com]() in your browser. #top Happy Trails to You All snake-related distractions aside, I've got my hands full (and then some!) with putting the finishing touches on our upcoming brand expansion and shiny new look. We're so close to having this ready! And man, is it ever lookin' good. I can't wait to share all the details with you — soon! — and I hope you have an exceptionally excellent autumn weekend in the meantime. 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](=). [Get even more Android Intelligence. Upgrade to a Platinum membership today.](=)