Handy hidden Chrome treasures

Plus an earbud breakthrough and a nifty new search trick  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ # Brought to you by: [Wise bread logo](​ Here's a refrain I hear constantly from my fellow tech-obsessed organisms: The biggest challenge with chewing over all these cool tech tricks is simply remembering 'em all. Believe me, it's a refrain to which I very much relate. (As I often like to say, my brain ran out of internal storage space circa 2007. If not for an intricate system of notes, memos, and meticulously set messenger-squirrel reminders, I would likely not remember the location of my pantaloons at any given moment.) So this week, I decided to dive deep into Android's de facto default browser to remind myself of some of its spectacularly useful but all-too-easy-to-forget advanced features. And Goog almighty, are there some top-notch treasures there — many of which I'd certainly gotten out of the habit of using. Check 'em out in this week's Things to Try section. With any luck, you'll have as much fun rediscovering 'em — or maybe even just discovering 'em — as I have. JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. Samsung's setting a new Android 14 record ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Samsung's sending out Android 14 to owners of its current-gen Galaxy S23 flagship phone faster than it's ever delivered a new Android version before. Good news! But the story isn't quite as simple as it seems. 🔎 KNOW MORE: While this move is certainly something to celebrate, there are a few key questions worth asking: - When will the update actually reach everyone? So far, the rollout is limited to the UK and parts of Europe. No signs of the software for Galaxy owners in America just yet. - What about the rest of the Galaxy? Most tech media stops paying attention once a company's first Android rollout is announced, but Samsung in particular tends to take an exceptionally long time to get current software out to its previous-gen flagships — not to mention its many budget and midrange options. And you'd better believe that bigger picture matters. - Is this the start of a new trend or simply a short-term fluctuation? More than any other Android device-maker, Samsung has ping-ponged a lot with its software support speediness over the years, and it's too soon to say if this is a one-off peak or an actual lasting commitment. 📌 READ MORE: Hop over to [my expanded trio of tough questions](to think through this more closely. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Google's paying big bucks to keep your phone secure ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of software updates, in a revealing plot twist this week, we're getting a rare inside look at how Google encourages Android device-makers to spend time processing and providing rollouts to regular ol' phone-owners like us. 🔎 KNOW MORE: We've talked a ton over the years about how post-sales software support actively works against most device-makers' interests. Well, it turns out Google's been doing more than we've known to try to keep those companies motivated. - As part of Google's ongoing antitrust trial, CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly said the revenue related to search is shared with Android partners in order to encourage them to better maintain their devices. - "More effort goes into developing the next version, and updates are costly...so sometimes they make tradeoffs," he's quoted as saying. - Wow. This certainly could explain some of the fluctuations we've seen on this front over time, eh?! Fascinating stuff. 📌 READ MORE: [Review the testimony for yourself]() — or [skip straight to the part about Android]( if you want to save some time. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Your earbuds could soon monitor your heart ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Well, here's a heartening tech twist: A new Google Research project has figured out a way to turn everyday earbuds into accurate heart rate monitors — no special hardware required. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This is the kind of research that's truly inspiring to see. - Scientists at Google Health realized our ear canals were already an "ideal location" for health sensing, thanks to the way their pressure varies based on blood pressure and heart beat. - So they found a way to tap into the microphones already built into existing earbuds with active noise cancellation and then use that feedback to analyze all sorts of important body signals. - This is purely a research project as of now, and it's not clear if or when it could make its way into the real world. But it seems like a promising and pretty exciting first step. 📌 READ MORE: The gang from Google Research has [a detailed explanation of their discovery]() and what it could mean for the future. #top SPONSORED MESSAGE Best Reward Cards of 2023 [Fancy woman with red credit card](​ Enjoy exceptional rewards on purchases and a $300 bonus offer. They are hands down the most exciting rewards cards of 2023. According to [Wise Bread](, these credit card deals are too good to miss. High Earning Cards For Good To Excellent Credit ➜ [Leverage your good spending history to get one of these high earning rewards cards.](​ [​​​START RACKING UP HUGE REWARDS ➜]( #top [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Dig up some handy hidden Chrome treasures All right — ready to learn/relearn some spiffy new tricks for your Android web environment? ➜ I earthwormed my way through the deepest depths of the Chrome Android app to refresh my memory on all the interesting stuff that's tucked away and all too easy to forget about over time. And good golly, did I slither into some sweet gems. ⌚ Each feature will take you no more than 15 seconds to find and start using. 📌 [Check out my complete collection of fantastic forgotten Chrome features]( — and let me know which is the most useful for you! --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Customize your Chrome desktop toolbar Speaking of browser discoveries, I stumbled onto an interesting new option in the Chrome desktop environment this morning. For context, I'd noticed a short while back that the Google Search panel started appearing as a new permanently-present icon within my Chrome address bar on a computer — over at the right by the extensions icon. Have you seen that, too? The little "G" icon in the browser's upper-right corner? [The recently added "G" icon in the Chrome desktop toolbar area] ​ ➜ Well, I happened to right-click on that “G” a few minutes ago, and guess what? Turns out you can unpin and remove it, if you want. ⌚ It takes two seconds to do, once you realize that it's possible. Just right-click to find the option: [Right-clicking to unpin the "G" icon in Chrome's upper-right corner] ​ That made me wonder if anything else could be pinned and unpinned in that area. Alas, no such luck. As of now, though, you can go into that side panel (by clicking either the "G" or the square-shaped icon next to it) and repin the Search function, specifically: [Repinning the "G" search function in the Chrome side panel] ​ But other stuff in that side panel, like bookmarks and reading mode, offer no such option. Bah. Maybe soon? We can hope... --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Let Search act as your personal math assistant Also on the subject of search, Google's got a nifty new option waiting to be found, and it's all about helping you better juggle numbers. ⌚ The trick is simply knowing where to look. Once you do, it'll take all of two seconds to get going anytime the need arises. ➜ Just perform a regular ol' search for math solver in any Google Search prompt. And hey, how 'bout that?! [Google's new Search-based Math Solver] ​ There's just one curious catch, at the moment. The system is available only on the desktop front to start — which is weird — but you can get around that easily enough by requesting the desktop version of the Google site when doing the search from your phone. (The option should be readily available within your browser's main three-dot menu.) Happy mathing! #top [] ❱❱ And Just for Funsies... It's pretty ordinary to hear about an Android phone-maker making tablets, headphones, and other tech-related accessories. But...beer? Erm — what?! No joshin' here: The Android manufacturer Nothing, run by the same guy who started OnePlus, is now [selling actual cans of lager](=). (A writer from CNET [tried one out]( and said it was "full-flavored, malty, and very drinkable." Man, I picked the wrong place to work this week.) [Nothing Beer, in cans] ​ The Nothing Beer is available only in the UK for now, but Nothing says it's working to bring it to other locations soon. (Kinda fitting that its availability is so limited, eh?!) And hey, just think: If all goes well, we can probably expect to see the same exact drink sold by Apple in four to seven years — only with more pretentious packaging and a 42% markup. I've got a sneaking suspicion it might just be the most magical and elegant beverage ever made. #top Cheers to You Hope you have a happy and healthy first weekend of November. Now, for the love of Goog, would someone pass the HTC Chips and Motorola Dip already?! 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? 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