Advanced Android reminder tricks

Plus a powerful new notification upgrade  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [AI Tool Report logo](​ Hoo boy, lemme tell ya: There has never been a better time to be a mushy-minded dodo bird. Believe me, I speak from experience. As my wife will eagerly confirm, I do not remember anything if it isn't written down and prodding at me with some manner of loud sound and/or sharp jabbing every several seconds. But we aren't limited only to physical Post-It Notes anymore. We've got technology, garsh darn it! And these Android devices we tote around in our knickers, britches, and satchels have some seriously spectacular ways of making sure we never forget a thing. This week's Things to Try section is all about reminders and some especially remarkable ways your mobile companion can keep you connected to what matters. Don't forget to let me know what you think. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. A gaggle of new messaging goodies is headed our way ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: We may not be all the way into the end-of-year holiday season quite yet, but Google's got a slew of virtual gifts wrapped up and ready to land in the Android Messages arena. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Google's really been stepping up its efforts with its de facto default Android messaging app as it works to make it feel less like a simple spot for texting and more like a fully featured messaging service. - The latest incoming additions include an AI-powered custom reaction-creating option, a variety of visual effects for both voice and text messages, and the ability to customize exactly which colors are used for which messages (a nice little jab at the Apple "green bubble" silliness). - Google's also officially rolling out a new profiles system for Messages, which lets you associate any name and photo you want with your phone number for all Messages interactions. - All of this comes just days after Apple agreed to support the RCS standard used by Messages, which will make cross-platform communication with the iCrowd much less painful than it's traditionally been (hallelujah!). 📌 READ MORE: Dive deeper into [all the new Messages goodness](=) — which, as you'd expect, should be showing up slowly over the coming weeks. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android's Assistant might soon have dual personalities ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: A new leak makes it look like Google Assistant could soon offer the option to use either the new Bard-inspired generative AI setup or the more traditional "classic" Assistant approach. 🔎 KNOW MORE: We've been hearing bits and pieces about Google's plans for the future of Assistant for a while now, but this is the first time we're getting a closer look at how exactly the whole thing could shape up. - Google's been clear about its plans to reshape Assistant around the newer Bard-style chatbot method of interaction. But how exactly that'd work with existing Assistant commands — for things like controlling your device and other connected gadgets — has remained vexingly ambiguous. - From the looks of it, whenever the revamped Assistant launches, Google will actually give us the option to use the new "Assistant with Bard" or to switch back to the "classic Google Assistant" for those simpler functions. - Frankly, this sounds like a mess. Fast answers and reliable device control are what a virtual phone assistant does best, and I'm not yet convinced all the content-creating functions of the newer chatbot experience have a place in that environment at all — let alone with an awkward divide between them and the basics most of us rely on. 📌 READ MORE: See [the latest (still unofficial) Assistant evolution evidence](=) for yourself — and see what you think. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Some snazzy new hardware options are on the horizon ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Keep your eyes peeled, my fellow Android-adoring animal, 'cause both Samsung and OnePlus are expected to launch their latest and greatest Android flagships over the next several weeks. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The OnePlus 12 is set to show up this coming Monday, while the Galaxy S24 is widely expected to land in mid-January. - Both devices will be going up against an increasingly compelling field of high-end Android phone choices. - On the Galaxy front, we know Samsung's planning to focus largely on AI — though we don't yet know how much of its new stuff will be genuinely useful in the real world as opposed to just serving the latest tech buzzword. - More broadly, I'm very interested to see if and when other Android device-makers move to match Google's recent seven-year support promise with the Pixel 8. This release cycle may or may not be too soon, but with any luck, we'll start seeing the effects of that spread elsewhere in the ecosystem before long. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the latest OnePlus 12 intel](=) as well as [an assortment of Galaxy S24 clues](=). SPONSORED MESSAGE Learn how to save time and earn more with AI [Rosie from the Jetsons giving a high five](​ Sure, AI is all the buzz these days, but how valuable is it really? Turns out, pretty valuable, if you know how to use it. Luckily, [AI Tool Report]( is teaching people how to make the most of AI in just five minutes a day. Join over 475,000+ productivity pros who are using the AI Tool Report’s daily newsletter to keep up with the latest in trending tools, powerful prompts, news, and more. AI is moving fast — don't let it pass you by: 🤝 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. Stay up-to-date on the latest in AI by subscribing to AI Tool Report today with just one click!](​ [​READ TODAY’S AI UPDATE ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Rev up your Android reminder engine I rely on reminders for almost everything imaginable, and I'm always blown away when I remember all the ways my favorite Android phone can help. Trust me: If you aren't taking advantage of all these options, you're missing out. And odds are, you've been overlooking at least some of 'em. ➜ That's why I decided to put together a sprawling guide to eight advanced ways to manage reminders on Android — featuring some impressively specific tools for making sure you never forget anything important. ⌚ Each one will take you no more than one minute to master. 📌 [Check out the complete collection]() — and, if you really want to get wild, remember to set yourself a reminder to revisit it again later. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Upgrade your missed call reminders For all of Android's assorted reminder options, the operating system is lacking one curiously critical memory-jogging component — and that's the ability to make sure you remember to come back to a missed call. Sure, your phone shows you a little notification when someone dials your digits and you don't answer. But that notification is all too easy to ignore and eventually lose track of. (I should know; I do everything I can to avoid returning missed calls constantly!) ➜ Well, a handy little app called [Prof Reminder]( will handily fill that void. - Prof Reminder makes it incredibly easy to create custom repeating reminders for missed calls as well as missed voicemails and other messages. - It can create a sound, a vibration, or even a screen- or camera-light flashing effect at any interval you want whenever a notification like that is pending and requiring attention. - And once you set it up once, it'll just work and do what it's meant to do from there on out — no more thought or effort required. ⌚ The app will take you three to five minutes to set up. And it's free to use in its base form, with an optional one-time $3 upgrade to unlock some of its more advanced options. 📌 You can [snag Prof Reminder for yourself from the Play Store](, and if you want more specific instructions for getting it up and running, head over to [this quick 'n' simple cheat sheet](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Create powerful filters for your phone's notifications We can't possibly talk about Android reminder superpowers without getting into one of my all-time favorite Android power-user secrets. ➜ And that's a brilliant little app called [BuzzKill](). Folks in our [Intelligence Insider]() community are well aware of BuzzKill and its many game-changing features, as I've been ranting and raving about it in those quarters for ages. But whether you've explored BuzzKill before or have never heard of it until this moment, it's well worth your while to dig into and consider (or re-consider!) for your own personal Android setup. - BuzzKill is kind of like Gmail filters for your phone's notifications. - It lets you create insanely powerful rules for what should happen when different types of notifications arrive — which opens the door to all sorts of interesting next-level possibilities for reminding yourself about important info. - And yet, it's impossibly simple and easy to use. ⌚ The app will take you three to five minutes to set up and get going. 📌 I put together [an in-depth guide to help you get started](=) and explore all the awesome possibilities that await. [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Everyone and their mother seems to be scrambling to create The Next Great Social Media App right now — but all these stream-scrolling services raise a pressing philosophical question about how much virtual connection we really, truly want. And a clever cartoon I stumbled upon whilst waggling my puppy-tail around this wobbly ol' web of ours sums it all up better than anything else I've seen. Ahem: [Cartoon: "I don't know, honey. I think this might be just the new app that provides us with the sense of community we've been pretending to crave."] ​ I don't know about you, but I can absolutely relate. A very merry December to ye Hey, how 'bout that? We're officially at the start of December! (When did that happen?!) The tech world may be about to quiet down for a bit, but not to fear: We'll have plenty of worthwhile stuff to explore as we wade our way through these final few weeks of 2023 together. I'll see ya next week. 🤚 Wait! 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