17 out-of-sight Android shortcuts

And your phone's forgotten memory magic  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Novo logo](​ Ahh. Can you smell it? It's the start of a new year, and that means the scent of fresh opportunity is thick in the air. Actually, that might just be the goulash I've got simmering in the other room right now. Never mind. All olfactory observations aside, though, a new year really is a perfect time to take stock of your current tech setup and explore some fun new ways to make your life easier. That's what all these apps and gadgets are ultimately all about, right? So to kick off 2024 in style, we're gonna look at some of my favorite out-of-sight shortcuts for a faster, more efficient Android experience. Plus, we'll dig into a fantastically useful feature of Android's current Assistant setup. It's something I'd never before noticed but that's already turning into a powerful new supplement for my soggy ol' noggin. And all of that's just the start. Let's dive in, shall we? [JR Raphael, Author] 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. Samsung's going all in on AI ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Following weeks of leaks and rumors, it's officially official: Samsung's latest and greatest Android-based Galaxy gadget will break cover the week after next — and it's gonna be all about artificial intelligence. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Samsung's new teaser shows a January 17th date for its grand Galaxy S24 reveal, with the tagline: "Galaxy AI is coming." - The phone is expected to introduce a variety of new AI camera-oriented features, including a system for making advanced image edits in the same style as what Google's Magic Eraser feature allows. - Reports have also suggested the phone could include a new AI-powered real-time live translation feature for calls. - It seems safe to say AI will be a common buzzword throughout most tech launches in the months ahead. As always, the big question is how much of the stuff around that will be genuinely useful for us, as humans — and that's something only time will tell. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [all the latest Galaxy AI intel]( and stay tuned for lots more contemplation around this in the weeks ahead. 📲 GET YOURS: If you're even so much as thinking about picking up a Galaxy S24, [use this link to reserve your device](, and you'll get a $50 Samsung credit if you end up following through. All you've gotta do is [sign up on Samsung's website now]( — no commitment or payment info required. Using this link helps support our small-scale independent journalism efforts, as The Intelligence receives a small commission from any purchases made via this offer. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Google's new Assistant is closer than ever to arriving ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of AI, several new signs suggest Google's getting tantalizingly close to launching its new and (hopefully!) improved version of Assistant — with the Bard AI chatbot at its core. 🔎 KNOW MORE: We've been hearing about plans for this Assistant revamp for months, and now, code related to the change is making its way into the actual Android app that's responsible for running Assistant. - The code makes it look like the new version of Assistant will ultimately take the place of the Assistant we know now, with the same on-screen shortcuts and spoken "Hey Google" activation. - When it becomes available, a prompt will ask you to opt in and "try Assistant with Bard" — "Google's experimental AI assistant." - What's still not clear is if this new Assistant will be able to handle all the simpler device control requests the current Assistant allows, as well as other long-standing Google Assistant commands. We'd previously heard that we might have to switch between the older and newer Assistant for a while, until all such options make their way over. 📌 READ MORE: Dive deeper into [the latest Assistant discoveries]() or look back to Google's [original "Assistant with Bard" announcement]( for even more context. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Android's sharing system may soon sport a new name ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Another round of code sleuthing makes it look like Google's cookin' up some changes for its platform-wide Nearby Share system — although this one might be more groan-worthy than gripping. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Brace yourself: It seems like Nearby Share may be in for a rebrand. - Google launched Nearby Share a few years ago as a simple way to wirelessly beam files and other data between devices — initially Android and ChromeOS devices but then also Windows computers, as of an update last summer. - Now, new code indicates the name of Nearby Share may soon change to Quick Share instead. - What's especially weird about this is that Samsung has its own redundant sharing service called Quick Share on its Galaxy Android gadgets. So it's possible this name change is a sign of the two systems somehow merging into one. Either way, though, it seems safe to say a confusing transition is in our future. (Sigh.) 📌 READ MORE: Dig into [all we know so far about the still-unofficial, under-development move]() — and try not to facepalm too forcefully. SPONSORED MESSAGE Helping small businesses find their independence [Novo app and credit card and the words "Helping small businesses find their independence"](​ ​[Novo]( was designed for modern small business owners. Forget about monthly fees, minimums, and juggling multiple apps just to understand if you made a profit. Focus on what matters most: growing your business. From budgeting to invoicing, managing your money has never been this easy. There’s a reason 200,000+ businesses trust Novo. ​[➜ Visit novo.co to see for yourself.](​ [APPLY NOW​ ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Start using some out-of-sight Android shortcuts Our favorite mobile operating system is absolutely overflowing with out-of-sight shortcuts — hidden but helpful ways to fly around your phone faster and get more accomplished with less fuss. ➜ Some of 'em may be things you knew at one point but got out of the habit of using. Others may be things you never even realized were possible. ⌚ And all of 'em will take you no more than 20 seconds to master. 📌 Check out [my freshly expanded list of Android's smartest time-saving shortcuts]() and see how many new tricks you can tuck into your pocket for 2024. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Embrace Assistant's forgotten memory magic Google Assistant may be on the brink of a major revamp right now, but the current version of the service still has plenty o' practical potential just waiting to be found. In fact, I just stumbled onto an impressively useful Android Assistant feature I'd never before noticed. ➜ It's a fantastic way to have your phone's helper supplement your own mushy memory — with a twist I'd been woefully unaware of up until now. ⌚ And it'll take you roughly 12 seconds to start using. 📌 I've got all the info in [this quick 'n' simple guide](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Give yourself easy access to a cutting-edge AI assistant I won't lie: I'm still very skeptical about the actual usefulness of most of these next-gen AI chatbots — including all the ones connected to ChatGPT as well as Google's own upcoming Bard equivalent. But as long as you remember their limitations (like, y'know, the fact that half the info they give you is inaccurate), they can be interesting tools to explore. ➜ And as of this week, you've got an especially easy way to access Microsoft's current Copilot chatbot system from your favorite Android gadget. ⌚ It'll take you seven seconds to set up and get going. 📌 Just grab [the newly released Microsoft Copilot app](=) from the Play Store to take it out for a spin. It's completely free to use, and it might be just the thing to give your current phone a fresh new edge. [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] You know about the legendary Chrome dino, right? Anytime you try to open a web page within Chrome when there's no active connection, you'll find yourself facing a ferocious T-Rex. And that 'Rex holds the key to launching a simple but supremely satisfying hidden game that'll entertain you for hours — or at least until your connection returns. [The Chrome dino game] ​ Well, an ambitious Lego building enthusiast decided to immortalize that digital dino in a brick-based physical form. He used 449 blocks to build a brilliant replica of our friendly neighborhood theropod. Check it out: [An animation showing the Lego dino creation] ​ Not bad, right?! The guy, who goes by the magnificent moniker "Brick Dangerous," [posted his creation]() into a Lego building forum. The company apparently watches that site for submissions that get lots of votes and then considers turning those concepts into actual retail sets. I know I'd pick one of those puppies up in a heartbeat for my next home office trinket — if, that is, I could manage to keep it out of my six-year-old's paws. In the meantime, remember: You can get your dino fix on demand anytime by typing chrome:dino into your browser's address bar. Happy hopping! Until next time... Hey, how 'bout that? We're officially a week into 2024 already. And my goodness, lemme tell ya: This start-of-year quiet won't last for long. We've got the annual Consumer Electronics Show on the way next week, followed by Samsung's first big reveal of the year — and probably our first glimpse at the next-gen Android 15 release pretty soon thereafter. Whew! No shortage of interesting surprises on the way. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to think through 'em all together and see what other unexpected treasures we encounter along the way. I'll see ya next week. 🤚 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? 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