Android privacy power-ups

And a pivotal Android plot twist...  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [ESET logo](​ You might not realize it, but AI and privacy have an awful lot in common. They're both important parts of our tech-connected existence. And they both can bring genuine, real-world value into our lives. But they also both suffer from a little condition I like to call Overhyped Buzzworditis — y'know, that thing when marketing departments decide a particular term is trendy and worth attaching to everything, almost as more of a broad concept than anything practical or specific. When that happens, it's easy for a term to lose any and all meaning. Today, we're gonna push past the hype and look at a few Android privacy options that'll actually make a meaningful difference in your life. They all fall in the browser domain, and one of 'em is so new, most people haven't even heard of it yet. By the time you're finished with this issue, you'll be a rare exception. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, before we move on, a quick little fun somethin' to share with ya: We've cooked up our first official swag featuring our colorful new identity and our lovely new mascot, Lenny! Behold: the limited-edition [The Intelligence Decal Pack](. The four decals on this sheet are weatherproof vinyl and perfect for phone cases, laptops, or anywhere else you need a little extra Intelligence in your life. [The Intelligence Decal Pack](​ You can [snag yours for the next week only]( for eight bucks — all shipping, handling, and assorted wrangling included — and if you order one by Monday, you can [get it for just $6 instead](, and I'll throw in a soon-to-be-gone classic Android Intelligence decal as an extra bonus. [CLAIM YOUR DECAL PACK + BONUS GIFT NOW ➜]( Thanks as always for your support. Now, let's get into the good stuff, shall we? [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Samsung's shaking things up in some significant ways ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Samsung's taken the wraps off its latest and greatest Galaxy gadgets, and the phones sport a few very interesting twists. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The Galaxy S24 family is as sleek and powerful as you'd expect, but it's what's inside the devices that's really worth noticing. - First, Samsung's new phones have a slew of AI additions. That much, we were expecting, and there's not a whole lot here that we haven't seen in other places before. But what is surprising is how much of the stuff is powered by Google's AI engine and seems almost Pixel-esque in nature. It's a level of Samsung-Google integration we haven't seen in a long while, and it's a very positive change. - Also noteworthy is the little-noticed asterisk that the phones' non-Google-associated Samsung AI elements will be free "until the end of 2025." Sure seems like we're entering an era where keeping all of your phone's features could ultimately cost you on a subscription-like level — quite a shift, to say the least. - Finally and most significantly, Samsung is upping its upgrade promise to seven full years of operating system updates for these latest Galaxy flagships. That matches Google's recent move with its Pixel 8 in exactly the way we'd hoped, and it's a massively significant progression that's bound to create even more ripple effects across the entire Android ecosystem — and maybe beyond. 📌 READ MORE: Get up close and personal with a [Galaxy S24 hands-on overview](, dive deeper into [the Google AI integration](, and think through [the sprawling significance of Samsung's upgrade extension]( (a subject near and dear to my heart!). 📲 GET YOURS: [Use this special link to claim up to $150 back]( on any Galaxy S24 model along with a free double-storage upgrade — or [take advantage of this U.S.-specific deal that gives you a $150 Best Buy gift card]( and free double-storage upgrade with any Galaxy S24 purchase*. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. You'll soon have a spiffy new way to search on Android ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Alongside the Galaxy S24 announcements, Google showed off a new system that lets you search for anything on your screen with a simple gesture. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The system is called Circle to Search, and it's simultaneously futuristic and reminiscent of the past. - Once the system is available, you'll be able to press and hold your finger at the bottom of your screen and then use your finger to circle anything that's visible to get more information about it. - It's essentially an easier way to access the excellent Google Lens visual search tool, but it's also almost shockingly similar to the concept behind Google Now on Tap — which launched nearly a decade ago and then got quietly abandoned soon after. - All déjà vu aside, this seems like a smart way to bring that increasingly powerful form of visual search front and center and make it even easier to access — at least, on the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 phones, which will be the first to receive access later this month. 📌 READ MORE: Get [an in-depth demo of what's coming]() and then [blast back to the past](=) for an amusing reminder of Google's circular ways. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Android messaging may get a whole lot smarter ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google's working on an elaborate new system that could bring a bunch of extra context into our Android messaging experience. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The info comes from a little-noticed patent filed by Google this month. - The document shows an Android messaging app automatically referencing all sorts of activity from other services related to a current conversation and offering to pull that info over. - In one example, a person is talking about restaurants with a friend, and the app shows suggestions from related reviews on the web as well as relevant phone numbers from contacts, images from a photo collection, and one-tap options to place calls, order rides, or create calendar events stemming from the conversation. - It seems like a clever expansion of the existing Magic Compose concept and a welcome way to tie different parts of our device together — something Google had been focused on with Android in the past but that's fallen somewhat out of favor in recent years. 📌 READ MORE: Explore [the complete patent](=) for yourself to see every last available detail. SPONSORED MESSAGE Is your data in harm’s way? 🫣 [Man typing furiously at computer.](​ Oof. Last year did *not* bode well for data security, as millions of people fell victim to cyber attacks worldwide. DarkBeam misconfigured an interface, exposing 3.8 billion records; a threat actor stole 20 million pieces of data from 23andMe; T-Mobile’s data breach impacted 37 million customers. The list goes on. ​[That's why you need ESET.](​ ESET protects you from scammers, fraudsters, and thieves with all-in-one protection for Android, Windows, and all your home devices with: - 24/7 monitoring against malware, trojan horses, and spyware - Deadbolt banking and browsing protection for peace of mind - Top-rated identity theft protection (and remediation of damages) ➜ [Download ESET for FREE and protect your family’s sensitive data (before it’s too late).](​ [​JOIN 1 BILLION USERS AND PROTECT YOURSELF​ ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Power up your Android browser privacy Few parts of our personal tech experience are as pertinent to privacy as when we wade our way around the wide, wild web. After all, no matter what kind of sites you're visiting — even ones filled with rambling columns written by goony-faced goofuses — you're bound to engage in the occasional pinch of activity you'd rather keep to yourself (like, for instance, the reading of rambling columns written by goony-faced goofuses). ➜ And your phone's got some commendable choices for making that happen, including a brand new (and technically still unreleased!) added Chrome option as well as some heavier-duty alternate browser paths. ⌚ Whichever course you choose, it'll take you a mere one minute to set yourself up for a privacy-protecting future, anytime the need arises. 📌 [Check out my fresh 'n' steamy guide to exceptional Android privacy power-ups](=) and see which setup makes the most sense for you. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Prepare your Android backup plan That moment when you're moving into a new phone is usually the moment when the notion of backing up your old Android device comes to mind. Too often, though, that moment is too late. The right time to think about your Android backup arrangement is right now — well before you ever actually need it. ➜ The good news is that backing up important data on Android is easier now than ever (as any of us Android long-timers can confirm!). It just takes a teensy bit of advance planning. ⌚ It'll take you roughly five minutes to think through. And trust me, your future self will thank you. 📌 I've got [a newly updated guide to every aspect of backing up what matters on your favorite Android device](). It'll save you countless headaches later — when that moment of genuine need arrives. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Use your Wear OS watch as a mouse Well, here's an interesting new angle for your Android-associated wearable: An ambitious Android developer has come up with a way to turn an Android-connected Wear OS watch into an actual functioning mouse for your computer. ➜ The system works over Bluetooth and lets you move a cursor around simply by moving your arm — then using your fingers to make a clicking gesture. It's pretty wild to see. Take a look: [[video preview]​](=) Now, there is one catch, and it's an annoying one: As of now, the app isn't compatible with any Pixel Watch model — including [the new Pixel Watch 2](, which I just picked up for myself [on sale for $50 off](, along with a nice credit from a trade-in*. (Insert under-the-breath muttering here.) But if you've got any other Wear OS gizmo, it might just work for you. ⌚ And it'll take you all of 20 seconds to set up. 📌 Just [grab the free WowMouse app from the Play Store]( and be sure to install it directly onto your watch. And hey, let me know how it goes! [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] If you think the idea of using your watch as a mouse is unusual, wait 'til you get a load of this: A company from the Bay Area has come up with a way to control your phone or computer's cursor...with your tongue. I swear I'm not making this up, either. The thing is called — wait for it... — [the MouthPad](. Oh, yes: [The MouthPad: The world at the tip of your tongue] ​ It's described as a "pressure-sensitive touchpad" that sits on the roof of your mouth and "detects every movement and gesture of your tongue in real-time," then translates those movements into "standard cursor control and clicks." Now imagine trying to say all of that while you've got this gizmo jammed up against your gums. ("Thee, it's like a computha mouth, but I conthrull ith wit my thounge!") On the plus side, it'd make for a great party trick — so long as you don't try to operate it whilst chomping a chimichanga. Speaking of which, here's hoping this thing comes in a choice of sweet and savory flavors to complement any mood or moment. If it were available in Cheese Doodle Delight, I might just have to snag one. Ciao for now Have yourself a phenomenal weekend, won't ya? And don't forget to [grab your snazzy new Intelligence Decal Pack]( while they're still available. (We don't have 'em in Cheese Doodle Delight yet, unfortunately. Working on it.) Chomp, chomp. 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. * Using the product-specific links in this newsletter helps support our small-scale independent journalism efforts, as The Intelligence receives a small commission from any purchases made via these offers. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? 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