A magnificent new multitasking shortcut

And extra Android privacy protection  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Masterworks logo](=)​ By the time you're finished reading this issue, you'll have a faster, smarter, and simpler way to multitask and Get Stuff Done™ on your favorite Android device — no matter who made it or how old it might be. Before we get going, though, I've got an exciting announcement and opportunity to share with you. As you may know, we have a limited-space premium resource club called [The Intelligence Insider](. It provides all sorts of extra-useful info on making the most of your favorite apps and devices, and it truly is a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone who wants to take their tech to the next level. But while those memberships are packed with value, there are plenty of folks out there who may not be able to justify the expense. That's why I'm ecstatic to announce our first-ever community-provided Intelligence Insider scholarships. These are fully funded, completely free memberships for anyone who would appreciate Insider access but for whatever reason can't make the cost work. Thanks to the generosity of our current community members, we have 15 such scholarships to hand out today — no questions asked and no strings attached. If you'd benefit from such an arrangement and you aren't in a position to pay for a membership of your own anytime soon, [please add your name and email address to this form]( to put yourself in the running. (Your participation will remain completely confidential.) We'll leave the form open through the end of the day next Thursday, February 15th, and then we'll randomly draw 15 names from the list and alert the winners. Each recipient will be given a full year Intelligence Insider Prodigy-level membership at zero cost and with zero commitment to follow. Thanks as always for being a part of this ever-evolving adventure, and a special thanks to our Insider Sage members for making this possible. Now, let's get this show a-rollin', 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. Google's next-gen Android assistant is now available ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: In a one-two punch, Google has renamed its next-gen AI chatbot from Bard to Gemini and launched a new Android app that lets it take the place of the traditional Google Assistant. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Ever since ChatGPT came onto the scene and made a splash with its conversational chatbot approach, Google's been scrambling to catch up in the public eye. But, well... - As an Android assistant, this new system feels very half-baked right now. - Using it is an awkward and clunky experience, and while it does introduce new features like image and text generation, it's curiously lacking many of the more common, core assistant-style capabilities — things like setting reminders and interacting with your calendar, for instance. - You can download and try out the new Gemini assistant for yourself, if you want, but I suspect you'll end up switching back to Google Assistant before long. 📌 READ MORE: See all there is to know in [the official Gemini announcement](=) and [download the new Gemini app from the Play Store](), if you're so inspired — then [follow these instructions to switch back to the traditional Google Assistant](=) later. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android 15 is slowly starting to come into focus ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: We're likely now days away from our first official glimpse at this year's under-development new Android version, and some freshly surfaced clues are giving us an early peek at what might be in store. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Code spotted in recent Android beta builds hints at a few interesting new features that seem to be in the works for Android 15. - Up first is a change that could force more apps to use an "edge-to-edge" approach that allows the main content area to stretch all the way to the top and bottom of your screen — with the status bar and navigation bar becoming transparent beneath. Right now, this setup is optional, and it's up to an app whether or not to embrace it. - Next, Android itself may offer operating-system-level support for the app archiving option added into the Play Store last year. This would make it even easier to have apps you aren't using regularly zipped up, inactive, and requiring only a minimal amount of space until you actually need 'em again. - And finally, signs suggest Google's working on a new "easy pre-set" mode that'd automatically select simpler system settings for less advanced users. 📌 READ MORE: Dig into all the details around [the edge-to-edge change](), [the app-archiving advancement](, and [the "easy pre-set" mode](=) — and stay tuned: Last year's first Android 14 developer preview launched on February 8th, so there's a decent chance we'll hear more before long. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google Photos may be gaining some neat new tricks ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of code sleuthing, some under-the-hood snippets in the Photos Android app make it look like we could have some interesting new options on the way. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Thus-far-inactive elements of the app indicate work on a new sharing option as well as a revamp of the service's main Library tab. - On the sharing front, Google seems to be cookin' up a feature called "My Week" that'd offer a simple new way to share weekly photo highlights with specific invited people. - And on the Library side, it seems like Google may rename that tab to Collections and introduce more options for automatic categorization of your videos and images. - Photos has long been one of Google's best and most useful Android services, but its pace of development has definitely slowed down compared to earlier years — so it's nice to see some potentially helpful new features and improvements being prepped. 📌 READ MORE: [Explore the "My Week" system]( more closely and [see an early version of the possible Collections tab revamp]( for yourself. SPONSORED MESSAGE Which platform delivered millions to investors in 2023? [Cartoon pig in sunglasses throwing money around](=)​ ​[Masterworks](=) just wrapped up another banner year, selling over $21.9M of paintings in 2023 and delivering the proceeds to investors. Talk about a Happy New Year… So, what did investors do with their cash? Charter a yacht in Ibiza? Finally close on that alpaca farm? Maybe save a little? Naaah. No matter how they spent their money, Masterworks wants to do the same thing for you. This award-winning platform is unlocking an asset class that was once only available to billionaires, but to kick off the new year, Masterworks is inviting readers of The Intelligence newsletters to [open a free, no-obligation account today](=). Isn’t it time you checked them out? [OPEN A FREE ACCOUNT​ ➜](=) * Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See disclosures at [masterworks.com/cd](). ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Give yourself a magnificent new multitasking shortcut Forget Bard/Gemini and all the generative AI silliness for a second. Let's get into some truly practical, useful improvements you can introduce to any Android device this minute, shall we? Up first: Android's screen-splitting system is one of the most power-packed possibilities in our modern mobile devices — and yet, it tends to be out of sight, out of mind and something most of us rarely tap into. Until now. ➜ I stumbled onto a supremely simple enhancement that'll transform the way you think about multitasking on Android and make the platform's standard screen-splitting system infinitely more useful. ⌚ And it'll take you all of 20 seconds to set up. 📌 I've got all the info in [this short 'n' sweet new guide](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Find a new way to summon your Android Assistant Google's going through some awkward transitions with our Android Assistant right now, and that includes removing one of the most obvious ways to access it on certain phones. If you've got a Pixel device or another phone that had a multicolored microphone icon in its home screen search bar, you might've noticed that the icon stopped opening Assistant over the past several days. This is part of a deliberate change by Google to refocus that icon on searching instead of Assistant interactions. ➜ But no matter what kind of device you're carrying, you've still got plenty of convenient ways to access Assistant — most of which are completely out of sight and all too easy to overlook. All of them will work whether you're using the classic Google Assistant or playing around with the new Bard/Gemini alternative. ⌚ And each one will take you a whopping one minute to get going. 📌 Check out [this quick new cheat sheet of mine]( and see which path makes the most sense for you. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Activate some extra Android privacy protection Privacy is a thorny topic with endless asterisks attached these days, but one Android browser-maker is doing its best to make it at least a little easier to keep your personal data from falling into the wrong hands. And it's up to you to take advantage of it. ➜ Firefox just added a little-noticed but potentially quite significant switch into the options of its Android browser app. ⌚ It'll take you 20 seconds to find and enable it: - First, [download the Firefox Android app](), if you don't already have it. - Open the app up and tap the three-dot menu icon at the right of its address bar. - Select "Settings," then select the "Enhanced Tracking Protection" section. - See the toggle at the bottom of that screen to "Tell websites not to share & sell data"? Tap, tap, tap it to turn it on. [A new toggle in the Firefox Android app's settings to tell websites not to share and sell data] ​ And that's it! It's ultimately still up to a website to follow through on that request, of course, but some state and country regulations do require it. And it can certainly only help to request it at the browser level, if you like using Firefox. [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] I'll tell ya what: I've seen some pretty tiny keyboards in my day. (Original Moto Droid, anyone?) But I don't think I've ever seen an actual functioning QWERTY keyboard built inside an Altoids tin up 'til now. In fact, I'm quite certain I haven't. Hey, there's a first time for everything, right? An ambitious tinkerer who goes by the delightful name "flurpyflurples" created a fully functioning, Altoids-tin-contained keyboard. It can connect to any device — phone or computer — over Bluetooth to give you some minty fresh typing pleasure. Take a look for yourself: [[video preview]​](=) Impressive stuff, flurpyflurples. Impressive stuff, indeed. Here's hoping the tin makes a curiously strong connection. Ta-ta for now Hey, a very happy Lunar New Year to ye, if you happen to be celebrating! (It's tomorrow, and Google's got a fun little [interactive Lunar New Year puzzle party]() ready and waiting.) Hope you have a splendid weekend, either way, and I'll see ya back here for even more amusing mobile meanderings oh so soon. 🤚 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? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider](=) to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable!