25 smart uses for old Android devices

And 3 buzzworthy Android alarm tricks  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Tello logo]()​ One word: Whoa. That was my reaction after thinking through the first story in this week's Things to Know. And the wildest thing of all? It was probably the least high-profile Android-related revelation of the entire week. Check it out, chew it over, and see whatcha think — then be sure to make your way down to the Things to Try, too, for some fresh thinking around incredible new feats you can achieve with any device this minute, no matter who made it or how old it might be. ☝️ Real quick, first: Over time, lots of folks have asked me how they can support what I'm doing without diving into a full-fledged membership. With that in mind, I'm happy to announce I'm now [set to accept simple, straightforward, one-time contributions](=) — if you enjoy this newsletter and want to help make sure it sticks around long into the future. For perspective, if every person who reads this were to pitch in even just five bucks — roughly 42 cents a month or a mere nickel for every newsletter you'll receive this year — Android Intelligence would be in solid shape for all of 2024, and I'd be able to continue bringing you the most useful and informed Android info without any outside influences. Can you pitch in? [COUNT ME IN — LET'S DO IT!](=) From the bottom of my heart: It's an honor and a privilege to be able to devote my days to digging up useful new treasures for you — my fellow Android nerd-pal. Whether you're able to contribute or not, I'm delighted to have you along for this ever-evolving adventure, and I can't wait to see where it takes us next. Now, where were we? [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 45 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 10 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Your Android phone could double as a Chromebook ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: So here it is: Google's come up with a way for Android phones to plug into docks or monitors and effectively turn into functioning Chromebooks. Whaaaaat?! 🔎 KNOW MORE: Told ya this was wild, right? And the craziest part is that this bit o' Googley news didn't even come out of the company's grand I/O announcement gala. But oh, it be real, all right... - As part of a closed-door demo of a new Android 15 virtualization system, Google showed off an Android phone running ChromeOS when connected to the right peripherals. - The company has since said it was only a proof of concept but also commented that "a lot of things at Google start like this." - Having an Android phone capable of transforming into a Chromebook would bring a huge and very unique boost to the platform as well as to the value and productivity potential of our devices — in a way the current crop of clunky desktop modes has never quite managed to accomplish. 📌 READ MORE: [My latest column](=) goes beyond the surface to explore why this is such a brilliant breakthrough and why it'd make so much sense for Google to pursue. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android 15 is starting to take shape ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Back on the official I/O front, Google's giving us our closest look yet at its latest and greatest Android effort and some of the new features it'll bring our way. 🔎 KNOW MORE: In addition to everything we'd seen in its earlier developer previews, the second Android 15 beta has some noteworthy new surprises. - This latest beta marks the official debut of a native Android "private space" — an OS-level area for hiding sensitive apps, requiring a passcode to see 'em, and completely isolating their data from the rest of your device. - It also introduces a new series of advanced theft detection options, including a system that senses the sort of motion associated with phone theft and automatically locks your device to prevent a tech-snatching rapscallion from accessing any important info. - And it'll sport a new on-device AI feature that spots signs of fraud in real-time and warns you before anything bad can happen. 📌 READ MORE: You can explore all the incoming updates in [this official Android 15 new feature rundown](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google's Gemini AI is about to be everywhere ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The biggest thing Google wants the world to know this week, by a longshot, is that it's gonna cram its Gemini AI technology into every nook and cranny across its suite of apps and services — whether you want it there or not. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Google devoted its entire I/O event keynote to this topic (for nearly two full hours!), so you'd better believe it's trying to send a message here. And no joke: Gemini is gonna be everywhere before long. - First and foremost, Google's continuing to push Gemini as a next-gen replacement for our current Android Assistant — though it's still not clear if or when the traditional Assistant will completely go away. - Soon, that Gemini Android helper will interact more naturally with apps and let you drag and drop images it creates directly into places like Gmail and Messages as well as ask it questions about videos or documents on your screen. - Gemini will also take on an even more prominent role in Google Search moving forward as well as within Gmail (where you'll be able to ask for summaries of emails, among other things) and Photos (where it'll dig up and find old images based on your requests). 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [all the incoming Gemini Android updates](=) as well as [the Search changes](=), [the Photos integration](), and the ways Gemini [will fit into Gmail and other Google apps](). 🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE: [How do you feel about all this Gemini stuff Google is pushing our way?](​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Unlimited phone plans for $25/month ☎️ [Piggy bank with sunglasses]()​ ATTENTION: People who love to save money without sacrificing quality, listen up! You could cut your phone bill in half when you [switch to Tello — home of the $25/month unlimited phone plan]()! Celebrating its 8th year, Tello has quickly become one of the most trusted (and affordable) mobile providers out there. TL;DR: It’s the [same reliable 4G LTE/5G nationwide network]() you're used to, plus: ✅ Endless combinations of phone plans to suit your needs. No contracts! 😍 Lovely customer service reps available 24/7/365 🎁 Infinite freebies like Wi-Fi Calling, eSIM, Unlimited international calls, etc (Oh yea, Tello also scored 10k+ stellar reviews on Trustpilot!) ​[➜ Save a boatload of cash and customize your perfect phone plan today!]() [​SHRINK MY PHONE BILL​ ➜]() ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Find a smart new use for an old Android device We tend to hear all about shiny new tech this time of year — but what about the dusty old devices most of us have sitting around our abodes and serving no practical purpose? ➜ Those abandoned Android gadgets are actually virtual gold mines. It's just up to you to figure out how to tap into their potential and give 'em new life. ⌚ And boy howdy, have you got some awesome options. Most of 'em won't take you more than a minute to set up. 📌 Check out [my freshly expanded list of 25 clever uses for old Android devices]( and see what cool new ideas you can introduce into your life. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Give your next alarm some extra pizazz You might think Android phone alarms are a cut-and-dried, set-'em-and-forget-'em sort of affair. ➜ They certainly can be, if that's all you want — but if you're up for a teensy bit of tinkering, you can add some genuinely helpful extra options into your wakey-time formula. ⌚ I've got three such treasures for you to try out. They'll each take you two minutes or less to get going. 📌 [Ready to choose your own Android alarm adventure?]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Add some selfie GIF silliness into your next text message This next tip isn't exactly productivity-related, but it's a neat new possibility even so: ➜ The Google Messages app is in the midst of gaining a new "selfie GIF" feature this week. And silly as it may be, it's surprisingly fun to use. ⌚ You'll need just 20 seconds to uncover it: - Open up the Google Messages app on your phone. (And to be clear, this is the Google-made Messages app we're talking about here — which isn't the same as the redundant Messages apps made by Samsung, Verizon, and the likes and larded onto their devices. If you aren't already using it, you can [download it on any phone](=) for free!) - Open up any conversation in your main messaging list. - Tap the little circled plus icon at the right of the message composing box. - Then look for the new "Selfie GIF" option in the menu that pops up. [A menu in the Google Messages app with the new Selfie GIF option] ​ Tap that bad boy, tap the red record button to create your GIF, aaaand — ta-da: [An animation showing a Selfie GIF in action in the Google Messages app] ​ If you don't see the option yet, don't panic. Just check back again soon. The option is actively rolling out as we speak, and it should show up on your phone any day now — and you'll be ready to begin an endless new era of nonsense, mischief, and mayhem with all of your favorite people. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Recommended Newsletter]() [Recommended Newsletter]() [Recommended Newsletter]() [] [And Just for Funsies...] Forget all the fancy new stuff we just went over: The most important Google launch of the week is a saucy little search surprise. And you've really gotta know about it to find it. So here's your roadmap: [Do a Google search for the word Minecraft]() in any browser, on any device you've got in front of you. Look for the block that pops up at the bottom of the screen. Click or tap it, then prepare to waste some serious time. In advance: My apologies — and you're welcome. Adieu to you Hey, thanks as always for inviting me into your inbox. It's a hoot and a half to hang with ya and think through these geeky, Googley subjects together. 📊 Speaking of which, in [last week's poll](=), a whopping 54% of Android Intelligence readers said they use a Pixel phone. Samsung came in next, at 32%, followed by Moto at 6%. Don't forget to [vote in this week's poll](, if you're so inclined — and consider [supporting my work with a small one-time contribution](=), should you be so inspired. I'll see ya right back here before you know it. 🤚 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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