Android multitasking magic

And your new home screen command center  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: ​ YES! That single syllable sums up my smiling reaction to all three things in this week's Things to Try section. They're exactly the sorts of small but significant life improvements I love to stumble onto in technology. And good golly, do they make me jolly. Check 'em out for yourself. I hope they bring as much YES!-inducing joy into your life as they have to mine. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 45 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Your phone's getting friendlier with other devices ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google just announced a pair of promising new features that'll make our phones interact even more intelligently with other gadgets. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Google's been working to make Android feel more connected to other devices for a while now, and these latest additions should go a long way in maintaining a seamless-feeling experience even as you move between screens. - The first new feature will let you connect an Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone's hotspot with one tap and no password fussing. - The second will let you shift an active Meet video call between your phone and tablet or any web browser without interruptions. - Slowly but surely, these sorts of simple-seeming elements are creating a more cohesive ecosystem experience around Android — something that's a challenge, given the diversity of devices involved, but that's come a long way in a relatively short time. 📌 READ MORE: Google's [official announcement]( has all there is to know about the incoming improvements, though [this unfortunate asterisk about Samsung]( (sigh) is also worth noting. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Android and AI features are coming to Chromebooks ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of creating a consistent ecosystem feel, a hefty update for Chromebooks is bringing a couple o' commendable Android elements and a bunch of AI fiddle-faddle into that environment. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The update is specifically for Chromebook Plus systems — which are ChromeOS devices that meet certain hardware standards. - Those systems will now offer access to Google's excellent Magic Editor photo retouching feature along with the previously Pixel-exclusive Recorder transcription app and original wallpaper-creating engine. Nice! - They'll also sport some special integration with Gemini AI systems, including tools for having Google's AI system summarize documents and generate text on demand for you. - Google is trying to reframe Chromebooks as being "affordable AI computers," but while Chromebooks themselves can be quite compelling — especially for anyone who also uses Android — I'm just not sure the AI elements are broadly useful or reliable enough to mean much for most people at this point. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [my in-depth analysis, hands-on assessment, and interview with Google's ChromeOS VP]() for some deep perspective into what's happening on this front and why it matters. 🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE: [What kind of desktop computer do you use?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. You'll soon be able to edit messages after you send 'em ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: An update on its way to the Android Messages app will make it possible to modify a message after it's sent — in certain scenarios. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Little by little, Google's been transforming its Messages app from a simple texting portal into a full-fledged messaging platform. And all these little touches really do add up. - I'm not seeing the option on my end quite yet, but any day now, we should be able to press and hold an individual message to reveal a new editing icon for up to 15 minutes after sending. - The feature will work only with messages using the more advanced RCS standard — which, for now, basically means messages between people who are all using the Google-made Messages app on Android devices. - But, critically, this isn't a locked-down, proprietary platform. RCS is a universal standard any device can adopt. And after much toddler-esque pouting, Apple is allegedly bringing the standard into its (extremely locked-down and proprietary) iMessage platform later this year. So the significance of this feature should only grow over time. 📌 READ MORE: The [Android "New Features" page]() has a short 'n' simple summary of what's coming. SPONSORED MESSAGE Where AI meets device management 🤝 [Cartoon of a man talking to another man saying, "simplify, man.]()​ What do your fav fast-food chain, the doctor’s office, and your gym have in common? Likely, they all rely on a fleet of devices — POS systems, patient tablets, connected treadmills — to operate successfully! And as you can imagine, managing all of that can be very technical and time-consuming. But it doesn’t have to be. Simply download Esper’s [~free~ guide to using modern techniques to better manage company hardware]() and you’ll be on your way to improving efficiency, privacy, and security across the board. Imagine a world where… 🔧 Devices are self-diagnosing and self-healing 🙌 Solutions are scalable and require little manual intervention 🔐 Compliance and security is easier to achieve (and maintain) 🤖 AI can be deployed to reduce latency, improve privacy, and enhance security Interested in learning more about next-gen device management? ➜ [Make your life easier and read The Practical Guide to Preparing Edge Device Fleets for the Future here!]()​ [SIMPLIFY DEVICE MANAGEMENT TODAY ➜]() ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Create a powerful home screen command center One of my favorite things about Android is how flexible and customizable it is — and how it puts the power in your hands to decide exactly how you want different parts of your device to work. And one of the best places to put that power into action is on your humble home screen. ➜ I've been toying around with the idea of transforming the Android home screen into a command center of sorts — a place where pertinent contextual info appears alongside all of your active notifications. After all, that's the info you need most often. Why not have it all right there and in front of you, without the need for any extra swipes? [A screenshot of an Android home screen with a widget showing upcoming events and a widget showing all active notifications] ​ ⌚ This exact setup can be created on any Android phone, no matter who made it or how old it is, with about 90 seconds of effort. 📌 [Give it a whirl for yourself](=) and let me know how it works for you! --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Float any website for easy multitasking magic Here's a neat new multitasking trick that may bring back [old memories](=) for the Android long-timers among us: ➜ You can now shrink any website you're viewing down into a small floating box so you can keep it handy and come back to it while doing other stuff on your device. ⌚ The tool to make this happen is probably already on your phone and just waiting to be discovered. It'll take you all of 10 seconds to do. ✅ Here's how: - Open up the Google app on your phone and tap on any article link within the app's main Discover tab. - When the article opens, look for a small down-facing arrow in the upper-left corner of the screen — right next to the "x." [A screenshot showing a small down-facing arrow in the upper-left corner of the screen while an article is open] ​ - Tap that arrow, aaaand — ta-da! [An animation showing a web page being shrunken down into a floating box and then restored] ​ This'll work in any situation where a web page is opened in what's known as a Chrome Custom Tab — a small standalone browser window that appears when you tap a link within another app on your phone. So in addition to links from the Google app, it'll now be available with links opened from Gmail and any other apps that use an in-app browser. ⛔ If you aren't seeing that icon yet, don't panic! It seems to be rolled out fairly broadly already, but these things can sometimes take time to show up for everyone. Give it a few days and check back again — and before you know it, it'll be there and waiting for you, too. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Bring an Android-inspired power-up to your desktop browser Speaking of web-centric multitasking, I've just come across an awesome add-on that brings a crafty bit of Android brilliance into any computer browser environment. ➜ It'll change the way you move around the web and make your desktop web experience even more aligned with what you're accustomed to on Android. ⌚ And you'll need only 30 seconds to get it up and running. 📌 I've got everything you need to get going in [this zesty new guide](=). ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE A new HP printer for $6.99/mo Try the [HP All-In Plan]() risk-free for 30 days and get a brand new printer, automatic ink replenishments, and 24/7 live support. [CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLAN]() [] [And Just for Funsies...] All right, confession time: For as excited as I am about the Things to Try we just went over, I'm equally excited (and maybe even more excited) about this last little nugget in our metaphorical Happy Meal. Meta, the company responsible for Facebook, has officially released its first-ever product that I don't despise — and it is an awesomely amusing AI experiment called [Animated Drawings](=). The site is technically for kids, but while my little'uns absolutely do adore it, I think I might actually like it even more. It does one thing and does it well: It takes simple sketches you upload and then animates 'em in all sorts of entertaining ways. You just upload an image of any character you've drawn, whether digitally or on a paper you've photographed. Here's one I made (and yes, this was actually mine, not one of my children's — that's just how good of an artist I am): [A hand-drawn character in the Animated Drawings website] ​ After a couple quick clicks, the site lets you pick from a bunch of movement styles — dancing, jumping, walking, and more. And then... [The same hand-drawn character being animated in a way that makes it look like he's walking merrily back and forth across the screen] ​ Oh, yeah. Seriously — this thing is a hoot: [The same hand-drawn character animated in a way that makes it look like he's doing a funny dance] ​ 📌 [You can check it out for yourself in any browser, on any device](=). It's completely free, and it doesn't require any accounts or personal info. Just be warned: You will waste tons of time screwing around. And it will be the best, most satisfying time you've wasted all year. Onto June we go... Yeesh — can you believe it? Today's the last day of May somehow, and we're officially now marching our way into June and the start of summer. The summer months may traditionally be the quiet time for tech, but I suspect we'll have plenty of sizzlin' goodies and discoveries to keep our bumpy little brains busy. Now, who's up for some shuffleboard?! --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: A whopping 72% of you said you use Google for searching most often. DuckDuckGo came in second, interestingly enough, with 19% of the vote. Bing trailed behind "Other" with just 4%, and poor old Yahoo didn't even get enough votes to account for a single measly percent of the pie. 🤚 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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