Supercharge your lock screen

And a smarter screen sensing setup  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Esper logo](=)​ If there's one part of our phones we all tend to forget about, it's gotta be the lock screen — the humble placeholder that pops up every time you power up your display, before you swipe or authenticate and make your way inside. And yet, if there's one part of our devices we see most often during the day, outside of maybe the home screen, that's gotta be it. Today, I'll show you a creative way to spruce up that long-neglected space and make it infinitely more useful. It's one heck of a practical upgrade, and it'll take you roughly two minutes to do — on any device you're using. --------------------------------------------------------------- By the way: A special welcome to the 85 exceptionally enchanting mammals who made the leap over to [Intelligence Insider]( status over the past week. You've got a few hours left before [your $40 coupon]() expires and the gates to newcomers close, in case you're still thinking about it! [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 45 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. You could soon summon ChromeOS with a single tap ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: One of the year's most interesting and underemphasized Android stories has just taken a tantalizing new twist. 🔎 KNOW MORE: We first saw signs of Google working on a way for an Android device to transform into a Chromebook last month — and now, new code suggests the company is actively working on an even more ambitious version of the concept. - The original setup was all about letting an Android device run ChromeOS anytime it's connected to an external monitor, effectively turning it into a fully featured desktop computer. - Now, despite its public brushing off of that work as a mere "demo," Google's quietly charging forward with creating a one-tap system for launching ChromeOS on Android. - It's still not clear if, when, or how any of this could launch. But it could be a very interesting new possibility, if and when it does — as ChromeOS is optimized for computer-like desktop productivity in a way Android has never managed to match, while Android remains the most exceptional phone and tablet experience. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the latest developments](=) and [revisit this analysis](=) to see why this is so significant. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Our future phones could give us X-ray vision ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Well, here's a zesty possibility to ponder: Researchers are actively working on a new type of technology that brings actual X-ray vision into mobile devices. Whaaa....?! 🔎 KNOW MORE: The work is happening as we speak at the University of Texas at Dallas, and the folks behind it say it's progressing quickly. - The system lets you use your phone's existing camera to see through objects like envelopes, boxes, and wrappers. - It's limited to working only at close range — with objects about an inch away — for obvious privacy purposes (though, even so, it's all too easy to imagine this being taken in troubling directions). - The current prototype takes a solid few hours to work. But its creators believe they are close to correcting that and could have the technology available for real-world use in as little as a few years. 📌 READ MORE: Take [a (non-X-ray) look at how this is happening]( and see what you think of the possibility. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Installing shady apps is about to get even more unlikely ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The realistic threat of encountering any kind of malware on Android has always been overblown and exaggerated — and now, Google's got another layer of protection that'll make the odds even lower. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Marketing campaigns from security software vendors (and, erm, Apple) have long pushed the narrative that Android is a Wild West when it comes to security threats, but the reality is far less alarming. - As it stands now, the only way a questionable app could appear on your device is if you go out of your way to install it — and then grant it the permissions it needs to do any real harm. - The biggest security risk comes from apps people encounter outside of the Play Store, on random web pages or in unofficial forums. - Already, installing such an app requires you to go through multiple warnings and off-by-default options. And soon, from the looks of it, you'll also have to input a PIN or biometric authentication as a part of that process — meaning no one else could make it happen without your awareness, even if they had your device physically in hand. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [the new incoming measures]() for yourself — and if you want a reminder of the nonsensational realities of Android security, look back to [this classic analysis](). 🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE: [How often do you download apps from outside of the Play Store?](​ SPONSORED MESSAGE FREE Webinar: State Of Device Management 2024 🙌 Does it sometimes feel like your devices are managing you, and not the other way around!? [Flinstones stone typewriter](=)​ Not anymore! Free yourself from the stone ages and learn how to make the next generation of devices work for you at Esper’s free [State Of Device Management 2024](=) webinar. Join industry experts on Tues, June 25 at 11am PT as they deep dive: 📈 YoY trends on hardware, software, management workflows, and more 💪 Early-stage vs. mature approaches to device management 🍔 Industry pivots, including hospitality/restaurants and healthcare ➜ [Register today to score an early copy of Esper’s report State of Device Management 2024 — before everyone else!](=)​ [SAVE YOUR SPOT (IT’S FREE) ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Supercharge your lock screen Your phone's lock screen is the front door to everything you do on your device. And yet, for most of us, it's a complete waste of space — a woefully unoptimized wasteland we glance at countless times a day and yet never take the time to turn into something useful. My fellow Android-appreciating animal, that's about to change. ➜ With inspiration from a pair of upcoming Android 15 features, I've found a way to transform your lock screen into a truly useful productivity powerhouse — a place where you can quickly scroll through notes, glance at your calendar, or get all sorts of other fast tasks accomplished without ever taking another virtual step. ⌚ Best of all? It'll take you all of two minutes to pull off. 📌 [Ready to give yourself an instant life upgrade?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Treat yourself to a smarter screen sensing setup Lock screen goodies aside, the latest Android 15 beta introduces [a new "Adaptive Timeout" feature]() that makes it even easier to control exactly when your screen shuts itself off from inactivity. ➜ Once again, as a smart and beguiling Android Intelligence reader, you don't have to wait. And, in fact, you can do even better than what Google's about to give you. ⌚ With about 60 seconds of simple setup, in fact, you can dramatically improve your device's screen timeout behavior this second — in a way that's much more advanced than what Android 15 will even allow. 📌 I've got all the info you need in [this shiny new guide](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Take a shortcut to audio recording Listen up, my fellow Pixel-palmin' pals: ➜ Google's got a speedy new shortcut for you to start recording audio with its excellent Pixel Recorder app, but it's up to you to find it. ⌚ You'll need only about two seconds to do so, though, once you know where to look: - On any Pixel device, press and hold the Recorder icon in your app drawer or on your home screen. - And wouldya look at that? Right there should appear a handy new one-tap shortcut for firing up an on-the-fly recording without even having to open up the app. ​ Good to know, no?! ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]() [] [And Just for Funsies...] I don't know if you heard, but HTC has [a new phone out]( this month. And no, you aren't hallucinating or having a weird Android history flashback. For the uninitiated, HTC was once an Android powerhouse. It was the company behind the first-ever Android device and then responsible for a huge range of remarkable phones over the platform's earlier years. And then — well, it kinda went kaput. I won't beat around the bush: HTC's latest reminder that it (technically) still exists isn't much cause for excitement. But it is an excellent opportunity to think back to a time when HTC was a dominant force in the land o' Android and was constantly coming up with all sorts of cool stuff. This same month 14 years ago, in fact, HTC announced one of the most memorable Android devices of all time — the simply named HTC EVO 4G. I mean, just look at this beast: [[video preview]​](=) The EVO 4G was the first-ever Android device with 4G, but it was less the connectivity and more the stunning style and design that made the device stand out. The phone had a frickin' kickstand, for cryin' out loud! A kickstand! How awesome is that?! [An image of the HTC EVO 4G and its kickstand] ​ I'll tell ya what: I wouldn't mind having one of those bad boys back on a phone today. A sweet start of summer to ye Hey, we're officially in the summer season here on this side of the globe! And you'd better believe we'll have plenty of sizzling tech-scented treats to keep our brains busy in the months ahead. I'll see ya next week. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: In our previous poll, I asked what you thought about Apple's long-awaited adoption of RCS — a more cross-platform-friendly messaging standard that'll make texting between Android devices and iPhones much less awful. - 60% of you said "Huzzah! 'Bout time" - 30% said "Meh — whatever" - And 9% said "What's an iPhone?" Well-played, my friends. Well-played. 🤚 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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