Fast fixes for Android problems

Plus a cool new calendar app and browser power-up  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Lumen logo](​ All right, time for an embarrassing bit o' brutal honesty: I have absolutely zero ability to fix a misbehaving vehicle, and my home repair skills are bordering on the level of a bumbling baby ostrich. I'm not the least bit handy, in other words — but somehow, I've always been able to handle most any issue that appears with a geeky gadget. And when you help with enough Android-related challenges, you start to realize how often the same problems pop up for folks — and how consistent the solutions remain. That's why I put together a sprawling new guide with fast fixes for the most common Android problems. They won't solve every pesky predicament that perturbs you (that's what [our Insider Help Desk]( is for!), but they will give you an easy path for the nuisances most likely to arise. You'll find that, along with an awesome new Android calendar app and a priceless browser power-up, in this week's Things to Try. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 10 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. Android 15's arrival is now just one step away ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google launched the fourth and final Android 15 beta this week — which means the next release will be the full stable rollout of the software to devices near and far. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This last prerelease update is mostly about last-minute poise and polish and paving the way for the official release. And with Google's formerly fall hardware event now bumped up to August, it seems like a safe bet to say we could be seeing Android 15 everywhere soon. 📌 READ MORE: Google's [Android 15 beta announcement]( has the high points of this latest update, while [this thorough Android 15 overview](=) offers up a detailed glance at all the new goodies on the way. Cast your vote... ​[What version of Android is your current phone running right now?](​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Another device-maker is stepping up its update promise ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: OnePlus says it'll now offer four full years of Android operating system updates and six years of security patches for its midrange Nord devices — a significant improvement over its previous software support promise. 🔎 KNOW MORE: While this move is pretty limited, it's an extremely promising sign of competitive pressure working. It's also the first time a phone-maker outside of Google has brought any manner of increase to the affordable device domain — and odds are, it won't be the last. 📌 READ MORE: OnePlus's [social media proclamation]( has all there is to know about the change. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Samsung's software may soon sport a whole new look ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Galaxy gadgets have always been known for their distinctive, Samsung-style visuals — and now, it looks like that software interface could be seeing some substantial shifts to its take on Android. 🔎 KNOW MORE: A fresh set of rumors suggests Samsung is looking at its most substantial departures to date from the standard Google-made Android interface with its next (likely Android-15-associated) update. As for whether that's a good or a bad thing — well, only time will tell. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the latest intel]( and see what you think. 👆 Psst: Notice anything different about this section? I'm trying out an experiment with making the Things to Know part of this newsletter a teensy bit simpler. Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon at the end of this issue to let me know your thoughts! SPONSORED MESSAGE The easiest way to understand your health needs 💪 [Fruits and veggies working out](​ Are you feeling lost in a sea of generic health advice? Or, worse yet, overwhelmed by contradictory health advice from all the Health Influencers™ online these days? Not anymore, thanks to [Lumen](. This cutting-edge smart gadget analyzes your metabolism and creates a health plan built just for you. Simply breathe into your Lumen each morning, and it will personalize your entire health journey based on real-time data about how your body burns fuel for energy. How Lumen works: 📊 Uses data to create a customized health plan — from nutrition and workouts to sleep and stress management 🤝 Integrates with Google Fit, Apple Health, and Garmin 💬 Comes with one month of free 1:1 nutritionist chat access ➜ [What are you waiting for? Invest in YOU with 15% off your Lumen device today.]( [TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Find fast fixes for common Android problems What do you do when your favorite phone's starting to feel like a slow-moving tortoise? Maybe things are weirdly laggy. Maybe it's freezing up at inopportune times. Or maybe it just won't charge like it used to. ➜ Whatever the issue, you almost certainly aren't the first Android-adoring organism to experience it. And odds are, the fix you need is right in front of your suspiciously shiny beak — if you know where to look for it. ⌚ Best of all? Most such fixes will take you no more than two to four minutes to pull off, once you've got the proper steps. 📌 Peek over [my new guide to fast fixes for common Android problems]() and be sure to hang onto the link for later reference. Your future self will thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Check out a cool new Android calendar app For months now, I've been raving about the sheer brilliance of a calendar app that was originally called Cron but is now known as Notion Calendar, following an acquisition by that company. ➜ Notion Calendar is essentially a nicer way to interact with your existing Google Calendar agenda. It's an app and a website that you use in place of the standard Calendar interface, with all sorts of welcome simplifications and enhancements. And as of this week — at last! — it's also available in a native Android app form. [A screenshot of a two-day view in the Notion Calendar Android app] ​ - The Notion Calendar Android app is pretty barebones at this point. If you want something more feature-rich, my go-to recommendation of [Business Calendar]() is still your best bet. - But for simplicity and ease of use, Notion Calendar is pretty phenomenal. - And especially if you're using [the exceptionally awesome desktop computer version]() alongside it, it makes for a nice bit of consistency across your various devices. ⌚ You can download and start using Notion Calendar for free in about 20 seconds. 📌 Just [head over to its shiny new entry in the Play Store](=) to take it out for a spin. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Meet the perfect browser power-up Like most modern mammals, I move back and forth between my phone and a computer — and I'm happy to report I've finally found a way to transform my desktop browser's new-tab page into an Android-like home screen, with all the same advantages. Check it out: [The Dashy] ​ ➜ This delightful feat comes courtesy of an incredible new browser extension I found called [Dashy](=). It works with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and most other common desktop browsers and puts pertinent info from the services you use on your phone front and center on your computer, too. It’s kind of like a modernized and massively improved version of the old iGoogle concept, in other words — with even more utility and potential, both practical and visual. ⌚ It'll take you 90 seconds to get up and running. 📌 Mosey your way over to [my in-depth look at everything Dashy can do and how you can make the most of it](... 📱 And if you want an exceptional new tab page upgrade for your phone's browser, too, be sure to peek back at [this week's conveniently related Cool Tools recommendation](. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Cartoon astronaut in takeoff pose.](=) Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try [TLDR’s free daily newsletter](=). TLDR covers the most interesting tech, science, and coding news in just 5 minutes. [SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE](=) [] [And Just for Funsies...] This is a really strange thing to say, I realize, but I'm surprisingly good at matching AI-generated music to the artwork that inspired it. Y'see, Google just launched a fun new experimental game as part of its Arts & Culture app and website. The game uses artificial intelligence to create music that matches specific famous works of art. And odd as it sounds, it's weirdly easy — and satisfying! — to figure out which pieces of art different tracks are meant to accompany. 📌 [Try out the game for yourself](), in any browser and on any device. (It's free.) I made it through 19 rounds before getting one wrong. Think you can beat my record? Adieu to you Hey, it's been a hoot and a half hangin' here in your ineffable inbox, as always. Have yourself a splendid weekend ahead, won't ya? I'll see ya right back here before you know it. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: In our previous poll, I asked how often you're using AI chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT right now. Sixty percent of you said rarely to never, while 14% said daily or almost daily, 13% said a few times a week, and another 13% said once in a while. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue and its shortened 3 Things to Try format? [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](=) is the best way to support my work and keep this newsletter sustainable. Not ready for a membership? You can also support my work by making a [direct one-time contribution](=) (or contribute via [PayPal]( or [Venmo](=)) to ensure I'm able to keep writing for you long into the future!