Fresh Android features for everyone

And a noteworthy new security switch  ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ [Android Intelligence](#) [Android Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Babbel logo](​ Autumn is officially upon us, as a glance at the awe-inspiring colors outside my personal squirrel observatory home office window can confirm — and all lovely leaves aside, a bounty of fresh Android features is also falling fast into our laps. Google's gettin' the ball rollin' on its official Android 15 deliveries for Pixel devices this week, and that means oodles o' new Googley goodies are on their way to anyone who owns such a gizmo — including some really interesting little touches that are all too easy to overlook. But even if you don't have a Pixel, I've got plenty of useful new Android-15-inspired treasures for you to find today. All it takes is a teensy bit of creative tinkering. 'Tis the season for tasty upgrades — and by the end of this issue, no matter what type of Android device you've got in your paw, you'll have something new and useful staring right back atcha and ready to enjoy. [JR Raphael, Author] JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 45 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 10 seconds ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] 1. The Android 15 floodgates are opening ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Just over a month after releasing the software's source code, Google's getting Android 15 into the palms of Pixel owners — and at least some other device-makers are set to follow suit soon. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The deliberate delay between the initial source code drop and the first Pixel rollout was unusual, but it's making it easier for other Android players to keep up with Google's pace. OnePlus says it'll start its Android 15 upgrade next week, while the typically slow-as-molasses Motorola is kickin' off some beta testing now. Samsung, meanwhile, isn't planning to send the software to its users until 2025. 📌 READ MORE: Catch up on [the official Android 15 announcement]( as well as the latest progress from [OnePlus](), [Moto](), and [Samsung](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. You may soon be able to install Linux apps on Android ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: In today's Nerd-Friendly News, some under-development signs suggest Google's working on a way to allow full Linux access on tablets and possibly even phones in a future Android version. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Google added Linux support into ChromeOS a handful of years ago. If it pans out here, it'd be possible to install all sorts of desktop-caliber productivity tools on Android, too — something that'd open some very interesting doors, even if most folks probably wouldn't mess with it. 📌 READ MORE: Take a peek at [what's happening and what it could mean](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Motorized foldables could be coming ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: A newly uncovered patent reveals work on a funky foldable phone form from Motorola with actual motors to control the hinge. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Holy moving parts, Batman! This sounds like quite the crazy concept. Basically, the phone would keep track of your movement and then use motors to change the angle of the folding panels so the screen is always perfectly positioned for you to see. Okaaaaay.... 📌 READ MORE: Look over [the entire motorized foldable blueprint](=) for yourself, and then riddle me this: Cast your vote... ​[Would you buy a phone with motorized moving parts?](​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Forget camera ready — get conversation ready 💬 [Taking a selfie in front of Eifel Tower](​ Picture this: You are chatting with locals at a cozy café in Paris, latte in hand. Or maybe you're navigating the bustling streets of Tokyo, making your way to the Oedo Antique Market. No matter where you’re traveling, [Babbel]( will make sure you’re conversation ready in just three weeks. Think of Babbel as your private tutor in your pocket, full of: ⏳ Bite-sized lessons you can complete in just 10 minutes a day 🎲 Immersive podcasts, addictive games, and live online classes to help you learn 🗣️ Real-world vocabulary so you can do more than just asking where to find the bathroom ➜ [Join the millions who have already started their language journey with Babbel with a limited-time 55% discount!]( [CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Find some fresh Android 15 features Up first today is a fun little somethin' for the Pixel-palmin' pals among us (and if you don't have a Pixel, don't worry: The next item in this section is for you!). ➜ With Android 15 officially on its way to all current Pixels this week, you've got a whole slew of swanky surprises just waiting to be unwrapped. And some of Android 15's most interesting elements are things you might never even notice if you didn't really go out of your way to seek 'em out. ⌚ Once you know where to look, though, each new feature will take you a mere minute or two to find and get going. 📌 Make your way through [this list of 15 new Android 15 treasures to discover]() and see which of 'em seem most useful to you. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Bring a bunch of Android-15-inspired goodness to any phone this instant No Android 15? No problem. You can still feast uponst some of the most intriguing additions from Google’s latest Android version — no matter who made your current device or how old it might be. ➜ I've assembled a collection of creative workarounds that'll get you awesome Android-15-like powers this minute, along with a couple under-development features that aren't even officially available anywhere yet. ⌚ You'll need one to three minutes for most of these. 📌 [Check 'em out](), and let me know which hits home for you! --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Activate a new Android security enhancement Remember that trio of new Android security features we talked about last week — the options that add a welcome layer of extra theft protection onto your device? I showed you how to find 'em and even force the update that'll add 'em onto your phone, if they aren't already there. But as of last week, only two of the three available options were showing up for many of us — myself included. ➜ This week, the third option — a system called Remote Lock that lets you instantly lock your device from any web browser simply by putting in your phone number — seems to be showing up more broadly on devices running 2019's Android 10 or higher. ⌚ You'll only need one minute to find it and flip it on to make sure it's active and available. ✅ Just search your system settings for theft protection, then tap the associated menu and see if Remote Lock is showing up now as an option for you. [A screenshot of the Android Theft Protection settings with "Remote Lock" appearing as an option] ​ 📌 And if you aren't seeing that "Theft protection" section at all, [revisit these instructions]() for manually triggering the under-the-hood update that'll add it into the mix for ya. ⚠️ Just remember: If you enable this one, anyone who knows your phone number can remotely lock your phone anytime, without any sort of authentication. It's an added convenience for you, compared to the usual sign-in-requiring remote lock option in the [Find My Device tool]( — but it also opens up the potential (at least in theory) for annoying abuse. It's up to you to decide if the tradeoff is worthwhile. And now, the choice is fully in your hands. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Discover breaking AI news AI is everywhere, but do you really get it? You can, with [The Rundown AI](=) — the free newsletter that delivers the latest AI news, and explains why it matters, straight to your inbox. [SUBSCRIBE WITH ONE CLICK ➜]() [] ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Google's Easter eggs are the stuff of legend. The company's long buried silly surprises into its software, for the curious and easily amused among us (hiya!) — and Android is absolutely no exception. In Android 15, you can find the latest Easter egg for yourself by heading into the system settings on any device with the update, then tapping "About phone" followed by "Android version." Tap the next line labeled "Android version" a bunch of times in a row, quickly, and you'll find yourself facing a screen that looks a little somethin' like this: [A screen recording of the Android 15 logo with stars moving behind it] ​ That's where the fun begins. Press and hold the Android 15 badge for a handful of seconds to reveal a secret space game — and then, in the twist most folks never notice, head back into your main system settings menu and search for the phrase screen saver. Tap the line labeled "Screen saver" in the results, and you'll find a newly revealed bonus screen saver called "Landroid: Autopilot Engaged." Tap that to select it and be sure to flip the toggle at the top of that same screen, and the next time your phone is charging and idle, you'll be in for a fun extra surprise. Until next time... Hey, thanks for havin' me over to your inbox. I'll see ya right back here next week. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: In our previous Android Intelligence reader poll, I asked how often you use Android's Do Not Disturb mode. - 57% of you said all the time — daily - 13% use it once in a while - 10% tap into it at least once or twice a week - And 21% aren't sure what Do Not Disturb mode even is [A cartoon showing an Android robot with screaming kids and buzzing phones around him saying: "Can confirm: Not understanding the notion of 'do not disturb' is far more common than you'd expect."] ​ 🤚 Wait! 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