Your Android shortcut genie

Plus a wait-free way to summarize the web  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ # I don't mean to brag, but — well, I've got a nifty new shortcut genie on my phone, and you don't. (Na-na-na boo-boo.) All right, so I couldn't resist. But here's the good news: By the time you're done with this issue, you'll have an Android-dwelling genie at your disposal, too. It'll live in an underused area of your phone's surface and turn that otherwise empty space into an on-demand shortcut mecca. Intrigued? You should be. Mosey your way down to this week's Things to Try section, and be sure to let me know whatcha think. JR Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Just for Funsies: 20 seconds ​ Support Android Intelligence and go ad-free: 👀 Yup, that's right: You can axe the ads and get instant access to oodles of awesome advanced resources by [signing up for Android Intelligence Platinum](. You'll directly support my work and make this manner of small-scale independent journalism sustainable — no corporations, no outside voices, and no one to answer to other than ourselves. ➜ Join now and start enjoying a premium Android Intelligence experience​: [YES, I'M READY TO SUPPORT ANDROID INTELLIGENCE!]( [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. Your Android devices may soon get more connected ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google seems to be cookin' up a new system that'd link all your Android devices together and open up the door to some interesting new options. 🔎 KNOW MORE: According to a juicy new leak, the system would be called Link Your Devices and would exist as a menu within the settings of any Android devices associated with the same Google account. - Most notably, it appears the system would let you move an active call from one Android device to another — so, from your phone to a tablet, for example. - It also looks like it could enable a simpler way to share a hotspot between your devices, similar to what already exists on Pixel devices now. - Given the far more varied and diverse nature of the platform, Android has long lagged behind Apple in offering these sorts of ecosystem-enhancing, cohesion-creating features — so suffice it to say, it's good to see Google finding a way to make it happen. 📌 READ MORE: You can see all there is to see about this still-unofficial development in [this thorough report](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Sharing on Android is about to see a major upgrade ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Speaking of warm 'n' fuzzy cohesive feelings, Google's finally taking a step to fix the mess that is sharing on Android — and we should see the first signs of it soon. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The basic ability to share stuff from one app to another on Android has long been one of the platform's strengths, but the interface around that has devolved into an unpredictable mess over the years. - The problem is that Google hasn't enforced any standards when it comes to app-to-app sharing, and consequently, a lot of apps (including many of Google's own!) use their own custom sharing menus instead of sticking to the system standard. - That creates a complete lack of consistency for that function, which doesn't exactly make for a great user experience. - With Android 14, Google's allowing apps to customize the standard system sharing menu with the hopes that they'll then stick with that — and already, Chrome is on its way to moving toward that setup instead of the awkward standard-defying interface it's been using for years. 📌 READ MORE: Get the latest on the changes in [this quick 'n' simple overview](=) and dive deeper into why this has become such a serious problem in [this classic soapbox rant analysis of mine](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google's Magic Eraser might be expanding ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: One of the most impressive Pixel features of recent years has without a doubt been Google's Magic Eraser tool for easy object removal in images — and now, it looks like the same concept could be coming to audio on Android. 🔎 KNOW MORE: An alleged leak of a Pixel 8 Pro promo video shows off an intriguing new feature called "Audio Magic Eraser." - According to the promo, the feature will be integrated into the Google Photos video editing tool on the phone. - It'd offer sliders for reducing the sounds of "noise," "people," and "music" in your videos. - The promo describes the Pixel 8 Pro as being "the only phone" to support it, though it's always possible the feature could expand to other Pixel devices or even to all Google One subscribers eventually. 📌 READ MORE: [This blog](=) has all the high points along with a sneak peek at the system in action. #top SPONSORED MESSAGE Cha-Ching! Save $80 on a Google Pixel Tablet 💰 �€‹ Wallets, rejoice: If you’ve been depriving yourself of the digital heaven that is the [Google Pixel Tablet](, you can now score one of the best Android tablets out there for up to $80 off the sticker price. Perfect for surfing the web, catching the latest flick, or cranking out emails from hopefully the beach, the Google Pixel Tablet is a cutting-edge tablet that punches above its weight class. Delightful features to write home about: 🔈 Charging dock that doubles as a speaker + smart display 🙌 First tablet with the Google Tensor G2 chip built in 🤖 Deploys Google AI for elevated, well, everything And of course, it works seamlessly with all your other Google devices (phone, earbuds, watch, etc). And we all know how good that feels, huh? ​[➜ …are you still here? Smash this link to score the Google Pixel Tablet up to $80 off!]( [SAVE UP TO $80 TODAY ➜]( #top [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Meet your secret Android shortcut genie Here's the thing about phones these days: Most of 'em have some manner of blacked-out, useless space on their display — what's known to many as a notch, or the cutout where your front-facing camera resides. On the surface, that darkened little dork-hole serves no practical purpose. But thanks to a crafty Android developer, you can repurpose it as a hidden home for an on-demand shortcut mecca — a genie you can summon with a single tap, press, or swipe to accomplish all sorts of useful stuff. ⌚ It'll take you 30 seconds (and $0!) to set up. ➜ The app you need to do it is a relatively new creation called [Touch the Notch](=). It's so impossibly simple and impressively useful, you'll wonder why it wasn't built directly into your phone in the first place. 📌 [Check out this short 'n' sweet guide o' mine](=) for a look at all the ways the app can help you and how you can most effectively harness its virtual powers. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Format text in Keep this second Google Keep is great for basic note-taking, but it's baffling how the app is still missing so many basic-seeming features — like, y'know, the ability to use bold or italicized text. We've been hearing about how Google's been working on simple text formatting for Keep for well over a year now, and this week, there's [yet another leak]() suggesting such capabilities could be close to launching. But hey, you're here! You're not an average Android phone owner (clearly). And that means you don't have to wait for Google's rollout to give your Keep notes some extra visual punch. ⌚ In fact, in about 15 seconds, you can start bringing advanced text formatting into any Keep note — no update or rollout required. ➜ Just set yourself a bookmark for a site called [Bold Text Generator](). You can type or paste any text into the top of the site, and it'll then give you specially formatted text in a variety of formats. ​ All that's left is to copy whichever look you like and paste it into a new note in Keep, and boom: You've got fancy text formatting where it wasn't previously possible. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Summarize any web page, anytime Speaking of "why wait?" wonders, Google's in the midst of sloooowly [rolling out a new feature]() that lets you see summaries of select pages as you wade your way around the watery web. But as an enlightened Android Intelligence reader, you can pull off that same feat this second — on any web page anywhere, in fact — and with even more features attached. ⌚ Clear out 20 seconds in your schedule... ➜ And allow me to introduce you to (or maybe just remind you about) a spectacular little service called [Andi](). Andi is a next-gen, AI-powered search site that's been doing this dance for a while now. (If it sounds familiar, it should: We [talked about it last October](), long before the entire tech world turned AI into an overused buzzword!) - Andi lets you search the web for all sorts of info, just like Google or any other search engine but with even more emphasis on natural language phrasing. - Among its many intriguing features is the ability to click or tap a single button within any web page result to see an instant summary of the associated article. - Andi also has a handy "Read" function that lets you enjoy a stripped-down, nicely formatted version of any article in its entirety right then and there, in case you decide you want to dive deeper. ​ Andi is free to use and respectful of your privacy, and it'll work in any browser on any device. 📌 [Just head over to AndiSearch.com]() to give it a whirl. #top [] ❱❱ And Just for Funsies... I'm not gonna lie: I've kinda come to loathe that classic iPhone ringtone — y'know, the one we all heard blaring out of boring phones at full blast for years. You know the one. I know you know it. Well, despite my disdain for that disagreeable ditty, I've found a place where I actually enjoy the sounds of 2012-era genericness. It's a YouTube video I discovered the other day in which a spectacular drummer from Nashville remixes that original default iTune into a delightfully funky percussive mix. ➜ [See (and hear!) for yourself](=): [[video preview]​](=) Now, that's a flavor of Apple I can actually get behind. #top Toodle-oo to You Hey, I appreciate your havin' me over to your inbox. It's an invitation I definitely don't take for granted. FYI, I'll be having a bit o' relatively minor surgery on my recently knobbled knee next week, but I expect to be back up and at 'em in time for all the usual newsletter deliveries. Hope your limbs remain limber and your joints remain jolly in the meantime. I'll see ya next week. What'd you think of this issue? Pick a face to vote and let me know! [Loved it]([It was all right]([Coulda been better]( ​ ➜ Did you enjoy this issue? [Copy your custom referral link]( and share it with other people to spread the word and earn [all sorts of awesome rewards](=)! ➜ Hungry for even more? [Try a Platinum membership]( to gain access to three premium Android Intelligence publications along with oodles of other advanced resources. ➜ New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up now](). ➜ Not feelin' it anymore? Sorry to see you go — but no worries: You can [unsubscribe or update your preferences here](=). [Get even more Android Intelligence. Upgrade to a Platinum membership today.](=)