We’re formally within the ultimate countdown to the launch of Android 11, which is anticipated to reach any week now — however neglect the shiny new stuff for a second. I’d be keen to wager there are some worthwhile treats within the present Android model that you simply both missed totally or possibly thought of for a couple of minutes after which forgot to maintain utilizing.Any Android replace has lots to digest, in spite of everything, and it is all too simple to let sure issues slip by. But Android 10’s bought some refined gems which might be properly value placing again in your radar and embracing. And whether or not you find yourself seeing Android 11 inside days of its arrival or ready an eternity for the replace to succeed in your telephone, reminding your self to benefit from these options will make your life simpler — each now and into the long run. (Yes, they’re all nonetheless current in Android 11!)1. Focus ModeWe might depend on our telephones to remain related and productive, however let’s be trustworthy: Just as typically, these shiny little slabs make it inconceivable to keep away from distractions.Android 10 launched a super-helpful solution to reduce down on such attention-snatchers and preserve your focus precisely the place you need it. It’s referred to as Focus Mode, and it would simply be the focus-reclaiming instrument you want.The means Focus Mode works is easy: You inform Android which apps you need to tune out and keep away from utilizing — possibly issues like Twitter and no matter non-essential messaging service(s) you may have in your telephone — and you then both set a recurring schedule for once you need these apps to be hidden otherwise you manually activate Focus Mode your self as wanted.Either means you go, the apps might be grayed out on your private home display and in your app drawer every time Focus Mode is operating — and trying to open any of ’em will end in a pleasant reminder that the app is “paused.” More essential, any notifications generated by these apps might be held again and stored out of your face till Focus Mode shuts off.And a bonus tip: While the function is designed for eliminating distractions and protecting you centered on work, you would additionally method it within the reverse means and use Focus Mode to dam work-oriented apps on the weekends or within the evenings. These days greater than ever, we may all use a little bit extra life-work separation, and Focus Mode is an attention-grabbing means you would obtain it.How to search out itIn Google’s model of Android — what’s current on Pixel telephones, Android One telephones, and another non-Samsung gadgets — open up the Digital Wellbeing part of your system settings. Find and faucet “Focus Mode,” then choose the apps you need to have blocked every time Focus Mode is energetic. If you need to have Focus Mode activate and off routinely on sure days and occasions, faucet “Set a schedule” and put in no matter days and occasions you need.JR If you are utilizing a Samsung telephone, in the meantime, go to the Digital Wellbeing part of your system settings, then faucet “Digital Wellbeing” a second time to get to the complete menu. Find the “Focus Mode” part and faucet both “Work time” or “Me time” to configure the settings for both choice. Note that right here, not like within the Google model of Android, you are specifying which apps you need to stay accessible throughout Focus Mode as a substitute of selecting which apps might be blocked.No matter what kind of telephone you may have, you may make it simpler to begin and cease Focus Mode by yourself by unearthing the function’s Quick Settings tile: Swipe down twice from the highest of your display to open up Quick Settings, then faucet the pencil-shaped icon within the lower-left nook in Google’s model of Android or faucet the three-dot menu icon adopted by “Button order” on a Samsung telephone.Find the Focus Mode tile, drag it into an energetic place, after which hit the again button (or the “Done” command, with a Samsung gadget). You ought to then see that tile inside your common Quick Settings part, the place you possibly can faucet it anytime to begin or cease specializing in demand.2. Silent notificationsSpeaking of focus, Android 10 makes it simpler than ever to handle notifications and preserve ’em from driving you loopy. Part of that’s having the ability to set notifications as “silent,” which implies the notifications will nonetheless present up in your display however might be current in a separate, decrease part of your notification panel and will not audibly promote their presence.It’s an effective way to deal with notifications for issues like Photos alerts, climate updates, and anything that is not notably urgent — something you need to see finally however would reasonably discover at your personal comfort as a substitute of getting it interrupt you.How to search out itYou can set any notification to silent just by urgent and holding it, then choosing the “Silent” choice adopted by “Done” or “Save.”JR Ahh…the sound of silence.3. Live CaptionThis subsequent function is designed for accessibility functions — however like so many different Android accessibility options, it may be helpful for almost anybody.It’s referred to as Live Caption, and as its identify suggests, it permits you to see dwell captioning — a real-time transcription of any phrases being uttered in any media taking part in out of your telephone. The subsequent time you are making an attempt to observe a video or try a podcast in a spot the place that you must be quiet (and the place you do not have headphones helpful), bear in mind it as a super-convenient solution to learn what’s occurring with out having to emit any sound.How to search out itLive Caption is on the market on Pixel telephones and different “selected” gadgets, so it might or is probably not current in your telephone. To discover out in case you’ve bought it, begin taking part in some method of media in your telephone — a YouTube video, a podcast, an audio recording of your self reciting “Macbeth” in its entirety, or no matter — after which faucet your telephone’s bodily volume-up or volume-down button.If Live Caption is current, you will see a field with a line by means of it on the backside of the amount slider that reveals up in your display.JR Tap that, and you will begin seeing each phrase spoken within the clip proper in your display — in a field that may be moved (by urgent and holding it) or expanded (by double-tapping it).JR And identical to that, you are formally free to learn away with out making a peep.4. Smarter swiping between appsAndroid’s filled with swipes, however there’s extra to the software program’s present gesture system than meets the attention. Specifically, relating to the artwork of switching between apps, there’s an attention-grabbing hidden solution to discover your app continuum in a way more efficient method than what Android 10 does by default.How to search out itThe normal gesture for switching between latest apps on Android 10 is a horizontal swipe alongside the underside fringe of the display. That’s high quality if that the final app you used is the one you need to return to, however as a rule, you do not bear in mind precisely what order your just lately opened apps seem in — and consequently, you find yourself flipping round blindly and hoping you ultimately land on the app you need. It is not an environment friendly or efficient solution to do issues, and it often ends in extra frustration than success.So this is the higher means: Instead of swiping in a straight horizontal line on the bar on the backside of your display, begin swiping horizontally after which transfer your finger up in a slight arc as you do it. That’ll allow you to see previews of the apps in both route after which intelligently determine if the one you need is there earlier than simply routinely opening it — sort of like a hybrid of fast-swiping and going into the complete Overview interface.JR The increased you progress your finger, the smaller the previews will seem and the extra of ’em you possibly can see directly.JR Slightly extra wise than the usual blind swipes, proper?!5. A extra dependable menu-opening gestureOne of probably the most annoying issues concerning the Android-10-level gesture system is the way it’s in direct battle with sure long-standing Android swiping patterns — most noticeably the sample for swiping inward from the left facet of your display to open an app’s important menu (in an app with that three-line menu icon in its upper-left nook, equivalent to Gmail or Google Drive).Consequently, in case you attempt to swipe in from the left facet of the display to open such a menu, there is a sturdy likelihood you will find yourself activating the system-level again gesture as a substitute — which can seemingly end in confusion adopted by vexation after which a lot under-the-breath muttering. (It’s an extremely constant development, at the very least in my expertise.)Well, mutter no extra: Android really has a built-in solution to deal with these overlapping swipe instructions — and when you prepare your self to recollect it, you will by no means activate the improper perform once more.How to search out itYou’ve really bought a number of completely different choices right here. First — and maybe most clearly — you possibly can merely faucet the three-line menu icon inside an app as a substitute of swiping in to open the menu.That’s not at all times handy to do, although, particularly in case you’re utilizing your telephone one-handed. So as a substitute, strive swiping in from the left facet of your display — however as a substitute of swiping in a straight horizontal line, as you usually would, swipe downward at a 45-degree angle. Crazy because it appears, that’ll trigger the app’s menu to open each single time.JR The different selection, in case you desire, is swiping in from the facet of the display with two fingers — one on prime of the opposite, on the identical actual time. That, too, will constantly open up a sidebar-style app menu as a substitute of activating the system-level again command.And there ya have it: 5 simply forgotten options that’ll elevate your Android 10 expertise. All that is left is to recollect to make use of ’em — and that half, m’pricey, is 100% on you.Want much more Googley data? Sign up for my weekly publication to get next-level suggestions and perception delivered on to your inbox.[Android Intelligence videos at Computerworld]

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