2021 was a big year for Android. The year brought us new phones, like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, and new software updates, like Android 12. Whether you bought something new, updated your phone with new software, or just kept on trucking with the same old tech, we were here to help you use it all. These are our favourite Android hacks and tips of 2021.
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Our former Senior Technology Editor, David Murphy, expertly argues why now is a great time to figure out your Android’s power management solution. There’s a lot of great gear out there, much of it that won’t break the bank, which will likely serve your tech better than the old, crappy chargers you’re currently using.
At the end of March, Google ended Google Messages support for all “uncertified” Android devices. We talk about what uncertified means in this context, and how you can check if your phone is certified. If it’s not, there are still solutions to make it a perfectly usable phone in 2022.
Screenshot: David Murphy
Tabs get messy, fast. That’s why Tab Groups are so useful; you can collect your tabs into meaningful chunks that you can browse and access whenever you want, rather than scroll through a sea of meaningless options. This feature is possible to use on Android, but you need to enable it first.
If you’ve ever wanted to view directions on Google Maps while also getting more details from Street View, Google Maps’ split-screen mode helps you do just that. Now, if Google could only move the feature over to iOS …
How to get dark mode 2FA prompts on your Android
If you’re a dark mode fan, you don’t want light mode interruptions throughout your experience. That’s, traditionally, what happens when you try to use 2FA from an app in dark mode on Android, as Google’s authentication pop-up shows up blindingly white. Using this trick, you can take advantage of 2FA without ever leaving dark mode.
Use ‘Nearby Share’ to send Android apps to your friends
Screenshot: David Murphy
If you want to share a new app you found with another Android user, you could simply tell them about it. But telling people about an app isn’t cool; sharing that app using your phone’s Nearby Share feature is cool.
Sometimes, sending a text message right now is not a good idea. Maybe the recipient lives in another time zone, and your text will risk waking them up; maybe you have a message you only want the person to read at a specific time, not at this moment. Luckily, there’s a way to schedule texts on Android through many of the most popular chat apps out there.
Image: Google
You don’t need a smartwatch or a proper monitor to check in on your heart rate. As long as you have a Pixel 3 or newer, it’s possible to record an accurate measure of your heart, making the Google Fit app even more of a joy to use.
In the past, you could take full advantage of Google Voice’s features without needing the app on your phone. Unfortunately, 2021 marked the year Google decided to change that (but it’s not really the company’s fault this time). We walk you through why you should install the Google Voice app to really make the most of …….
Source: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2021/12/40-of-our-best-android-hacks-of-2021/