Hands-On Android (Audio) – Details, episodes & analysis

Everyone has their list of favorite apps. Jason Howell took a look at his app drawer and pulled out some of the apps that he makes sure are installed on every device he tests.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Typing on smartphones has never been a fun experience. Jason Howell knows that pain well. That's why he's collected some of his favorite type saving tips that make Google's Gboard app even easier to use.

• Quick capitalization.
• Remove a stored auto-correct word.
• Glide Typing.
• Delete with a gesture.
• Space bar cursor control.
• Text editing shortcut.
• Better EMOJI suggestions.
• Personal Dictionary shortcuts.
• Themes cause why not?

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Sponsor:

• LastPass.com/twit

Five cool things to check out on the foldable phone.

Samsung's latest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold2, has a lot of impressive features that are only possible because of its unique design. Jason Howell shows off a few of the phone's key features, as well as some that are off by default.

• Multitasking with up to four different apps.
• Continue apps on cover screen.
• Using Flex Mode with supported apps.
• Camera preview on the cover.
• Auto framing while shooting video.
• Fingerprint sensor to always on.

Purchase the Samsung ZFold 2 here: https://amzn.to/2Gh3A8b

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Sponsor:

• LastPass.com/twit

There are plenty of ways that Android protects your data and online security, but how can Android help you out in the real world? Jason Howell takes a look at a number of features within Android that reach outside of the device to protect users from disasters, threats, and illness.

• Emergency info on the lock screen.
• Adding contact information to the lock screen.
• Emergency Broadcast Notifications.
• Sharing location with emergency services.
• Earthquake alerts.
• Personal Safety app for Pixel devices.
• Car crash detection.
• Safety Check.
• Emergency Sharing.
• Exposure Notifications and COVID-19.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Of all the new features rolling out with Android 11, one of the most interesting changes comes in the form of a revised and feature rich power menu. Jason Howell shows what the power button is capable of out of the box as well as how to add your own automations to the Device Control section with the use of Tasker.

• Power Menu walkthrough.
• Personal safety settings.
• Google Pay integration.
• Device control.
• Tasker beta download.
• Hue Essentials Tasker integration.
• Programming Tasker for the Power Menu.
• Testing Tasker automation.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

The official release of Android 11 is here, and with it, Google is giving users plenty of control over their device, their smart home, their privacy, and their communication with contacts. Jason Howell summarizes the key features of this new release, and shares his view on these new features after living with them throughout the beta period for months.

• Conversations.
• Bubbles.
• Screen Recorder.
• Voice Access.
• Device controls.
• Media controls.
• One-Time Permissions.
• Background location access.
• Permissions auto-reset.
• Mainline.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Sponsor:

• MySudo.com/twit

The Google Pixel 4a is a solid mid-range device with a proven camera that takes high quality shots easily. The Samsung Note 20 Ultra is about as premium as devices get with a stoked array of lenses and the ability to shoot like a DSLR. Jason Howell escapes the confines of his home to hit the town with both devices to see how each camera system compares to the other.

• Main cameras: Landscapes, Color, Complexity, High Contrast.
• Zoom/Telephoto: Default zoom, zoom for closeups, Maximum zoom level.
• Wide angle: Landscape, people.
• Front facing camera: Selfie, portrait mode.
• Video: Fast moving water, device beauty shots.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Sponsor:

• expressvpn.com/hoa

The new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is as premium as smartphones get and the thing that differentiates it most from its competition is the S Pen. Jason Howell shows off some of the latest features of the S Pen in this premium device, what makes it useful, and what makes it fun to use.

• Jotting a memo with the screen off.
• Using Samsung Notes for straightening notes.
• Converting scribbles into text.
• Live audio recording while note-taking.
• The power of the stroke eraser.
• Air Actions for OS control.
• Air Actions for app control.
• Using Screenwrite to annotate screenshots.
• Scroll Capture for screenshots of scrolling web pages.
• Using Smart Select to create animated GIFs on the fly.
• Magnify the screen with this accessibility feature.
• Easily translate words or sentences with the S Pen.
• AR Doodle, Live Messages, and PENUP for creativity.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Installing apps outside of the Google Play Store.

The Google Play Store is good enough for most people when it comes to finding and installing apps and games on Android. However, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to want to install apps manually while bypassing the Play Store altogether. Jason Howell walks through the good and the bad of sideloading APK files, as well as showing just how easy it really is.

• Why Fortnite is a good example of why sideloading is desirable.
• What is sideloading?
• What are APK files?
• What can go wrong?
• Who can I trust?
• How to install APK files.
• What is APK Mirror?
• What are App Bundles?
• Closing the security hole.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android

Effective reminders for distance learning and everything else.

Sometimes, reminders need to be more than a gentle nudge. Google seems to have read Jason Howell's mind because shortly after last week's episode on Reminders, they announced a new feature called Family Bell that takes reminders on Assistant devices to the next level.

• What is Family Bell?
• How to set up Family Bell.
• Customizing the included templates.
• Interacting with the Google Home.
• Room for improvement.

​Google's Family Bell - https://bit.ly/2DMzQid

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android