Smart text selection

Top 10 New Features of Android 13

Last updated on: December 11, 2022, first published on: December 11, 2022 Leave a Comment

Android 13 was released on August 15, 2022, with a plethora of new features and improvements to make your Android devices more personal and secure.

However, many new features of Android 13 are not eye-catching and deep inside the Settings or apps.

This Android 13 guide explains the top 10 new features of Android 13 that almost everyone will benefit from, including per-app language options, clipboard access control, notifications opt-in, a QR code scanner in the Quick Settings tile, a revamped media player, a new Photo Picker, Quick Pair and Bluetooth LE Audio support, control home devices without unlocking the phone/tablet, Spatial Audio support, expanded Material You options.

We now explore these new features of Android 13 one by one.

What are the top 10 new features of Android 13?

There are many new features and underhood improvements in Android 13. For most Android phone users, the following 10 features you definitely should try and know.

Per-app language options.
Clipboard access control.
Notifications opt-in.
QR code scanner in the Quick Settings tile.
A revamped media player.
Anew Photo Picker.
Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 code support
Spatial Audio support.
Control home devices without unlocking the phone/tablet.
Expanded Material You options

Per-app language options: the most practical new feature of Android 13

In Android 13, you can choose a different language for individual apps regardless of the system language. Of course, if the app developer enables the language you want.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, all apps that support multi-languages are listed under Settings — System — Languages & input — App Languages.

You can choose your preferred language for these apps individually. Many Android 13 users marked this as one of the most practical new features of Android 13.

new features of Android 13: Per-app language options — Per-app language settings in Android 13

You can also change the language for the apps on the App info page of individual apps.

Clipboard access control

Android 13 makes it easy to copy and paste both text and images.

When you copy any text or an image to the clipboard, you will see immediate feedback (an alert box in the lower-left corner of the screen), as shown in the animation below. The content (text or image) in the clipboard will be available for 1 hour. You can turn on the clipboard manager in Gboard (or Samsung Keyboard if you are using a Samsung phone) and pin any items in the clipboard so that they will not be expired.… Read the rest

How to use overview selection in Android Pie?

Last updated on: June 2, 2019, first published on: June 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

You can use overview selection in Android to quickly select text and images and share and use them without leaving the overview screen.

This Android Pie guide explains what overview selection in Android Pie is and steps of using this feature.

Please note, overview selection currently is only implemented in the Pixel launcher and works only on Pixel phones (all 3 generations).

What is overview selection in Android Pie?

Overview selection in Android Pie allows you to select text or images from the overview screen directly. You can then paste or share the selected text or images.

Some actions, for example, calling or messaging may also be provided in the overview screen.

For images, Google Lens can be fired to check the image details, in addition to sharing the picture.

The most interesting feature is that the overview selection is not constrained by apps.

For example, you cannot copy some texts like the navigation menu inside the app. Some apps may do not allow you to copy their contents in the browser of the app. But now, in the overview screen, you can copy ALL text as long as they appear on the overview screen.

Of course, as a security feature, some banking apps do not show any contents in the overview screen. In this case, you cannot copy.

The bottom line is that you can copy and share whatever you can see in the overview screen of the app.

In a nutshell, overview selection in Android Pie is an application of smart selection in the overview screen.

Steps of using overview selection in Android Pie

You may follow these steps to use overview selection in Android Pie.

Step 1: Enable overview selection

By default, overview selection is enabled in Android Pie on all Pixel phones.

In case you disabled it, you need to enable this feature before proceed.

As shown in the screenshot below, you can tap and hold (aka long tap) any blank area on the home screen, then tap Home settings.

In the Home screen settings, tap Suggestions as shown above.

Now, you can enable Overview selection as shown below.

Of course, you can also disable it if you want.

Please note. the switch on the right side (and in blue) means the feature is enabled.

Step 2: Navigate to the overview screen

You can tap the Recents button to navigate to the Recents screen as shown above.… Read the rest

How to use smart text selection in Android Oreo?

Smart text selection suggests you the most relevant app to use the highlighted text directly.

Last updated on: June 2, 2019, first published on: January 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

In Android Ore0 8.0 and 8.1, smart text selection was introduced by adding a dynamic (smart) option (based on text highlighted) to the text selection menu.

So, you can get one additional option (in addition to the normal text selection in previous versions of Android) to use the highlighted text directly without going through the copy and paste procedure.

This Android Oreo guide explains to you what smart text selection is, and how to use this feature with examples.

What is smart text selection?

Prior to Android Oreo, selection, copy, and paste are all independent of other operations.

For example, after you finish the text selection, Android simply put the contents in the clipboard and close the pop-out window. Later, you can paste the text in supported apps.

Smart text selection in Android Oreo gives you a suggested shortcut to specific apps, in addition to all other text selection options.

The suggested app shortcut is based on the contents highlighted.

For example, if you highlight a number, Android Oreo may think it is probably a phone number and therefore the phone app is suggested.

If you highlight an email address, smart text selection will think you may want to email this person, and therefore GMail app is suggested.

When you highlight an address, then Google Maps app will be suggested.

In Android Oreo, smart text selection can only suggest apps that can directly operate on the highlighted text.

In Android Pie, smart text selection can be used in the overview screen as explained in this guide.

How to use smart text selection?

Smart text selection is always enabled in Android Oreo.

There are no user-accessible settings for it. This means you even cannot disable it even if you do not like it.

Smart text selection in Android Oreo may suggest various apps such as Google Maps, GMail, Chrome and Phone.

Here are some examples of smart text selection for these apps.

Smart text selection for Google Maps

Android Oreo can detect addresses from highlighted phrases and suggest Google Maps as the following app to use the selected text.

When an address is highlighted, as shown below, Google Maps is placed before the cut/copy options in the copy/paste menu.

You have the option to use cut/copy/paste and other options normally as in text selection in Android Marshmallow/Nougat.

If you tap Google Maps as shown above, your phone will bring you directly to Google Maps and display the address highlighted, as shown below.… Read the rest

Top 10 New Features of Android Oreo 8.0

Get to know what's new in Android Oreo 8.0

Last updated on: January 30, 2018, first published on: January 4, 2018 4 Comments

Android Oreo 8.0 (Android O) was officially released to the public on August 21, 2017. It is hailed to be much smarter, faster and efficient than its predecessors.

Most flagship Android phones released in 2018 will come with Android Oreo 8.0/8.1 pre-installed.

In addition to its revamped user interface (UI), Android Oreo 8.0 introduces many new features and improvements for all-level users.

This Android Oreo guide explains the top 10 new features of Android Oreo 8.0: PIP mode, notification dots, notification channels, notification snoozing, adaptive icons, performance improvements and battery usage optimization, smart text selection, refined Settings menu, auto-fill, new Easter egg and new emojis.

For new features in Android Oreo 8.1, please check this post.

New Features of Android Oreo 8.0 #1: Picture-in-Picture mode (PIP)

PIP is one of Android 8.0’s most prominent features.

PIP is a special multi-window mode mostly used for video playback. This is similar to pop-up view in Samsung’s multiwindow mode.

Picture-in-Picture mode was previously introduced to Android TV with stock Android, but not on mobile.

Unlike the split screen mode in Android Nougat, PIP allows you to continue watching videos in a separate small floating window while using other apps at the same time. In other words, you can watch videos and use other apps at the same time. More apps will support this feature.

To use PIP mode, you need to start by playing a video in a video player or on Youtube. Then, press the home button on the navigation bar. The video would appear as a small floating window. You can relocate the video window and further adjust the size of the floating window according to your preference.

You may check this How to use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo 8.0 and 8.1? guide, if you want to know how to use PIP mode in detail.

New Features of Android Oreo 8.0 #2: Notification Dots

Notification dots will appear on the top right corner app icons whenever you receive a notification from the app. Notification dots remain there until you read it or dismiss the notifications.

You can tap the notification dots to quickly see the notifications waiting for your action.

This Android Oreo feature is similar to number badges feature in Samsung phones. Unlike the number badge in Samsung, notification dots do not show the exact number of notification.

If you want to know about notification dots or want to use it, please check How to use notification dots (notification badges) in Android Oreo page.… Read the rest

Smart text selection

How to use overview selection in Android Pie?

What is overview selection in Android Pie?