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

With the recent announcement that Google Photos is changing in 2021 to limit free uploads indefinitely, many smartphone users are now examining alternative options for their memories. Jason Howell walks through the process of downloading all of those photos and videos from Google and moving them to a Plex server that you control.

• Using Google Takeout to download photos and videos.
• Moving and unzipping the media to an external drive.
• Preparing Plex to look at the media library.
• Setting Plex to automatically upload new media.

Host: Jason Howell

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

Android has come a long way in its pursuit of bringing meaningful accessibility features to those who truly need them. Jason Howell shows off how some of those features are actually useful for everyone and not just a subset of users.

• Live Captions.
• Select to Speak.
• Magnification.
• Interaction Controls.
• Flashlight for events.

Host: Jason Howell

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

Takeout your Google Play Music library and move It to Plexamp.

With the death of Google Play Music, many people are looking for the best alternative for their cloud music storage. Jason Howell isn't satisfied with the YouTube Music approach so he will walk through the steps required to use Google Takeout to pull down his uploaded music and import it into Plex for use with Plexamp.

• What is Plexamp?
• Exporting the Google Play Music library from Google Takeout.
• Organizing the media dump into a structured format using Apple Music.
• Importing that media into Plex.
• Using Plexamp to access that music.

Host: Jason Howell

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

Sponsor:

• LastPass.com/twit

Take that old device and give it a job using Action Blocks.

If you have a smart home and an old Android phone or tablet gathering dust, put it to use as a home automation control center! Jason Howell walks through how to use Action Blocks to do just that.

• Preparing the tablet or phone for Action Blocks.
• Crafting the right Assistant commands.
• Using custom images for one-touch widgets.
• Testing the layout and setup.

Action Blocks - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.accessibility.maui.actionblocks

Host: Jason Howell

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

A popular feature of Pixel phones has been Active Edge, a shortcut for Google Assistant that is triggered when the frame of the phone is squeezed firmly. The new Pixel 5 doesn't support that feature anymore, but Jason Howell shows how using an app called SideSqueeze+ can bring back that functionality thanks to the onboard Barometer.

• What is Active Edge?
• Installing SideSqueeze+.
• Allowing special actions using ADB.
• Calibrating the app to work properly.
• Screen Press and Plus section for Galaxy devices.
• Using the Analyzer section.
• Disabling the persistent notification.

SideSqueeze+ - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pocketdevelopers.sidesqueeze

Host: Jason Howell

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

Sponsor:

• MySudo.com/twit

Galaxy customization continues on an even deeper level.

Samsung Good Lock is customization to deep that there's too much to fit into a single episode. Jason Howell dives into the Family portion of the app to discuss a number of other wholistic ways that Samsung devices can be customized.

• Keys Cafe for keyboard colors and animation.
• Pentastic for S Pen users.
• Wonderland with animated wallpaper actions.
• Themepark is whole device theming.
• Nice Catch monitors app actions behind the scenes.
• One Handed Operation+ makes single handed use easier.
• Edge Lighting+ makes notification a bit splashier.
• Edge Touch creates no-touch zones on the edges of curved displays.
• Sound Assistant takes sound control to the next level.

Samsung's Good Lock - https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/com.samsung.android.goodlock

Host: Jason Howell

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

Sponsor:

• LastPass.com/twit

Deep modular customization of Samsung's Galaxy phones.

Samsung is known for offering expansive customization options to its Galaxy smartphones, but Good Lock takes it to a different level. Jason Howell walks through the first half of this impressive suite of tools that take device tweaking to a new extreme.

• What is Samsung Good Lock?
• Quickstar for quick settings.
• Clockface for controlling lock screen clocks.
• Multistar for multi-window functionality.
• Navstar for redesigning the navigation bar.
• Homeup for customizing and backing up the home screen.
• Notistar for an expanded notification manager.

Samsung's Good Lock - https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/com.samsung.android.goodlock

Host: Jason Howell

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

Almost any Android TV device can be upgraded too!

Google released the new Chromecast with Google TV at its Fall hardware event last week and its the first device to be running the newly revamped Google TV interface that replaces Android TV. However, Googe hasn't pushed Google TV out to any other devices and its uncertain when that might happen. Jason Howell shows how to install the new interface on his Nvidia Shield TV from 2017 and the process should work on most Android TV boxes right now.

• Meet the new Chromecast with Google TV.
• Google TV versus Android TV.
• How to prepare the Nvidia Shield TV.
• Installing Platform Tools for USB debugging.
• Finding the Google Home Launcher.
• Installing the launcher on the Shield TV.
• Using Terminal to prioritize the new launcher.
• A look at the new Google TV experience.
• How to revert back to the way it was.

Google TV Home APK's - https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-tv-home-android-tv/
Installing Android's Platform Tools - http://twit.tv/hoa/10

Command lines used within the Mac Terminal:
./adb push (Google Home Launcher filename) /sdcard/
./adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher
​./adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.tvlauncher

Host: Jason Howell

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

Sponsor:

• MySudo.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

In Jason Howell's household, the beginning of distance learning has created a toxic stew of calendar craziness. As such, here are a few different considerations when tackling reminders on Android to be absolutely certain you don't miss something important.

• Assistant reminders via Google Home.
• Assistant reminders via Android.
• Setting alarms with labels.
• Reminders inside of Google Keep.
• Reminders inside of Google Calendar.
• Troubleshooting reminder notifications.

Host: Jason Howell

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

Sponsor:

• expressvpn.com/hoa

Developers have many reasons for preventing Android users from taking screenshots or screen recordings of in-app content. Usually its for security but sometimes its to protect copyrighted material. Jason Howell walks through some examples of how this is enforced, and a few ways to work around those limitations.

• What kinds of apps prevent screenshots.
• Why they do that!
• Screenshot shortcut on most devices.
• Assistant's Screen Context feature.
• What is Digital Right Management?
• The open-source app scrcpy.
• Using a computer to take a screenshot in an app that prevents it.
• The analog hole.

scrcpy - github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy
Homebrew for Mac - https://brew.sh

Host: Jason Howell

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