Oct 16, 2020

Improving productivity with Google Lens on Android

By Paolo Amoroso • Issue #39 • View online

Hello,

Since the beginning, Google Lens seemed a promising scifi-like technology. But it couldn’t do much and few Google apps supported it.

What sold me on Google Lens is its ability to scan QR codes. It let me spare installing a dedicated app but, yeah, nothing fancy. However, this was a reminder and a motivator to reach for Lens when I had to do something like a visual search or analysis. The drawback of hidden features like this, which aren’t always on the screen, is you end up forgetting they’re there.

Now that Lens does a lot more, let’s see how it can help you.

— Paolo Amoroso

Android

12 ways Google Lens can make you more productive on Android

Here are 12 tricks to help you use Google Lens on Android and become more productive. They range from scanning text from real-world-documents and transferring it to other devices, scanning bar codes and QR codes, to performing image searches.

Do you use Google Lens?

www.computerworld.com • Share

11 Android 11 features to look for when your phone gets updated

Supported Pixel phones already received the Android 11 system update and now it’s rolling out to more devices. On the surface you won’t notice much difference with Android 10, so let this article help you try the most interesting new features. Temporary permissions and notification history are a must.

www.androidpolice.com • Share

Chrome OS

Customize your Chromebook touchpad settings

I never changed the trackpad settings of my Chromebooks as they work fine for me. But there are a few options that may come in handy depending on your interaction preferences, e.g. clicking vs tapping. This guide goes through the customizable settings.

www.chromestory.com • Share

Assistant, YouTube Music

How to set up and use the Google Assistant “Bedtime” routine

If you’re into habits and life hacks, the Google Assistant can help you with routines. They’re sequences of Assistant actions associated with a single voice command. This tutorial explains how to set up and use the predefined Bedtime routine you can configure, for example, to turn off the lights, mute your phone, and set an alarm.

www.howtogeek.com • Share

Seven tips and tricks for YouTube Music on Android

Now that Google Play Music is gone for good, many are grudgingly transitioning to YouTube Music. Although it doesn’t have all the features of the late Google Play Music, YouTube Music provides more than the basics. And it’s evolving. Learn a few tips and tricks to get more familiar with YouTube Music.

www.androidpolice.com • Share

Android apps

Arduino Science Journal

Google Science Journal was a cool educational app for recording and analyzing smartphone sensor data in scientific experiments. It let you record the data, chart and visualize them, and produce reports. It was great for both schools and geeks of all ages.

Google discontinued the product but transferred the app to Arduino, which rebranded it as Arduino Science Journal and took over further development. The company is adding support for its own Arduino boards and devices.

play.google.com • Share

Web apps

Type Studio

Do you transcribe interviews or edit video subtitles? Type Studio is a text-based video editor with a focus on these tasks. The tool auto-generates the transcription. Then you can edit a video by editing the transcribed text instead of using the classic time line. For example, if you cut a snippet of text, Type Studio cuts the corresponding video clip.

Via Creator Tools Weekly #28.

typestudio.co • Share

Thank you

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By Paolo Amoroso

Weekly practical resources on Google products and related tech. Links to tips, tutorials, apps, and other resources that will expand your Google toolbox and help you do more.

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Paolo Amoroso, C.P. 343, Via Cordusio 4, 20123 Milano, ITALY