Hands-On Android (Audio)

By TWiTTechnology Education How To

Hands-On Android (Audio) episodes

June 18, 2020H.O.A. 18: Android 11 Beta 1 - Best New Features Including Smart Home Controls and Smart App Icons
Google finally pushed out the Android 11 Beta 1 release which means it feels this version of the new OS is ready for a wider range of users. It's still buggy and probably not reliable enough for everyday users, but Jason Howell installed it on his daily driver to show off a few of the key features.
Which phones are compatible?

How to install the new beta.

Google Pay issues.

Video camera issues.

Conversations and bubbles.

Screen Recorder integration.

Screen shots interface.

Smart home controls in the power menu.

Suggested app icons in the dock.

Media controls in the Quick Settings.

Recents gets a facelift.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
17 min
June 18, 2020HOA 18: Android 11 Beta 1 - Best New Features Including Smart Home Controls and Smart App Icons
Google finally pushed out the Android 11 Beta 1 release which means it feels this version of the new OS is ready for a wider range of users. It's still buggy and probably not reliable enough for everyday users, but Jason Howell installed it on his daily driver to show off a few of the key features.
Which phones are compatible?
How to install the new beta.
Google Pay issues.
Video camera issues.
Conversations and bubbles.
Screen Recorder integration.
Screen shots interface.
Smart home controls in the power menu.
Suggested app icons in the dock.
Media controls in the Quick Settings.
Recents gets a facelift.

Host: Jason Howell
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
17 min
June 11, 2020H.O.A. 17: Android 10 Desktop Mode - This Hidden Feature Turns Your Device Into a Desktop Computer
Turn a device into a desktop computer.
Phones are becoming powerful enough to serve as desktop computing environments, given the right combination of hardware and software. Jason Howell examines the experimental Desktop Mode hidden inside Android 10 to see if its usable in its current form, as well as coupling it with Taskbar for Android that aims to make it just a bit more useful.
Unlocking Developer Options menu.

Hardware required.

Desktop Mode, as barebones as it is.

How to set up Taskbar for Android.

Using ADB to open up display density settings.

Walking through what Taskbar does on a display.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
expressvpn.com/hoa
15 min
June 11, 2020HOA 17: Android 10 Desktop Mode - This Hidden Feature Turns Your Device Into a Desktop Computer
Turn a device into a desktop computer.

Phones are becoming powerful enough to serve as desktop computing environments, given the right combination of hardware and software. Jason Howell examines the experimental Desktop Mode hidden inside Android 10 to see if its usable in its current form, as well as coupling it with Taskbar for Android that aims to make it just a bit more useful.
Unlocking Developer Options menu.
Hardware required.
Desktop Mode, as barebones as it is.
How to set up Taskbar for Android.
Using ADB to open up display density settings.
Walking through what Taskbar does on a display.

Host: Jason Howell
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
expressvpn.com/hoa
15 min
June 04, 2020H.O.A. 16: Lock Down Your Smartphone - Encryption, Biometrics, and Lockdown Mode
Lock down your smartphone.
Our phones carry the content of our lives. As smartphone users, it's important to understand how the security features work so that all of that information isn't accessible by someone who confiscates the device, particularly in this time of protest. Jason Howell shares a number of ways that Android devices can be locked down in advance.
Consider using a secondary phone.

Turn on full-disk encryption.

Run a VPN to protect outbound data.

Replace biometric authentication with a strong PIN.

Automatically lock the phone when it goes to sleep.

Ensure that a power button press instantly locks the device.

Hide notification data from the lock screen.

Enable Lockdown features if offered.

Set up two-factor authentication.

Password protect your SIM card.

Check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation for more resources: https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/attending-protest

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
LastPass.com/twit
19 min
June 04, 2020HOA 16: Lock Down Your Smartphone - Encryption, Biometrics, and Lockdown Mode
Lock down your smartphone.

Our phones carry the content of our lives. As smartphone users, it's important to understand how the security features work so that all of that information isn't accessible by someone who confiscates the device, particularly in this time of protest. Jason Howell shares a number of ways that Android devices can be locked down in advance.
Consider using a secondary phone.
Turn on full-disk encryption.
Run a VPN to protect outbound data.
Replace biometric authentication with a strong PIN.
Automatically lock the phone when it goes to sleep.
Ensure that a power button press instantly locks the device.
Hide notification data from the lock screen.
Enable Lockdown features if offered.
Set up two-factor authentication.
Password protect your SIM card.
Check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation for more resources: https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/attending-protest

Host: Jason Howell
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
LastPass.com/twit
19 min
May 28, 2020H.O.A. 15: Advanced Assistant - Do More With Your Phone With Automation, Data Protection, and More
Assistant was designed to make the smartphone easier to use through voice commands that reach into nearly every aspect of the device. But now, it's capabilities are so wide that it's easy to miss valuable functionality. Jason Howell walks through a few features and commands that make Assistant even more flexible.
How to use Google Home to setup Assistant Routines.

Google's new Action Blocks app for creating Assistant shortcuts on the homescreen.

Certain devices can activate Ambient Mode, turning the device into a smart display.

Assistant can turn almost any webpage into a podcast.

Manage how long Assistant holds onto your voice and search data.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit promo code TWIT30
17 min
May 28, 2020HOA 15: Advanced Assistant - Do More With Your Phone With Automation, Data Protection, and More
Assistant was designed to make the smartphone easier to use through voice commands that reach into nearly every aspect of the device. But now, it's capabilities are so wide that it's easy to miss valuable functionality. Jason Howell walks through a few features and commands that make Assistant even more flexible.
How to use Google Home to setup Assistant Routines.
Google's new Action Blocks app for creating Assistant shortcuts on the homescreen.
Certain devices can activate Ambient Mode, turning the device into a smart display.
Assistant can turn almost any webpage into a podcast.
Manage how long Assistant holds onto your voice and search data.

Host: Jason Howell
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit promo code TWIT30
17 min
May 21, 2020H.O.A. 14: Inside Chrome for Android - Tips and Tricks Using Chrome's Hidden Features
It's easy to take the Chrome browser for Android for granted when we use it so frequently. Jason Howell shows off some features that are hiding in plain sight followed by a hidden settings menu that houses some of the more experimental features of the popular web browser.
Easy switching between tabs.

Embedded Google search.

Cut down on data usage with Lite mode.

Turn any webpage into an app with homescreen shortcuts.

Introduction to the hidden Flags settings.

Shift UI elements around with Chrome Duet.

Add an option to preview a link on a webpage.

Speed up file downloads with Parallel Downloading.

Customize the Tab layout.

Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
expressvpn.com/hoa
18 min
May 21, 2020HOA 14: Inside Chrome for Android - Tips and Tricks Using Chrome's Hidden Features
It's easy to take the Chrome browser for Android for granted when we use it so frequently. Jason Howell shows off some features that are hiding in plain sight followed by a hidden settings menu that houses some of the more experimental features of the popular web browser.
Easy switching between tabs.
Embedded Google search.
Cut down on data usage with Lite mode.
Turn any webpage into an app with homescreen shortcuts.
Introduction to the hidden Flags settings.
Shift UI elements around with Chrome Duet.
Add an option to preview a link on a webpage.
Speed up file downloads with Parallel Downloading.
Customize the Tab layout.
Host: Jason Howell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-android
Sponsor:
expressvpn.com/hoa
18 min

About Hands-On Android (Audio)

From the publisher's feed

Android isn’t just phones. It's a complex ecosystem. It’s feature-filled. It’s customizable. Each week, Jason Howell will take a closer look at the Android operating system as well as the unique devices running it worldwide. From feature spotlights, to tips and tricks, and even reviews of apps that make Android so much fun, Hands-On Android will change how you use your smartphone for the better. Screen reader support enabled.