Android Messages trick #8: Seamless scheduling
Should you’re able to hammer out a response to a message proper now however don’t need your reply to be despatched for some time, observe the recommendation shared by a reader in my Android Intelligence e-newsletter not too long ago and easily schedule your message for some particular future time.
The Android Messages app’s scheduling system is spectacularly helpful. You possibly can depend on it for setting reminders to be despatched to purchasers, business-related messages to be pushed out the subsequent morning, or context-free middle-finger emojis to be delivered to your cousin in Cleveland at ungodly hours in the midst of the evening.
To faucet into this productivity-boosting energy, simply sort out your message usually — however then, as a substitute of tapping the triangle-shaped ship icon on the proper of the composing window, press and maintain your finger onto that very same button whenever you’re achieved.
No fairly sane individual might notice it, however that’ll pull up a hidden menu for choosing exactly when your message must be despatched.
JR Raphael, IDG
And the individual on the opposite finish could have no manner of even understanding you wrote the factor upfront.
Android Messages trick #9: Swift saving
If you run right into a message you already know you’ll need to reference once more, save your self the difficulty of attempting to dig it again up later and as a substitute star it on the spot to make it quick as could be to search out sooner or later.
It couldn’t be a lot simpler to do: While viewing a person message thread, simply press and maintain your finger onto the precise message you need to save, then faucet the star-shaped icon that seems within the bar on the high of the display.
Then, whenever you need to discover the message once more, faucet the search icon on the high of the primary Messages display and choose “Starred” from the menu that comes up. That’ll present you each message you’ve starred for exceptionally easy resurfacing.
Android Messages trick #10: Good looking out
Talking of that Messages search system: Starring is classy, however generally, it is advisable to dig up an previous message that you just didn’t exit of your option to save.
The Android Messages app makes that even simpler than you may notice. Faucet that very same search icon on the high of the app’s fundamental display — and along with looking out your total historical past message for any particular string of textual content, take be aware:
- You can begin typing out the title of anybody in your contacts, then choose them from the suggestion that seems — after which sort in some textual content to search for one thing particular solely inside messages from that one individual.
- You need to use the choices inside the primary Messages search display to look particularly at pictures, movies, areas, or hyperlinks folks have despatched you.
- And you may mix any of these variables for much more granular discovering — in search of hyperlinks you despatched to a selected shopper, for example, or areas an out-of-town colleague despatched to you.
JR Raphael, IDG
How ’bout them apples?!
Android Messages trick #11: Prompt marking
I don’t find out about you, however I discover it impossibly irksome to see messages sitting with daring emphasis in my Android Messages inbox. That, to me, is a marking which means I have to learn (and presumably additionally reply) to the message in query. And I can’t presumably relaxation for the day till I do know that the whole lot in my Messages inbox is open, addressed, and handled (or at the very least opened and with a reminder set to cope with it at some particular future time).
Generally, although, it’s all too straightforward to fall behind and get a backlog of bolded messages — and in such eventualities, generally, you want a fast ‘n’ straightforward one-switch reset button to deliver the whole lot again to learn standing and provides your self a contemporary begin.
Properly, shock: Messages has such an choice! Faucet your profile image within the app’s upper-right nook and search for “Mark all as learn” within the menu that comes as much as discover it — then breathe a sigh of reduction as all that attention-demanding boldness melts away as soon as and for all.
Android Messages trick #12: Simpler-to-read textual content
As regards to extra noticeable textual content, file this subsequent Android Messages function below “unintentional discoveries”: The following time you end up squinting at one thing in a messaging thread in your cellphone, attempt old school zoom gesture on the display — putting your finger and thumb collectively after which spreading ’em slowly aside.
You’d by no means comprehend it, however the Messages app helps that commonplace gesture for zooming right into a dialog. The inverse applies, too: If you’re able to zoom again out and make the whole lot smaller, simply deliver your two fingers nearer collectively.
And if these actions aren’t working for you, faucet your profile image within the upper-right nook of the primary Messages display and choose “Messages settings,” then ensure the toggle subsequent to “Pinch to zoom dialog textual content” is within the on place.
Android Messages trick #13: Customized colours
Whereas we’re thinkin’ about simpler studying, a comparatively latest Android Messages addition can allow you to create a customized colour palette for any conversations you’ve received goin’.
That manner, you may all the time keep in mind that texts along with your important different are in, say, purple, whereas messages along with your most essential shopper are in crimson. (Greatest to not get these two threads confused.)
This one works solely with messages despatched utilizing the trendy RCS messaging platform, which mainly means messages that don’t contain pesky folks nonetheless carrying round iPhones with outdated software program on ’em. (It’s all the time the iPhone folks, isn’t it?!)
With any at the moment supported dialog, open up the thread inside Messages — then:
- Faucet the three-dot menu icon within the display’s upper-right nook.
- Choose “Change colours” from the menu that seems.
- Decide the colour scheme you like, then faucet the Verify button on the backside.
JR Raphael, IDG
Repeat for another appropriate conversations, and also you’ll all the time know precisely what you’re taking a look at even with a quick look — and with out having to provide it an oz of lively thought.
You already know a incredible option to waste time? I’ll inform ya: shifting from one app to a different simply to look at one thing somebody despatched you (like these blasted Bangles video Crissy is all the time blasting your manner).
However get this: Google’s Android Messages app can allow you to preview and get the gist of each textual content articles and even YouTube movies with out ever leaving your present dialog — from proper throughout the app and that exact same message thread.
The secret’s to ensure you’ve received the related choices enabled:
- Faucet your profile image within the upper-right nook of the primary Messages display.
- Choose “Messages settings,” then faucet “Computerized previews.”
- Ensure the toggle subsequent to “Present all previews” is on and lively.
Now, the subsequent time somebody sends you a hyperlink, you’ll see the related merchandise’s thumbnail and outline proper then and there, throughout the Messages dialog:
JR Raphael, IDG
With net pages, Messages will present you simply sufficient of a preview to allow you to make an informed choice about whether or not you need to faucet the hyperlink or not.
JR Raphael, IDG
Nearly painfully smart, no?
Android Messages trick #15: Smarter shortcuts
If I needed to decide the only Android Messages trick for enhancing your effectivity, it’d be embracing the built-in shortcuts Google provides us for quicker message actions.
From the primary Messages display, you may swipe left or proper on any message to carry out an prompt motion — archiving the dialog, completely deleting it, or toggling it between learn and unread standing.
All you’ve gotta do is mosey your manner again into the Messages app’s settings areas and faucet on the “Swipe actions” merchandise to set issues up the best way you need…
JR Raphael, IDG
…after which, simply bear in mind to truly use these gestures shifting ahead. (That half’s on you.)
Android Messages trick #16: Faster cleanup
Sure companies like to ship affirmation codes through textual content messaging whenever you sign up or attempt to carry out some motion. It will not be essentially the most advisable or efficient type of additional safety, however — effectively, it’s higher than nothing. And for higher or for worse, it’s a fairly frequent tactic.
Core safety concerns apart, essentially the most irksome a part of these affirmation codes is having ’em muddle up your messages listing at each Goog-forsaken second. However the Google-made Android Messages app can truly care for that for you, with none ongoing effort — if you happen to take about 20 seconds to make the precise tweak now.
Right here’s the key:
- Tappity-tap that comely character within the upper-right nook of the primary Messages display (y’know, the one whose look has a hanging resemblance to your outsized head).
- Faucet “Messages settings” within the menu that comes up, then choose “Messages group.”
- Inside that curiously created part, you’ll see just one choice: “Auto-delete OTPs after 24 hrs.” OTP might not precisely be an on a regular basis, universally recognized abbreviation, however concern not — for it isn’t an misguided reference to an early 90s rap hit with equally ambiguous which means. Nope: It stands for one-time password, which is identical factor we’re fascinated about right here.
- Flip that toggle into the on and lively place, then flip a finger of your option to all of the affirmation codes in your messages listing and relaxation straightforward understanding they’ll be auto-purged a day after their arrival from that time ahead.
Who’s down with OTP? Each final homie. (I apologize.)
Android Messages trick #17: Readable reactions
Slack-style reactions could seem foolish on the floor, however they serve an essential communication objective in permitting you to shortly acknowledge a message with out having to hold the dialog on additional. Whether or not it’s a thumbs-up, a clapping fingers image, and even maybe an occasional burrito emoji, it actually generally is a helpful option to say “Yup, received it” (or “Yup, need beefy goodness”) with out having to make use of a single phrase.
You most likely know you may summon a response throughout the Android Messages app by urgent and holding a particular message inside a dialog after which choosing from the listing of obtainable emoji choices — proper? However past that, Messages packs a good quicker option to situation a response within the blink of an eye fixed.
And right here it’s: Merely double-tap your finger onto any particular person message inside a dialog. That’ll apply the thumbs-up response to it with out the necessity for any long-press or image choice.
It’d be good if there have been a option to customise which response is used for that motion by default — in order that, clearly, we might all change it to the burrito emoji, since that’s what any sane individual makes use of most frequently — but when and when an upward thumb will do the job, now you’ve received a super-easy option to deliver it into any dialog with a quick finger faucet.
Android Messages trick #18: iRritation elimination
Final however not least in our listing of magnificent Messages enhancements is one thing particular to your conversations with the Apple-adoring animals in your life. And it pertains to these exact same kinds of reactions we have been simply going over.
One obnoxious facet impact of Apple’s “nobody exists exterior of iOS” mentality, y’see, is the best way the iPhone’s equal of these reactions present up on Android. Plain and easy, they present up as — effectively, plain and easy textual content messages, as a substitute of coming by way of as reactions.
Absolutely you’ve encountered this, proper? These pointless messages you get from iGoobers that say stuff like “Beloved ‘Please cease texting me, Crissy’”?
Properly, scribble this in your metaphorical psychological iPad: Google’s Android Messages app is definitely in a position to intercept these absurd platform-specific reactions and switch ’em into commonplace reactions as a substitute of plain-text interruptions. And it’ll take you all of 12 seconds to allow the choice:
- Head again into the Messages app’s settings.
- Faucet “Superior.”
- Search for the road labeled “Present iPhone reactions as emoji” and ensure the toggle subsequent to it’s within the on place.
All that’s left is to breathe one ultimate heavy sigh of reduction — and to ship Crissy a well-deserved burrito response.
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