JR Raphael
Contributing Editor
JR Raphael is a journalist and columnist who’s been covering Android and Chrome OS since their earliest days. His Android Intelligence (née Android Power) column was born at Computerworld in 2010 and has happily made its home there ever since.
JR's Android Intelligence newsletter takes the same basic recipe as the column and turns up the heat. Each issue is jam-packed with productivity tips, perspective on the week’s most impactful Android news, and all sorts of exclusive extras — and best of all, it's delivered right to your inbox every Friday. If you haven't yet subscribed, you're missing out!
You can also find JR on at his personal writing refuge, JRStart.com.
Android, ChromeOS, and Google's cloudy vision for a connected future
Android and ChromeOS are about to come closer together than ever, but Google's latest line-blurring twist raises more questions than answers.
Android versions: A living history from 1.0 to 14
Explore Android's ongoing evolution with this visual timeline of versions, starting B.C. (Before Cupcake) and going all the way to 2023's under-development Android 14 release.
A forgotten Android personalization power
This brilliant bit of Android personalization gets lost every time you move into a new device. How long's it been since you've had it active?
Got a Chromebook? Get early access to an awesome new interface enhancement
A hearty productivity booster is in the works for Google's ChromeOS software, and you can activate on your own Chromebook this second — if you know the trick.
2 advanced tools that'll change how you interact with Android apps
Save money and boost your productivity with these clever tools for finding and enhancing all the right apps on Android.
7 Google Play Store secrets for smarter Android app management
Save time and perform all sorts of advanced Android app sorcery with these off-the-beaten-path Play Store tricks.
How to get Android 14's new notification powers now
Android 14 looks to bring a big upgrade to how notifications are handled — and with a teensy bit of tinkering, you can add the same superpowers into any phone this second.
With ChromeOS in 2023, Google's got its eye on the enterprise
Google gives us a glimpse at the next steps for its ChromeOS platform and how Chromebooks are gearing up to get down to business.
5 wild new ways to make Android widgets more useful
Android widgets can do way more than you realize — if you know how to unleash their hidden potential.
How to turn any website into a custom Android widget
Warning: Your Android phone's home screen is about to get a lot more useful.
13 hidden tricks for making the most of Android gestures
Get around your phone faster than ever with these easy-to-miss advanced shortcuts for Android's gesture navigation system.
3 awesome new Samsung Android 13 shortcuts
Attention, Samsung fans: Android 13 introduces some spectacular new step-savers for your phone — but it's up to you to dig 'em up and find 'em.
5 smart secrets for a better Google Tasks experience
If you aren't yet using these Google Tasks power tools, good golly: You're missing out.
Android 13 Upgrade Report Card: Surprise!
When it comes to Android upgrades, all device-makers are absolutely not equal — and this year's data brings one commonly held perception into question.
Bard, Bing, and the 90% problem
People heralding these next-gen AI chatbots as the future of the search seem to be overlooking a pretty hefty elephant in the room.
The best privacy and security apps for Android
Forget malware scanners or over-the-top security suites: These are the apps that'll actually improve your security and protect your privacy on Android.
The best Android password managers
Not all Android password managers are created equal — so which one makes the most sense for you?
12 Gboard shortcuts that'll change how you type on Android
Ready to save yourself tons of time and effort? These Gboard tricks for Android are just what the (smartphone) doctor ordered.
A game-changing Gboard Android discovery
Google's Gboard Android keyboard has some extra efficiency-enhancing intelligence tucked away beneath its surface. Ready to be surprised?