An ingenious new Android notification upgrade

Every now and then, a new phone feature comes along that really makes you sit up and say: “Now, that’s cool.”

Today, my fellow Android-appreciating animal, is one of those days — quite literally. No exaggeration: When I first found and tried out the feature we’re about to go over, just a few moments ago, I sat up straight in my chair, made that vaguely Robert-DeNiro-like weird-mouth face that you make when you’re impressed with something, and said out loud to no one in particular: “Now, that’s cool.”

Luckily, I write this column. So what might otherwise come across as crazy can now come across as relatable instead.

The feature in question is an incredibly clever new way to interact with your notifications on Android and know exactly when something important is demanding your attention without ever so much as looking at your phone — or even lifting it out of your pocket. At a time when so many of us are aiming to make our device use more deliberate and less distracting, it’s a brilliant twist that empowers you to stay on top of what matters without being sidetracked by something less pressing.

This feature isn’t associated with AI, Gemini, or anything directly connected to Google, either. It’s from one of Android’s most quietly powerful and impressively practical third-party apps, and it’s something you can add onto any Android device this instant — no matter what company made it or how old it may be.

Prepare yourself for a “That’s cool!”-worthy revelation.

*[Psst: Want even more advanced Android knowledge? *