You might not realize it, but you spend a lot of time during the day navigating through menus that you don’t have to. This includes apps on your computer, your phone, and your TV. You’re not losing a ton of time at any given time, but it definitely adds up over the course of a day. There are few things you can do to speed things up. No, you’re not going to find yourself with an unlimited amount of free time, but you can cut out a lot of busy work and spend more time doing things you want to be doing.
I understand as much as the next person how important it is to save time, especially since it feels like we never have enough of it. This list of apps has helped me automate more tasks and let me spend more time doing what I want to do. All of the apps on the list are available free of charge, so there’s no downside to trying them out if you’re looking to be a little more productive.
Quiz
Pixels, Nothing, & Android Phones
Trivia Challenge
From glyph lights to tensor chips — how well do you really know the Android universe?
PixelNothingAndroidDesignHistory
What is the signature visual feature that makes Nothing phones instantly recognizable on the back?
Correct! Nothing phones feature a transparent back combined with the Glyph Interface — a series of LEDs arranged in distinctive patterns that can light up for notifications, charging status, and more. It’s one of the boldest design statements in modern Android.
Not quite. Nothing phones are famous for their transparent back design combined with the Glyph Interface, a system of LEDs that glow for notifications and alerts. It’s a throwback to the transparent gadget aesthetic of the early 2000s, reimagined for smartphones.
In what year did Google launch the very first Pixel smartphone, replacing the Nexus line?
Correct! Google launched the original Pixel and Pixel XL in October 2016, marking the end of the Nexus era. Unlike Nexus devices, Pixels were fully designed and marketed by Google as a premium hardware brand.
Not quite. The first Google Pixel arrived in October 2016, replacing the Nexus line. It was a significant shift for Google, as the company took full ownership of the hardware design and branding rather than partnering with manufacturers like LG or Huawei.
What is the name of Google’s in-house chip that powers Pixel 6 and later devices?
Correct! Google’s Tensor chip debuted with the Pixel 6 in 2021, marking Google’s move away from Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Tensor is designed with AI and machine learning tasks in mind, powering features like on-device speech recognition and photo processing.
Not quite. The chip is called Google Tensor, introduced with the Pixel 6 in 2021. It was Google’s first custom silicon for phones, designed to prioritize on-device AI tasks — similar in spirit to Apple’s move with its own A-series chips.
Nothing Phone was founded by Carl Pei, who previously co-founded which other well-known smartphone brand?
Correct! Carl Pei co-founded OnePlus alongside Pete Lau before departing in 2020 to start Nothing. OnePlus was famous for its ‘flagship killer’ pricing strategy, and Pei has brought a similarly disruptive mindset to Nothing.
Not quite. Carl Pei co-founded OnePlus, the company known for affordable flagship smartphones and its ‘Never Settle’ motto. He left OnePlus in 2020 and founded Nothing, which launched its first phone in 2022.
Android was originally developed by a small company before being acquired by Google. What was that company called?
Correct! Android Inc. was founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. Google acquired the company in 2005 for around $50 million, and the rest is mobile history.
Not quite. The company was called Android Inc., founded in 2003 and acquired by Google in 2005. Andy Rubin, one of its founders, later led Android development at Google and is often called the ‘Father of Android.’
What affordable accessory trick can transform a Google Pixel’s appearance to mimic a Nothing phone’s transparent aesthetic?
Correct! A cheap vinyl wrap or skin featuring a circuit board or transparent-style print can give your Pixel the aesthetic look of a Nothing phone for just a couple of dollars. It’s a purely cosmetic trick, but it’s a fun and affordable way to change up your phone’s look.
Not quite. The answer is a vinyl skin with a circuit board or transparent-style design — these are available for just a dollar or two from sites like Etsy or AliExpress. It won’t add actual Glyph lights, but it nails the visual vibe of a Nothing phone on a budget.
Which Pixel feature, praised for dramatically improving low-light photography, was introduced with the original Pixel 2?
Correct! Night Sight launched with the Pixel 3 in 2018 as a major software-driven photography feature, using computational photography to brighten dark scenes without a flash. It set a new benchmark for smartphone low-light imaging at the time.
Not quite. The answer is Night Sight, which arrived with the Pixel 3 in 2018. It uses machine learning and multiple exposures to produce bright, detailed photos in near-darkness — it was so impressive that it pressured competitors to develop their own night modes.
Nothing OS, the software on Nothing phones, is built on top of which version of Android and is known for what key software philosophy?
Correct! Nothing OS sits close to stock Android in terms of functionality but adds distinctive design touches like the Dot Matrix font and custom icon pack. Nothing has been praised for keeping bloatware low and promising meaningful software update support.
Not quite. Nothing OS is built on stock Android with light but distinctive customizations — most notably its unique Dot Matrix typeface and cohesive monochrome icon style. It’s one of the cleaner Android skins available, which has earned it a loyal fanbase.
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Use Google Wallet a lot more
It saves so much time
When I traveled to Germany, I used Google Wallet to keep everything organized, and those same habits carried over when I came back home. Google Wallet is a lot more than just paying for things at the store. You can load your travel passes, your concert tickets, and many other things to Google Wallet. This makes it so you don’t have to dig through a bunch of apps for anything — it’s just all in one spot.
I have my AMC A-List subscription loaded into it, so instead of opening the AMC app when I go to the theater, I just open my Google Wallet and scan with that. I also make my popcorn purchase with the same app. It’s just nice to have everything streamlined like that. For concert tickets, it’s especially nice because I don’t have to remember whether I bought a ticket through Ticketmaster or AXS, it’s in my Google Wallet all the same. Pretty much every time I see the option to add something to my Google Wallet, I do it. With Walmart finally getting on board with tap-to-pay, I can see myself using this app even more.
Letterboxd keeps track of my growing physical library
No more having to check what I own
According to a Letterboxd list I put together, I own more than 300 movies. Not all of those are physical, but the majority of them are. While I wouldn’t say I have a bad memory, I pick up movies on sale all the time, and I don’t always remember what I pick up. Because of that, I don’t always know what’s in my collection. When I want to watch something, I typically look at my bookshelves of movies and pick from there, but that can take a long time. My collection is so big that it often feels like I’m scrolling through the Netflix home page mindless scrolling, except it’s in person.
What Letterboxd lets me do is type in a movie, and it lets me know if I already own it physically. This makes it easier not to double-dip on the same movie, but it also helps me avoid watching something that catches my eye on streaming. This app also helps you keep track of where something’s streaming at any given time, so it has uses outside of tracking a physical library as well. I swear I could easily spend an hour browsing streaming services each day, but thanks to Letterboxd, I don’t do that anymore.
When I was on a Godzilla kick, it was nice to know I had Godzilla vs. Biollante in my collection, so I didn’t have to watch it on HBO Max. I like to spend my time watching something instead of trying to figure out if I have something on a disc before watching, and the Letterboxd list lets me do that. The only problem is that I have to remember to add everything I bought to this list, and it’s something I’m guilty of neglecting from time to time.
A universal remote and its accompanying app cut out the headache
No more random devices turning on
I have a SofaBaton X2 universal remote, and it’s one of the best things I’ve picked up in recent memory. I used to rely on HDMI-CEC and everything working properly, but that was just a nightmare. A universal remote like the X2 lets me control all of my devices individually. This is a great addition for anybody with a home theater setup. I use my remote to control my Apple TV 4K, Sony Bravia, and Denon receiver. Not only does it let me ditch my extra remotes and streamline things, the accompanying SofaBaton app gives me a few more tricks.
In the SofaBaton app, I put together a macro that turns on my TV, receiver, and Apple TV 4K, all while defaulting to the Apple TV home screen instead of my TV. I don’t have to go to the correct HDMI port, and I don’t have to worry about my Xbox randomly turning on thanks to weird HDMI-CEC handshake problems. The macro was loaded onto my remote from my phone, and all I have to do is slide my finger across the touch screen and watch everything start up. I have a separate macro that does the same thing, but it leaves my Apple TV off in favor of my Xbox Series X. The downside is that this particular remote is quite expensive, but I can’t imagine life without it at this point. I don’t have to spend an extra couple minutes each time I turn on my TV to turn other things off and fix the HDMI input anymore.
Google Sheets helps me stay organized
Everyone loves spreadsheets
You’re no doubt familiar with Google Sheets, but you might be surprised by how customizable it can be. As weird as it sounds, I wanted to play more video games in 2026 after sort of drifting away from the hobby in recent years, so I found a template that lets me keep track of the games, their platform, my rating, and my review. It’s all put together in an easy-to-read format, and when the end of the year comes, I’ll have everything neatly put together in one spot.
I also started using the app to keep track of Pokemon card prices that I have in my collection. I’m not one of those people who’s sitting on boxes of unopened products, but more so, I’m using Sheets to track the price of my childhood Dark Blastoise and a few others. I can use Price Charting to track this, which I do, but that shows me the price at the time I check. What I do is, at the start of every month, write down the current price of my card, and this lets me look back over the past year and see how things have fluctuated. It’s sort of exciting to track this, even if I don’t have any intention of getting rid of the card. I’m sure you have some more exciting things to do with Google Sheets, but just know it’s an excellent tool to help you stay organized.
