Cell phones can do an infinite number of things. Today more than ever real pocket computers with the ability to be powerful work tools, entertainment sources, and of course incredible cameras for taking high-quality photos and videos. But beyond all this, it is also a fact that mobile phones are now smarter than ever.

Worked on many manufacturers automation capabilities for mobile devicesOn Samsung and Galaxy devices, these capabilities allow the mobile phone (or tablet) to perform certain tasks on its own under the conditions we specify. This function is called “Routines” and is a relatively unknown but really useful feature.

How to save time and be more productive using Bixby Modes and Routines.

In reality, this not only offers greater productivity, but also greater detachment when we really want to unwind. The idea is mobile do certain things automatically Without us having to tell you, for each routine you only need to configure it once by following these steps:

• Access the menu settings
• Then go to the section Modes and routines
• Choose a default mode or create a new one
• Configure the mode by selecting the conditions under which it will activate and the actions it will perform once active

Let’s look at an example: We want to prevent our mobile phone from distracting us when we go to work every day, so we usually silence it and disable notifications. But with Samsung Galaxy routines we can take this to the next level: It is possible to configure that your mobile phone will disable notifications when you arrive at work but allow some notifications (for example, from work-related applications such as Calendar or Teams). You can also enable power saving mode and even restrict the use of some applications.

Mobile phone It will detect that we are at work based on the location of the deviceor when connecting to a WiFi network or simply because we indicate when we are in the office. Similarly, when we return home, we can configure it to activate another Routine, prioritizing entertainment and relaxation, while disabling email notifications and work apps.

We must configure the conditions under which we want the mode or routine to be activated (schedule, location) and the actions the mode should perform (avoid using applications, silence notifications, change screen brightness, etc.).

The modes and routines function is based on the same idea as the IFTTT program; i.e. “If This, Then That” in Spanish: If this, then this. In other words: If this condition is met, do the following. Therefore, Modes and Routines work based on the condition of performing actions. If it gets dark, reduce the screen brightness. If we are at university, avoid accessing social networks. And so on.

The possibilities are many and It will depend on the creativity we have in creating routines.Since Samsung Galaxy has some factory-programmed modes, the biggest benefit is to create custom modes and add as many conditions and actions as we want.

We can configure these modes to be activated automatically or enable them manually from the quick settings menu (by swiping twice from the top of the screen).

Some of the actions that can be configured in the modes and routines section.

For example, I usually take my dog ​​for a walk at different times of the day, and I’ve created a routine where my phone detects that I’m going to the park and activates the most important notifications (because my phone is usually in “Do not disturb” mode when I’m at work hours), and also enables music playback On Spotify to enjoy a song while walking.

There are so many options that you can spend hours exploring the alternatives: record the screen, change the screen brightness, font size, access applications, open two applications at the same time, turn on the flashlight, read notifications out loud (ideal if we are in the car), change the volume of notifications, and much more, some actions are directly related to applications ( for example, playing music in a streaming app).

This very useful tool It takes a little time to install but it’s worth it. Ever since I discovered its potential, I can’t stop using it and it has not only saved me time throughout the day, but has also allowed me to concentrate and be more productive during work or whenever I need it.

Cover photo | Ricardo Aguilar transferred to Xataka

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