Gemini Mobile

This week's tech tip highlights the Google Gemini mobile app. It is a powerful tool that offers all the functionality of the desktop version along with several unique mobile features.

A key highlight is the camera integration and voice. I used this feature a ton on my last few vacations.  You can take a photo of an object—such as a landmark, plant, or piece of architecture—and engage in a back-and-forth conversation to learn more about it. Way better than just a Google search.  It is also useful for generating interior design ideas, styling outfits, planning landscaping, or creating recipes based on a photo of your pantry. Gemini has some great ideas!  Additionally, the voice feature allows for quick, hands-free inquiries while you are on the move.

To get started, sign in with your school account to access all paid features and save your history.

Download the App:

- Android: Google Play Store 

- iOS: Apple App Store

I have attached a few documents below with how-to guides and additional ideas for using the app.

iOS Doc

Android Doc

Schedule Emails to Send

How to schedule an email in Gmail:

- Click the down arrow next to the "Send" button.
- Select "Schedule send" and choose your desired time.
- To view, edit, or delete a scheduled message, look for the Scheduled tab in the left-hand pane.



A quick tip: If you send an email to all-staff, you will not automatically receive a copy in your inbox. To confirm it was sent, you can include yourself in the "To," "Cc," or "Bcc" line.

Scheduling emails is a great way to manage your time and ensure messages are delivered exactly when needed. Here is a doc with several ideas on how to utilize this feature, courtesy of Gemini.

Create New Google Files Fast with Shortcuts

If you typically open a new tab, navigate to Google Drive, and wait for it to load just to create a new file, there is a much faster way.

Google offers shortcuts that allow you to create new items directly from your browser's address bar. I have been using these for a few weeks, and they significantly speed up the process.

To try it yourself, simply type these into your browser:

- New Google Doc: doc.new
- New Google Slides: slides.new
- New Google Sheets: sheets.new
- New Calendar Event: cal.new

Google Chrome Built-In QR Code Generator

For this week’s tech tip, I am highlighting how to create a QR code, as this is a frequently requested topic.

Creating a QR code is a simple process that does not require external websites or accounts. You can generate one by right-clicking on the webpage you wish to link. For example, if you right-click on a Google Form, the option to create a QR code will appear.

QR codes are images that users can scan with their mobile devices to quickly access a website or form. Please refer to this Doc for more detailed instructions.