How I Turn My Phone Into a Mobile, AI Powered Workstation

My Pixel Home Screen Set Up

As you can see, I’m partial to dark and muted colors both for aesthetics and practicality. I’m prone to headaches and migraines. So, I try to avoid my triggers, namely bright lights and vibrant colors. I do my best to keep my home screen free from clutter and distractions, as such I’ve tossed apps like Youtube away from my main screen. Here’s an overview of what purpose each app serves.

• Gmail - This one’s my main email client and serves not only as a messaging platform but also the home for my automation triggers. Using Gmail and App Scripts, I managed to create an intelligent support ticket responder for my game, Fantasy Brawls.
• Docs - Being a Google guy, I tend to lean on Google Docs for creating my articles.
• Drive - Main storage place for my assets. It's also the place I store my code used in my AppScript functions. Note: you can’t view your code within the Drive app but you can click the link to the code and open it in a browser.
• Google Analytics - This is where I meticulously monitor the rankings, dwell times, user interactions, etc for my websites. It's also the place where I feverishly await the results of Google’s algorithm updates.
• ChatGPT - My go to app for creative ideas. It used to be place I went to for coding and image generation but Gemini has become my new favorite for those tasks.
• Chrome - Obvious browser of choice given my affinity for Google products.
• Journal - This paid tool is a surprisingly effective way to process your thoughts while getting independent advice from Gemini. I try to make myself write how I’m feeling when I first wake up and before I go to bed. Then, at least weekly, I’ll review my notes.
• NoteBookLM - This app is perfect for anyone in tech or any industry that changes frequently. You essentially use it as a research assistant. And, I use the term ‘assistant’ lightly because it does nearly all the work. Simply tell it what you want to learn and it’ll search the web for you, find relevant sources and curate a database of information for you.

You can even have it make you flashcards. Here’s a look at what it made me when I was studying for my Salesforce Platform Developer exam.

The other apps like Ask Gemini, Google Meet and Call/SMS don’t really need much of an explanation. I don’t really do anything special with them other than the obvious. However, the most important part of my home screen aren’t the apps that are listed, rather the ones that aren’t there. Social Media, unless you’re using it to make money, is the ultimate productivity killer. The same goes for Youtube and any other streaming platform.

My Two Case Set up For My Pixel

Software is only part of the productivity build, hardware can be just as important when it comes to summoning the motivation and discipline needed to grind through tasks.

An often overlooked component of mobile computing is the way a device feels in your hand. You want something grippy but not too rugged. And, you want something sleek but not so slippery it flies out of your hand. A nice balance between grip and sleekness, is a quality leather case. I use the X-level Premium Silicone Leather Case whenever I’m working indoors.

It’s thin but has slightly raised edges around the screen that provide a decent amount of protect from drops that might happen in an office setting. It also looks professional and has a nice texture for your supporting fingers while your thumbs blast away on the GBoard.

For me, it's the perfect indoor case and when I throw it on my phone, it's like donning a business suit. It provides me with a physical cue that its time for business. I have a similar approach with my Apple Watch. Metal bands for the watch and leather on the phone means it's time for coding, emails, and calls.

When I work outdoors or I’m attending my son’s soccer practice, I slap the Spigen Ultra Hybrid Magfit. Its a clear case so it shows off your phones color which was a big plus for me since I finally veered away from the all black pixel in favor of the gorgeous Moonstone color.

This case protects your phone much better than the leather one. In fact, it's strong enough to tank a direct hit from a soccer ball and a fall onto a metal stadium stand while leaving your phone unharmed. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience here. Additionally, it is grippy enough that it won’t slip out your hand in the hot, humid, Florida weather. Whenever this case comes on, it's time to venture out of my cave and into the world.

The cases function like the modes on iOS and Android. Leather is my Focus Mode and Silicone is Outdoor mode. One tells my brain it’s time to sit down and build. The other reminds me I can still stay connected and productive while I am out in the real world.

Put The Pixel Work, It’ll Become Your Favorite Colleague

Between Docs, Gemini, NotebookLM, Gmail, and a fine tuned home screen, your Pixel morphs into a portable workstation. It becomes your go to place craft content, turn ideas into reality, and dreams into products. By installing only the tools that help you achieve your goals you’ll have a safe and reliable workspace for years to come.

Treat the phone like an extension of your laptop or pc and it’ll revolutionize the way you work.