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One thing that held me back from using Google Keyboard in the past was the extra step it required to get to certain special characters like the underscore or asterisk. While many other keyboards allow you to long-press letters to find those symbols -- a step that takes only one tap to execute -- Google Keyboard makes you first tap the "?123" button and then find and tap the character you want.

Or so I thought. Turns out there's a simpler way: Just touch your finger to the "?123" key and then slide it upward across the keyboard. You'll see a screen full of numbers and special characters instantly appear, and all you have to do is swipe your finger to the one you want. Once you let go, that character will be inserted into your text, and the keyboard will go back to its regular QWERTY panel.

We need only to look to last year's Android 6.0 Marshmallow release to see why this challenge is so critical for Google to overcome. Take, for instance, standardized system-level support for fingerprint security -- one of Marshmallow's marquee features. Its presence in the operating system allows developers to implement fingerprint security into their apps without much work and in a way that functions seamlessly across devices.

Seven months after Marshmallow's release, though, the number of apps actually taking advantage of that function is surprisingly limited. Even Google-developed apps that'd be obvious fits for fingerprint support have yet to get on board -- like Google Wallet, which requires a PIN upon startup, and Google Authenticator, which certainly should provide a security prompt when opened.

Then there's Android 6.0's custom text selection feature, which gives developers the ability to have an action from their app appear in a menu whenever a user selects text

In hindsight, it all makes sense. No amount of optimism or wishful thinking could change the fact that Google and Lenovo have drastically different goals and business interests. Google wants to create the best possible experience for your smartphone so you'll spend more time using it -- and thus more time using Google services and the Internet at large, which ultimately helps the company makes money. So of course Google is going to focus more on long-term "delight" and user experience over short-term profit from hardware sales (which has never been Google's main game).

Lenovo, though? Like most manufacturers, it makes its revenue by selling physical products. So disappointing as it may be, the shift we've been seeing with Motorola under its wings isn't entirely surprising.

Still, Moto's fall from grace means there's a spot open at the head of the class. And I now feel confident in saying that HTC is ready to step up and claim it.

HTC's been moving in the right direction

One thing's for sure: Using Android N on a device you carry all day is a very different experience from using it on a secondary screen. For better and for worse, it gives you a whole different perspective on the state of the software and its real-world user experience.

Let's start with the good, shall we? In this third pre-release incarnation, Android N is (for the most part) impressively smooth and snappy. Most of the time, I don't even think about the fact that I'm using a beta version of a still-in-progress OS update.

Android N feels immediately familiar, which is generally a good thing. Sweeping visual changes should be a rare occurrence with an operating system -- more the exception than the rule -- and Google is absolutely not trying to

The farm has been buzzing with activity over the past two weeks. Last Thursday we finished planting close to 5,000 dahlias, dug a 100 ft trench for a new waterline, plus cleaned and organized our tractor shed and propagation house. We have been implementing a number of ideas we learned from reading The Lean Farm and are doing our best to purge the clutter and really hone in on what we do best. The busy season is bearing down on us fast and furious and we’re rushing to get as much done as we possibly can. Our field and hoophouses are already brimming with color and we’ve harvested buckets of pretty parrot tulips, ranunculus, narcissus, anemones and giant Iceland poppies in luscious sherbet shades (check out my Instagram feed for a few fun shots). Gardeners and farmers across the country are busy prepping fields, starting seeds and even harvesting early blooms. Here are just a few images tagged with #floretseeds or #growfloret that caught my eye. Winners: please send your mailing

I have a pretty laid back approach to most things, but there are a few hard and fast rules the team and I abide by when it comes to the tools we use for day-to-day operations.  One of them revolves around the importance of using the right tool for the job, especially when it comes to sharp objects and anything used to cut, chop, snip or lop.

I learned it the hard way.  In the early years, I was pretty sloppy with our tools.  I would grab whatever was closest to harvest flowers, trim stems, and snip wires. I ruined a lot of expensive clippers in the process.  And I also almost ruined my hands.  I was young and felt invincible, but after hours of repetitive work, day in and day out, carpel tunnel slowly started to creep in.  The pain was a real wake up call and I knew I had to make some serious changes in how I operated.

The experience definitely made me appreciate the fact that my hands are one of the most important tools

For the last several days, I’ve been racing around getting the farm all gussied up for the kickoff of the Floret workshop season. Everyone here is filled with nervous excitement. Tomorrow morning bright and early, we’ll be welcoming a small group of folks from across the U.S. and Canada to our Flower Farming Intensive, a three-day workshop where we’ll be sharing some of our very best growing tricks, design techniques and tips for building a flower-based business. Among the many tips I’ll be sharing, is the emphasis on good photography to document and share the beauty you are growing and designing. A few years ago, Chris and I took the Eyes Open Creative Photography E-Course and it was a real game-changer. As I’ve shared previously, completing the e-course is what enabled us to hone our photography skills and really take Floret’s blog, website and social media posts to the next level. Erin Little is the talented photographer and blogger, who created the course. She has a great

As I've mentioned already, I'm perpetually behind on my weeding. Really behind. I decided I'd share my techniques with all of you, in case you find yourself up against a flower bed that's really been let go too long. Make sure the bed is moist, either from recent rainfall or from supplemental irrigation. There is a sweet little flower (Polygala paucifolia) that blooms in our woods about the same time as the trilliums. It is called Fringed Polygala, which doesn't do justice to the plant, but also Gaywings, which captures the essence of the flowers better. You could almost call them funny; they look like little hot pink

It wasn’t until I read A Year at North Hill : Four Seasons in a Vermont Garden by Wayne Winterrowd and Joe Eck that I made the connection between the greening of the grass and the frost finally being out of the ground. Grass doesn’t grow in frozen soil, and neither does rain percolate down into the frozen earth. Consequently, when you see the lawn greening up, as it did earlier this week, it is the end of mud season and the true beginning of spring. And yesterday the lawn was mowed for the first time.

I made this for Walker because he loves the taste of coffee and combined with chocolate… it is a match made in joyous heaven!

Chia Breakfast Cappuccino Pudding-03365

Every single week I make some kind of chia pudding. It is a staple in our diet because it has many benefits for the digestive system. Adding in the Greens+ Extra-Energy makes this pudding super energizing. And we could all use a little extra energy I’m sure.

This is the perfect way to start your day. You really feel the difference starting your day with nourishing vitamins and minerals, protein and fat – that is exactly what you’ll get in this pudding. Walker finds he gets a really clean energy from the addition of Greens+ Extra Energy. (Side note: I would totally use it too if I wasn’t breastfeeding Vienna). However, I did sneak a spoonful and it is deeeelish!

And it’s not just in his head…

Greens+ is clinically proven to increase energy and