// shift plus mask with &

// get sign bit
int signBit = ( i >>> 31 ) & 0x1;
// or
boolean negative = i < 0;

// get second lowest 3 bits.
int second3Bits = ( i >>> 3 ) & 0x7;

// get high order nibble, 4 bits.
int hiNibble = ( i >>> 28 ) & 0xf;

// get high order byte, 8 bits:
int hiByte = ( i >>> 24 ) & 0xff;
// or
byte hiByte = (byte)( i >>> 24 );