If you are a regular computer user then I'm sure you have customized your computer in one way or another to better suit your needs such as changing your desktop wallpaper or adding a custom screensaver etc. Android smartphones and tablets can be customized and there are also some nice tricks you can do to get even more out of your device.
There are many ways to customize your Android device to suit your own personal tastes. Here you will find a listing of many easy to perform modifications that will make a big difference in the way you use your Android device.
Setup One Touch Dialing and Texting
If you want to have a one touch method for dialing or texting people you contact often then you can make shortcuts for them on your home screen. To do so simply long hold your finger on an open area of your home screen and then select Shortcuts. Then tap on Direct dial and chose the person from your list of contacts. For texting shortcuts, choose the Direct message option.
Create Website Shortcuts on Your Home Screen
If you have a certain website or websites you go to often then you can make a shortcut to in on your home screen or desktop. To do this go to your browsers bookmarks and long hold on the site in your bookmarks list and then select the Add shortcut to home option.
Creating Folders
Folders are a good way to keep your apps and other items organized. You can store similar app icons or other items you use often in a folder. To create a home screen folder long hold on a blank space and select Folders to create a new folder. You can then drag frequently used apps etc into your new folder. To rename the folder, press and hold the folder's title bar while it's open and type in a new name.
Copying and Pasting Text
Just like on computers, the ability to cut, copy and paste text is a real time saver. To do this you simply long hold on the text in the input area. This also works for web pages but the procedure is a little different. To highlight text on a web page press your menu key and choose Select text. You may have to go to More first if it’s not on your first option screen. Then you will select the text with your finger.
Close the On Screen Keyboard
You may have noticed that when you are typing something on your Android that the keyboard sometimes stays on the screen if there is no next or done button to tap to make it go away. It’s very easy to make the on screen keyboard go away when you don’t need it. Simply touch it and swipe downward to make it disappear.
Show the Date
If your Android device doesn’t show the date on the screen or if you aren’t using a widget etc that shows the date then you easily check the date with a touch of the finger. You can view the current date by touching your finger to the top left corner of the screen.
Send Certain Callers Straight to Voicemail
If you want to send certain contacts straight to voicemail every time they call then you have that option. The first thing you need to do is open that person from your contacts. Next press the Menu button and then Options. Finally check the Incoming calls box to send that contact directly to your voicemail. You can also set custom ringtones for certain people in this area if you just want to know when a certain person is calling.
Set MP3 Files as Ringtones
If you have a certain song or sound effect that is in the form of an MP3 file and you want to use it as a ringtone then here is how you do it. First, make a new folder on your memory card and named ringtones. Then copy the MP3 files you want to use as ringtones to that folder. After you do that they will show up in your selection list. You can also make folders called notifications and alarms and these will do the same thing for those sounds.
Manage Your Power with the Android Power Control Widget
With the Android Power Control widget you can quickly disable all your Android’s battery killing features such as like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and syncing. Long hold on your home screen and choose Widgets and then Power Control to add it to your home screen.
Create Keyboard Shortcuts
Android devices have a customizable collection of app launcher shortcuts that can be quickly used to launch apps or other functions. To get to these keyboard shortcuts go to Settings, Applications and then Quick Launch. To create a new keyboard shortcut simply choose a shortcut key that’s not assigned and tap it to choose an application to add to it.
Find Your Version of the Android OS
If you want to find out what version of the Android OS you are running simply go to Settings and then to the About phone section. There you will see the Android version as well as your phone’s model number.
Using Airplane Mode on a Flight.
Most airlines will allow you to use your phone on the plane as long as there is no cell signal being sent or received from your phone. This way you can do things like check your calendar, watch movies and play games. To get to airplane mode hold your power button down as if you were going to turn off the phone and you should get the phone menu where there will be a selection to turn on airplane mode. If this doesn’t work on your phone then you can go into Settings and then Wireless & network settings and turn it on from there.
Changing Your Wallpaper
Just like your computer, the Android OS lets you have different wallpapers for your background. The easiest way to get to this setting is to press your menu button while on your home screen and then choosing Wallpaper.
Then depending on how your device is setup you will have various options as to what type of wallpaper you can use. The Gallery setting lets you choose an image from pictures you have taken with your device’s camera. Live wallpapers are animated wallpapers that move in the background. If you use custom launchers then they may offer their own wallpapers.
Switch Quickly Between Apps
If you want to get back to an app that you recently used or one that is still running then there is an easy way to do this. Just like with Windows, Android offers a quick way to tab between apps. With Windows the shortcut key is Alt-Tab but with Android all you need to do is hold down your Home button and you will get a listing of recent apps. Then tap the one you want and it will switch to it.
Check back for more Android tips and tricks coming soon!
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