Sweet robotic joy?you just unwrapped an Android phone and, man, is it shiny. Here are our suggestions for apps to grab, settings to tweak, and really nifty things you can do with your Google-powered mini-computer.
Title image remixed from an original by Air0ne (Shutterstock).
We'll run through some of the most helpful Android coverage on Lifehacker that still applies to modern Android phones (pre-Ice Cream Sandwich, since the Galaxy Nexus is the only device that has it at this point) in this article. If you wanted a deeper read on everything to discover in your Android, check out Lifehacker alum Kevin Purdy's book, The Complete Android Guide, a paperback and ebook that explores Android in-depth. The Guide is also available as a free wiki at this site (click "Browse the book"), where you can also grab a free print-and-fold PDF template with a list of 10 things to do right away on your Android phone.
That said, on to the stuff you want to know about what your rather awesome new phone can do:
Get the Latest and Greatest Google Stuff
Before you start playing around and getting used to how things work, why don't you do two quick things: set up a Wi-Fi connection, then update your phone's built-in applications. They're likely newer than the versions you have on your just-opened phone, and some of the upgrades are intense.
To connect to Wi-Fi, hit your phone's Menu button (the button with either three parallel lines, or the four boxes), choose Settings from the menu that pops up, then pick Wireless & networks. Check to enable Wi-Fi on the next screen, then hit the Wi-Fi settings menu below it. Pick out your home router name (or your relatives'), enter a password if necessary, and now have some fun.
Some apps you'll want to check for updates. Open the Market app from your list of applications (press the grid-like, bottom-middle on-screen button to get there), then head to the Downloads section (press Menu if you don't see it). If you don't see "Update" under these apps, you may have to search them out to download the newer version.
- Google Maps: Google Maps is everywhere. Seriously - in addition to offering you free turn-by-turn navigation, Google Maps can help you with walking directions, public transit to your destination, and it even offers maps of indoor places like airports so you can find your way around. You might also pick up some "splinter" apps, like Places and Latitude.
- Gmail: Picked up Priority Inbox support and a better compose/reply system not too long ago.
- Voice Actions/Search: It not only controls your phone with your voice, but can send SMS messages, navigate you to your destination, place calls, find nearby businesses, and more as you talk to it. It's one of our favorite Siri-like options for Android, and stay tuned, Voice Actions may become much more powerful in the very near future.
- Google+: We love Google+, and think it's great for a lot of things even if (and especially if) your friends may not be on it. Consider it a fresh start, compared to some of those other social networks. The Android app is gorgeous, and once you're all signed up and set up, don't forget to add Lifehacker to your circles!
- Google Music: Just opened its doors to the masses with tons of tracks and label support for those interested in buying music, and tons of cloud storage for your uploaded tracks and your purchased tracks, all for free, and all accessible on your Android phone.
- Google Currents: Google's recently released magazine-style newsreader looks great, hooks into Google Reader to help you add your favorite blogs, and offers featured and curated content in a variety of categories to help you stay up to date on what's going on in the world, news in subject areas you're interested in, and then share interesting reads with your friends.
- Set up Google Voice(mail): If you're intrigued by Google Voice, Google's one-number service with free SMS and other perks, an Android is probably the best phone to have. But even if you don't want to get a new number and send texts through the web, you can use Google Voice as your voicemail provider while keeping your number. Activate the Voice app on your phone, and it can take care of your phone's configuration to send your voicemail to Google, transcribe it, archive it, and let it be managed like email on your phone. If you're an SMS fanatic, the app has been recently updated to support multi-recipient texting and voicemail pre-fetching, so no more getting a voicemail in Google Voice and only being notified on your Android phone hours later.
Install the Best Apps and Upgrades
Android apps? Oh, we've got a few to recommend.
First up is our Lifehacker Pack for Android, where we picked out our favorite apps for communicating, being productive, viewing media, and otherwise getting the most use out of Android.
Also, every week, in the Lifehacker App Directory series, we highlight the best Android apps in select categories. You can roll back through our Android-only picks using the Android App Directory tag. If you're keeping tabs on all of the things iOS has to offer, never fear?for every feature in iOS 5, there's a way to get the same functionality in Android and then some, thanks to some great third-party apps.
Finally, if you got your Android phone this holiday but need a little help with what to install, check out our Android App Gift Guide, or list of Android apps that we think are life-changing enough that we're not only willing to pay for them, we're willing to give them as gifts and consider them must-haves.
Start Syncing Your Music, Videos, and Pictures
Your Android doesn't need a USB cable to play or sync music on your desktop computer?though it can work that way, if that's more your speed. But setting up Wi-Fi syncing, and internet streaming, for your Android is so simple, you might never need to cord-hunt again when you want to switch up your playlist.
- How to Sync Android with Windows as Seamlessly as an iPhone
Speaking of easy, Whitson walked us through the process of syncing our Android phones with your Windows systems quickly and easily in a way that's repeatable without a ton of hassle. - How Can I Get an iTunes-Like Experience For My Android Phone?
If you're coming to Android from an iPod, iPod Touch, or iPhone, you may be wishing there were a way to just plug-in your Android device and sync all of your media, music, and podcasts. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do it, and we're happy to show you how. - Flickr Introduces Android App, Releases Photo Sessions Feature for Browsing Photos with Friends
Flickr finally released an Android app not too long ago, so if you're an avid user of one of the web's most popular photo sharing services, you can finally snap pictures and automatically upload them to your Flickr account, manage albums, and view your friends' photos as well. If you're not fan of Flickr, head over to Google+ and Picasa?Google+ users get virtually unlimited storage for photos, and instant uploads thanks to the Google+ Android app. - How to Set Up Your Android for Automated Wi-Fi Syncing with DoubleTwist
When this is set up-and, really, it only takes about 15 minutes, much less if you've already connected AirSync-you'll have a computer and phone that "check in" with each other regularly over Wi-Fi. No cables needed, and you don't have to click the Sync button. - Winamp for Android Updates, Now Syncs with Macs Wirelessly
If DoubleTwist isn't right for you, try Winamp for Android?it syncs with Macs and Windows PCs over USB or wirelessly, syncs iTunes playlists, and is overall and excellent music player for Android. We've mentioned it before, and it still whips the llama's a**.
Troubleshoot the Tricky Stuff
Not to say Android phones aren't all fun and games, but some aspects aren't quite so obvious to newcomers. Here are some tips on some of the finer points we've covered?
Photo by Clive Darr.
- How to Upgrade to a New Android Phone and Take Everything With You
If your new Android device is a replacement for an old one, taking your data with you is easy. We show you how. - How to Set Up a Fully Automated App and Settings Backup on Android
Once you get your Android device all set up and to your liking, don't let tragedy happen to you. Make sure you make sure your phone is regularly backed up so you don't have to worry about your data. Your Android phone is a mini-computer that has a lot of precious information on it, and keeping it safe is easy and takes only a few minutes to set up. - How to Fix Installation Unsuccessful Errors In The Android Market
If you're busy installing apps from the Market or updating the apps you already have installed and suddenly one install or another starts failing, you may have no idea why. Here's how to fix it. - How Do I Fix My Bricked Android Phone?
One of the first things many of you may do with a brand new Android phone is root it and possibly install a new ROM. If that process doesn't go very well and you wind up with a brand new hunk of plastic and metal on your desk that's completely unresponsive, all may not be lost! There are plenty of ways to approach a so-called "bricked" phone that may bring it back to life. - How Do I Convert Video for my Android Phone?
Converting videos for the iPod is so easy in iTunes, but I can't seem to get videos to play on my Android device. How can I convert videos so that they'll play in the native Android video player? - What Should I Do When My Android Runs Out of Space for Apps?
I love trying out and using Android apps, but my phone warns me that it's "Low on space." How can that be, with 8 GB inside and a huge microSD card in place? How can I fix it? - Android Task Killers Explained: What They Do and Why You Shouldn't Use Them
Android task killers improve your phone's performance while also boosting battery life-or at least that's the much-debated promise. Here's a look at how task killers actually work, when you should (or shouldn't) use them, and what you can do instead. - How to Keep Track of Your Cellphone Data Usage
Just as many smartphones added tethering support and enough great features that we wanted to use the hell out of our data plans, many carriers are moving to metered plans. Here's how to monitor your usage and avoid overage fees.
Expand Your Phone's Capabilities
Beyond apps and tweaks, you can make your phone do some really neat things. Things like tell you where it is if it's lost or stolen. Things like transcribe your voicemail. Things like send a text back to your wife to let her know you're driving, not just callously ignoring her calls.
- The Always Up-To-Date Guide to Rooting Any Android Phone
We recently updated our Android rooting guide to include lots of Gingerbread-friendly options and tools for newer devices on the market now. One of the best things you can do to extend the functionality of your Android device is root it, and we're happy to show you how. - How to Turn Your Android or iPhone into a Portable Retro Game Arcade
iOS users don't have to have all of the gaming fun?with a little work and a couple of apps, you can turn your Android device into a retro game arcade, capable of playing some of your favorite classic titles anywhere you go. Here's how to get started. - Turn Your Android Phone into a Personal Trainer
Work off those pounds you put on thanks to the Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas ham with your shiny new Android phone. There are plenty of apps to help you get the most out of your workouts at home, at the gym, or outside, keep track of your progress, and meet your health and weight loss goals. Here's how to turn that new phone into a pocket gym you can take with you anywhere. - How to Find the Right Android Keyboard For You
Before you go too far with your Android phone, you may want to do something about the stock Android keyboard. There's nothing wrong with it, specifically, but there are some much better options out there that can make using your device easier and more fun. - Do Android Antivirus Apps Actually Do Anything?
If you've been hearing all about Android malware and you're worried you'll need an antivirus or anti-malware app on your Android phone, read this first before you install one. - How to Turn Your Tablet Into an Awesome Productivity-Boosting Second Screen
If you have an Android tablet, it doesn't have to just be an entertainment, social, and media device. It can be a great productivity booster as well, and you can do real work on it. Here's how. - Five Best Mobile Price Comparison Apps
Your Android phone can make sure you always get the best price when you're out and about shopping, either for presents for other people, or for more toys for yourself. Install one of these apps to make sure you're always looking at a bargain when you're in a store or shopping online. - How to Break Down the Barrier Between Your Android and Computer
Your Android is supposed to keep you instantly connected to your digital life. It can do that, but it needs some help. These best-of-class applications make sending files, syncing music, swapping web sites, and other phone-computer hook-ups so much easier. - How to Track and (Potentially) Recover Your Stolen Laptop or Android with Prey
There are obvious reasons to like Prey. Chief among them, it's free to use for up to three devices of any kind, from computers running Windows, Mac, or Linux to Android devices. But that wouldn't mean anything if the tracking Prey provided wasn't really solid. It's not fool-proof, especially if the thief wants to entirely wipe your computer or phone, but if that's not the case, it gives you a fighting chance. - How to Turn Your Android Phone into a Fully-Automated Superphone
What if your phone automatically went silent when you step into the movie theater? Texted your significant other when you finished your long commute? Or automatically turned down the volume when a particularly loud friend called? It can; here's how.
We hope we helped some of you new to Android to discover a new app or two, or think differently about what you can set up with your phone. If you have questions, comments, or tips for other new Android owners, offer them up in the comments.
david wright buffalo chicken dip sugar cookie recipe sugar cookie recipe robert deniro how the grinch stole christmas macaroni and cheese
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.