Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 1 i Android Smartphones & Tablets The Complete Manual

BDM’s Complete Manual Series✓ Android Smartphones & Tablets Your Android phone or tablet is the perfect tool for checking your emails on the go, browsing the Internet while you wait for your train or listening to music while you exercise, but it is also capable of so much more. From playing the latest games and watching on-demand TV to managing your work/life balance and writing that long-planned novel. This Android guidebook will take you from getting the most from the stock Android apps such as Gmail and Chrome, through solving common problems and on to learning about adding launchers and rooting your device. We will show you how to explore the OS and get more from any Android phone or tablet, whether it is four years old or the latest cutting-edge,…

Android Controls and Connections Touch Screen Controls Modern Android devices no longer rely on physical pressure to register a touch, instead relying on tiny electrical charges in our fingers. Single Touch To activate items on the screen such as application and settings icons, to type letters and symbols using the on-screen keyboard, or to press on-screen buttons, you simply (gently) touch them with your finger. The touch screen is capacitive, meaning it is sensitive to the tiny electrical charge in our bodies. This means you only have to tap the screen, not press down hard with your finger. Touch and Hold Touch and Hold means to tap an item on the screen and not lift your finger until a secondary action occurs. This could be a menu opening, allowing you…

Getting Started with Android Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks Connecting your Android device to the Internet is certainly going to be one of the first things you will want to do. You have a couple of options for connecting to the Internet on Android. If you have access to a Wi-Fi network at home, in work or elsewhere, this is the best option in terms of speed and reliability. By following these steps, setting up your Wi-Fi connection should be relatively pain-free. Scan For Networks You need to make sure that you know the name of, and the password for, your chosen Wi-Fi Network. If you don’t know already, you can usually find it printed on a label stuck to the back or bottom of your wireless…

Getting Started with Android Making and Receiving Calls Making and Receiving Calls While your Android phone is an incredibly powerful device with lots of bells and whistles, let’s not forget that its main function is as a phone to make and receive phone calls. Making a call on your Android phone might seem like the most simple of things but there are actually several ways to initiate a call, as well as control who calls you. Plus there are a few settings you can change to make this simple phone function even simpler. Dialling a Number There are lots of different ways to initiate a call on your Samsung Galaxy phone but if you know the number you want to dial this is usually the fastest method of making a…

Getting Started with Android Browse Online with Chrome Browse Online with Chrome The mobile version of Google Chrome is now the standard browser on most Android smartphones and tablets and is widely considered to be the fastest and safest browser around. The app will be preinstalled on your device but you should check for the latest updates on Google Play before you use the browser on your device. Some Android devices may also have a second web browser app that is called simply Internet. Browsing the Internet The Google Chrome browser is far from the only option for getting onto the Internet but unless you need very specific features offered by other browsers, Chrome is a great all round choice. 1 Search Field Type your search terms or URL here.…

Getting Started with Android Locking Your Android Device Locking Your Android Device Taking care of the security on your Android device is a very important step. Setting up a simple screen lock, whether that is a PIN, pattern or password, is one of the first things you should do to make your device more secure. Adding a lock screen not only stops prying eyes, but several of the more advanced security features require a screen lock to be set up before they can be activated. PIN, Pattern or Password Locks Choosing between PIN, Pattern and Password lock is down to personal preference, and also your security concerns regarding the level at which you want to protect your data. 1 Open the main Settings and scroll down to the Security section. Screen…

Exploring Android Google Home First Time Set Up Google Home First Time Set Up Setting up your Google Home device properly for the first time will make using it much easier, so take the time to get things right. You will need to have the speaker, an Android device, a Google account and a working Wi-Fi connection that both Android and Home devices can connect to. Setting Up Google Home All of the setup for your Google Home speaker is done through the Google Home app for Android. Use this app for future access and changes to the settings. 1 Plug in your Google Home device and wait for the audio cue to show it is ready to be set up. Make sure that the switch that controls the microphone…

Exploring Android Playing Music Using Bluetooth Playing Music Using Bluetooth As well as being connected by Wi-Fi, your Google Home device can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker, playing music that is stored on your phone or tablet or even your laptop. You can also stream music from your Google Home device to a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Play Music on Home Speaker Being able to play music stored on your phone or tablet through the Google Home speaker is a useful addition to its bag of tricks. 1 Open the Google Home app and tap the name of the device you want to connect with via Bluetooth. In the top right corner of the device info card, tap the device settings menu and then find the Paired Bluetooth devices…

Exploring Android Navigating with Google Maps Navigating with Google Maps Google Maps is a fantastic tool but it can often be overlooked by Android users in favour of the seemingly more exciting features that their device offers. Google Maps is much more than just a way to find out where you are. It can help you find hotels and restaurants in the local area, show you a list of local plumbers, act as a satellite navigation tool and show you the distance between two points. Set Up Google Maps Before you can use Google Maps on your device, you will need to ensure that a few other services are activated. These may vary, depending on where you are trying to use the app. 1 Google Maps uses Live data, so…

Exploring Android Facebook Security and Privacy With the Facebook app up and running on your device, the next thing you should do is check and edit the privacy and security settings. Tap Menu > Account Settings while in the Facebook app. Login Alerts If you are concerned that someone is logging in to your account without your knowledge, the first option is to immediately change your password. Another option is to enable Login Alerts. This lets you choose a method, i.e. email or sms message, of letting you know when a new device logs in. Who can see my stuff? Move in to the privacy settings and you can see controls for who can see your posts, including images, that you add to Facebook. You can change who sees future…

The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Checking In Checking in is a simple way of updating your status to show where you are. Check-in’s can either be places you have visited before, or you can create new ones as you need them. 1 Open the Facebook app and tap the ‘What’s on your mind?’ box at the top of the screen. You can type a status update if you wish, or simply tap the Check-in button below the text box. A list of previous locations available to check in to will then be displayed on screen. 2 If you see your current location listed, tap it, and then tag any friends you are with (if you wish) on the next screen. You can skip this step using the button at the…

Exploring Android Using a System Monitor Using a System Monitor Task Managers, the apps which monitor your device and kill any background tasks which could be slowing things down, were once one of the most recommended tools for Android. Modern versions of the OS, however, have no need for task managers as they become increasingly good at assigning system resources intelligently. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place on your device for some system monitoring to keep things running smoothly. Monitor System Statistics Being able to easily view important system stats is the first step towards making sure that your Android device runs smoothly. 1 There are lots of different system monitors available, both free and pro versions, which will monitor a variety of system functions. We have chosen…

Doing More with Android Erase and Reset an Android Device Erase and Reset an Android Device You can remove data from your Android phone or tablet by resetting it to factory settings. Resetting this way is also called ‘formatting’ or a ‘hard reset’. A factory reset is useful if you’re trying to fix some persistent issues or are planning to sell or give away an old device and want to make sure that everything of yours has been removed. Preparing to Reset Before you reset and wipe your device you need to make sure that you understand and are prepared for what you need to get back up and running afterwards. 1 To show that it’s you doing the reset, you’ll need to enter security information. If you can’t enter…

Doing More with Android Speed Up Android Animations Speed Up Android Animations You may already know about the hidden developer menu available on all Android devices running version 4.0 or later of the OS. Within this initially confusing list of settings, you can find some really useful tools for making your device run faster and more smoothly, as well as a few simple tweaks to get the most from your phone or tablet. Here we will look at using animation settings to improve overall performance. Modify Animation Settings You can now begin to modify development settings, including the animation settings. It is a good idea to back up your device before continuing. 1 Whilst it may be tempting to play around with the settings here, we suggest leave everything alone…

Doing More with Android Disable Android Bloatware Disable Android Bloatware No matter which brand of Android device you choose, from Acer to ZTE, most are all guilty of containing at least a few examples of bloatware. Bloatware means apps or services added by the manufacturer or carrier which take up memory and processing power on a device. Unless you want to root your device, removing bloatware is not possible. Disabling it however is possible. Application Settings The exact location of the app settings will vary between devices. You should however, always be looking for Applications, App Management or App Settings. 1 When disabling bloatware, don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you don’t use a particular app or service that it is not essential to your device. Removing essential…

Doing More with Android 10 Android Security Tips 10 Android Security Tips Gone are the days when your phone was just your phone. Now we are using our Android phones more often to store passwords, banking details, emails and other valuable information. Before you even begin adding this sort of information to your phone, you need to think about mobile security. 1. Add a Screen Lock It has probably been said to you before, but setting up a screen lock pattern, password or PIN is an essential security step; one which every user should make a priority as soon as their device is set up. PIN and password locks are the most secure option, but a pattern lock generally offers faster access to your device and is easier to remember…

Getting Started with Android Android Controls and Connections Android Controls and Connections Although the exact buttons and connection ports on your Android smartphone may vary, there are standard features that almost always appear. Let’s take a look at those buttons, connections and controls and see what they can and cannot do. Connections These are the plugs, ports and other interfaces which allow you to connect or add something to your device, or connect your device to the mains for charging. Most devices have a standard set of connection ports, but some may have additional ones. Micro USB/USB-C Most modern devices use Micro USB or the newer USB-C connections for both the charging cable and the data cable (for connecting to a computer to transfer files). The position of this will vary…

Getting Started with Android Your Mobile Data Connection Your Mobile Data Connection If you are away from an available Wi-Fi network, connecting to the Internet usually means using your 3G or 4G mobile data connection but with unlimited data packages nowhere near as common as they once were, it makes sense to ensure that you understand how mobile data works and how to keep track of your mobile data usage. This can be done fairly easily using monitoring tools built in to many Android phones and tablets. Open a Data Connection As long as your device has a working SIM card inserted, you should be able to connect to a mobile data network. If not you should speak to your mobile service provider/carrier. 1 Your mobile data connection can be…

Getting Started with Android Sending SMS Messages Sending SMS Messages Sending text messages doesn’t change much from phone to phone, so if you have sent an SMS message in the past, you shouldn’t have any problems doing so on your current device. However, there are a few useful extras that Android can do that you might not have seen before. Many of them will almost certainly become an essential part of sending text messages. Let’s take a look at how you can make SMS messaging a breeze. Create a New Message Despite how simple an act it might seem, there are a number of options to consider when composing and sending SMS messages on your Android device. 1 The easiest way to start a new message is to tap the…

Getting Started with Android Get More from Google Now on Tap Get More from Google Now on Tap Google Now is about getting you just the right information, at just the right time. It can tell you today’s weather before you start your day, how much traffic to expect before you leave for work and even the opening times of a restaurant you are talking about in Messenger. Google Now is always ready to work for you as you go through your day and with the addition of Now on Tap, it is even more fully integrated into Android. Set Up Now on Tap Now on Tap, also known as Screen Search, is one of those features that you don’t know you were missing until you start to use it.…

Getting Started with Android Manage Your Apps and Games Manage Your Apps and Games As you add more and more apps to your Android phone or tablet, it will become more important to be able to manage them properly, and to keep them running smoothly and securely. The tips and tricks in this section will introduce you, amongst other things, to the Application Management screen of your Android device, as well as showing you how to disable preinstalled apps and get problem apps working after a fault. Android App Management The app management options have changed slightly over time, so some older devices, or those running older versions of Android, may have fewer options than shown here. Set App Defaults There are many apps available on Google Play that provide…

Exploring Android Guide to Android Photography Guide to Android Photography How well your Android photos turn out is partly down to the quality of the camera in your device but also to the software the camera uses. Not everyone realises that the camera software is not fixed, and can quite easily be replaced or added to. This guide looks at just a small selection of the software you can add to your camera, as well as some ways to help ensure any photo taken on Android is as good as can be. AirBrush: Easy Photo Editor AirBrush won’t help you take better photos but it certainly can help you to improve the photos you have already taken. It includes loads of airbrushing tools, including these. Blemish This allows you to…

Exploring Android Using the Samsung Biometric Tools Using the Samsung Biometric Tools Many of the more recent Samsung Galaxy devices allow you to unlock using a few different biometric methods. Biometrics means the use of human characteristics to perform actions. Almost all current phones and tablets allow you to use a fingerprint or facial recognition to unlock and some, like the S8 and Note 8, have added the ability to use iris scanning technology. Fingerprint Unlock Adding your fingerprint to compatible Samsung Galaxy devices is a relatively simple task but one that needs to be completed before continuing. 1 Before the fingerprint recognition will function, you will need to register your prints with the device. Once you have added one or more fingerprints, you can use it to unlock the…

Exploring Android Google Home Routines Google Home Routines Routines are a set of actions that your Google Home can perform when activated by a single voice command. You can customise existing pre-set routines in the Google Home app, or you can create your own personalised routines from scratch, using a wide variety of available actions. Create and Manage Routines Learn how to customise, create and use Routines with your Google Home speaker and the Google Home app on your mobile device. 1 Your Google Home app comes with several pre-set routines. To view or edit these, tap the Menu button at the top left, and select “More settings”. Scroll down and tap the “Routines” section. Here you will see displayed all of the existing routines, for example “Good morning” or…

Exploring Android The Ultimate Guide to Facebook If you have used Facebook on a computer, you might assume that using it on your Android phone or tablet would be the same. Whilst there are lots of similarities between the browser and mobile versions of Facebook, there are also some important differences. There are also some very cool tricks the mobile version allows that can make using the world’s largest social network much easier. Facebook App Setup This guide assumes you already have a Facebook account set up on a computer. If not, you can create one easily at www.facebook.com or by clicking the link on the login screen of the app. 1 Download and install the Facebook app from the Google Play store. Facebook is one of the larger apps…

The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Posting on Facebook Posting a message to the News Feed, sometimes known as “Updating your status”, has changed over time to include several different features and post types. 1 To create a new post, simply tap the ‘What’s on your mind?’ at the top of the News Feed. In its simplest form, a post is made up of just text. You can type in the box that opens and then tap the Post button at the top right of the post creation screen. Your post then appears on the News Feed. 2 A relatively new feature of Facebook posts is the ability to change the colour of the post background. You choose the background colour by tapping the multi-coloured Aa button at the bottom of…

Exploring Android Get Started with WhatsApp Get Started with WhatsApp WhatsApp started as an alternative to SMS but now supports sending and receiving a variety of media, including text, photos, videos, documents and locations, as well as voice calls. WhatsApp messages and calls are secured with end-to-end encryption, meaning that no third party including WhatsApp can read or listen to them. This makes it the perfect choice for your private and personal conversations. How to Chat on WhatsApp WhatsApp is a very popular chat platform and not just because it is secure and private. There are dozens of features to explore but here are the most important tools and functions. Adding Contacts WhatsApp quickly and easily recognises which of your contacts are using WhatsApp by accessing your phone’s address book.…

Exploring Android Manage Multiple Passwords Manage Multiple Passwords Password security has never been more important than it is today. We can manage everything from our business website to our bank balance online, and to do so we need passwords. A great bit of password security advice is to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, but this also may mean keeping track of anything from five to 25 different passwords. LastPass, one of the best-known password managers around, solves that problem. Never Forget Your Login You almost certainly have dormant or inaccessible accounts littering the Internet, all because you have forgotten the login details. 1 To install, open Google Play Store on your phone or tablet and search for LastPass. If you would like to attempt a manual installation,…

Doing More with Android 5 Things That Can Affect Your Phone Signal 5 Things That Can Affect Your Phone Signal There are several things that can affect how good your cell phone signal is, things that you might not automatically consider when a call drops or when your phone shows the dreaded no bars. If you know and understand the types of things that can affect signal strength, you will be in a better position to make sure your calls all get through. 1 Terrain Your mobile phone communicates using simple radio waves and these travel in straight lines from your phone to the nearest visible cell tower. Anything that gets in the way can cause loss of signal strength or even signal failure. For example, if your nearest cell tower…

Doing More with Android Cut Blue Light with Twilight Blue light, the type of light given out by almost all LED screens, has been shown to hinder our sleep patterns. This means that using a phone or tablet late at night can actually effect your overall health. Luckily, some clever app developers have created a solution. Twilight, just like Night Shift on the iPhone, will shift the colours in the device display to the warmer end of the spectrum, making it easier on your eyes and producing less of the blue light. Screen Shift App There are actually a few Android apps that will allow you to add a low blue light mode. For this guide we have chosen to use Twilight, as it offers more features than most. 1…

Doing More with Android SMS Messages on a Wi-Fi Tablet SMS Messages on a Wi-Fi Tablet Not all Android tablets are created equal and if you have a tablet with no SIM card slot, you are slightly limited in your communication options if you don’t want to use VOIP services or Online chat; or rather, you were slightly limited before now. Thanks to apps such as Mightytext, you can set up your non-3G/4G tablet to receive SMS messages from your Android phone, using the same number. Mightytext Alternative If instead of wanting to receive messages on your tablet, you want to receive them on your PC or Mac, the best option is the superb AirDroid. AirDroid allows you to access and manage your Android phone or tablet from Windows, Mac…

Doing More with Android Sideloading Android APKs Sideloading Android APKs There are hundreds of thousands of apps available on the Google Play Store, from Angry Birds to Twitter to Groupon. Occasionally, there might be an app you want which isn’t, for several possible reasons, available through the official download method. Although there are risks involved, it is possible to install apps using other methods. This is known as Sideloading. Sideload with Confidence Sideloading is inherently more risky than installing .apks from the Google Play store but as long as you take care, your device should be safe. 1 On your device (or any device running Android 4.0 or higher), tap the Main Settings app, tap the More tab and scroll down to Security. Under the Device Administration heading, select Unknown…

Getting Started with Android Tablet Controls Just as with the smartphone controls detailed on the previous pages, most Android tablet controls and connections follow a fairly standard layout plan. The exact position of the buttons may vary slightly between devices. 1 Sleep/Power As well as being the button that turns your tablet on and wakes it up out of sleep, the power button, when held also brings up a menu for shutting down and restarting your tablet. 2 Volume Up/Down The volume profile that the up and down buttons controls depends on what you are doing when it is pressed. When the volume display appears on screen, you can access more volume sliders. 3 Recent Button This capacitive button, when tapped opens the recent app screen. This shows a list of all apps…

Getting Started with Android Adding and Syncing Accounts Adding and Syncing Accounts When you set up your Android phone or tablet, you will be asked to link it to a Google account. If you don’t already use one of the Google products such as Gmail, Picasa or YouTube (if you use any of these, you already have a Google account), or if you want to create a new account to use with a new tablet for instance, you can create one on your device during the setup. It is easier, however, to set up an account on your computer. Creating a Google Account You can easily find anything you want to do in Google, by simply searching using relevant terms. For example, if you want to find the Google+ account…

Getting Started with Android Turn Your Device into a Mobile Hotspot Turn Your Device into a Mobile Hotspot You can share your mobile Internet connection with nearby devices, including tablets and laptops, by turning your phone into a mobile hotspot. As long as the device has a SIM card and can connect to the mobile network, you can use it as a hub. You can do this with up to ten different devices at a time, depending on the quality of connection and model you are using, although this may put a strain on your data usage. What is Pairing? Pairing devices or a device and peripheral ensures that the two can connect using Bluetooth more easily in the future. Sharing Your Mobile Internet The ability to tether or share…

Getting Started with Android Using the Gmail App Using the Gmail App It isn’t a surprise that an operating system owned by Google includes the Gmail app as standard. Gmail works particularly well on Android because it can push new emails to your device rather than your device having to pull them from the server. This means that you do not have to manually connect to a data network (or Wi-Fi) to check your Gmail account. Gmail also integrates perfectly with many other apps that Android uses as standard. Activating Your Gmail Account If you have a Google account, you also have a Gmail account by default, even if you have never used it. Your Gmail account is useful for lots of things on Android, including syncing your contacts. 1…

Getting Started with Android Android Keyboard Tips Android Keyboard Tips If you are not used to typing on your new phone or tablet, it can seem difficult at first. The keyboard found on most Android devices has been evolving and improving ever since the first touch screen phones appeared, as have the numerous added typing settings. A simple task like typing a quick email is easy enough, however, explore the keyboard’s many tricks and you will see that even this can be improved. Default Keyboard These tips are based on using the standard keyboard found on devices running Lollipop. Custom keyboard settings will certainly vary from those shown here. Tip 1 – Hide or Reveal Many apps, especially communication apps where typing is assumed to be the standard input method…

Exploring Android Google Home Devices Google Home Devices There are several different Google Home devices to choose from, including the tiny Home Mini and the Google Home Hub. The specification and size varies greatly, so if you are not yet sure which Home speaker is best for you, you can check out our pick of the best model’s details here. Google Home Speaker From enjoying your favourite music or hearing the morning news, to checking traffic or adjusting your thermostat, you can ask Google Home anything – no hands required. Powered by the Google Assistant, you have command of your home, your music and your curiosity, whilst its sleek design fits wherever you want to enjoy music or access the Google Assistant. Start by saying, “Ok Google,” or “Hey Google.”…

Exploring Android Listening to Music on Google Listening to Music on Google Home Listening to the music you want on Google Home requires you to set up the music services it uses. To do this you need to know how to ask the speaker to play, stop, pause, shuffle and skip the music you want! Let’s take a look at just how you listen to music on Google Home. Choosing Music Services You can connect your speaker to a great variety of different music services, from Google Play Music to Spotify and Deezer, which will give you access to millions of songs. 1 You will have been asked to choose a music service during the setup of the Google home speaker, but if you skipped this step, or want to…

The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Navigating the Facebook App The Facebook app is laid out differently to the browser version, even on the larger screen of a tablet. Let’s take a look at the key part of the app on a mobile device. 1 Facebook Camera - The new in-app camera allows you to quickly send photos and videos to individual friends, add images to your Story or create a new post based around an image or video. The camera includes lots of filters and effects, including the ability to add masks (like those seen in Snapchat) in both still and moving images. 2 News Feed - In this image, the News Feed is selected. This is where you will see status updates from your friends, as well as posts…

Exploring Android Using Facebook Messenger Although designed primarily for use on phones, Facebook Messenger can be used effectively on your other Android devices. Additional features include group chats, easier photo sharing and Chat Heads. 1 You will need to have the Facebook app installed on your device before you can use Facebook Messenger. Once you have installed Facebook and logged in with your account details, look for the Messenger chat bubble icon at the top of the main interface. 2 Technically, the Facebook Messenger chat feature is a separate (but linked) app, so you will now need to install it. You can search for and install the app from the Google Play store but it is just as quick and easy to do it through the Facebook app. Just tap…

Exploring Android Android Security Tools Android Security Tools Android has always included lots of security settings and tools, from screen locks to SIM card encryption. The Lollipop update has further enhanced device security by introducing Smart Lock, Trusted Agents and Screen Pinning, as well as Guest accounts. As you begin to add more and more personal data to your Android device, you should focus more on these security tools and features. Activate Smart Lock Smart Lock is a new addition to Android, which allows the use of several further locking and security options. Without enabling Smart Lock first, you will not be able to use many of these tools. 1 As mentioned, Android features lots of different security settings and more are being added with every update and new version…

Exploring Android How to Use Multi-window How to Use Multi-window The update to Android 7.0 (Nougat) adds support for displaying more than one app on the screen at the same time. On handheld devices, such as phones or tablets, two apps can run side-by-side or one above the other in split-screen mode. On Android TV devices, apps can use picture-in-picture mode to continue video playback while users are interacting with another app. Launching Multi-window It seems that most apps can be viewed in multi-window mode but you may find some force full screen (including many games) so this feature won’t work. 1 Open the first app you want to view on your phone or tablet. This will obviously fill the whole screen as usual. In our case we have opened…

Doing More with Android Using Android Pay Using Android Pay You already use your phone for just about everything, so why not use it to pay for stuff too? Android Pay lets you do just that. Just add your credit, debit, loyalty and gift cards to Android Pay and start shopping in stores, in apps and online, all using a secure and convenient system. Android Pay can be used at hundreds of thousands of shops around the world, wherever contactless payments are accepted. Setting Up Android Pay Android Pay is a secure system but as with anything to do with money and payments, it is important to make sure that you set everything up properly. 1 You will need to make sure that you have your credit or debit cards…

Doing More with Android Using the Developer Options Using the Developer Options Every Android smartphone and tablet contains a secret set of options - the Android Developer Options. As the name suggests, these are intended principally for developers of apps, used for debugging or simulating certain conditions. There are, however, several options within this menu which more adventurous Android users can utilise to good effect. Enable Developer Options If you choose to do so, before you can start to use the developer options, you will need to unlock and activate them in the settings. 1 Open the main settings app and locate the About Device menu (usually found at the bottom of the settings list). This menu gives you access to lots of information about your phone or tablet. Scroll…

Doing More with Android Hidden Android Test Menus Hidden Android Test Menus Hidden within every Android device is a collection of different test menus, that allows users to check allsorts, including how well the touchscreen is responding and whether the notification LEDs are working. You don’t need any special apps or additional software to access these test menus, you just need to know which code to enter into the dialler screen. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful test menus and what they allow you to do. Testing Menu Code Whichever carrier or manufacturer is involved, these test codes should work for the majority of Android devices. If they do not, try searching online for specific codes for your particular device. 1 Open the phone dialler screen…

Doing More with Android Dealing with Viruses on Android Dealing with Viruses on Android In some ways, when it comes to viruses, malware and other tech nasties, Android is a victim of both its own success and of its open nature. If you read any of the tech news, or even mainstream news sometimes, it can seem like virus threats on Android are increasing by the week. Exactly how much of a problem is this then and what is Google doing to make sure your device isn’t affected? Read on to learn more about viruses on Android. Antivirus Software Just like on your computer there are lots of different Anti-virus tools available on Android; and just like on a PC, they all do broadly similar things and offer similar features.…

Doing More with Android Smart Home on a Budget Smart Home on a Budget If you have deep pockets, it is now possible to completely transform your house into a Smart Home, with a single portable control system for everything from lights and music, to heating and security. These bespoke systems cost several thousand, and take a lot of work to install. However, if you are clever, and do some creating thinking, it is possible to create a smart home on a budget. Smart Home Essentials If you want to add Smart Home features to your home, you will need to ensure a few essentials are in place first, aside from the Smart gadgets we will look at in a moment. 1 – Wi-Fi Almost without exception, Smart tools and…

Doing More with Android 10 Common Problems Solved 10 Common Problems Solved Android has been blessedly free from any major problems for a long time, as the software continually improves and Google seems happy to listen to comments and suggestions from its massive user base. Where problems can still arise, however, is when the excellent software is not paired with excellent hardware. Let’s take a look at some of the most common Android software and hardware problems, and ways they can be solved. 1. Battery Drain The easiest way to quickly reduce battery drain is to switch off a few power hungry features such as GPS (location) and Bluetooth, reduce the screen brightness and restart your device. This should see an immediate improvement in battery life. Some devices also now…