Android Smartphones & Tablets The Complete Manual Issue 4

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 ondemand 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 sideloading 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, flagship model. Master your tech @…

Connections Whichever model of Android device you have, it has several ports and other such facilities to connect it to peripherals and also to charge and connect to a computer. It will also, of course, have a SIM card drawer to house the SIM card provided by your mobile service provider. Not every Galaxy model has every port described here. USB-C/Micro USB Most modern devices, including recent Android device models, use USB-C connections for charging the phone or tablet and as a data cable, for connecting it to your computer. Older Android phones and tablets might use Micro USB instead. Either way, it’s usually found at the bottom of your device. 3.5mm Audio Port The most recent Android devices forego the headphone or 3.5mm port, as most users today use…

Inserting Your Nano-SIM Card Before you get started with your Android smartphone, you need to insert the Nano-SIM card you got from your mobile phone service provider. If you have the wrong size card, go to your provider’s store and get it exchanged. 1 To activate your Android smartphone, you must first insert the SIM card provided by your mobile phone network provider. If you don’t have one, or have the wrong size, go to their store. 2 Use a SIM eject tool like the one pictured here, or maybe a straightened paper clip, and insert it into the small hole next to the SIM slot. The tray then pops out as shown. 3 Place the SIM card in the tray (there’s only one way it can go in) and…

Choosing a microSD Some memory cards may not be fully compatible with the device. Using an incompatible card may damage the device or the memory card. If you buy your memory card from a well known mobile store, you should be OK. Card Capacity As already mentioned, not all devices can read all sizes of microSD card. The most recent Android devices can use a card of up to 1TB, but your particular model might be limited to a smaller capacity, or not be able to use a memory card at all. Check this before buying a microSD card for your device. Recycling Cards You may have a microSD card in an old device you can use. Be aware that some memory cards may not be compatible with your device…

Dialling a Number There are lots of different ways to initiate a call on your Android phone, but if you know the number you want to contact, it’s usually fastest to simply open the keypad and type in the number on the screen. 1 To begin making a call on your Android device, tap the phone icon on your Home screen and, by default, the call log screen (Recents) will open. This lets you quickly return a call to a recent caller. If the person you want to call is not in the call log, tap the Keypad button at the bottom of the screen to enter a number manually. 2 The Android phone dialler is pretty much standard and should be familiar to anyone who has used a phone…

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 device. Let’s take a look at the Android Messages application. 1 To start a new message, first of all, tap the Messaging app icon on the Home screen. On many Android devices, the Messages app icon is in the dock at the bottom of the screen. Tap the New Message icon at the bottom right of the screen to begin composing the message. 2 In the top box, either type the phone number that you want to message, the name of the contact, or tap the Contacts icon beside the box and choose who you want to message from the…