Android Tips and Tricks: Covers Android 5 and Android 6 devices, 2nd Edition

Description

• Copyright 2016
• Dimensions: 6" x 9"
• Pages: 544
• Edition: 2nd

• eBook
• ISBN-10: 0-13-438228-5
• ISBN-13: 978-0-13-438228-9

Unlock the Full Power of Your Android™ Smartphone or Tablet

Discover hundreds of tips and tricks you can use right away with your Android device to get more done, and have more fun.

You’ll learn how to use your Android smartphone or tablet as a powerful communication, organization, and productivity tool as well as a feature-packed entertainment device. You will dig deep into the settings and capabilities of both Android itself and the preinstalled apps, developing the knowledge and skills to exploit them to the fullest.

Easy to understand and non-technical, Android Tips and Tricks is perfect for beginners—and for more experienced users ready to ramp up their productivity or move to newer devices. It covers all new and recent Android smartphones and tablets running Android 6 (Marshmallow) or Android 5 (Lollipop)—with bonus, in-depth coverage of Samsung’s widely used TouchWiz skin.

Here’s just a sampling of what this book’s tips, tricks, and techniques will help you do:

·         Connect to wireless and cellular networks, to keyboards and Bluetooth devices, and via VPNs

·         Transform your device into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and share Internet connections via USB or Bluetooth

·         Secure Android with screen and SIM locks, location settings, and encryption

·         Sideload apps from any source and keep bad apps from loading

·         Take Gmail to pro level with signatures, vacation responders, labels, archiving, advanced search, and secure two-step verification

·         Manage multiple email accounts together: POP, IMAP, web mail, and Exchange

·         Get more out of your Google Chrome browser, and share bookmarks across all your devices

·         Chat via text, audio, or video on Google Hangouts—and customize it to work just the way you want

·         Enjoy your music everywhere, whether it’s stored locally or in the cloud

·         Easily capture, edit, and share top-quality photos and videos

·         Transform your smartphone or tablet into a total social networking hub

·         Squeeze more battery life from your Android device

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Getting Up to Speed with Android

Identifying Your Device’s Android Version and Its Skin

    Understanding Android Version Numbers and Names

    Finding Out Which Android Version Your Device Is Running

    Establishing Whether Your Device Is Using a Skin

Setting Different Volume Levels for Different Audio Sources

Using Manual Brightness and Adaptive Brightness

Managing Your Notifications

    Responding to a Notification

    Turning the Notification Light On or Off

    Configuring Notifications for an App

    Clearing Repeat Notifications

Configuring and Using Do Not Disturb and Interruptions

    Configuring and Using Do Not Disturb in Marshmallow

    Configuring and Using Interruptions in Lollipop

Entering Text

    Using the Keyboard and Spelling Correction

    Entering Text Using a Hardware Keyboard

    Entering Text Using Dictation

    Entering Emoji

    Using Alternative Keyboards

Setting Up a Phone or Tablet for Multiple Users

    Creating a User Account

    Creating a Restricted Profile

    Switching User Accounts and Profiles

    Deleting a User Account or Restricted Profile

    Understanding and Avoiding Problems When Sharing Your Device

Getting the Best Battery Performance

    Identifying Power Hogs

    Eking Out Battery Life

    Recharging Secrets

Managing Files and Storage

    Adding a Micro SD Card

    Connecting USB OTG Storage

    Choosing and Using a File Explorer

    Checking Space Usage and Reclaiming Space

Chapter 2 Loading and Syncing Your Device

Understanding Your Options for Loading and Syncing Your Device

    Choosing the Right Management or Sync App

Getting and Installing Your Management or Sync App

    Installing a Management or Sync App in Windows

    Choosing What Happens When You Connect Your Device to Windows

    Installing Android File Transfer on OS X

Using Your Management or Sync App

    Using Phone Companion in Windows 10

    Using Other Management or Sync Apps in Windows

    Using Android File Transfer on OS X

Loading Files on Your Device

Updating, Backing Up, and Restoring Your Device

    Keeping Your Device Updated

    Backing Up Your Device

    Restoring Your Device

Using Remote Lock and Wiping

Chapter 3 Customizing Your Device

Setting Up Your Home Screens

    Adding and Removing Home Screens

    Adding Apps to Your Home Screens

    Adding Widgets to Your Home Screens

    Adding Web Addresses to Your Home Screens

    Organizing Home Screen Items into Folders

    Adding Dropbox Folders to Your Home Screens

    Repositioning Items on Your Home Screens

    Removing Items from Your Home Screens

    Rearranging Your Home Screens

    Setting the Wallpaper

Using a Different Launcher

    Choosing a Launcher

    Installing a Launcher

    Switching Among Launchers

    Making No Launcher the Default

Configuring Input Options

Configuring the Lock Screen

    Choosing the Best Locking Method

    Setting Up Locking on Your Device

    Setting Up Smart Lock

    Putting a Message or Owner Information on the Lock Screen

    Unlocking Your Device with Your Fingerprint

    Configuring Lock-Screen Notifications

Choosing Location Settings to Protect Your Privacy

Encrypting Your Device

    Encrypting the Data on Your Device

    Decrypting the Data on Your Device

    Performing a Hard Reset

Chapter 4 Connecting to Networks and Devices

Using Airplane Mode

Taking Control of Cellular Connections

    Displaying the Cellular Network Settings Screen

    Enabling and Disabling Data Roaming

    Choosing Among Cellular Network Types

    Configuring a New Access Point

    Connecting to a Different Carrier

    Keeping Within Your Data Plan

Managing Your Wi-Fi Connections

    Turning Wi-Fi On and Off

    Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks

    Connecting to a Closed Network

    Working on the Advanced Wi-Fi Screen

    Whitelisting Your Device on a Wi-Fi Network

    Configuring IP Settings Manually

    Connecting Through a Proxy Server

    Improving Your Wi-Fi Connections

    Forgetting a Network

Sharing Your Device’s Internet Connection

    Sharing the Internet Connection via USB Tethering

    Sharing the Internet Connection via Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

Connecting Bluetooth Devices

    Pairing a Bluetooth Device with Your Android Device

    Transferring Files to Another Device via Bluetooth

    Sharing an Internet Connection via Bluetooth Tethering

Using VPNs

    Setting Up a VPN Connection

    Connecting via the VPN

Chapter 5 Installing, Running, and Managing Apps

Getting App Installation Right

    Evaluating Permissions When Installing Apps

    Getting a Refund on an App

Configuring Your Play Store Account

Sideloading Apps

    Installing a File Manager

    Getting the Package File for the App

    Setting Android to Allow Apps from Unknown Sources

    Sideloading the App

Running Apps

Working with the Overview Screen

    Switching Apps with the Overview Screen

    Closing an App from the Overview Screen

    Pinning an App to the Screen

    Opening the App Info Screen for an App

Forcing an App to Stop

Clearing an App’s Cache, Data, or Defaults

Uninstalling Apps

Rebooting into Safe Mode

Resetting App Preferences

Chapter 6 Taking Gmail to the Pro Level

Setting Up Your Email Accounts

    Gathering the Information Needed to Set Up an Email Account

    Displaying the Set Up Email Screen

    Adding a Google Account

    Adding a Personal Account

    Adding an Exchange Server Account

Configuring Gmail and Your Accounts to Work Your Way

    Choosing General Settings

    Configuring Settings for a Google Account

    Configuring a Personal Account

    Configuring an Exchange Account

Triaging and Reading Your Messages

    Navigating Among Your Accounts, Labels, and Folders

    Working in the Conversation List

    Reading Your Messages

Writing and Sending Messages

Labeling, Archiving, and Moving Your Messages

    Labeling and Archiving Messages in a Google Account

    Moving Messages in Personal and Exchange Accounts

Dealing with Spam and Problem Senders

Searching for Messages

    Searching with Keywords in Any Type of Account

    Searching with Advanced Search Operators in Google Accounts

    Searching with Boolean Operators and Grouping

Setting Up 2-Step Verification for Your Google Account

    Setting Up 2-Step Verification Using a Computer

    Setting Up 2-Step Verification Using an Android Device

    Logging In to Your Account with 2-Step Verification Enabled

Chapter 7 Using Google Now and Maps

Streamlining Your Life with Google Now

    Navigating and Customizing Google Now

    Customizing Google Now to Suit Your Needs

    Choosing Settings for Google Now

    Managing Your Activity in Google Account History

    Accessing Google Now from the Lock Screen

    Working with Reminders in Google Now

Navigating with Maps

    Making Sure You Know Essential Maps Moves

    Saving Maps for Offline Use

    Choosing Key Settings for Maps

Chapter 8 Browsing with Chrome

Choosing Essential Chrome Settings

    Configuring Your Google Account

    Choosing Your Search Engine

    Choosing Whether to Merge Tabs and Apps on a Phone

    Setting Up Autofill Forms

    Working with the Save Passwords Feature

    Choosing Privacy Settings and Clearing Browsing Data

    Choosing Accessibility Settings

    Choosing Site Settings

    Enabling the Data Saver Feature

Browsing the Web with Chrome

    Navigating Among Web Pages

    Managing and Switching Tabs

    Making the Most of Bookmarks

    Returning to a Recent Tab or a Tab Open on Another Device

    Returning to a Page You Visited Earlier

    Searching for Information

    Browsing Incognito

    Requesting a Desktop Site

Chapter 9 Maximizing Your Productivity

Managing Your Contacts

    Adding a New Contact

    Organizing Your Contacts into Groups

    Displaying Only the Contacts You Want to See

    Merging and Separating Contacts

    Importing and Exporting Contacts

Mastering Your Schedule with Calendar

    Configuring the Calendar App

    Choosing Which Calendars to Display

    Controlling How the Calendar Appears

    Creating Events

    Inviting Others to an Event

    Dealing with Invitations

    Sharing Your Google Calendars

Transferring and Syncing Files with Google Drive

    Setting Up Google Drive

    Navigating Google Drive

    Configuring Backups, Cache, Encryption, and Data Usage

    Creating a Folder

    Adding Files to Google Drive

    Keeping Files on Your Device

Printing Documents

    Printing to Local Printers

    Print to an HP Printer Using the HP Print Service Plugin

    Printing to Cloud Printers

    Printing on Your Existing Printer

Using a Chromecast Device

    Setting Up a Chromecast with Your Android Device

    Casting Your Screen or Audio to the Chromecast Device

Chapter 10 Making the Most of Phone and Hangouts

Becoming an Expert with the Phone App

    Making Calls the Easy Way

    Saving Time with Your Call History

    Taking Calls–or Avoiding Them

    Configuring the Phone App to Work Your Way

    Setting Custom Ringtones for Important Callers

    Blocking and Screening Calls

    Setting a SIM Card Lock

Chatting, Talking, and Conferencing via Hangouts

    Getting an Account

    Getting Started with Hangouts

    Making Hangouts Comfortable for You

    Communicating via Hangouts

Chapter 11 Exploiting Camera, Photos, and Videos

Getting Great Photos with the Camera App

    Opening the Camera App and Navigating Its Interface

    Accessing the Camera from the Lock Screen

    Configuring the Camera App to Suit Your Needs

    Taking Regular Photos

    Taking Photo Sphere Photos

    Taking Panorama Photos

    Taking Photos with the Lens Blur Feature

    Editing Your Photos

Shooting Videos

Capturing Screenshots

Chapter 12 Enjoying Your Music Everywhere

Understanding Your Options for Listening to Music on Your Device

Getting Your Music onto Your Device

    Understanding Which Music Formats Your Device Can Play

    Getting Your CDs onto Your Android Device

    Transcoding Existing Files

Getting the Most Out of the Play Music App

    Getting Started with Play Music

    Setting Up an Account

    Syncing Your 50,000 Songs to Play Music

    Buying Songs from the Play Store

    Navigating the Play Music App

    Playing Songs

    Downloading Songs

    Deleting Songs from Your Device and Your Library

    Configuring the Play Music App

    Creating Playlists

Improving Your Music with the Equalizer

    Turning On the Equalizer

    Creating a Custom Equalization

Using Other Music Apps

    Three Apps for Identifying Music

    Three Streaming Services

Chapter 13 Staying in Touch via Social Networking

Getting Serious with Facebook

    Logging In to Facebook

    Adding Friends and Managing Invites and Imported Contacts

    Getting and Configuring Facebook Messenger

    Making Facebook Work Your Way

    Choosing Essential Privacy Settings

    Securing Your Facebook Account with TwoFactor Authentication

    Using Multiple Facebook Accounts on the Same Device

    Removing Your Facebook Account from Your Device

Making the Most of Twitter

    Signing In to Twitter

    Navigating the Twitter App

    Configuring the Twitter App

    Securing Your Twitter Account with Login Verification

    Using Multiple Twitter Accounts

Chapter 14 Using Samsung TouchWiz

Getting Up to Speed with TouchWiz Essentials

    Using the Buttons in TouchWiz

    Navigating the Home Screen

    Customizing Your Home Screen

    Using Gestures to Control Your Samsung Device

Customizing the Apps Screen

    Create a Folder

    Delete a Folder

    Uninstall or Disable Apps

Working with the Notifications Panel, Quick Settings, and Settings

    Using the Notifications Panel and the Quick Settings Bar

    Using the Quick Settings Panel and the Settings App

Using Multi Window

Understanding the Galaxy Apps and S Apps

Using the Camera App’s Extra Features

    Mastering the Essentials of the Camera App

    Making the Most of the Camera Modes

    Setting the Camera to Take the Photos and Videos You Want

Browsing with Samsung’s Internet Browser

    Grasping the Essentials of the Internet App

    Saving Web Pages and Reading Them Later

    Returning to Web Pages with Bookmarks

    Opening Multiple Tabs and Navigating Among Them

    Loading Your Favorite Pages onto the Quick Access Screen

    Adding a Web Page Shortcut to Your Home Screen

    Browsing Secretly

    Syncing Open Pages Through a Samsung Account

Improving Performance by Turning Off TouchWiz Features

9780789755834   TOC   4/6/2016

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