7 Things Every New Android User Should Know
An Android tablet is not a computer. An Android phone is not a computer. Sure, it’s technically
a computer, but so is your microwave. You may consider yourself an old
hand at using computers, but mobile devices have their own unique way of
doing things. Understand these seven basic items, and you’ll be well on
your way to becoming more familiar and comfortable with your new
Android gizmo.
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| Important Things Every New Android User Should Know |
1. You aren't in control of Android upgrades
Oh sure, you can try to update your phone's operating system: A command buried in the Settings app makes it appear that you can check for Android operating system updates: Choose About Phone or About Device, then choose System Update or Software Update. Tap away at the Check Now command to your heart’s content. It’s not really doing anything useful—it’s merely a coincidence if the operation actually works.
Unlike a computer, you are not in charge of updates for your Android
device. That job is handled by your phone/tablet manufacturer or your
cellular provider. Historically speaking, updates are infrequent. Apps
are updated all the time, and you see notification icons to that effect.
When it comes to upgrading the operating system, however, you are not
in the driver’s seat.
2. Apps quit on their own
One thing that surprises most new Android users is that apps lack a Quit
or Exit command. Instead of quitting, you tap the Home icon or switch
to another app form the Recent apps list. So how do you quit an app?
Short answer: You don’t!
The Android operating system manages apps for you. If you neglect an app
for a while, or another app requests more resources, then the operating
system stops an app. Otherwise, you don’t need to worry about starting
too many apps or running out of memory.
If you really want to stop an app, you can double-tap the home button,
then when the recent apps screen appears (above), swipe the app to the
side to kill it.
3. Android devices are about sharing
On a computer, you start a program and then choose a file to work with
or attach. On an Android device, you look at the item that you want to
save or send, and then you share it by touching the Share icon.
For example, to email a photo you first open an app where you can view
the photo. Tap the Share icon, then choose an app to send, edit, or save
the photo. Use that app to complete the operation, such as sending the
photo as an email attachment. Printing works the same way: View the
photo then choose which app to use for printing.
“Share” doesn’t always mean “post on social media or send to other
people.” You might share a video with a cloud storage app to archive it,
or share a webpage with an offline reading app like Pocket to save it for later.
4. Acquire apps from the Google Play store
Apps (along with movies/TV, music, and books/magazines) are obtained
from the Google Play Store by using the Play Store app. Sure, there are
other ways to get apps,
but for beginners, it’s best to stick to the Google store. Browse or
search for something you desire. Choose a free app or buy one. That app
is then downloaded and installed on your phone or tablet. If you delete
it, don't worry; the app is still attached to your account, and you can
download it again in the future without paying.
Best of all, you can go to the Google Play website
to shop from any computer. If you log in with the same Google account
you use on your phone, you can get the app from your laptop and, within
seconds, it should start downloading on your phone.
5. Forget about Flash
The Internet is full of Flash-based webpages or sites that use Flash
extensively. It’s fun, it’s useful, and it’s something you’ll access
only from a computer. That’s because mobile devices like your Android
phone or tablet disable Flash on the web. There’s no way around this
restriction, either: Browser apps that promise to display Flash sites
are most likely not what they pretend to be.
In some cases, flash content on the web can be delivered by obtaining a
specific app, such as the YouTube or Hulu Plus apps. Otherwise, trying
to access a Flash-based site is merely an exercise in frustration.
6. You can customize the Home screen
It is with unbridled glee that you can remove, re-arrange, and organize
your device’s Home screen. Feel free to cast off the various preset apps
and widgets. Yes, they look inviting, sexy, cool. When you don’t use
them—especially those monster widgets that consume an entire
screen—tap-and-hold on them and then drag them up to the word Remove at the top of the screen. You’re then free to festoon the Home screen with apps and widgets that you actually need.
Don’t feel any emotional attachment toward those discarded widgets or
apps, either: Anything you remove from the Home screen can be
re-attached later, if you like. They’re all sitting there in the main
Apps listing. To add new apps to your home screen, just tap-and-hold on
them in the Apps listing, and drag them up to the home screen where you
want them. You can even put the same app in multiple folders or on
multiple screens.
7. You can hide pre-installed apps
Manufacturers and cellular providers
love to pepper your mobile device with all sorts of apps, many of which
you’ll never use. Not only can you remove them from the Home screen, you
can often hide them in the Apps drawer.
Many Android devices let you create folders in the Apps drawer. Use
those folders to collect and store the pre-installed, trial, or junk
apps that you cannot otherwise uninstall. By dragging those icons into a
folder you can effectively and cheerfully avoid them.
Alas, not every Android device lets you create folders in the Apps
drawer. Coincidentally, it seems like those that do are also the devices
with a cumbersome amount of pre-installed apps. Weird, huh?
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