Setting up your android phone

Android for beginners: Setting up your phone

Rooting

So far we’ve covered installing useful apps and getting to know your Android smartphone a bit better.

However, your Android smartphone is capable of much greater deeds. To unlock them you need to get a bit technical with your device and perform a process called Rooting.

Rooting is a term used in the Android world to denote getting full permissions for your device. In its out-of-the-box state, your droid doesn’t give you access to system files, file permissions and core settings and low-level access to the smartphone’s hardware. A rooted phone changes that and gives its and all user-installed apps access to run privileged commands.

The process of rooting is different for each and every device. There are many tools out there created by Android devs, but they are rarely two of the same kind. Some tools are so easy to use, that in fact, all you need to do is click a single button to get the job done.

The question is should you go the way of the rooting or it’s not really worth the sacrifice.

For starters, you’ll be able to control every single aspect of your phone’s hardware. This means can install various mods, such as ones to control your LED status light and make it glow in more colors for various notifications. You can also overclock the CPU and squeeze more performance out of it.

You’ll be able to perform full backups of your device, including files, apps, their settings and the whole ROM. In case things go south, you’ll be able to perform a full restore of your device as if nothing ever happened.

Speaking of ROMS, you’ll be able to install newer versions of Android and try out some of the community-developed custom ROMs which are chock-full with features and extras, that would otherwise be unavailable to you.

Some carriers restrict the tethering abilities of your smartphone or demand additional fees for it. With a rooted device, a third-party tethering app can bypass this protection and allow you to use your droid as a portable router.

Adjusting the color balance, modding your battery icon (without changing your stock ROM) are also possible on some devices.

As we mentioned the process of rooting a phone isn’t the same for every device. It’s also risky at times, meaning you can «brick» your phone, requiring you to return it for maintenance.

Also, rooting voids the manufacturer’s warranty. There are ways to un-root your device if it needs to be sent for maintenance unrelated to the rooting (eg. Hardware problem). Still, that’s a risk you’d be willing to take, in case you decide to root it.

Finally, less popular smartphones don’t have a particularly large base of devs working for them, so there are less mods to apply after your root.

If you decide to go the dark ways of the rooting, we suggest you start from the section dedicated to your smartphone in the XDA-developers forum.

Stolen or Lost phone

We’ve all had something stolen or lost in our lives and the feeling isn’t particularly great. Hopefully, you wouldn’t have to ever face this kind of situation with your shiny new Android phone, but this hope shouldn’t keep you from getting yourself insured.

Here are some top-notch apps to help you find your lost or stolen Android smartphone.

Cerberus

Cerberus is one of our favorite apps in this category. The name of the app alone should give you a hint that it’s not messing around and is taking the job of protecting your phone against theft very seriously.

Before going further, we should make it clear that the app is paid and asks for €2.99. In exchange, you get to install Cerberus on 5 different devices with one account. Naturally, Cerberus comes with a 7-day free trial to convince you it’s worth the money.

Cerberus

Once you’ve registered online for an account you get into your control panel where all your devices with Cerberus installed are listed. Picking a device from the dropdown menu unveils a set of options. You can start tracking the device, remotely wipe it or even take a photo using the front facing camera to see who’s using your phone and report it to the authorities.

In case your phone is rooted, Cerberus features a complete uninstall protection. This means that the app is irremovable and can be deleted only by flashing another ROM.

The Prey Project has been in development for quite some time now and as a result supports desktop platforms like Windows, Mac OS and Linux in addition to Android and iOS. After you’ve installed the app it generates and sends reports to your email address containing the status of the device, list of running programs, screenshot of the desktop detailed network report and, of course, a picture taken with the front-facing camera.

Prey

The app is open source and absolutely free for up to three devices; however there are paid options available if you have more devices to protect, starting at $5/month, which is a bit pricey in our opinion.

GotYa

Taking a simpler approach to protecting your device, GotYa relies on the Pattern security feature of your Android phone. If the Pattern is entered incorrectly, the app kicks in and silently takes a photo using the front-facing camera of your device to see who’s trying to break in.

GotYa

After the picture is taken, the app acquires the location of the smartphone and puts it on a Google Maps page. All of the information is then sent to you via email.

GotYa costs $1.99 and has received positive feedback with many success stories behind its back, so its definitely worth checking out.

Conclusion

What a journey it has been! And we’ve barely scratched the surface. Android has grown rapidly in the last couple of years to offer a vast range of apps, services and opportunities.

The apps we’ve highlighted will hopefully get you started with the ecosystem, but also encourage you to explore even deeper and discover all the exciting things your Android smartphone is capable of.

The Play Store is a wonderful place to be once you learn to sift through the inevitable drivel. There are absolute must-haves and little gemstones of an app. Of course, Android is pretty powerful right out of the box, but there’s more than enough ways to make it yours and make it count.

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Android for beginners: Setting up your phone

Introduction

So you got an Android smartphone for Christmas? Congrats! Now, go ahead and do the robot dance. We’ll pretend we’re not watching. One thing you can be certain of, no one’s gonna laugh at you. A new droid is worth celebrating — but if it’s your first, you may as well want to make some noise.

Oh, and do take your time. You will soon give your new phone all the attention it deserves. After all, the more you take care of it, the better it’ll serve you. Yes, it may seem scary at first, but it’s not rocket science, we promise. Droids will do with occasional dusting and polishing, and regular oil changes.

A smartphone is a very powerful tool if used properly and getting the best out of it could seem like a daunting task at first. Hopefully, this article will help you find your way through the hundreds of settings and thousands of apps.

Android is an open source mobile operating system by Google. It’s exactly the search giant who’s doing all the development and there are some core Google apps for Android that should be taken care of before proceeding. Apps such as Search, Maps and Gmail are likely to have updated versions waiting for you on the Play Store.

Hopefully, the smartphone you just got the wraps off of is running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, or even Android 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean, if you’ve been good all year. Oh, but even if that’s not the case, you need not worry. Most of the apps we’re about to cover are available for earlier Android builds too.

So without further ado, let’s dive right in and show you what your new Android smartphone is capable of.

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How to Set Up Your New Android Device

New Android phone or tablet? Get connected fast

Whether you’re new to Android or you’ve been using Android for a while, when you start fresh with a new device, it helps to have a checklist of sorts to get you started.

For your particular Android phone or tablet, the exact menu options might be different, but they should be similar to the steps shown here.

Instructions in this article apply to Android 10, Android 9 Pie, and Android 8 Oreo.

Unpack Your Mobile Device and Sign In With Your Google Account

In the box, you might find a quick set-up or a getting-started guide. The guide tells you if you need to install the SIM card included in the package.

If your phone has a removable battery, install it. You might need to charge the battery before continuing.

When you first turn on the phone or tablet, Android guides you through the initial steps of getting started. Sign in with your Google account or create a new one to keep your device in sync with Google’s services for email, calendar, maps, and more.

During setup, link other services such as Facebook or add those accounts later if you want to get into your phone as quickly as possible.

Answer basic settings questions, such as what language you use and if you want to enable location services. Many apps use location services for actions such as driving directions and local restaurant reviews.

Set Up the Security Options and Wireless Connectivity

Setting up security options might be the most critical step of all.

Head to your device’s settings by tapping the Menu button. Select Settings, and then scroll down to and tap Security.

You can set a PIN code, pattern, or other means of locking the phone or tablet on that screen, such as face recognition or password.

Depending on your device and Android version, you might have other security options, such as encrypting the entire device, which is essential if you use your phone or tablet for work, and locking the SIM card.

If you have the option to enter owner information, definitely set that up in case you lose your phone and a Good Samaritan finds it.

Set up remote wipe as soon as possible, which allows you to erase all the data on the phone or tablet from afar if it is lost or stolen.

Set Up Wireless Connectivity

At this point, connect to your Wi-Fi network.

Leaving Wi-Fi on all the time will sap your mobile device’s battery life, but when you’re at home or a known wireless network, it is best to use Wi-Fi.

Head to Settings again from the Menu button, and then go to Wireless & Networks and tap Wi-Fi. Enable Wi-Fi and tap the name of your wireless network. Enter the network password, if any, and you’re ready to roll.

Install Essential Android Apps

There are thousands of Android apps to download. Here are a few suggestions to get you started with your new Android smartphone or tablet.

Recommended apps include Evernote for note-taking, Documents to Go for editing Microsoft Office files, Skype for free video calling and instant messaging, and Wifi Analyzer to help you improve your wireless network.

Three others to consider are Avast’s Mobile Security and Antivirus, GasBuddy (because we all could stand to save on gas), and Camera ZOOM FX Premium, an impressive camera app for Android.

If you use your phone or tablet to catch up on news and websites, Google News & Weather, Flipboard, and Pocket are popular.

You’ll find all of these apps and a whole lot more in the Google Play store, formerly known as Google Market.

You can remotely install apps to your phone or tablet from your laptop or desktop computer from the Google Play website.

Tips and Tricks to Customize Your Android Home Screen

Android offers loads of customization features. Here are the basics of customizing your home screen and device:

• Your Android device comes with several home screen panels. Swipe right or left to access them.
• To remove an app from one of the screens but not delete it entirely, tap on the app and hold it with your finger for a few seconds until you see a trash can icon at the bottom of the screen. Drag the app to the trash can to remove it.
• To add an app to one of the screens, tap the Applications icon, and then long-press the app you want to add. Drag it to the panel you wish to place it on.
• You can add folders to a screen too. Long-press an empty area of the screen and select Folders. Depending on your system, you may be able to set up folders to contain your apps and specific folders such as «All Contacts» or «Recent Documents.» Move apps into a folder by dragging them to it with your finger.
• To add a widget or shortcut or to change the wallpaper, long-press on an empty area of the screen. Widgets can contain dynamic information, such as weather, news, a clock, and more. Shortcuts are quick links to an app, a contact, a bookmark, settings, and so on.

There’s a whole lot more you can do with Android, but this essential setup guide should get you started. Enjoy your new phone or tablet.

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