Choosing a new device like a new phone or tablet should be fun. But there are so many choices out there, and it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re thinking about an Android device, or if you’ve just bought one and want to get the most out of it, we have some basic tips to get you started.
1. What is Android?
Android is an operating system, like Windows for computers or iOS for iPhones and iPads
2. Who makes Android?
Google makes Android, and a lot of manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC and Motorola put it on their phones, tablets and now even cameras.
3. Why does everyone keep talking about desserts?
As well as regular version numbers, every time Google makes a significant update to Android, it names the update after a dessert. The desserts run alphabetically, so you can keep track of different Android versions. In the past few years, devices have upgraded from Eclair, to Froyo, to Gingerbread, to Honeycomb, to Ice Cream Sandwich. The latest devices to be released are currently running Jelly Bean.
4. Does Android have apps?
Yes. Android has a huge app market called Google Play, where you can download books, music and movies as well as apps, all from one place. Amazon also has its own app store for Android phones, giving you even more choice.
5. Can I use Twitter and Facebook on Android phones?
Yes. Pretty much every phone released nowadays is a smartphone with Internet capabilities. Whether you choose a BlackBerry, an iPhone, a Windows phone or a phone running Android, you’ll be able to use Facebook and Twitter.
6. How do I download apps to my Android device?
You can install new apps on your Android device in two ways. First, you can use the Google Play app that you’ll find on your device when you power it up the first time. No need to be connected to a computer; Android devices can install apps all by themselves. Second, you can use the Google Play website on your computer. If you log in with the Google Account you used on your Android device, Google Play will give you the option to install straight to your device. This can be handy when you want a big screen to browse through lots of apps.
7. Wait, I don’t have to tether my phone to my computer to install new apps?
Nope! You can do it via cellular data or Wi-Fi directly to your phone or tablet. No cables.
8. Okay, I understand apps now, but what if I want to put some pictures or a movie on my phone?
There are a couple of super-simple ways to move your personal files on and off an Android device. First, you can use a Dropbox account plus the Dropbox app. Upload everything to Dropbox via your computer, log into Dropbox on your phone or tablet, and they’ll all be there waiting for you. Even easier, connect your phone to your computer and treat it like a fancy USB stick — just drag and drop the files, and Android will know how to organize them.
9. I have lots of music in iTunes. Can I listen to it on my Android phone?
Yes. There’s a piece of software called doubleTwist that works just like iTunes, letting you install your iTunes music collection on your Android phone or tablet. If you store your music collection outside of iTunes, then the drag-and-drop method of file transfer should work just fine.
10. There’s a game called Angry Birds that I keep hearing about. Can I play it on Android?
Yes. It’s one of the top free games on Android. Download Angry Birds from Google Play.
11. My friend has an Android phone from Samsung, and my Android phone is from HTC. Why does Android look a bit different on our phones?
Google makes the Android software and then lets hardware manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung install it on their phones and tablets. Device manufacturers usually add their own design tweaks to the standard Android operating system. These design tweaks are known as skins, and manufacturers use them to help Android devices stand out from the competition.
12. What if I just want pure Android without a skin?
If you want the pure Android experience straight from Google, then you should choose a device with “Nexus” in the title, such as the Nexus 7 tablet or the Galaxy Nexus phone. These devices always get updated to the latest version of Android first, too, because they don’t use any extra tweaks from the hardware manufacturers that might hold up the upgrade process.
13. What’s the difference between home screens and the app drawer?
The app drawer is where you can find all of the apps installed on your device. On Apple devices, all of your apps are live on your home screens. But Android devices have (up to) seven home screens that you can fill with your favorite apps and widgets for quick access — any apps you don’t choose to keep on your home screen will still be in your app drawer.
14. Widgets? What are widgets?
Widgets are one of our favorite features of Android. Super useful at both displaying information and saving power, they are a little like snapshots of apps that live on your home screens. Widgets come in all different sizes. They can display simple things like how much data you’ve used this month or show more complex things like your Facebook news feed. Because they’re designed for basic interactions like posting updates to Facebook or Twitter, widgets can help you save battery power because you don’t need to open up the full app every time you want to make a simple update or reply to comments.
15. Do I need a Google account to use Android?
Yes. Just like you need an Apple ID to use an iDevice, you need a Google account to use Android. You don’t have to use any of the specific Google services like Gmail on a daily basis if you don’t want to, and Google lets you add other email accounts to your Android phone or tablet. But if you really don’t want a Google account, Android might not be right for you. Google’s software and cloud services are really slickly integrated into the Android experience, and you’ll miss out on some of the best features of Android if you don’t want to use them.
16. What’s the easiest way to move all my contacts onto my phone?
You can enter them as contacts into Gmail, and they’ll be automatically synced to your phone, or you can transfer saved numbers off your SIM card.
17. How do I save battery power on my Android device?
We’ve got some battery-saving tips right here for you.
18. Are there any good Android productivity apps?
Yes, loads! Here are some of our favorite Android productivity apps.
19. Which Android games do you recommend?
We’ve got a list of cool (and free) Android games.
20. How do I keep my Android phone secure?
Android has plenty of security features. We make understanding Android security features simple.
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