Best Resources for Android/Smartphone Beginners?

Sasquatch76

Howdy folks,

Hoping some kind peeps could point me towards a couple of good online resources/knowledge bases that would be of particular use to a complete n00b to the world of Android smartphones (yes, me).

I've seen plenty of articles so far, via Google and links on here, but I'm hoping for something more basic. Android For Dummies, if you will.

Thanks in advance!

seanybiker

Xda forums tells you everything about modding android anyways.

srsly78

Do NOT go to xda-developers, it will scare the bejesus out of you. You only need to mod your phone if you bought certain bad ones, these days most of the phones don't need it.

Android is supposed to be intuitive and easy to use, just press screen on what you want! Here are some additional small tips:
Hold down the home-button to get "alt-tab" functionality. The icons for 6 most recently used apps will appear and you can select which one to switch to.
Long-press on empty part of home screen to add a widget, check out the "power widget", very useful for quickly turning stuff like bluetooth on/off etc.
Turn off live wallpaper to save battery.
Turn off GPS to save battery.
Use wifi whenever you can to avoid going over mobile data limit.
Make sure you have a data plan with your phone, or you might get stung for nasty bill.

Kenny Logins

srsly78 wrote: »

Do NOT go to xda-developers, it will scare the bejesus out of you. You only need to mod your phone if you bought certain bad ones, these days most of the phones don't need it.

Android is supposed to be intuitive and easy to use, just press screen on what you want! Here are some additional small tips:
Hold down the home-button to get "alt-tab" functionality. The icons for 6 most recently used apps will appear and you can select which one to switch to.
Long-press on empty part of home screen to add a widget, check out the "power widget", very useful for quickly turning stuff like bluetooth on/off etc.
Turn off live wallpaper to save battery.
Turn off GPS to save battery.
Use wifi whenever you can to avoid going over mobile data limit.
Make sure you have a data plan with your phone, or you might get stung for nasty bill.

Thanks. I've never used 'alt-tab' on my PC before. LOL

Sanjuro

I know this thread shouldn't descend into an app reccomendation thread, but I will just suggest you get 3G Watchdog. It's an app that tells you how much of your data plan you've used. It's very handy so that you can get used to using mobile internet and ensure you don't end up with a massive bill at the end of the month.

PogMoThoin

Tip,
Get all your phone contacts into Google as Gmail contacts, then they'll automatically sync to your Android phone. You can then only use Google contacts (stop the phone showing sim and phone contacts altogether). From then on save all new contacts as Google contacts (you'll get asked first time you save one which you want default, choose Google), they'll always be backed up and you can access them on any pc, where you can edit and merge them on a big screen (even add images if you wish). Spend some time at it and be sure to delete those you don't need. It makes changing phone in future painless with none saved on the phone.

Note, you may need to disable a setting in Gmail settings. In General settings set "Create contacts for auto-complete" to "I'll add contacts myself" to stop your Google adding all new email addresses as new contacts. Then go through the "Other contacts" group and delete those not needed.

Here's my how to from a Nokia:
http://leetstreet.net/blog/2011/05/nokia/

Sasquatch76

Thanks for all replies so far! Much appreciated

ablelocks

i get my info from :

lifehacker.com (one of the contributors has written an android guide - $9 for the downloadable versions, do a search on the site)

gizmodo.com

boards.ie

BionicRasher

srsly78 wrote: »

Turn off GPS to save battery.

No need to turn off GPS - you can leave it on and it only kicks in when you open an app that actually uses GPS (e.g. navigation, maps etc) so it wont eat battery unless you have an app running all the time that uses GPS
This saves you having to fire up GPS each time you choose an app that needs GPS.
I find it handy too as it tags locations on a picture taken by the phone camera

This site has a good few tips (some are US centric stuff like Google Voice but most are good tips)
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/184659/master_google_android_40_tips_and_tricks.html

srsly78

Google maps running in the background with latitude will periodically update your position via gps. Turning off GPS will save some battery. But yeah not very much you are kinda right.

BionicRasher

srsly78 wrote: »

Google maps running in the background with latitude will periodically update your position via gps. Turning off GPS will save some battery. But yeah not very much you are kinda right.

yes correct - however my advice (and only a personal bit of advice) is to not sign up to Latitude and always close out of apps if your not using them i.e. dont just press the home button but press the back button until you arrive back at the home screen. That way I think the app should close rather than just lie running in the background.

srsly78

Nope that just leaves app in background. Apps are supposed to go asleep, but some stuff like latitude will keep running. You gotta hit menu -> stop or whatever to actually close it.

Android is designed in such a way that there is no "close" for most apps. And it's not usually needed either.

Oh yes, usual obligatory comment: DONT USE A TASK KILLER.

BionicRasher

yup agreed
and another reason not to sign up to Latitude - seems a bit like Big Brother to me if its always running in the background watching your every move!

srsly78

I use it so my mates know where I am sometimes. You can even set it to "real time tracking mode" in latest version.

There is no big brother involved, if you agree to the tracking agreement when you first login they gather info anyway. Is nothing to do with latitude. Latitude is for giving location to your mates.

Also coppers can track you based on cell triangulation even on an old dumbphone

conor.hogan.2

ablelocks wrote: »

i get my info from :

lifehacker.com (one of the contributors has written an android guide - $9 for the downloadable versions, do a search on the site)

gizmodo.com

boards.ie

Yes, agree.

I was going to mention http://completeandroidguide.com/ - written by kevin purdy of lifehacker. They write well and its as in depth as you want it to be.

G1032

tui0hcg wrote: »

yes correct - however my advice (and only a personal bit of advice) is to not sign up to Latitude and always close out of apps if your not using them i.e. dont just press the home button but press the back button until you arrive back at the home screen. That way I think the app should close rather than just lie running in the background.

This is the exact opposite of what you should do. Android will close the apps itself if the need arises. Task killers should be banned from the market. Leave the apps running the background.

BionicRasher

G1032 wrote: »

This is the exact opposite of what you should do. Android will close the apps itself if the need arises. Task killers should be banned from the market. Leave the apps running the background.

Hmmmm. Not sure if you are getting the point I was trying to make. Yes Android closes apps as it needs to but if you are running an application that's using GPS then should you not back out of the app to ensure GPS dosnt stay running in the background? If you just press home then maps etc still runs and has gps eating up your battery.

Never mentioned task killer and i would agree that they should be avoided.

Taco Corp

tui0hcg wrote: »

Hmmmm. Not sure if you are getting the point I was trying to make. Yes Android closes apps as it needs to but if you are running an application that's using GPS then should you not back out of the app to ensure GPS dosnt stay running in the background? If you just press home then maps etc still runs and has gps eating up your battery.

Never mentioned task killer and i would agree that they should be avoided.

Complete android novice here, why should task killers be avoided?

srsly78

http://lifehacker.com/5650894/android-task-killers-explained-what-they-do-and-why-you-shouldnt-use-them

They were useful with the very early versions of android, and some people got into bad habits. Not needed anymore, and actually do harm.

BionicRasher

Android manages tasks really well on its own. Things shut down when needed automatically. Should be no need to kill stuff off. Have a look here
http://lifehacker.com/5650894/android-task-killers-explained-what-they-do-and-why-you-shouldnt-use-them

BionicRasher

Snap!

srsly78

lookit dat ninja post

BionicRasher

Freaky!

PogMoThoin

Surley wrote: »

Complete android novice here, why should task killers be avoided?

Most times the process you kill starts up straight away again costing you precious cpu power, not gaining it. Android does a neat job in managing memory, by interfering you mess that up.

http://lifehacker.com/5650894/android-task-killers-explained-what-they-do-and-why-you-shouldnt-use-them

Edit: Wow, ninja'd twice it took me so long to post

srsly78

Hah PMT is slow today

PogMoThoin

srsly78 wrote: »

Hah PMT is slow today

Yep, not on the ball this eve :pac:

G1032

Here's an interesting article about Task Killers I came across, just incase any of you haven't seen it before....!!!!!:D:D

http://lifehacker.com/5650894/android-task-killers-explained-what-they-do-and-why-you-shouldnt-use-them

Sasquatch76

Some great replies in here. Thanks a lot everyone

newbie2

I was like you, OP and a complete android newbie when I first got my Desire. I spent about 3 weeks pressing every button, turning things on and off and downloading different apps. It didn't take long and I was completely up to speed with everything Android, I now have my smart phone working really well, with everything synched to both google and facebook etc. It's about as useful as my laptop. It's my mobile office and I couldn't think what life would be like without it.
My advice would be to use it as you think you need it, if you think something could "be done better" or "be quicker" or "should talk/snyc to that app" - search for an app that'll sort the issue out for you. BTW one of the few apps I've paid for was 'Tasker'. Takes a while to get up to speed with, but you'll soon find it irreplacable.
Enjoy.