Android Secret Tricks Part-2

Author – Leo Harsha

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Dan Frommer, The Business Insider

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Almost every Android phone is different than the next.

Different manufacturers, different screen sizes, and different hardware.

That can make it tough to figure out the best ways to get the most out of your Android phone.

To help, we've assembled the best tips and tricks for navigating your Android that will work on practically every phone.

Click below to see what we came up with.

Note: Tips come from Google and our own experience.

Call your favorite contacts with one tap

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

Android allows you to create icons on your home screen for contacts. To add one press and hold an empty space on your screen. When the menu pops up select Shortcuts > Contact. You can then scroll through your list of contacts and tap the person you want to add.

Search with your voice

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Google's search app lets you search the web or your phone just by talking. Tap the microphone next to the search bar and record your search. It's incredibly accurate.

Type with your voice

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Many Android phones have talk-to-type built into the keyboard. Tap the mic icon and just talk. Android does the rest.

Manage Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane mode from your home screen

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Android has a nice built-in widget that lets you toggle Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, Brightness levels, and syncing with Google. It's a great way to manage your battery power without digging through your settings

Sync Chrome to your phone's browser

Android Market

With Google's Chrome To Phone app, you can send links, messages, and phone numbers from your desktop browser to your phone. Download the free app from the Android Market and the extension for Chrome.

Use your phone as a portable hard drive

When you plug your phone into your computer with a USB cable, you can activate Android's storage mode. This allows you to swap files between your computer and phone, making an excellent way to take files with you on the go.

Manage your files

android.com

The beauty of Android is that you can use your phone's internal memory to store practically any file. But it can be hard to find those files once you transfer them. Download a file manager like Astro File Manager to locate and sort your files.

Quickly access special characters

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If you want to get to your special characters like commas and back slashes quicker, tap and hold the period key. A box will pop up with commonly-used characters.

Sync with Google for the ultimate experience

Android Market

To get the most out of Android, make sure you enter your Google account information when you first set up your phone. After that, all your Google services will just work. Apps like Gmail, Voice, Talk, and Calendar will automatically sync.

Sync with other social networks

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

When you install apps for services like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Flickr (to name a few), you have the option to sync that information with your phone's contacts. For example, you can sync Twitter handles with your contacts' phone numbers and emails.

After downloading one of those apps, go toSettings > Accounts And Sync to set it up.

Open your phone to non-market apps

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With a few exceptions, most Android phones give you the option to allow non-Market apps on your phone. That means you can download third-party software like Amazon's Appstore or apps you find online. To enable the feature go to Settings > Applications Settingsand check the box next to "Unknown sources."

Keep in mind that this leaves your phone vulnerable to malware, so don't download apps from sources you don't trust.

Use Amazon's Appstore for free premium apps

Google

Amazon's Appstore isn't as large as Google's Android Market, but it does have one killer feature. Every day Amazon offers a premium paid app for free. Amazon has also been able to score exclusive app launches like Angry Birds Rio and Plants vs. Zombies.

Click here to learn how to use the Amazon Appstore.

Protect your phone from malware

Lookout

Malicious apps are still a real problem in the Android Market. Because apps don't go through a vetting process from Google, some bad eggs have gotten through in the past. Download Lookout Mobile Security for your phone. The app scans everything you install and warns you of any potential malicious files.

Close apps that are draining your battery

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

Android allows you to view how much processing power each open app is using. Go to Settings > Running Services to view the list. if something is open that you don't need tap it and selectStop to close the app.

Make multitasking easy

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Hold down your phone's Home button and a window will pop up with recently-opened apps.

Ditch animations and animated wallpapers to conserve your battery

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Android's animated backgrounds are pretty cool, but they can be taxing on your battery life. If you find your phone quickly losing charge, switch to a still background instead.

You can also turn off other animations by going toSettings > Display > Animations.

Back up your phone using Dropbox

Android Market

We love it when people find clever uses for Dropbox. Check out the app DropSpace which will sync files stored on your phone to your Dropbox account. You'll never have to plug in to your computer again.

Use your Google Voice number to make calls

Google YouTube Channel

Google Voice integrates with any Android phone. You can also set it to be your default number for dialing out. Launch the Voice app to verify your phone number and set it as the default. It's also a great option for sending free text messages.

Use an alternative browser

Firefox

Android's default browser is decent, but there are a few others out there that we enjoy better. Our favorite is Firefox 4 Mobile, which includes tabbed browsing and syncs with your desktop.

Organize apps into folders

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

You can create a new folder on your home screen by tapping and holding an open space. When the menu pops up select Folders > New Folder. A new folder will show up on your screen. You can now drag apps into it.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/android-phone-tips-and-tricks-2011-5?op=1#ixzz2RTj2Ty6H