How to Get the Most Out of an Android Phone

An Android smartphone can enhance your life in many ways.

An Android phone provides such a wide range in functionality that many people find it difficult to know where to start. Depending on your own life, there are potentially many ways in which an Android phone can enhance it. However, there are a few key tips that can help you make the absolute most of having one of these sophisticated devices in your pocket. Android phones do much more than just help you keep in contact, as they can help manage multiple aspects of work and personal life and entertain and inform you.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Use the Android Market regularly. The Android operating system supplied on your phone has a range of standard applications for basic use. However, one of the main advantages to having an Android device is that you have access to a huge number of applications, some free and some available at a set cost. Market apps are available for many different activities, including social networking, multimedia, news, gaming, productivity, education, lifestyle and reference among much more. Get into the habit of browsing the apps on the Market regularly if you want to get the best use out of your phone.
- 2
  
  Maximize on your Android phone battery life. The downside to the wealth of functions on an Android phone is that you may often find your battery draining quickly. There are various ways to make the most of the battery life you get in between recharging. Using data services, such as Wi-Fi and GPS, only when necessary does reduce the toll taken on your battery. However, remember to use these functions when you need them, as they are key to the usefulness of the platform. There are also apps available on the Market that can help you to see which applications and functions are draining your battery life.
- 3
  
  Use Wi-Fi when it is available. Although there is no point connecting to a wireless network when you do not need it, when you are using data services, such as emailing, social networking or browsing the Web, you will generally get much faster access using Wi-Fi than with the mobile network. Additionally, if you are in an area with a poor mobile reception, your only option for accessing Web services will be through a wireless network.
- 4
  
  Use your Android phone as a music player. When you have an Android phone, there is no need for a separate MP3 player as the phone provides this function. You can copy music files from your computer onto your Android SD card or download them directly onto it. Android phones are typically shipped with a default music player on them, but there are also many enhanced music player applications available in the Market, many of them free to download.
- 5
  
  Install widgets and shortcuts on your Android home screen. The Android system provides the ability to copy application shortcuts onto your home screen for quick access without having to browse through your program menu. Additionally, the Market provides many widgets you can download for various functions. Shortcuts for managing your phone settings are particularly useful, as you can switch services, such as Wi-Fi and GPS, on and off from your home screen in a few taps.

Tips & Warnings

If you use Google services such as Gmail, you can "sync" your account with your Android providing ready access to them.
Android apps have been known to contain malware, so you may wish to install a security application to scan any new apps you download.

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Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

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