CHAPTER 1
Getting Started with Android
In this chapter, you set up your Android phone or tablet, meet its hardware controls, and learn to navigate it. You also learn to transfer files from your PC or Mac to your device.
Discover the Types of Android Devices
Meet Your Device's Controls
Perform the Initial Setup for Your Device
Connect to a Wireless Network
Download and Install Companion Software
Transfer Files from Your PC to Your Device
Transfer Files from Your Mac to Your Device
Explore the User Interface and Launch Apps
Understanding Skinned Versions of Android
Navigate with Gestures
Work with Notifications
Using Google Now
Discover the Types of Android Devices
Android is an operating system created by Google for use on mobile computing devices. Android runs on both smartphones and tablet computers and is widely used on both types of devices. Various hardware manufacturers install Android as the operating system for their devices, and as a result, you can buy many different Android devices with widely varying capabilities and prices. Android has a standard user interface that is referred to as stock Android. But some manufacturers add an overlay called a skin to Android, giving it a different look, changing its built-in functionality, and adding features.
Android Smartphones
Android smartphones are cellular phones that run on the Android operating system. Android provides a wide range of features, from sending e-mail and browsing the Internet to making phone calls and taking photos. Most Android phones include a rear camera with which you can take high-quality photos, using the screen as a viewfinder, and a front camera for taking self-portraits and for enjoying video chat sessions. Android phones also include one or more microphones you can use to record audio and voice memos.
Android smartphones come in many sizes, designs, and price levels. This book uses the Google Nexus 5 phone as a reference Android smartphone that runs unmodified Android version 5, which is known as Lollipop.
Android Tablets
Google designed Android to run tablet computers as well as smartphones. Tablets come in a wide range of sizes, ranging from pocket size to table-top size. Smaller tablets have screen sizes such as 7 inches or 8.9 inches. Full-size tablets have screen sizes such as 10 inches. Oversize tablets have screens sizes such as 13 inches. Monster tablets have screens as big as 22 inches. This book uses the Google Nexus 7 tablet as a reference Android tablet. In general, tablets are larger than smartphones, although bigger smartphones now approach the size of smaller tablets. Smartphones have cellular phone capability, whereas tablets do not. Some tablets have cellular data connectivity but cannot make cellular phone calls.
Choosing an Android Device
Many hardware manufacturers make Android devices. Some manufacturers make both Android smartphones and Android tablets, whereas other manufacturers produce only smartphones or only tablets. When looking for an Android smartphone or tablet, you can choose from a wide range of devices, so spend time deciding exactly what you need and carefully researching suitable devices. Study the specifications for the devices and read both professional reviews and user reviews to learn their strengths and weaknesses. The Amazon website, www.amazon.com, is a good place to find user reviews of many devices.
Versions of the Android Operating System
As of this writing, Google has released nine main versions of the Android operating system. Each version has a code name from a sweet treat. For example, the code name for Android version 5 is Lollipop, and the code name for Android version 4.4 is KitKat. When Google releases a new version of Android, each hardware manufacturer must create a custom version for its phones and tablets. Each new version may take weeks or months to arrive - or a manufacturer may decide not to create a new version for its older phones and tablets. For this reason, when considering buying an Android device, you should check carefully the Android version it is running and updates that are available.
Android Skins
Android Lollipop is a full-featured operating system with an easy-to-use user interface. But hardware manufacturers can alter or extend the Android user interface by applying extra software called a skin. For example, Samsung adds a skin called TouchWiz to many of its Android devices, and HTC adds a skin called HTC Sense. A skin can modify many aspects of the standard "stock" or "pure" Android interface. For instance, the TouchWiz skin gives the Home screen and the Lock screen a different look, adds extra features and graphics to the Settings app, and replaces key apps such as the Camera app with custom versions.
Android Accessories
To get the most out of your Android device, you can add many different types of accessories. The following accessories tend to be widely useful:
Case and screen protector. To keep your device in good condition, protect it with a case and apply a screen protector to the screen.
Extra charger. If you need to be able to charge your device in multiple locations, keep a charger in each location.
TV connection. You can make a wired connection using a SlimPort-to-HDMI cable or make a wireless connection using a device such as Google's Chromecast.
Wireless keyboard. If you need to enter a lot of text on your device, buy a Bluetooth keyboard. You can choose from many stand-alone keyboards and keyboard cases.
Meet Your Device's Controls
Once you have your Android phone or tablet, take it out of the box, identify the components, and charge it if necessary. For a phone or cellular-capable tablet, insert a suitable SIM card if the device does not have one. When the battery has some charge, turn the device on and meet its controls. Although Android devices use many different controls and layouts, many devices have standard hardware buttons. Standard Android devices also have three soft buttons - Back, Home, and Overview - built into the bottom of the screen.
Meet Your Device's Controls
Press and hold the Power button on the phone or tablet for a couple of seconds.
As the phone or tablet starts, the Google logo appears on the screen.
This is the micro-USB port. Google refers to this as the Charger/USB/SlimPort port.
This is a microphone on the base of the device.
This is the front-facing camera.
This is the headphone socket.
This is a microphone at the top of an Android phone.
This is the rear-facing camera.
This is the camera flash.
Turn the phone or tablet so that you can see the side that contains the volume button or volume buttons.
Press the upper part of the volume rocker to increase the ringer volume.
Press the lower part of the volume rocker to decrease the ringer volume.
This is the SIM tray. To open it, you push a SIM-removal tool or the end of a straightened paper clip into the hole.
When the lock screen appears, touch the lock () and then drag upward until the screen unlocks.
The phone or tablet unlocks, and the Home screen appears.
You can touch Home () to display the Home screen.
You can touch Back () to display the previous screen.
You can touch Overview () to display a list of recent apps and screens.
TIP
How do I insert a SIM card in my phone or tablet?
If the store or carrier has not inserted a SIM card, you will need to insert one yourself. Consult the device's documentation to learn which kind of SIM card it needs - for example, a micro-SIM or a nano-SIM - and get a SIM card of that type.
Consult the documentation about inserting the SIM card in the phone or tablet. Some devices, like the one shown here, have an external SIM slot that you open using a SIM ejection tool or the end of a straightened paper clip. Other devices require you to take the back off the device in order to access the SIM compartment and insert the SIM card.
Perform the Initial Setup for Your Device
To get your phone or tablet working, you must perform the initial setup routine. This is a one-time procedure in which you select essential settings and connect the device to a wireless network.
The first time you turn on your device, Android displays the Welcome screen. You can then choose the language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, set up your Google account, and choose other settings. If you already have an Android device, you can pick up settings from it by using the Tap & Go feature.
Perform the Initial Setup for Your Device
Begin Initial Setup and Connect to Wi-Fi
Turn on the phone or tablet by pressing and holding the Power button.
The Welcome screen appears.
Touch the language.
Touch Next ().
The Select Wi-Fi screen appears.
Touch the appropriate network.
If the Wi-Fi network does not appear in the list, touch Add Another Network. The network may be one that...
