Android 2.3 Tips and Tricks

It is important to regularly check for firmware updates to your operating system software. This will mean your phone is protected against bugs and security flaws, and may mean you will see extra features.

To manually check for the latest firmware update for your phone, go to Menu – Settings – About phone – Software update.

From here you can press Update to check for updates. Or you can turn on Auto update whereby the phone will tell you when a firmware update is available to download.

Android handles background applications and memory allocation very well and you shouldn’t need to end any tasks. Task Killer can also drain battery life faster than normal, therefore it is recommended you don’t use this app

To save an image in an email or in the browser, long press on the image and a menu will appear allowing you to save it.

For images inside text messages, you might have to press and hold on the message itself, rather than the image.

Once saved, images should be located in the /phone/Download folder.

To display the most recently used apps, long press the Home key

To turn off predictive text, go to Settings – Language and Keyboard – Touch Input – Text Input – Prediction.

Then select On or Off

You can use the volume buttons to put the phone in silent mode.

Keep pressing the Down volume until it reaches 0%.

If you have ‘Vibration in Silent mode’ turned on, it will also put the phone into Vibrate mode. To change this, go to your homescreen. Press Menu – Settings – Sound – Vibration.

If you want a different keyboard from the default one, go to the Android Marketplace and install one you would like to use.

Then open the Applications Launcher. Press Settings – Language and keyboard – Input method. Then select the keyboard you would like to use

Aside from using a third party app, there are two standard ways to remove applications.

1) Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications, then choose the application you want to close and select Uninstall.

2) Go to Market – Downloads. Choose the application you want to remove and select uninstall

To bookmark a contact on your homescreen, long press on the home screen background and select Shortcuts. Then select Direct dial.

If you call someone regularly this can be useful as you will have a shortcut to them handily placed on your homescreen.

Calibrating your keyboard will significantly improve the experience using your phone. To calibrate go to Settings – Language and Keyboard – Touch Input – Text Input – Calibration Tool