Android 2.3 Tips and Tricks

Type a word that is not in the dictionary. The word will show up in the suggestion box to the left. Long press on the word and it will save to the dictionary.

To disable the screen lock, go into Settings – Location and security.

Then under Screen unlock settings press Change screen lock. Then chose None.

Most Android devices come with an alternative way of entering text called Swype. Many prefer this method and believe it is quicker.
When any text entry box appears, press and hold the box. Then select Input method: SWYPE. Once enabled, you simply drag your finger around the keyboard moving over the letters in the correct order to spell a word.

There are two methods to silence the phone when ringing:

Either press the Volume Down (or Up) button or if the phone is on a surface facing up, simply flip it over so it is facing down.

When browsing the notifications bar will be hidden. Press Menu and the Browser menu and Notifications menu will appear

While in the Camera App, there are two ways to zoom in or out.

First, you can use Volume Up and Down keys.

Secondly, you can pinch your fingers on the screen to zoom in and out.

To delete all contacts, there a number of methods you might need to try. Note that the first two of these may be disabled on some networks/carriers, or Android versions.

1) Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications. Then chose All at the top. Then scroll down to Contacts Storage – B21Clear Data.

2) Go to Contacts. Then press Menu – Delete. Then press Select all (at the top) and then Delete again.

3) Go to Settings – Accounts and sync. Then untick Background data and Auto-sync. Then go to Gmail (or an account that your phone syncs with) and delete all of your Contacts from there. Then re-sync your phone.

4) Download an App called ‘Delete All Contacts’ and use that as a last resort.

These methods above will delete contacts from the Phone only, not the SIM card.

To disable mobile view for websites, open your Browser and go to Menu – More – Settings – Untick ‘Mobile View’.

This option may be disabled on some phones or carriers.

If so, then download the Dolphin browser from the Android Marketplace.

Then open Dolphin – Menu – More – Settings – User Agent. Then select Desktop.

A similar option should be available with the Firefox, Opera or other third-party browsers.

To allow swear words in voice recognition, go to Settings – Voice input & output – Voice recognition settings. Then untick Block offensive words.

By default, the phone will actually recognise swear words, but will insert x’s instead of the word.

While in the Camera app you can view all current settings by pressing and holding the little Gear icon in the top right corner of the app.