Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) Tips and Tricks

If you would prefer the Desktop view of websites, rather than the Mobile view, then there is a way to change it. This may not work in all regions or on all carriers however.

Open the standard browser and type about:debug into the browser’s address bar. Then go to Menu – Settings. You should have a new option called Debug. Press Debug, then on the right side press UAstring and change the option to Desktop.

Websites should now be displayed as they would on a computer desktop browser.

Another alternative is to install a third-party browser like Dolphin, Firefox or Opera which have options to surf in Desktop mode.

It is best to avoid task killers such as Advanced Task Killer. Android is designed to automatically pre-load certain applications, even if you don’t load them yourself. If it starts to run low on memory, it will smartly unload the oldest running apps automatically.

Manually killing tasks will only mean they get loaded in memory again. Task killers can make the tablet slow, laggy, or drain battery life more quickly.

To quickly hide the on-screen keyboard, press the Back button

Removing Apps is very simple. From the homescreen press the Apps icon in the top-right of the screen. Then press and hold the App you want to remove and drag it to the Remove / Trash icon in the top-right of the screen.

You can also drag it to the i icon which will show you information about the App. You can press Uninstall from here.

The latest version of Android allows you to take screenshots without installing any third party App. Simply press the Screenshot icon on the bar at the bottom of your screen. It should be next to your Recent Apps icon. Press that and a message will say ‘Screen captured. Saved as image file’.

To locate the saved image, go to My Files on your Apps list. Then scroll to the bottom of the folders list and look for a folder called ScreenCapture. Your screenshot will be in there.

To show the Browser History, press the Star in the top right corner of the browser. Then press History.

This will only work in the standard Android browser.

Warning: This will remove ALL data on the tablet, but not the MicroSD card.

From the homescreen, press Menu – Settings – Privacy Factory data reset. Then press Reset tablet and Erase everything.

Your tablet will now be restored to its original factory settings.

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 is a hidden easter egg on the tablet. If you go to your Homescreen, then press Menu – Settings – About tablet, then tap on the Android version option 5 times you will be surprised.

Sometimes it doesn’t work, so try a couple of times. By the way don’t expect to see an actual Easter Egg. That is just the name given to things hidden inside software or operating systems.

From the homescreen, press Menu – Settings – Wireless & networks – Bluetooth Settings. Check that Bluetooth is enabled and press Scan devices. Choose the desired device and press Accept. You may be asked to enter a PIN or Password.