Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Tips and Tricks
Factory OS: Android 4.3 (Jellybean)
Have you updated your Operating System?
Then view tips for the most recent OS version(s): Android 9 (Pie) & Android 8 (Oreo)
Or view tips for all Android versions
If you have used up all of your Quick Launch spaces, then there is a trick.
Once it is full, press and drag an App from the homescreen and move it over the top of an App in the Quick Launch area. Then release your finger. This will create a folder containing the original App plus the new one. This is a great way to have access to regularly used Apps.
If you like your Apps neatly sorted into folders, then there is a simple way to accomplish this.
First find the first App you would like in a folder. Then choose a second App. Press and hold on the second App and drag it over the top of the first App. They will both combine into a folder.
You can repeat this process to add more.
Normally you don’t have the ability to create shortcuts to files or folders on your home screen.
There is a workaround however. Go to the Play Store and download an App called Linda File Manager.
Once installed, browse to a file or folder. Then press and hold on the file and select Create shortcut.
The shortcut will be created on your homescreen where you can hold and drag it elsewhere if you want.
To add a widget, simply long press on a blank part of one of your homescreens. Then select Widget. Scroll through the list of available widgets and choose one. It will be placed on your homescreen and you can move it around as you desire.
General
Search for
Who invented
Show me the stocks for
Author of
How old is
How tall is
Time & Date
What time is it in
When is the
When is the sunset in
What is the time zone of
Time at home
Weather
Show me the weather
Is it going to rain tomorrow?
Do I need an umbrella?
Do I need a jacket
What is the weather in
How is the weather on
Maps / Location
Map of
Show me the nearby
Where is
Navigate to
I am hungry (shows all nearby food points on map)
How far is
Calculations / Conversions
How much is
What is
Square root of
What is the numerical value of Pi
Convert
Temperature of the sun
Sports
Who won the last match between
Schedule of
Websites
Go to
Open
Show me
Browse to
Entertainment
Listen toPlay
YouTube
Notes / Reminders
Remind me to
Contacts / Communication
Call
Send
Call
Send a text to
Email to
Flights
Flight Status of
Has
When will
Other
Do a barrel roll
If you’re worried about your sensitive data falling into the wrong hands then Jelly Bean has a great new encryption feature that scrambles every pieces of content on your device.
Go to Settings – Security settings – Encrypt device or Encrypt external SD card.
To open a web page in a new tab, find a link on a web page. Then press on it and then choose to open the site in a new tab.
While in your email App, a handy trick is to pinch and zoom out to see a ‘day view’ of your emails. This is handy if you have a lot of emails and want to quickly sort them by recency.
If you have forgotten your custom unlock pattern, then don’t panic.
After 5 unsuccessful tries a button should appear saying ‘Forgot pattern’. Press this and you will be asked to enter your Gmail username/password.
The phone will then ask for a new unlock pattern. If you don’t have a Gmail account, then you might have to either call your carrier or factory reset your phone.