Showing posts with label tricks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tricks. Show all posts
Saturday, April 4, 2015
LG G2 Tips and Tricks
The LG G2 is one of the best Android smartphones of the year 2013, and why not, it does have a lot of potential against the other smartphones in the current Android smartphone market, but are you making the most out of it, or just using it as any other device? Here is a handful of tips and tricks for LG G2 using which you can enhance the user experience and make it a more personalized device for your usage.
There are a few features which are limited to just the LG devices. This is one of them, where you can change the icon for the app, and changing here means – changing the size, the actual icon picture by selecting from the given icons or selecting one from your own gallery.
On the home screen, tap and hold on the app icon and then let go. It would show a bluish option on the top right of the icon which would stay for a couple of seconds. Press on that to see the options opened for the particular icon.
You’ll see the option to expand the icon.
This is again one of the best ways LG has given for those who didn’t like the back button placement, especially when the phone is placed on a table and they have to lift the phone to press the power button. Just tap the screen twice gently so that the screen wakes up and you can then unlock it. That isn’t limited to unlocking, because you can use the same tips to lock the screen by tapping twice on any empty area or the notification bar on the top.
To change the settings, you can go to Settings > General > Gestures > Knockon and toggle it on / off.
The messaging app in most of the Android smartphones is the standard one, with the regular chat bubbles, but in LG G2, you can personalize it and use one of the several themes and bubbles that are given by LG, or you can go to an extent where the theme can be uploaded by you and changed.
Go to Messaging app > Menu > Settings > Conversation theme and here, you will see the option to change both “Wallpaper” and “Bubble” where the background as well as the chat bubbles are changed into different ones based on your preference. The wallpaper can be something that is captured using your camera, or you can choose one from the Gallery.
The QSlide is a feature where you would be able to open multiple apps on the same screen, in small windows and this is the best for multitasking, although the actual multitasking is different from this. The QSlide is seen as the second option when you drag down the notification panel. Selecting that would open a list of QSlide apps just below the settings in the panel, and you can open any of the apps from there.
Changing the apps and order of them is possible by going to the Edit option in the end of the QSlide. Also, you can change the transparency of the app window with the slider given on each app when you open it. This would help in doing stuff when you have to check what’s on the background.
This is not the multitasking that you see as the default one in the Android phones, because in the Slide Aside, you can store up to three apps for an unlimited time, unlike the standard multitasking where you see the apps disappear when the latest ones replace them.
In Slide Aside, you need to swipe three fingers to the left when on an app page, so that the particular app page gets saved. You can do that with three apps, and the preview looks excellent, showing you the three saved apps one of which you can open any time. You may press the X button to remove the app if you wanted to have any other app in the Slide Aside multitasking.
There’s a very good Guest Mode feature which would limit the usage and the apps when you are giving the phone to someone who you feel, should not be able to check your personal details, messages, call logs etc. The Guest Mode would allow you to set the apps which you prefer to show to the guest, and for that you will have to first set the pattern lock. Go to Settings > Display > Lock screen and pick the pattern unlock and set that one for yourself.
Now, head to Settings > General > Guest Mode and you will be able to set a pattern for the guest mode, and select the apps which to show in the guest mode. It would have a very limited usage, because the person won’t be able to open even the notification panel, and only the apps which you allowed would be shown on the screen.
The G2 can act as a universal remote control, and it isn’t limited to just the TVs but you can use your smartphone for various stuff which includes – Set-top box, Audio player, DVD player, Blu-ray disc player, Air conditioner, Projector and the smartphone can act as a Universal remote.
Just click on the Plus icon on the right top and it would take you to the options to select from, i.e. the type of remote. For example, if you add Set-top box, it would take you to the brands of the STB or the brand which is providing you the DTH connection. There would be a series of tests to be done, and only if is working correctly, you can proceed and it would get saved under the various places such as office, bedroom, living room etc. so that you can use it easily later on.
You can choose to Auto display the QuickRemote at home, as soon as it locates that you have reached home, and you can toggle between the sound and vibrate settings when you press any remote button.
Although the different button placement, the LG G2 would allow you to capture the screenshots in different ways, and that won’t take any extra time, because you are seeing the keys closer to easily press them. One of the ways is to just press the Power and Volume down button together, and it would do the needful.
The other way is to use the QuickMemo feature, which not just captures the screenshot but also gives you a quick way to edit and add any text to the screenshot if you wanted to do so. There are two ways to open the QuickMemo:
If you are one of those who would capture the photos mainly to view from the smartphone screen itself, then you should have the wide view captures rather than the 4:3 aspect ratio ones which give a black bar on the either side of the image, because of the fixed ratio. The default one set is 13-megapixel which comes in the 16:9 ratio and thus you see the black bars on the left and right when seen in the landscape mode, and the option you need to select here is the 10-megapixel one which gives the aspect ratio that fills the entire screen.
The Gallery app in the LG G2 although has the standard options to share or deleting the photos, does an even better job for those who wanted to check each photo individually and then decide what to do with it. When swiping between the different photos, you just need to pinch the photo a little to show the options such as swipe up to delete and swipe down to share. Based on what you want to do, swipe it.
The back buttons aren’t just for a single purpose, i.e. you can surely increase or decrease the volume of the smartphone with the Up and Down keys on the back panel of the G2, but a bit more can be done along with it. When the screen is turned off, if you press the Volume up button for a couple seconds, it would activate the Quickmemo if you wanted to jot down any notes. Similarly, if the Volume down button is pressed for a couple seconds, it would activate the camera without you having to activate the screen.
The touch buttons in the front bottom are not the capacitive fixed ones, because these are the system buttons which can be manipulated and changed, from the options given in the settings. Go to Settings > Display > Front touch buttons and see the different options available for the front buttons. There are bars which include even the Notification panel button and the quickmemo app.
The smart screen feature is something similar to what you might have seen in the Galaxy S4 from Samsung. The thing that is done in this, is that the front camera of the LG G2 would check whether you are looking at the screen, and if yes, it would not allow the screen to turn off automatically on the normal screen timeout time that you have set. To activate that, you need to go to Settings > Display > Smart On > Smart screen.
Whenever you plug a 3.5mm pin in the headphone jack, normally the phones don’t respond to it although the headphone works. In the LG G2, you can select a set of apps whose icons would show up for you to easily access them, and most of the times it would be one of those apps which you would have opened normally when you use the headphones. To set up the list of apps which are to be shown, go to Settings > General > Accessory > Earphone.
Again one of the features which is nothing new in the high-end smartphones, but a very useful one when you are missing yourself while capturing your family in a photo. The Dual camera mode shows a small box with the front camera while most of the screen in the camera app is still filled by the objects from the back camera. With the Dual camera, you can:
Capturing screenshot, as we said above, has a few different ways but that would be only for the current screen and nothing that can be scrolled down or up. While browsing through the web browser in the LG G2, you would find a feature called Capture Plus, in the menu. That is what would capture the entire page from top to bottom, and save that to the gallery.
There are multiple home screens in the interface, which has been a case with most of the Android smartphones, but when you have to make it look neat and organized, don’t keep shifting between the home screens by yourself, as you can take advantage of the default home screen option. Set one of the home screens as default by pinching on the home screen and then selecting the option “Set default Home screen”, and then tap the home screen which you wanted to set as the default one.
Just like in the iOS devices, you can uninstall the apps directly by just a couple touches from the app pages. On the app drawer page, you just need to touch the Wrench icon on the top right, which would show the X option beside every app which you can uninstall. Clicking on the one which you want to uninstall, the information about the app is shown, and the option to uninstall it. And the deletion of the app is pretty quick, with a trash sound confirming that the app is gone.
The battery saving mode is again one of the standard options provided in most of the smartphones, as the brands know how fast the battery gets drained when you are using it at ease. At a certain battery percentage, the battery saver mode, when activated, would automate a lot of stuff and keep your phone on mainly for calling and messaging, as most of the other stuff is hibernated. To activate the battery saver mode, you need to go to Settings > General > Battery > Battery Saver.
Personalization getting even better. Above we did share how you can change the messaging apps’ background and chat bubbles, and now here’s how you can change the text font and the size to a few limited options, but they would do quite a good job. Go to Settings > Display > Font where you would see the options for changing both – font type and size.
Stick the IP address into Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and you can drag files directly from the phone to your computer. On Windows if you add G2 to the end of the address then you can map the network drive. On OSX in Finder hit Command K and then enter smb:// followed by your IP.
Alternatively you could use a free app like AirDroid, which allows you to transfer files and also send and receive SMS, among other things.
Read more »
Change App Icon – Size or Picture
There are a few features which are limited to just the LG devices. This is one of them, where you can change the icon for the app, and changing here means – changing the size, the actual icon picture by selecting from the given icons or selecting one from your own gallery.
On the home screen, tap and hold on the app icon and then let go. It would show a bluish option on the top right of the icon which would stay for a couple of seconds. Press on that to see the options opened for the particular icon.
You’ll see the option to expand the icon.
Knock On – Tap the screen to wake it up
This is again one of the best ways LG has given for those who didn’t like the back button placement, especially when the phone is placed on a table and they have to lift the phone to press the power button. Just tap the screen twice gently so that the screen wakes up and you can then unlock it. That isn’t limited to unlocking, because you can use the same tips to lock the screen by tapping twice on any empty area or the notification bar on the top.
To change the settings, you can go to Settings > General > Gestures > Knockon and toggle it on / off.
Change chat bubbles / theme in Messaging
The messaging app in most of the Android smartphones is the standard one, with the regular chat bubbles, but in LG G2, you can personalize it and use one of the several themes and bubbles that are given by LG, or you can go to an extent where the theme can be uploaded by you and changed.
Go to Messaging app > Menu > Settings > Conversation theme and here, you will see the option to change both “Wallpaper” and “Bubble” where the background as well as the chat bubbles are changed into different ones based on your preference. The wallpaper can be something that is captured using your camera, or you can choose one from the Gallery.
QSlide – Using the apps in small windows
The QSlide is a feature where you would be able to open multiple apps on the same screen, in small windows and this is the best for multitasking, although the actual multitasking is different from this. The QSlide is seen as the second option when you drag down the notification panel. Selecting that would open a list of QSlide apps just below the settings in the panel, and you can open any of the apps from there.
Changing the apps and order of them is possible by going to the Edit option in the end of the QSlide. Also, you can change the transparency of the app window with the slider given on each app when you open it. This would help in doing stuff when you have to check what’s on the background.
Slide Aside – Multitask Always
This is not the multitasking that you see as the default one in the Android phones, because in the Slide Aside, you can store up to three apps for an unlimited time, unlike the standard multitasking where you see the apps disappear when the latest ones replace them.
In Slide Aside, you need to swipe three fingers to the left when on an app page, so that the particular app page gets saved. You can do that with three apps, and the preview looks excellent, showing you the three saved apps one of which you can open any time. You may press the X button to remove the app if you wanted to have any other app in the Slide Aside multitasking.
Guest Mode in LG G2
There’s a very good Guest Mode feature which would limit the usage and the apps when you are giving the phone to someone who you feel, should not be able to check your personal details, messages, call logs etc. The Guest Mode would allow you to set the apps which you prefer to show to the guest, and for that you will have to first set the pattern lock. Go to Settings > Display > Lock screen and pick the pattern unlock and set that one for yourself.
Now, head to Settings > General > Guest Mode and you will be able to set a pattern for the guest mode, and select the apps which to show in the guest mode. It would have a very limited usage, because the person won’t be able to open even the notification panel, and only the apps which you allowed would be shown on the screen.
Use LG G2 as Remote Control
The G2 can act as a universal remote control, and it isn’t limited to just the TVs but you can use your smartphone for various stuff which includes – Set-top box, Audio player, DVD player, Blu-ray disc player, Air conditioner, Projector and the smartphone can act as a Universal remote.
Just click on the Plus icon on the right top and it would take you to the options to select from, i.e. the type of remote. For example, if you add Set-top box, it would take you to the brands of the STB or the brand which is providing you the DTH connection. There would be a series of tests to be done, and only if is working correctly, you can proceed and it would get saved under the various places such as office, bedroom, living room etc. so that you can use it easily later on.
You can choose to Auto display the QuickRemote at home, as soon as it locates that you have reached home, and you can toggle between the sound and vibrate settings when you press any remote button.
Quick ways to capture Screenshot
Although the different button placement, the LG G2 would allow you to capture the screenshots in different ways, and that won’t take any extra time, because you are seeing the keys closer to easily press them. One of the ways is to just press the Power and Volume down button together, and it would do the needful.
The other way is to use the QuickMemo feature, which not just captures the screenshot but also gives you a quick way to edit and add any text to the screenshot if you wanted to do so. There are two ways to open the QuickMemo:
- From the notification panel – the first option there is the quickmemo, which has to be opened from the actual screen where you wanted to capture the screen
- From the home button – Pull the home button upwards from the bottom to quickly open three options, the right one in them being the one for quickmemo, which does the same job.
Capture Full frame pictures with camera
If you are one of those who would capture the photos mainly to view from the smartphone screen itself, then you should have the wide view captures rather than the 4:3 aspect ratio ones which give a black bar on the either side of the image, because of the fixed ratio. The default one set is 13-megapixel which comes in the 16:9 ratio and thus you see the black bars on the left and right when seen in the landscape mode, and the option you need to select here is the 10-megapixel one which gives the aspect ratio that fills the entire screen.
Swipe to Delete / Share Photos
The Gallery app in the LG G2 although has the standard options to share or deleting the photos, does an even better job for those who wanted to check each photo individually and then decide what to do with it. When swiping between the different photos, you just need to pinch the photo a little to show the options such as swipe up to delete and swipe down to share. Based on what you want to do, swipe it.
Quick Actions with Back Buttons
The back buttons aren’t just for a single purpose, i.e. you can surely increase or decrease the volume of the smartphone with the Up and Down keys on the back panel of the G2, but a bit more can be done along with it. When the screen is turned off, if you press the Volume up button for a couple seconds, it would activate the Quickmemo if you wanted to jot down any notes. Similarly, if the Volume down button is pressed for a couple seconds, it would activate the camera without you having to activate the screen.
Change Front Bottom Touch Buttons
The touch buttons in the front bottom are not the capacitive fixed ones, because these are the system buttons which can be manipulated and changed, from the options given in the settings. Go to Settings > Display > Front touch buttons and see the different options available for the front buttons. There are bars which include even the Notification panel button and the quickmemo app.
Smart Screen – Keeps screen active if you are facing it
The smart screen feature is something similar to what you might have seen in the Galaxy S4 from Samsung. The thing that is done in this, is that the front camera of the LG G2 would check whether you are looking at the screen, and if yes, it would not allow the screen to turn off automatically on the normal screen timeout time that you have set. To activate that, you need to go to Settings > Display > Smart On > Smart screen.
Plug & Play options for Earphone
Whenever you plug a 3.5mm pin in the headphone jack, normally the phones don’t respond to it although the headphone works. In the LG G2, you can select a set of apps whose icons would show up for you to easily access them, and most of the times it would be one of those apps which you would have opened normally when you use the headphones. To set up the list of apps which are to be shown, go to Settings > General > Accessory > Earphone.
Dual Camera – Showing yourself while capturing others
Again one of the features which is nothing new in the high-end smartphones, but a very useful one when you are missing yourself while capturing your family in a photo. The Dual camera mode shows a small box with the front camera while most of the screen in the camera app is still filled by the objects from the back camera. With the Dual camera, you can:
- Drag to move the small screen
- Touch and hold to resize the small screen
- Tap small screen to swap the screen
Capture Plus – How to capture screenshot of full web page
Capturing screenshot, as we said above, has a few different ways but that would be only for the current screen and nothing that can be scrolled down or up. While browsing through the web browser in the LG G2, you would find a feature called Capture Plus, in the menu. That is what would capture the entire page from top to bottom, and save that to the gallery.
Setting up a Default home screen
There are multiple home screens in the interface, which has been a case with most of the Android smartphones, but when you have to make it look neat and organized, don’t keep shifting between the home screens by yourself, as you can take advantage of the default home screen option. Set one of the home screens as default by pinching on the home screen and then selecting the option “Set default Home screen”, and then tap the home screen which you wanted to set as the default one.
Quick Check and Uninstall Apps
Just like in the iOS devices, you can uninstall the apps directly by just a couple touches from the app pages. On the app drawer page, you just need to touch the Wrench icon on the top right, which would show the X option beside every app which you can uninstall. Clicking on the one which you want to uninstall, the information about the app is shown, and the option to uninstall it. And the deletion of the app is pretty quick, with a trash sound confirming that the app is gone.
Set up Battery Saver Mode on Low Battery
The battery saving mode is again one of the standard options provided in most of the smartphones, as the brands know how fast the battery gets drained when you are using it at ease. At a certain battery percentage, the battery saver mode, when activated, would automate a lot of stuff and keep your phone on mainly for calling and messaging, as most of the other stuff is hibernated. To activate the battery saver mode, you need to go to Settings > General > Battery > Battery Saver.
Change the Font and Size of Text
Personalization getting even better. Above we did share how you can change the messaging apps’ background and chat bubbles, and now here’s how you can change the text font and the size to a few limited options, but they would do quite a good job. Go to Settings > Display > Font where you would see the options for changing both – font type and size.
Share files wirelessly
You can access files on your LG G2 using your PC or Mac wirelessly through your Wi-Fi network. It’s a feature called Wireless storage and you can find a toggle for it at the far right of your notifications shade toggle menu. You can also turn it on via Settings > Share & connect > Wireless storage. When you turn it on you’ll get a pop up that gives you the IP address, username, and password.Stick the IP address into Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and you can drag files directly from the phone to your computer. On Windows if you add G2 to the end of the address then you can map the network drive. On OSX in Finder hit Command K and then enter smb:// followed by your IP.
Alternatively you could use a free app like AirDroid, which allows you to transfer files and also send and receive SMS, among other things.
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Friday, April 3, 2015
Google Nexus 5 tips and tricks
Googles latest and greatest handset is with us, pre-loaded with Android 4.4 KitKat -- the most advanced version of the mobile OS yet. As ever, a new phone means a dazzling array of unique features to get your head around, many of which arent as easy to fathom as you might expect.
But fear not! Were on hand to provide you with a handy rundown of 25 of the best tips, hints and tricks hidden inside the sleek exterior of your shiny new Nexus 5.
Apples Siri and Google Now have been with us for a while, but voice control continues to develop at a rapid pace. Motorolas Moto X has an "always listening" system, which allows you to execute commands without having to lift your phone from the table, and Google has incorporated a similar degree of functionality in the Nexus 5.
There are caveats, however -- you have to be on the home screen and your voice control language has to be set to "US English" rather than "UK English". To enable this, go to Settings > Language & Input > Voice Search, and select the "Language" option. Tap "English" and then English (US). Now, drop back to the home screen and utter the phrase "OK Google", and voice search will activate automatically.
Google has changed the way in which widgets are deployed in Android 4.4 -- the "Widgets" section of the App Drawer has been removed, and now you can only add them by long-pressing on your home screen. Youll see the Widgets box in the middle of the screen.
Smart phones are so packed with features that keeping on top of them can sometimes be a headache, which is why you need to gain access to your settings with as little fuss as possible. With Android, all you need to do is drag two fingers down from the top of the screen -- instead of seeing the notifications area, youll see a wealth of toggles for features such as Wi-Fi, Brightness, Bluetooth and Location settings.
Widgets arent just restricted to your home screens in Android anymore -- you can add them to your lock screen as well. Go to Settings > Security, and make sure Enable Widgets is ticked. On your lock screen, swipe from left to right and tap the "plus" icon. You can add widgets related to a wide range of apps, including email, Google+ and your calendar.
Cloud printing is one of the big additions in Android 4.4, and makes it easy to get hard copies of documents sent to you via email or other methods. Cloud printing is enabled by default, but youll obviously need a compatible printer to perform this wireless magic. If you do happen to have one to hand, then youll be able to check the print cartridge toner levels and even control two-sided printing, all from your blower.
While Apple is uncomfortable with its customers installing apps which arent on the App Store, Google is a little more accommodating. Drop into Settings > Security, and tick the box "Unknown Sources". Now you can download apk files and install them without having to use the Google Play market, but be aware that this carries risks -- the content you install could potentially be harmful to your phone.
If you lost your phone today then how would an honest soul be able to return it to you, should it be found? If you have a lockscreen security pattern then said Good Samaritan wouldnt be able to ascertain your details or get in touch -- which is why putting some brief info on the lockscreen is such a good idea. Go to Settings > Security > Owner Info. Tick "Show owner info on lock screen" and then insert some details -- popping in your Twitter handle is a good idea, as then if anyone picks up your lost phone then they will be able to get in touch without having to know your address or phone number.
Buying a phone used to mean tirelessly porting over your settings and content from your old blower to your new one, but since the arrival of smart phones, this laborious process has mercifully become a thing of the past.
If youve already taken advantage of Androids backup features then when you fire up the Nexus 5 for the first time youll be able to restore all of your content and apps quickly and easily. If you havent, then go to Settings > Backup & Reset, and tick "Back up my data" and "Automatic Restore". The first option ensures that all of your settings are stored in the cloud, while the second allows you to retain app-relevant data so that if you have to reinstall something, all the settings will be remembered.
Immersive mode is another Android 4.4 introduction, and is a fancy way of saying "Full Screen". During relevant apps -- such as Google Play Books and Google Play Movies -- Android 4.4 will automatically expand the image to fill the entire screen, hiding elements like the notifications bar and other menus. To exit the mode, simply tap the screen -- simple!
Theres nothing more annoying than charging your phone up in the morning only to discover that its gasping for a recharge by dinner time. Thankfully, Android allows you to see a detailed breakdown of whats been consuming juice, allowing you to switch off or uninstall problematic programs. Simply access Quick Settings and tap the Battery tile.
There are dedicated bookworms out there who are buying novels in triplicate -- the actual physical book, the eBook and the audio book -- but if you have a Nexus 5 then you dont need to go to such extreme lengths.
Android accessibility options allow you to turn all on-screen text into speech, allowing you to transform your eBook download into an audio novel. Go to Settings > Accessibility and switch "Talk Back" on. When youre in Google Play Books, open the settings menu and make sure "Automatically read aloud" is ticked.
Youll also want to ensure that "High-quality voice" is turned on as well, otherwise the speech sounds a little too robotic.
Google Music allows you to upload 20,000 of your own songs for free, and access them from the Web or any Android device. That means you can potentially have your entire record collection at your fingertips without having to clog up your handsets internal memory -- a prime concern with the Nexus 5, with the base model limited to 16GB and lacking a microSD card slot. To do this, youll need to actually upload your songs using a computer and Google Music Manager application, and its recommended you only stream audio if you have a contract with unlimited data.
Face Unlock made its debut with the Galaxy Nexus and remains one of Androids most amusing features. As Google itself points out, its not the most robust of security measures, but being able to unlock your phone just by looking at it is undeniably cool. To enable, go to Settings > Security > Screen lock and then select Face Unlock.
With Apple introducing "dynamic" wallpapers in iOS 7, its somewhat curious that Google has largely relegated Live Wallpapers to the background in 4.4. Theres only one wallpaper included -- Phase Beam -- and its buried deep within the wallpapers menu. There are plenty of other live wallpapers on the Google Play store though, so download a few to remind your iPhone-owning mates who had this feature first.
With Android 4.4, Google has folded SMS messaging into its Hangouts messaging service, which means all of your communications are in one place. This might not be to everyones satisfaction, however, so its good to know that you can revert back if you wish to. Open Hangouts and go to Settings. Youll see "Default SMS app", which will be configured to Hangouts by default. Simply tap this and select your third-party SMS app -- which youll have to download from the Google Play market, as no alternatives are installed. 8SMS and Handscent are both worthy substitutes.
If you do decide to stick with Hangouts, then you may find it a useful tool when it comes to keeping in touch with friends and relatives. You can even set emotions which indicate how youre feeling at any given time -- a handy feature if youre in a grumpy mood and dont want to be disturbed. Simply tap the menu icon (the three dots in the top-right corner) and select your general mood.
If youre subject to a fair-usage data policy on your contract then youll want to keep an eye on the amount of megabytes youre eating through on a daily basis. Thankfully, Android offers the chance to monitor your data consumption and even set alerts which tell you when youre nearing your limit. You can find all of this in Settings > Data usage.
If youre the kind of mobile user who craves order, then youll want to sort your apps into handy folders to make it easier to track them down in a rush. Simply long-press any app icon and then hover it over another to create the folder. You can then give this selection of apps a unique name by tapping the folder and then selecting the "Unnamed Folder" text.
You can grab a quick snap of your Nexus 5s screen by holding the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time, but Android 4.4 offers another trick -- albeit with the assistance of a third-party application. By downloading Screen Record, you can capture your screen activity in video form -- handy for developers who want to create promotional videos of their programs, or for those times when you need to troubleshoot an issue by collecting visual evidence.
Google has introduced its Play Games portal with very little fanfare when 4.3 was launched, but its certainly worth a closer look in 4.4. Taking cues from Xbox Live and Apples Game Center service, it allows you to track your scores and achievements in compatible games and compare your best attempts with friends and Google+ contacts.
If youre keen to keep tabs on your level of fitness then the Nexus 5 is the perfect phone for you. The handsets internal tech can detect how many steps youve taken, and therefore judge how many calories youve burned off. Simply download Moves from the Google Play store and stride confidently out of that front door.
Watching a movie on the tube isnt as much fun when you cant hear the dialogue, so thank your lucky stars for Android 4.4s support for closed captions during film playback. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions, and switch them on. You can even adjust the text size and select the text and background colour.
Our phones spend a lot of time plugged into the wall, largely because they contain so much cutting-edge tech that their batteries require a top-up every single day. Thankfully, with Android you can make this process a little more interesting by enabling "Daydream" mode. This can either be a clock, a news-feed item or a selection of your photos. To switch this mode on, go to Settings > Display > Daydream, and then pick your preferred choice. You can also tell the phone to daydream only when docked, or when on charge.
If youve got a tablet or laptop and you want to use it out of the house, you can use your Nexus 5 as a portable fountain of wireless goodness -- thus removing the need to find an open hotspot. Go to Settings and tap "More", and then select Tethering and Portable Hotspot. Tick the Portable Hotspot option and selection "Set up" to configure a password -- you dont want anyone else sharing your valuable bandwidth, after all.
Androids magnification capability is intended to make things easier for those with poor eyesight, but it has uses for those who dont suffer from visual issues. You can zoom in to see on-screen images in greater detail by triple-tapping the display with your finger. Its also possible to enlarge whats under your finger by triple-tapping and then holding your digit on the screen, and then dragging it around. To switch on this mode, go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnification gestures.
By now everyone with a Nexus 5 has made the update to Android 4.4.1 or 4.4.2 so this tip isnt as big a deal as it might have been a couple of months ago. The truth is that, after the incremental updates, Google made some major improvements to the performance of the Nexus 5s camera. But you can still make it even better. Simply set your default mode to HDR+ and watch your contrasts, motion blur and low-light performance increase. Theres really very little reason not to be taking all of your photos in HDR+ mode.
Just bring up the touch interface in the camera app, and turn on HDR+.
Sure, Google likes to force things down our throats, like practically needing a Google+ account just to get out of bed in the morning, but that doesnt mean that you have to jump aboard the Hangouts train just because Google wants you to. So, if you tried it out and kinda just got stuck with Hangouts but dont really like the functionality (theres a few things still not to like), then simply install another messaging app that you actually like or already use and substitute that as the default messaging app.
All you need to do is download the app you want, then go to Settings and More and youll see the Default SMS App heading. Make your choice from whatever SMS apps you have on your phone.
I think Google Now is kinda cool, but it has absolutely no use value for me as I traverse the few streets between my penthouse apartment and the AndroidPIT mansion. Fortunately I know both addresses and Ive even managed to figure out how to get between them quickly. I already have the temperature on my home screen and I rarely take flights or have packages arriving that I need to coordinate myself with. And sadly, my stock portfolio is about as concrete as that penthouse apartment and the mansion I work in. So if you dont actually use Google Now, just turn it off and save yourself some battery juice and free up that left hand home screen for something you do use.
Just go to the gray Google Settings app in the app drawer, hit Search and turn the Google Now switch off.
The Nexus 5 is already a bit of a beast when it comes to raw processing power, but theres still more you can do to improve your Nexus 5s performance even further. The first and most obvious of these is to try out the ART runtime option that is still an experimental feature that Google understood would greatly benefit many users out there who simply want the absolute fastest performance possible, even if it means some apps wont work properly. ART runtime is coming eventually anyway, as Dalvik ages ungracefully. Basically ART pre-compiles apps, so they launch faster once youve launched them for the first time. The speed boost is significant, even if some popular apps like WhatsApp wont work on the new system yet.
Just enable Developer Options by repeatedly tapping the build number in Settings > About Phone > Build Number until Developer Options are enabled. Then go into them and select ART as the default runtime, reboot and see what you think.
Even if you dont much like or use Google Now, that doesnt mean Googles presence is not still everywhere to be found in the Nexus 5 experience. From the persistent voice command search bar on the home screens to the smart dialer that integrates a search function and auto-complete, Google is intertwined in KitKat on the Nexus 5 like nobodys business. Seeing this is actually a very powerful tool (and only a little scary) you may as well get on board and put it to good use. The more you learn about Googles integrated services they quicker and easier your Nexus 5 experience will become.
In Google Maps, just swipe up from the bottom on an address search result to get contact details and more for that location.
Make sure your Google Search settings are also set to include apps, contacts, music etc if you want those results to show up in your Google searches. Just go to the gray Google Settings app in the app drawer, hit Search and then Phone Search and make your choices.
As long as the default language is set to US English, you can use Googles voice search on any home screen or within Google Now. Just say OK Google and search away. With an American accent if you dont have one by birth.
From the default dialer screen (the one with your last calls and frequent contacts), just type your search terms in the panel at the very top. Google will search local content and return results right in the dialer.
Enabling Android Runtime will improve battery life. This is because ART fundamentally changes the process of how apps are opened.
ART will cause apps to take up 10 to 20 percent more space on your on-board storage, but allow them to open faster. Also, thanks to the diminished processing power it requires to open app, enabling ART will increase your battery life as well.
Remember that Google does not consider the Android Runtime as ready for the masses, which is why it is not enabled by default on the Nexus 5. Also, please note that the International Business Times is not responsible for any damage that tinkering with your phone may cause.
To enable ART on your Nexus 5: Settings > About Phone, then tap "Build Number" 7 times. Then back out and go into the new settings sub-menu that appears, Developer Options, and select ART instead of the Dalvik Runtime.
Most Nexus 5 users have found that the main feature affecting battery life on the Nexus 5 is its big, beautiful display. Go into Settings > Display > Sleep and reduce the time before your display automatically dims to as low as you are comfortable with – 30 seconds for best results. It is also a good practice to press the power button when you are not using your Nexus 5, instead of waiting for the phone to sleep automatically.
As much of a hassle as it can be on a phone you have adjusted perfectly to your liking, if you received an over-the-air update from Google that bumped your Nexus 5 to Android 4.4 KitKat or 4.4.1 to the newest build of Android 4.4.2, it might be a good idea to do a factory restore.
Taking the OTA update caused bugs for some users, and may cause your Nexus 5 to incorrectly report how much battery life it has remaining. Be forewarned that a factory restore will erase everything on your phone, including the on-board storage, so make sure your photos have been backed up with Google Plus beforehand.
To do a factory restore, navigate to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset to restore your Nexus 5 to factory-shipped freshness. Some users have also reported that a Nexus 5 factory reset fixed GPS issues and other bugs in addition to improving battery life.
In addition to using your GPS, Android collects location data from nearby Wi-Fi routers. Scanning for Wi-Fi this way uses up battery life on your Nexus 5 (or any Android device), but allows Google to charge more money for advertising based on your location.
To turn off location reporting, go into Settings > Location > Google Location Reporting and turn both Location Reporting and Location History off. Please note that this will also cause Find My Android to no longer be able to track your Nexus 5 should it be stolen or misplaced, so use this tip at your own discretion.
When a smartphone is in a bad coverage area, it uses up a lot of battery power as it attempts to scan the area for signal. If you are in an area where you get poor or no connection anyways, like traveling underground on a subway, put your Nexus 5 in Airplane Mode to save your battery.
Some other good ways to improve battery life include turning off your Nexus 5’s haptic feedback. It uses up battery to run the haptic motor every time you tap, so turn this feature off for longer life.
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1. Access Google Now with nothing but your voice
Apples Siri and Google Now have been with us for a while, but voice control continues to develop at a rapid pace. Motorolas Moto X has an "always listening" system, which allows you to execute commands without having to lift your phone from the table, and Google has incorporated a similar degree of functionality in the Nexus 5.
There are caveats, however -- you have to be on the home screen and your voice control language has to be set to "US English" rather than "UK English". To enable this, go to Settings > Language & Input > Voice Search, and select the "Language" option. Tap "English" and then English (US). Now, drop back to the home screen and utter the phrase "OK Google", and voice search will activate automatically.
2. Place a widget on your home screen
Google has changed the way in which widgets are deployed in Android 4.4 -- the "Widgets" section of the App Drawer has been removed, and now you can only add them by long-pressing on your home screen. Youll see the Widgets box in the middle of the screen.
3. Access quick settings
Smart phones are so packed with features that keeping on top of them can sometimes be a headache, which is why you need to gain access to your settings with as little fuss as possible. With Android, all you need to do is drag two fingers down from the top of the screen -- instead of seeing the notifications area, youll see a wealth of toggles for features such as Wi-Fi, Brightness, Bluetooth and Location settings.
4. Add widgets to your lock screen
Widgets arent just restricted to your home screens in Android anymore -- you can add them to your lock screen as well. Go to Settings > Security, and make sure Enable Widgets is ticked. On your lock screen, swipe from left to right and tap the "plus" icon. You can add widgets related to a wide range of apps, including email, Google+ and your calendar.
5. Print a document wirelessly
Cloud printing is one of the big additions in Android 4.4, and makes it easy to get hard copies of documents sent to you via email or other methods. Cloud printing is enabled by default, but youll obviously need a compatible printer to perform this wireless magic. If you do happen to have one to hand, then youll be able to check the print cartridge toner levels and even control two-sided printing, all from your blower.
6. Install non-market apps and games
While Apple is uncomfortable with its customers installing apps which arent on the App Store, Google is a little more accommodating. Drop into Settings > Security, and tick the box "Unknown Sources". Now you can download apk files and install them without having to use the Google Play market, but be aware that this carries risks -- the content you install could potentially be harmful to your phone.
7. Personalise your phone for additional peace of mind
If you lost your phone today then how would an honest soul be able to return it to you, should it be found? If you have a lockscreen security pattern then said Good Samaritan wouldnt be able to ascertain your details or get in touch -- which is why putting some brief info on the lockscreen is such a good idea. Go to Settings > Security > Owner Info. Tick "Show owner info on lock screen" and then insert some details -- popping in your Twitter handle is a good idea, as then if anyone picks up your lost phone then they will be able to get in touch without having to know your address or phone number.
8. Backup your data and settings
Buying a phone used to mean tirelessly porting over your settings and content from your old blower to your new one, but since the arrival of smart phones, this laborious process has mercifully become a thing of the past.
If youve already taken advantage of Androids backup features then when you fire up the Nexus 5 for the first time youll be able to restore all of your content and apps quickly and easily. If you havent, then go to Settings > Backup & Reset, and tick "Back up my data" and "Automatic Restore". The first option ensures that all of your settings are stored in the cloud, while the second allows you to retain app-relevant data so that if you have to reinstall something, all the settings will be remembered.
9. Exit and enter Immersive mode
Immersive mode is another Android 4.4 introduction, and is a fancy way of saying "Full Screen". During relevant apps -- such as Google Play Books and Google Play Movies -- Android 4.4 will automatically expand the image to fill the entire screen, hiding elements like the notifications bar and other menus. To exit the mode, simply tap the screen -- simple!
10. Find out whats been draining your battery
Theres nothing more annoying than charging your phone up in the morning only to discover that its gasping for a recharge by dinner time. Thankfully, Android allows you to see a detailed breakdown of whats been consuming juice, allowing you to switch off or uninstall problematic programs. Simply access Quick Settings and tap the Battery tile.
11. Turn your eBook into an audio book
There are dedicated bookworms out there who are buying novels in triplicate -- the actual physical book, the eBook and the audio book -- but if you have a Nexus 5 then you dont need to go to such extreme lengths.
Android accessibility options allow you to turn all on-screen text into speech, allowing you to transform your eBook download into an audio novel. Go to Settings > Accessibility and switch "Talk Back" on. When youre in Google Play Books, open the settings menu and make sure "Automatically read aloud" is ticked.
Youll also want to ensure that "High-quality voice" is turned on as well, otherwise the speech sounds a little too robotic.
12. Build a cloud-based music library
Google Music allows you to upload 20,000 of your own songs for free, and access them from the Web or any Android device. That means you can potentially have your entire record collection at your fingertips without having to clog up your handsets internal memory -- a prime concern with the Nexus 5, with the base model limited to 16GB and lacking a microSD card slot. To do this, youll need to actually upload your songs using a computer and Google Music Manager application, and its recommended you only stream audio if you have a contract with unlimited data.
13. Unlock your phone using your face
Face Unlock made its debut with the Galaxy Nexus and remains one of Androids most amusing features. As Google itself points out, its not the most robust of security measures, but being able to unlock your phone just by looking at it is undeniably cool. To enable, go to Settings > Security > Screen lock and then select Face Unlock.
14. Enable a live wallpaper
With Apple introducing "dynamic" wallpapers in iOS 7, its somewhat curious that Google has largely relegated Live Wallpapers to the background in 4.4. Theres only one wallpaper included -- Phase Beam -- and its buried deep within the wallpapers menu. There are plenty of other live wallpapers on the Google Play store though, so download a few to remind your iPhone-owning mates who had this feature first.
15. Disable SMS messaging in Hangouts
With Android 4.4, Google has folded SMS messaging into its Hangouts messaging service, which means all of your communications are in one place. This might not be to everyones satisfaction, however, so its good to know that you can revert back if you wish to. Open Hangouts and go to Settings. Youll see "Default SMS app", which will be configured to Hangouts by default. Simply tap this and select your third-party SMS app -- which youll have to download from the Google Play market, as no alternatives are installed. 8SMS and Handscent are both worthy substitutes.
16. Tell the world how you feel in Google Hangouts
If you do decide to stick with Hangouts, then you may find it a useful tool when it comes to keeping in touch with friends and relatives. You can even set emotions which indicate how youre feeling at any given time -- a handy feature if youre in a grumpy mood and dont want to be disturbed. Simply tap the menu icon (the three dots in the top-right corner) and select your general mood.
17. Find out how much data youve used
If youre subject to a fair-usage data policy on your contract then youll want to keep an eye on the amount of megabytes youre eating through on a daily basis. Thankfully, Android offers the chance to monitor your data consumption and even set alerts which tell you when youre nearing your limit. You can find all of this in Settings > Data usage.
18. Create a folder on your home screen
If youre the kind of mobile user who craves order, then youll want to sort your apps into handy folders to make it easier to track them down in a rush. Simply long-press any app icon and then hover it over another to create the folder. You can then give this selection of apps a unique name by tapping the folder and then selecting the "Unnamed Folder" text.
19. Take a screenshot and record your screen
You can grab a quick snap of your Nexus 5s screen by holding the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time, but Android 4.4 offers another trick -- albeit with the assistance of a third-party application. By downloading Screen Record, you can capture your screen activity in video form -- handy for developers who want to create promotional videos of their programs, or for those times when you need to troubleshoot an issue by collecting visual evidence.
20. Compare your video game prowess with a friend
Google has introduced its Play Games portal with very little fanfare when 4.3 was launched, but its certainly worth a closer look in 4.4. Taking cues from Xbox Live and Apples Game Center service, it allows you to track your scores and achievements in compatible games and compare your best attempts with friends and Google+ contacts.
21. Track your steps
If youre keen to keep tabs on your level of fitness then the Nexus 5 is the perfect phone for you. The handsets internal tech can detect how many steps youve taken, and therefore judge how many calories youve burned off. Simply download Moves from the Google Play store and stride confidently out of that front door.
22. Enable closed captions in video playback
Watching a movie on the tube isnt as much fun when you cant hear the dialogue, so thank your lucky stars for Android 4.4s support for closed captions during film playback. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions, and switch them on. You can even adjust the text size and select the text and background colour.
23. Turn your phone into a digital photo frame when charging
Our phones spend a lot of time plugged into the wall, largely because they contain so much cutting-edge tech that their batteries require a top-up every single day. Thankfully, with Android you can make this process a little more interesting by enabling "Daydream" mode. This can either be a clock, a news-feed item or a selection of your photos. To switch this mode on, go to Settings > Display > Daydream, and then pick your preferred choice. You can also tell the phone to daydream only when docked, or when on charge.
24. Turn your phone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot
If youve got a tablet or laptop and you want to use it out of the house, you can use your Nexus 5 as a portable fountain of wireless goodness -- thus removing the need to find an open hotspot. Go to Settings and tap "More", and then select Tethering and Portable Hotspot. Tick the Portable Hotspot option and selection "Set up" to configure a password -- you dont want anyone else sharing your valuable bandwidth, after all.
25. Zoom in for additional detail
Androids magnification capability is intended to make things easier for those with poor eyesight, but it has uses for those who dont suffer from visual issues. You can zoom in to see on-screen images in greater detail by triple-tapping the display with your finger. Its also possible to enlarge whats under your finger by triple-tapping and then holding your digit on the screen, and then dragging it around. To switch on this mode, go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnification gestures.
26. Take better photos
By now everyone with a Nexus 5 has made the update to Android 4.4.1 or 4.4.2 so this tip isnt as big a deal as it might have been a couple of months ago. The truth is that, after the incremental updates, Google made some major improvements to the performance of the Nexus 5s camera. But you can still make it even better. Simply set your default mode to HDR+ and watch your contrasts, motion blur and low-light performance increase. Theres really very little reason not to be taking all of your photos in HDR+ mode.
Just bring up the touch interface in the camera app, and turn on HDR+.
27. Ditch Hangouts
Sure, Google likes to force things down our throats, like practically needing a Google+ account just to get out of bed in the morning, but that doesnt mean that you have to jump aboard the Hangouts train just because Google wants you to. So, if you tried it out and kinda just got stuck with Hangouts but dont really like the functionality (theres a few things still not to like), then simply install another messaging app that you actually like or already use and substitute that as the default messaging app.
All you need to do is download the app you want, then go to Settings and More and youll see the Default SMS App heading. Make your choice from whatever SMS apps you have on your phone.
28. Turn off Google Now
I think Google Now is kinda cool, but it has absolutely no use value for me as I traverse the few streets between my penthouse apartment and the AndroidPIT mansion. Fortunately I know both addresses and Ive even managed to figure out how to get between them quickly. I already have the temperature on my home screen and I rarely take flights or have packages arriving that I need to coordinate myself with. And sadly, my stock portfolio is about as concrete as that penthouse apartment and the mansion I work in. So if you dont actually use Google Now, just turn it off and save yourself some battery juice and free up that left hand home screen for something you do use.
Just go to the gray Google Settings app in the app drawer, hit Search and turn the Google Now switch off.
29. Increase performance
The Nexus 5 is already a bit of a beast when it comes to raw processing power, but theres still more you can do to improve your Nexus 5s performance even further. The first and most obvious of these is to try out the ART runtime option that is still an experimental feature that Google understood would greatly benefit many users out there who simply want the absolute fastest performance possible, even if it means some apps wont work properly. ART runtime is coming eventually anyway, as Dalvik ages ungracefully. Basically ART pre-compiles apps, so they launch faster once youve launched them for the first time. The speed boost is significant, even if some popular apps like WhatsApp wont work on the new system yet.
Just enable Developer Options by repeatedly tapping the build number in Settings > About Phone > Build Number until Developer Options are enabled. Then go into them and select ART as the default runtime, reboot and see what you think.
30. Make use of Googles integration
Even if you dont much like or use Google Now, that doesnt mean Googles presence is not still everywhere to be found in the Nexus 5 experience. From the persistent voice command search bar on the home screens to the smart dialer that integrates a search function and auto-complete, Google is intertwined in KitKat on the Nexus 5 like nobodys business. Seeing this is actually a very powerful tool (and only a little scary) you may as well get on board and put it to good use. The more you learn about Googles integrated services they quicker and easier your Nexus 5 experience will become.
In Google Maps, just swipe up from the bottom on an address search result to get contact details and more for that location.
Make sure your Google Search settings are also set to include apps, contacts, music etc if you want those results to show up in your Google searches. Just go to the gray Google Settings app in the app drawer, hit Search and then Phone Search and make your choices.
As long as the default language is set to US English, you can use Googles voice search on any home screen or within Google Now. Just say OK Google and search away. With an American accent if you dont have one by birth.
From the default dialer screen (the one with your last calls and frequent contacts), just type your search terms in the panel at the very top. Google will search local content and return results right in the dialer.
5 More Nexus 5 Battery Life Tips And Tricks
1. Enable Android Runtime (ART)
Enabling Android Runtime will improve battery life. This is because ART fundamentally changes the process of how apps are opened.
ART will cause apps to take up 10 to 20 percent more space on your on-board storage, but allow them to open faster. Also, thanks to the diminished processing power it requires to open app, enabling ART will increase your battery life as well.
Remember that Google does not consider the Android Runtime as ready for the masses, which is why it is not enabled by default on the Nexus 5. Also, please note that the International Business Times is not responsible for any damage that tinkering with your phone may cause.
To enable ART on your Nexus 5: Settings > About Phone, then tap "Build Number" 7 times. Then back out and go into the new settings sub-menu that appears, Developer Options, and select ART instead of the Dalvik Runtime.
2. Reduce The Time Before The Screen Goes To Sleep
Most Nexus 5 users have found that the main feature affecting battery life on the Nexus 5 is its big, beautiful display. Go into Settings > Display > Sleep and reduce the time before your display automatically dims to as low as you are comfortable with – 30 seconds for best results. It is also a good practice to press the power button when you are not using your Nexus 5, instead of waiting for the phone to sleep automatically.
3. Updated to Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)? Do A Factory Restore
As much of a hassle as it can be on a phone you have adjusted perfectly to your liking, if you received an over-the-air update from Google that bumped your Nexus 5 to Android 4.4 KitKat or 4.4.1 to the newest build of Android 4.4.2, it might be a good idea to do a factory restore.
Taking the OTA update caused bugs for some users, and may cause your Nexus 5 to incorrectly report how much battery life it has remaining. Be forewarned that a factory restore will erase everything on your phone, including the on-board storage, so make sure your photos have been backed up with Google Plus beforehand.
To do a factory restore, navigate to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset to restore your Nexus 5 to factory-shipped freshness. Some users have also reported that a Nexus 5 factory reset fixed GPS issues and other bugs in addition to improving battery life.
4. Turn Location Reporting And History Off
In addition to using your GPS, Android collects location data from nearby Wi-Fi routers. Scanning for Wi-Fi this way uses up battery life on your Nexus 5 (or any Android device), but allows Google to charge more money for advertising based on your location.
To turn off location reporting, go into Settings > Location > Google Location Reporting and turn both Location Reporting and Location History off. Please note that this will also cause Find My Android to no longer be able to track your Nexus 5 should it be stolen or misplaced, so use this tip at your own discretion.
5. Use ‘Airplane Mode’ In Poor Coverage Areas
When a smartphone is in a bad coverage area, it uses up a lot of battery power as it attempts to scan the area for signal. If you are in an area where you get poor or no connection anyways, like traveling underground on a subway, put your Nexus 5 in Airplane Mode to save your battery.
Some other good ways to improve battery life include turning off your Nexus 5’s haptic feedback. It uses up battery to run the haptic motor every time you tap, so turn this feature off for longer life.
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