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fans-android.com › Android

April 04, 2020

Author: Maxim

Android is the main operating system for various devices: phones, tablets, TVs, etc. This mobile platform is one of the most user-friendly, responsive and very popular.

Knowing what it is is quite important in our time. When buying a smartphone or other device on this OS, you will be in constant contact with it, and in order to understand what it is capable of, you should become more familiar with the Android system.

The previous publication about resetting Android to factory settings collected a lot of positive feedback, today we will talk about the operating system itself, what it is, how it appeared and what it is needed for.

• 1 What is Android 1.1 Features of Android
• 1.2 Android firmware
• 1.3 Android is an open platform

2 Android Applications - Google Play

2.1 In conclusion

Android, what is it - for dummies

Android is a free operating system that powers smartphones, tablets, game consoles, watches, TVs, multimedia players, e-readers and Google glasses. Often, manufacturers of modern devices change standard OS elements with proprietary applications, group menu items differently and formulate their names. However, the essence of the system’s operation in most proprietary shells is identical.

A variety of applications will provide additional opportunities for the user and replace the basic functionality. To this day, regular updates are carried out, which significantly expand user capabilities, increase productivity and efficiency. The latest version of the OS was developed in 2021 and is called Android 8.0 Oreo. Android is a modern platform that allows you to transform your smartphone and tablet into a real pocket computer. In addition, the Android OS is easy to use.

When was Android OS created?

Andy Rubin - creator of Android

In 2005, Google bought the Android company for $130 million. Two years later, Google launched the OHA alliance and announced the open Android platform. Since 2007, developers have been given access to the Android SDK and emulator. On September 23, 2008, the first version of the system was released. From that moment on, the era of Android phones began.

History of Android. Part 1 History of Android. Part 2 History of Android. Part 3 History of Android. Part 4 Scandals, market share

Part one. First start

When you first start your smartphone or tablet, you need to configure the options to fully use them. When the user turns on Android, the initial setup wizard will appear on the screen. This way you can avoid unnecessary searching for options in the device menu.

First Launch Wizard

Initially, the system will prompt the user to select an interface language, as well as connect to a Wi-Fi network or mobile operator. Each device may have a different number of languages. European models of Android devices must have Ukrainian, Russian and English languages.

Modern Android devices provide for the use of the Internet. You can use the main functionality of your smartphone without it. If there is no WiFi nearby, you can use mobile Internet. Each cellular operator has its own tariffs, which differ in cost and parameters. However, access to useful options and interesting features will be difficult.

When you turn on your mobile phone for the first time, it is not recommended to insert a Sim card, since the OS is set to use mobile data by default. These actions will help avoid inappropriate use of traffic. Having selected the required menu language, click the “Next” button to proceed to the next stage of settings.

Then you need to link the device you are using to your Google account. You can skip these steps and perform them a little later. However, it is recommended to do this right away, because this way you can download the necessary applications, use your email account, application store and other useful company services online without unnecessary steps. The user can use an existing account. If there is none, then to register with Google, click the “No” button, then “Create an account”.

The created account remains with the user forever, as well as previously purchased applications and some settings. Even if you want to exchange your old smartphone for a new one. It is worth noting that the user will have 16 Gb of “cloud space” at his disposal, which will allow him to set up synchronization with Google cloud storage. After logging into your account, the system will ask several questions regarding setting up your smartphone. In order to never lose contacts, you should confirm your consent to back up your data.

At the next stage, you will need to enter the user's last name and first name in the empty field. It is not necessary to write down real data, you can make it up. This information may change over time. You don't have to worry about the confidentiality of your personal data. Google guarantees a high level of security for the personal information of its customers.

Next you need to specify your email. Once registered, it will not be possible to change it. Then fill in the password and login field. We strongly recommend that you write them down or remember them. The user will be prompted to configure the password recovery procedure. You will need to enter your mobile phone number.

The user must confirm consent to access information about his location. There are several options here: disable or enable the option, enable location search via GPS or network coordinates. User location data is not shared with third parties. They may be necessary for some applications.

The system will ask you to agree to Google's policies. Click the “Accept” button. Then enter the captcha. An additional option is provided for linking VISA, Paypal and other cards to your account. This option is convenient when purchasing games, music and programs from the app store.

To complete the setup procedure, you will need to enter your time zone, date, and current time. If you plan to use Google Maps in the future, then leave a checkmark in the appropriate box.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated, now you can use the device to its full potential. The initial setup is complete.

Transferring contacts from an old device

There are several ways to transfer contacts from one Android device to another. The easiest way is to synchronize with Google. If this is not your first smartphone with Android OS, then all records can be saved in the Google cloud. This is possible if the user has not disabled contact synchronization on the old device.

You can check whether your contacts are saved as follows:

1. From your old device, go to settings and click “Accounts”.
2. When a Google account is linked to a device, “Google” will appear under the above item. Otherwise, it needs to be connected. To do this, select “Add account”, enter your login and password.
3. Click on the email to get to the synchronization settings.
4. To save entries from Android in the Google services system, click “Contacts”. The synchronization process will occur.
5. Then you will need to connect a new smartphone or tablet with Google, with the same account to which the old device was linked.
6. In order to transfer contacts to a new device, follow the procedure described above up to the Gmail item.

Another way is to use a vcf file. The user will need to export the data to a file. To do this you need:

• Go to the phone book of your old device.
• Click on the button in the form of three dots located in the upper right corner of the screen.
• Select “Import/Export”. Then click “Export”. In many Android devices, this option can be presented as separate items. In this case, the user needs to click on “Export”.
• Then select the copy path to move the contacts: device memory or SD card.
• Place a check mark next to the contacts you want to transfer. If you need all the records, click “Select All”.
• Next, click “OK”.

Using the Bluetooth option. To do this, activate this option on your new and old smartphone. Next, enable device discovery as it is disabled on some devices. Go to “Settings”, then “Bluetooth”. Check the box next to “Visible to everyone” on both devices. Then we turn on device search on one. In the list that opens, select the required one and click to connect and transfer data. Go to the phone book settings. Select the “Mark all” or “Mark several” section. Then click “Submit”. On another device, click “Accept”.

You can first transfer your contacts to a memory card, then insert it into your tablet or smartphone. Many users prefer to transfer contacts from a SIM card. The only disadvantage of this method is the limited number of contacts for storage. It is suitable for those users who have no more than 220 numbers in their list. To do this, it is necessary that all contacts are saved on it.

Go to the phone book application. Select the “Export/Import” option, then “Export”. We define the copying path as “Sim card”. We insert the card with the numbers into the new device and transfer it. Let's go to the phone book. Click on the button in the upper right corner. Select the “Import from Sim card” option.

Another way is to transfer contacts from your computer via a USB cable. To do this, connect the old device to the PC and cable. Transfer the vcf file with phone numbers to your computer. Then we connect a new smartphone or tablet in the same way and transfer data from the PC to it.

Mail setup

Let's move on to the mail settings. If the user does not plan to use email via a smartphone, this step can be skipped. When using a Gmail email account, it is automatically configured after entering your Google account login and password. In the case where the email is located on another resource, it will have to be configured manually. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the built-in Email application on your device.
2. Go to “Settings”.
3. Click “Add Account”.
4. Fill out the form: username and password.
5. Click “Next”.
6. The system will prompt you to select the protocol by which communication with mail will be made. As a rule, mail servers operate using two protocols: POP3 and IMAP. Choose the one that is more convenient for you, then click “Login”.

If the email box is located on one of the popular mail servers, the system will try to independently determine the remaining settings and establish a connection. Otherwise, to enter the name of the servers and other settings, click the “Manual” button and enter the necessary data for the mail service.

Screen keyboard

When working with a smartphone, you often have to use the keyboard. In order to call up the keyboard on Android, just click on the window for writing text. To remove it, click on the “Back” button. The text entry procedure is similar to typing on a PC. To change the input language, click the globe button. In the keyboard settings, you can set the switch to three frequently used languages. A new sentence automatically begins with a capital letter.

To start a word with a capital letter, click on the “Up” arrow. To enter several capital letters in a row, hold the button for two seconds. To delete text or a word, use the button that looks like a square with a cross in the middle. In addition to the main keyboard, there are several additional ones with icons and emoticons. To switch between them, click the button located in the lower corner. While typing, word suggestions will be displayed on the screen. If you choose one of them, the letters will be transformed into ready-made words.

To save typing time, you can copy the word and paste it into the text. To highlight the word you want, tap on it and hold for a few seconds. To increase the copy margin, drag the handles along its edges. A panel with the functions “Copy”, “Cut” and “Paste” will appear at the top of the keyboard.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

To connect to a new network via Wi-Fi, you need to go to the device settings, then to the “Wi-Fi” section. A list of currently available networks appears. A lock located next to the Wi-Fi icon means that access to this network is password protected. If you enter the password once, the Android device will reconnect to such a network automatically, and you will no longer need to enter the password again.

In some cases, the desired network may not appear in the list of available ones. The administrator of any network can make it closed (invisible) to other users. To connect to it, press the “Menu” button in the upper corner of the phone screen, then “Add network”. Using the “Menu” button you can also go to additional network settings: operating the network in sleep mode and turning on notifications about available and open networks.

How to set and change the ringtone

Unfortunately, not all users may like the standard ringtone installed on their phone. Often, after a purchase, people automatically think that they need to change the melody. This is very easy to do, the procedure will not take much time:

1. You need to go to your phone settings;
2. It is worth selecting the “Sound” section;

3. Select an item with a ringtone;
4. Open the ringtone menu. You can look and choose from those offered or add your own;
5. To change other sounds, use the advanced settings.

You can set your own melody for each user. Thanks to it, you can determine who is calling at one time or another. Original ringtones are also welcome.

Part two. Smartphone interface

The interface of an Android device depends on the version of the operating system and on the proprietary shell installed by the manufacturer. However, the operating logic of the OS remains unchanged.

Gestures

Control of a device based on Android OS is based on gestures. The main ones include:

1. Tap – a single touch of a finger on the screen.
2. Double tap is analogous to double clicking the mouse. Double tap on the smartphone touch screen.
3. Long tap – touching the screen for several seconds.
4. Swipe – sliding touch on the screen. It involves swiping your finger across the smartphone screen from left to right, top to bottom, or bottom to top.
5. Pinch – involves touching the screen with your thumb and index finger, then bringing them together.

Desktop and dock bar icons

There can be several desktops on an Android device. Scrolling through them is done by swiping from left to right and vice versa. The dock bar icons are located at the bottom of the screen. As a rule, there is an icon for the phone book, browser and a program for creating SMS messages. The central button is used to call up a menu with all installed programs.

Status bar

It is located at the top of the Android device screen. This displays information about the current time, battery charge, and active notifications. Some users call it a “blind”. To open it, you need to swipe from top to bottom. The status bar provides access to the main toggles: mobile data, location, energy saving, sound, portrait screen, airplane mode, flashlight, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Wallpapers, widgets, icons

The device's desktop contains application icons and widgets. The latter allow you to display the necessary information on the screen, which does not require restarting the program. During the existence of the Android OS, widgets for a wide variety of purposes have been released. These include a clock widget, weather widget, notes, shopping widgets, and more. Most are able to work on any firmware. However, there are widgets that cannot be installed on another OS.

Setting the ringtone

To set a ringtone, go to the “Settings” of the device, then to the “Sound” and “Ringtone” sections. From the list of standard melodies, choose the one you like. The user is given the opportunity to set ringtones downloaded from the Internet for calls. To do this, download your favorite song to your device and set it as a ringtone. In the same section where the standard ringtones are located, click on the “Plus” icon in the upper right corner. Thus, add the downloaded melody to the list of available ones.

When did Android become popular?

Motorola Droid

In 2007, the iPhone ruled the roost. Only with the release of Motorola's Droid, which was technically more powerful and functional than the iPhone, Google managed to change the situation a little. Around 2009, people began to take Android seriously - they began to see it as the main competitor to Apple smartphones. And if it were not for the policy of distributing the system as an open OS, it is unlikely that today it would occupy 80% of the market.

Part three. Installing applications

The main advantage of the operating system is the ability to install various applications. With the help of additional programs, smartphones and tablets become real assistants for their owners. They allow you to receive the necessary information around the clock, buy goods in online stores, work remotely, solve business issues, read books online and much more. In this way, the user of the device will be able to fully use its functions.

Google Play

To access the official app store, you need a Google account. The Play Market icon is located on the desktop. Tap on it to launch the application. There is a search bar at the top of the screen. If the user needs to download a specific application, enter its name to search. Google Play has sections: games, applications, music, books and magazines. At the bottom of the screen is a list of new movies and the most popular applications.

Protection against accidental purchases

Modern games and applications may include in-app purchases, which can be an unpleasant surprise for the smartphone owner. Parents often give smartphones to their children to play with. To protect yourself from accidental purchases, you need to set a password on it. To do this, launch the Play Market and go to “Settings”. Go to the “Require a password upon purchase” section and check the box next to “For all Google Play purchases on this device.”

Discounts and sales

Google Play offers discounts on many apps every day. Some users are not informed about this. It is physically unrealistic to constantly monitor the appearance of lucrative discounts in the app store. Therefore, we recommend installing a special program on your device that will notify you about sales and discounts.

There are many similar applications. The most popular among users is AppSales. You can use the filter system to clear the list of offers from unnecessary programs. The user can select the application category of interest, or a specific program.

Selecting default programs

Android provides the user with the opportunity to experiment, install and use new programs. If several programs are installed on the smartphone for the same purpose, the system will ask which one the user prefers to use at the moment. You can select a program manually each time, or do it once and ask the system not to ask again.

If you accidentally selected the wrong program you wanted, you can return it to the dialog box like this:

1. Go to the “Settings” menu item.
2. Then in “Applications”.
3. Find the program you need.
4. Click “Remove default program”.

Uninstalling programs

There are several ways to remove programs from an Android device. First method:

• In the device settings, find the “Applications” section.
• Switch to the “Third Party” or “All” tab.
• Find the unwanted program in the list.
• Then select the “Delete” option.

The second way is to find the program in the application menu and drag the shortcut to the trash. Some smartphones with pure Android do not have this option.

The third method is deletion through the Play Market. Launch the application. In the menu, select the “My Applications” section. Tap on the desired application and select the “Delete” function.

Installing applications from third party sources

The necessary programs can be downloaded not only from the official application store, but also from third-party sites. To do this, the user needs to activate the corresponding feature on the device, since it is disabled by default. In the settings, find the “Security” tab. Next to “Unknown sources” and “Check applications” check the box. Then you can download the program installation file with the APK extension.

Any application downloaded from a third-party resource carries a risk for the device. Therefore, the developers recommend downloading programs only from verified official sources.

Third Party App Stores

Some users prefer to use third-party app stores due to good discounts. The procedure for downloading and installing the application is the same as described above. Please note the following when downloading them:

1. Use reliable sources.
2. Before purchasing a program, make sure that it applies to your country of residence.
3. When purchasing applications, user rights may not be protected.

We hope the information presented was useful to you. Don't forget to share the article link with your friends. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.

How to customize your desktop

There are many steps you can take to customize your screen. There is a main, working screen, but you can also add an additional one. This may happen in cases where you need to mark up a large widget, the main page is heavily filled with various shortcuts, or you simply need to create a page only for programs of one specialization.

To do this, you just need to hold any shortcut on the screen. It will automatically become mobile. The user needs to drag it to any part of the screen, after which the additional desktop is activated.

The number of shortcuts you can activate varies on some devices. As a rule, the limit is 5 pieces, since a large number does not simplify, but rather only interferes with the normal search for information, a shortcut or an icon.

If the user has created a desktop, it needs to be populated somehow. To do this, you need to add an icon, and this is done by holding your finger on any part of the screen and selecting a program from the menu list that opens.

If there is a need to combine several programs, use the “Folder” item. To create it, you just need to drag all applications into one place. You can see more details about setting up your desktop in this video.

* * *

Google definitely does not plan to stop developing: at the end of July this year, a development version of the Android 2.0 software platform was released, codenamed Donut

. So far, Donut is unstable and is only suitable for review, but it can give an idea of ​​the new features that we will be able to see in the final release. Almost every element of the system has changed and improved, but the main emphasis in Donut is on search capabilities. For example, it became possible to simultaneously search for information in the device’s memory and on the Internet. And you can use handwriting to navigate through your contacts list and media library.

In addition, the second version of Android introduced support for multitouch technology at the system level (until now it only worked in certain applications), a function for voice playback of text, automatic backup and a new camera application. It is expected that support for CDMA networks will be implemented, and, what is especially pleasant, performance will increase. By the way, despite the fact that Android 2.0 is not yet ready for full launch, the Swedish-Japanese concern Sony Ericsson has already announced its intention to release communicators based on Donut.