Best Android Tips and Tricks-II

How to Install a Third Party App

 

Most apps are available for download and install easily via the Play Store. If you have a third party app that is only available from sources other than the Play Store and you think it's useful and secure to install, the Android system allows you to do so after changing the settings.

1. Run the Settings app and tap Security under PERSONAL.
2. Tick "Unknown sources" under DEVICE ADMINISTRATION.
3. Tap "OK" to the system reminder that your device and personal data are more vulnerable to attack by apps from unknown sources.

You can then browse to the app file ending with an .apk suffix, known as the Android application package, tap and install it right away.

How to Add and Remove Icons from Home Screens

When you install an app, the system often adds an app icon on your home screen. This icon works as a shortcut to run the app. In case you need to manually add an app icon or a widget icon yourself, it's pretty easy.

1. Tap the All Apps icon on the tray.
2. Select the Apps or Widgets tab on the top.
3. Touch and hold the icon you want to create a shortcut.
4. Drag and drop the icon on a home screen you like.

To remove an icon from your home screen:

1. Touch and hold the icon of apps, widgets or shortcuts until the Remove icon appears on the top.
2. Drag and drop the icon over the Remove icon.

Note: On Android 2.x, you can add a shortcut icon by touching and holding an empty location of a home screen or press Menu then tap 'Add'; On Android 3.0, touch the customize button at the top right of a home screen to add a shortcut icon.

How to Re-arrange Icons

When you install new apps to your Android, the system stacks up the icons automatically without asking you to select a home screen. But you can subsequently re-arrange the icons on the home screens and on the tray.

1. Touch and hold any icon on your screen for a second.
2. Drag the icon to a different spot on the screen, or even to or from the tray, except for the permanent "All Apps" icon.
3. You can also drag an icon to the left or right edge of the screen until it starts sliding, then drop the icon to another screen.

How to Create, Rename and Remove Folders

Other than the apps on the tray, sometimes it's difficult to quickly look for an app to open if you have many icons spreading across a few home screens. Why not create a folder to group similar apps together? It's much easier than you might think.

1. Touch and hold any icon for a second.
2. Drag the icon over the top of another. The system then automatically groups two app icons in a folder.
3. Touch the folder, then tap "Unnamed Folder", key in a name for the folder and tap "Done".

You can rename a folder at any time—tap a folder then tap its name to rename.
While the system auto creates a folder for you, it does the same to removing a folder automatically—tap a folder to expand it, then clear all grouped items inside the folder—just touch and hold, then drag them out from the folder one by one.
Note: Older Android system doesn't support this feature, but you can rely on a third-party app such as GO Launcher EX to achieve almost the same effect.