Android: A Beginner Guide

Android: A Beginner Guide

Android is an operating system, based on Linux kernel, and designed for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google backed financially and later bought in 2005. Middle of  2012, Android became the most popular mobile OS, having the largest installed base, and is a market leader in most countries.

Android is easy to use than Windows desktops! And lots more in Android to learn; but this article hopefully get started without overwhelming you, much!! 

So, if you're using an Android phone or planning to buy, then you should have to know some important advantages and this article helps you to understand and adapt a life with an Android. 

Android is Google's operating system and at least one Google account is linked with this OS. So, when you turned on your Android device, the first time, you'll be asked to enter your Google account details or create a Google account, if you don't have one. This is technical option from Google account, which will be used to back-up your phone's settings, keep tracks the installed Apps with their links such as G mail, Calendar, Contacts, Google+ and etc., However, if you're not enter Google account credentials, while setting up, then you can add the account later from Android's settings page.

Android phones has more features in common like computers and they can be used for web browsing, e mail, playing games, streaming videos, editing photos, writing office documents and much more. 

By default the Apps for phone and messaging were appeared at bottom of the phone's dock area; so, you may use these Apps to place a call and send / receive text messages. 

When turn on your Android device, you'll see the lock screen, where you can configure a code, pattern or password; so, no one can use your phone. After unlock the phone, you'll see the home screen, where you can keep icons for your favorite Apps and add widgets. If you're using G mail, frequently, then you can add G mail widget on your home screen, which enables to view your inbox without opening any Apps. And if you use other Apps, frequently, then you can also place their icons on home screen. 

To open the App drawer, tap the small squared buttons at the bottom of the home screen. The App drawer has the list of all Apps, which has been installed on your Android phone, and they can be viewed by swipe over the screen. To place an App on your home screen, long-press the App and drag it wherever you like to place.  

Depending on the model of Android phone, you can control the phone by tapping the buttons at the bottom of the screen. There's a home button, which instantly takes back to the home screen and a back button will take you back anywhere. You may also have a multi-task button to switch between open windows or menu button to open an Apps menu. If the phone doesn't has the multi-task button, then you've to double-tap or long-press the home button to bring-up the App to switch. This option will vary from phone to phone. 

Configuring an Android phone is easy and the configuration settings can be accessed from Settings App. Open the App drawer and tap Settings icon. After tapping on Settings icon, you can see plenty of options, through which you can configure the phone. You can also see the Settings icon at the right side of notification drawer by pull-down the drawer. Notifications can be accessed by pulling-down notification drawer with your finger and tap a notification to interact with or swipe a notification to the left / right to get rid of it. 

Installing Apps is also easy by opening Play Store App, either tapping on Play Store shortcut or tapping the shopping bag icon at the top-right corner of your App drawer. You can easily search the required Apps and install them on your phone. Search option is also performed by tap the widget of Google search box, which located at the top of your home screen. You can also use voice commands to search and perform actions without typing. 

The screenshots, using on this post, are probably look different to the devices, which you held.