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IN THIS CHAPTER

Configuring your Android phone

Turning on the phone

Unlocking the phone

Adding accounts

Locking the phone

Turning off your phone

It would be delightful if your Android phone were smart enough to pop out of the box, say “Hello,” and immediately know everything about you. It doesn’t, of course. That introduction is still necessary, and it requires some careful attention. It’s all part of the initial setup-and-configuration process that happens when you initially turn on the phone. And if you haven’t yet turned on your phone, this chapter shows you how.

Hello, Phone

Modern, technical gizmos lack an on–off switch. Instead, they feature a power button. In the case of your Android phone, the button is called the Power/Lock key. This key is used in several ways, some of which may not be obvious or apparent.

❯❯ The setup process works more smoothly when you already have a Google, or Gmail, account. If you lack such an account, you’re prompted to create one in the setup process.

❯❯ The phone won’t start unless the battery is charged. See Chapter 1.

Turning on your phone for the first time

The very first time you turn on an Android phone is a special occasion. That’s when you’re required to work through the setup-and-configuration process. Don’t worry: It needs to be done only once. After that, turn on your phone according to the directions in the next section.

The specifics for the setup and configuration differ depending on the phone’s manufacturer and cellular provider. Odds are pretty good that the people at the Phone Store helped you through the initial setup process. If not, read the generic Android phone setup process outlined in this section, and see the notes at the end of the section for details that may apply to your specific phone.

1. Press the Power/Lock key to turn on the phone.

You may have to press and hold the key. When you see the phone’s logo on the screen, you can release the key.

It’s okay to turn on the phone while it’s plugged in and charging.

2. Answer the questions presented.

You’re asked to perform some, if not all, of the following activities:

• Select your language

• Activate the phone on the mobile data network

• Choose a Wi-Fi network (can be done later)

• Set the time zone

• Sign in to your Google account

• Add other online accounts

• Set location information

When in doubt, just accept the standard options as presented to you during the setup process. Or you can tap the SKIP button to return to that step later.

Use the onscreen keyboard to fill in text fields. See Chapter 4 for keyboard information.

Other sections in this chapter, as well as throughout this book, offer information and advice on the configuration options and settings. So don’t worry if you make a mistake; your selection can be changed later.

3. After each choice, tap the NEXT button or icon.

The button might be labeled with the text NEXT, or it may appear as the Triangle icon, shown in the margin.

4. Tap the FINISH button.

The FINISH button appears on the last screen of the configuration procedure.

From this point on, starting the phone works as described in the next section.

After the initial setup, you see the phone’s Home screen. Chapter 3 offers details on using the Home screen, which you should probably read right away, before the temptation to play with your new phone becomes unbearable.

❯❯ You may find yourself asked various questions or prompted to try various tricks as you explore your phone. Some of those prompts are helpful, but it’s okay to skip them. To do so, tap the OK I GOT IT button and the SKIP button, and if present, select the DO NOT SHOW AGAIN check box.

❯❯ Additional information on connecting your phone to a Wi-Fi network is found in Chapter 17.

❯❯ Location items relate to how the phone knows its position on Planet Earth. I recommend activating all these items to get the most from your Android phone.

❯❯ It’s not necessary to use any specific software provided by the phone’s manufacturer or your cellular provider. For example, if you don’t want a Samsung account, you don’t need to sign up for one; skip that step.

❯❯ Through your Google account, you coordinate your new Android phone with whatever information you already have on the Internet. These details include your Gmail messages, contacts, Google Calendar appointments, photos, music, books, and other Google account details.

❯❯ See the later sidebar “Who is this Android person?” for more information about the Android operating system.

Turning on the phone

To turn on your Android phone, press and hold the Power/Lock key. After a few seconds, you feel the phone vibrate slightly and then see the phone’s startup animation, logo, or hypnotic brainwashing image. Release the Power/Lock key; the phone is starting.

Eventually, you see the phone’s Unlock screen. See the later section “Working the screen lock” for what to do next.

If you’ve encrypted your phone’s data, you must work a screen lock before the device fully starts. See Chapter 21 for details on encrypting your phone’s data.

Unlocking the phone

Most of the time, you don’t turn your phone off and on. Instead, you lock and unlock it. To unlock and use the phone, press the Power/Lock key. A quick press is all that’s needed. The phone’s touchscreen comes to life, and you see one of several types of screen lock. Working these locks is covered in the next section.

After you work the screen lock, you next see the Home screen. Chapter 3 covers how to interact with the Home screen.

❯❯ On a Samsung phone, you can press the Home button to unlock the device. The Home button is centered below the touchscreen.

❯❯ Removing the S Pen on a Samsung Galaxy Note unlocks the phone.

❯❯ The phone lets you answer or decline an incoming call without having to unlock the device. See Chapter 5 for more information on answering, declining, and ignoring incoming calls.

Working the screen lock

When you unlock your phone, you see the lock screen, illustrated on a variety of Android phones in Figure 2-1. The lock screen shows a screen lock, such as the standard Android swipe lock, illustrated in the figure.

FIGURE 2-1: Android phones’ lock screen varieties.

To work the Swipe lock, swipe the screen in one direction. Some phones may show a Lock icon, which you drag to unlock the phone. Onscreen animation may assist you with working the Swipe lock.

The Swipe lock isn’t a difficult lock to pick. If you’ve added more security, you might see any one of several different screen locks on your phone. Here are the common Android screen locks:

Swipe: The standard screen lock. Swipe your finger on the screen to unlock the device, as illustrated in Figure 2-1. After swiping, you may see another, more secure screen lock. If so, work it next.

Pattern: Trace a preset pattern over dots on the screen.

PIN: Use the onscreen keyboard to type a number to unlock the device.

Password: Type a password, which can include letters, numbers, and symbols.

None: When this non-lock is selected, the device lacks a screen lock and you can use the phone immediately after pressing the Power/Lock key.

Some phones provide additional types of screen locks. The most common is the fingerprint lock. To unlock the phone, you tap on or slide your finger over the fingerprint-reading gizmo.

Other screen locks are available, including the Face Unlock and the Signature lock found on the Samsung Galaxy Note line of phones. For further details on screen locks and how to configure them, see Chapter 21.

Unlocking and running an app

The phone’s lock screen may feature app icons. You’ll find them at the bottom of the screen (refer to Figure 2-1), if they’re available. Use those icons to unlock the phone and run the given app.

For example, to place a quick phone call, swipe the Phone icon up the screen. The phone unlocks and the Phone app appears. Similarly, you can swipe the Camera app icon to snap a quick photo.

❯❯ Some phones let you customize the lock screen apps, such as the Galaxy Note, shown in the center of Figure 2-1.

❯❯ When a secure screen lock is set, the phone isn’t actually unlocked when the lock screen app runs. To do anything else with the phone, you must eventually work the screen lock.

WHO IS THIS ANDROID PERSON?

Just like a computer, your phone has an operating system. It’s the main program in charge of all the software (apps) inside the phone. Unlike on a computer, however, Android is a mobile device operating system, designed primarily for use in cell phones and tablets.

Android is based on the Linux operating system, which is also a computer operating system, though it’s much more stable and bug-free than Windows, so it’s not as popular. Google owns, maintains, and develops Android, which is why your online Google information is synced with the phone.

The Android mascot, shown here, often appears on Android apps or hardware. He has no official name, though most folks call him Andy.

Add More Accounts

Your Android phone can be home to your various online incarnations. This list includes your email accounts, online services, social networking, subscriptions, and other digital personas. I recommend adding those accounts to your phone as you continue the setup-and-configuration process.

With your phone on and unlocked, follow these steps:

1. Tap the Apps icon.

The Apps icon is found at the bottom of the Home screen. It looks similar to the icon shown in the margin, although on your phone it may look different. See Chapter 3 for the variety.

After tapping the Apps icon, you see the Apps drawer, which lists all apps available on your phone.

2. Open the Settings app.

You may have to swipe the Apps drawer screen a few times, paging through the various icons, to find the Settings app.

After you tap the Settings icon, the Settings app runs. You use this app to configure phone options and features.

3. Choose the Accounts category.

On some Samsung phones, first tap the General tab atop the Settings app screen to locate the Accounts category.

The category may be titled Accounts and Sync on some phones.

Upon success, you see all existing accounts on your phone, such as email accounts, social networking, cloud storage, and whatever else you may have already set up. If the list is empty, well, it’s time to add more accounts!

4. Tap Add Account.

You see a list of account types the phone can add for you, such as the list shown in Figure 2-2.

5. Choose an account from the list.

For example, to add a Facebook account, choose Facebook from the list.

Don’t worry if you don’t see the exact type of account you want to add. You may have to install a specific app before an account appears. Chapter 16 covers installing new apps on your phone.

6. Follow the directions on the screen to sign in to your account.

The steps that follow depend on the account. Generally speaking, you sign in using an existing username and password.

FIGURE 2-2: Common account types on an Android phone.

You can continue adding accounts by repeating these steps. When you’re done, tap the Home navigation icon to return to the Home screen.

❯❯ See Chapter 9 for specifics on adding email accounts to your Android phone.

❯❯ Chapter 11 covers social networking on your phone and offers advice on adding those types of accounts.

TRANSFERRING INFORMATION FROM YOUR OLD PHONE

Here’s one task you don’t need to worry about: All the Google information associated with your old phone – or any other Android device, including a tablet – is instantly transferred to your new phone. This information includes contacts, Gmail, events, and other Googly account data. You can even install apps you’ve previously obtained (free or purchased).

As you add accounts to your phone, the information associated with those accounts is migrated to the device. You might also see media, such as photos, videos, and music transferred, if you use online sharing services to host the media. For information that’s not transferred, see Chapter 18, which covers methods for moving files between your phone and other devices.

Goodbye, Phone

You can dismiss your Android phone in several ways, only two of which involve using a steamroller or raging elephant. The other methods are covered in this section.

Locking the phone

To lock your Android phone, press and release the Power/Lock key. The touchscreen display turns off and the phone is locked.

❯❯ Some phones may not turn off the display while they’re locked. You may see the current time and notifications displayed, albeit on a very dim screen. This feature doesn’t affect the phone’s battery life and in many cases this setting can be changed if you don’t like the always-on touchscreen. See Chapter 20 for details.

❯❯ Your phone will spend most of its time locked. The phone still works while locked; it receives email and plays music and signals alerts and alarms. Phone calls arrive. Yet, while the phone is locked, it doesn’t use as much power as it does when the display is on.

❯❯ You can lock the phone while you’re making a call. Simply press and release the Power/Lock key. The call stays connected, but the display is disabled.

❯❯ Locking doesn’t turn off the phone.

❯❯ Refer to Chapter 20 for information on setting the automatic lock time-out value.

Turning off the phone