54 Super Smart Android Tips

February 18th, 2011 by LAPTOP Editors  

Web Tips

Change the Browser Homepage

You don’t always have to land on Google. Make your homepage the NYTimes.com or ESPN.com, or whatever your first stop is after signing on. In the browser hit Menu > More > Scroll to Settings > Set Home Page.

Search for Text on Web Pages

Culling a site for details doesn’t have to be a chore. In the browser, hit the Menu > More > Find On Page. Then scroll through instances of your search term via a pop-up that appears at the bottom of the page.

Download Alternative Browsers

Don’t rely on the stock Android browser for all your web-surfing needs. Dolphin Browser HD offers features such as pinch-to-zoom navigation, gesture controls, and sortable bookmarks. There’s also Opera Mobile for fast page downloads and smooth tabbed browsing, and Skyfire for smoother Flash playback.

Lock the Browser in Landscape

More screen real estate equals more things to see. Give the browser a little extra space by locking it in landscape mode. In the browser, hit Menu > More > scroll to Settings > Landscape-Only Display.

Save Images From the Web

That photo you see in your mobile phone’s web browser is beautiful. Hold on to it. In the browser, press and hold an image, and select Save Image.

Use Chrome to Phone

If you’ve ever e-mailed yourself a link to something you wanted to read on your phone, Chrome to Phone will make your day. Install this plug-in for the Chrome desktop browser and download the app on your Android smart phone. When you want to send a link from your desktop to your phone, click the icon in the Chrome toolbar and it will push the URL to your device as a notification. Once clicked, the link will open in your default browser.

Install Flash (Android 2.2 only)

With Flash 10.1 (install it in the Android Market), you can watch videos at sites such as CBS.com and play games at www.popcap.com. If you don’t want Flash to work all of the time, launch the Browser > Menu > More. Then scroll down to Settings > Enable Plug-Ins. Pick Always On, On Demand (lets you decide on a case-by-case basis), or Off.

Install Xmarks for Android

If you want a simple way to sync links to your Android phone, check out XMarks for Android. This handy app lets you add, update, and delete all your bookmarks in the Android Browser (or the Dolphin HD alternative browser). Download a 14-day free trial from the Android Market. After that, you’ll need to upgrade to XMarks Premium ($12 a year).



Android Tips


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One Response to “54 Super Smart Android Tips”

  1. wirecup Says:
    February 18th, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    In WinXP, one can type in multiple home pages (separate line for each in box). First line entry is page initially shown. Other home page sites are shown in order as selectable tabs. Is this capability in Android?

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