33 Essential Android Tips

Contrary to what your instincts tell you, robots can grow and evolve. Well, at least Google’s can. Its open-source OS keeps improving, while the number of Android handsets continues to multiply. And consumers are definitely catching the bug. In the first quarter of 2010, this class of smart phone accounted for 9.6 percent of the global market, an 8 percent jump from the previous year. That means there’s a whole world of newbies out there with plenty to learn. Take our word for it: nearly a week passed before we figured out how to move music files from a PC to the phone without an SD Card reader. So we went in search of the most essential, hidden, and sometimes surprising tips for maximizing the Android experience. Read on to learn a thing, or 33.

General Tips

• Conserve Your Resources
• Get Organized With Folders
• Multitasking Made Easy
• Instant Tunes
• One-Touch Dialing
• Quickly Save Photos
• Find Text Fast

Keyboard and Typing Tips

• Keyboard Shortcuts
• No More Typos (You Didn’t Make)
• Speak To Type (Android 2.1 Only)
• Copy and Paste Guidance

E-mail Tips

• Unify Your Inbox
• Mute Annoying Conversations
• Prioritize Important Messages

GPS Tips

• Leverage Your Location
• Sync Favorite Destinations (Android 2.1 Only)
• Get There Faster
• Make GPS Shortcuts

Storage Tips

• Easy File Transfers
• Back It Up

Security Tips

• Lock It with a Swipe
• Protect Your Passwords
• Secure That SIM Card

Battery Life Tips

• Nix Background Data
• Just Say No to Auto-Sync
• Trim Auto-Sync Time
• Go Off the Grid
• Tone Down the Animations
• Silence Wi-Fi Alerts

HTC Sense Tips

• View All Screens Simultaneously
• Get a Sense of Time

Motoblur Tips

• Back Up Your Contacts
• Send Audio Postcards