1. Replace the Bundled Music Player With TuneWiki
Android’s bundled Music program is fairly weak and clunky. Our suggestion: Ditch it and pick up TuneWiki off the Android Market. It’s easier to use than the bundled Music program, and has a lot more features (such as a fun karaoke function that searches for lyrics online and runs them with your song as it plays). Of course, you can download TuneWiki to any iPhone, but only if it is jailbroken and unlocked (which would void its warranty). This difference is emblematic of one of the key distinctions between Android and the iPhone—Android doesn’t ban applications that compete with or replace its own programs.
2. Use “Any Cut” To Put a Shortcut to Goog-411 On Your Home Screen
One of our favorite downloadable Android applications is a little program called Any Cut, which allows you to litter your home screen with shortcuts to any program, phone number, text-message recipient or menu setting. Use this program to create a home-screen speed dial to Goog-411—Google’s free directory assistance number—to cut the number of clicks it takes to get your digits-on-demand down to one. Bonus tip: Create a shortcut to text message GOOGLE (466453) for when calling’s just not convenient.
3. Play VIdeos in MPEG-4 H.264
The G1 has no built-in video player. That’s what the Android Market is for. When we were testing the phone, there was only one true video playback program available: Video Player. And while this program can only play MPEG-4 movie files, we should soon see other video-playing programs that will be able to handle all sorts of codecs. However, even when these options become available, you’ll still want to play your movies in MPEG-4 H.264 compression whenever possible. This is because the G1 has built-in hardware acceleration that makes this specific video format run extra smooth. Future programs will probably run Divx and Xvid and all those great files you’ve collected from Bittorrent, but the programs’ on-the-fly decryption and viewing will be far more taxing on the software, which could mean lags.
4. Search Google Maps From Front Page Widget
The G1’s default home screen features a Google search widget. While this obviously makes Google Web searches quicker, it is also is a quick way to tap into Google Maps. When you type the name of a place or location, you are given a typical Google search results page, with a map location at the top. Click this result, and the phone asks you whether you want to switch out of the browser and into the Maps program to finish your query.
5. Use the Hard Search Key
If there’s one company that understands the value of search, it’s Google. And one of the best parts of the G1’s physical keyboard is its hard search key (the one that looks like a little magnifying glass.) Pressing it from the home screen brings up the Google search bar. This is great, but what’s more interesting is its use within individual Google-made programs like YouTube and Maps, where pressing it brings up a search bar specific to that program, allowing you to find what you’re looking for in an app easily and quickly.
6. Focus Before Shooting
Camera phones are notorious for their blurry shots. The G1’s autofocus tries to change this: When you half-press the camera button on the side of the phone, it engages the autofocus (anybody who has autofocused with a stand-alone camera will find this familiar). When it’s done focusing, a green circle pops up in the corner of the screen, letting you know it’s time to take the shot by completely depressing the button. So remember when shooting to wait for the green circle for better, Facebook-worthy results.
Does your phone run out of juice too quickly between charges? Do your battery bars drop like a credit-crunched housing market? You may sometimes curse your mobile for its lack of staying power, but a few simple changes in how you use it could boost battery performance and cut down on your charging…
1. Close unnecessary applications
It’s easy to leave power-sapping applications, such as a music player, running in the background, particularly on a smartphone where there are plenty of functions you can flick between. It’s usually straightforward to check which applications are open, and to close ones that aren’t needed.
2. Switch off Bluetooth
You may think it’s less hassle to leave it on, but Bluetooth nibbles away at your battery power. So whether you use Bluetooth for a handsfree headset, transferring music or images, or one of many other Bluetooth applications, the rule is the same: when you’re not using it, go into the menu system and turn it off.
3. Unplug the Wi-Fi
Similarly, if your phone is one of those high-end handsets with Wi-Fi connectivity, don’t leave it running in the background – it will devour power.
4. Dim the screen
Whenever the screen’s on, battery power is being used up. Adjusting your phone’s out-of-the-box display settings can save power. Dim the brightness level to the lowest you need, and change your backlight-on and screen timeout to the minimum settings you require. You can find the display adjustment or power saver options in your phone’s settings menu.
5. Don’t fiddle
The more you have the screen on, the more battery power is consumed. So don’t keep checking for messages or missed calls, looking at your phone clock, checking out old messages, looking at pics or generally fiddling with the phone – it may pass the time, but you’re also sucking away your battery life.
6. Turn off 3G
Although 3G adds extra multimedia functionality, mobiles use more power maintaining connections and making calls on a 3G network than on 2G/2.5G GSM networks. If your 3G phone has the option in its network settings menu, you could temporarily switch from automatic network selection (or 3G/UMTS option) to an appropriate GSM option and extend your battery life significantly. Switch back when you want a faster data connection, or want to use other 3G functions.
7. Watch out for poor signal strength
The poorer the signal strength, the more power your phone will expend trying to connect to the network. While you can’t control network coverage in your area, try to avoid keeping your phone on standby somewhere where signal strength is known to be non-existent or very poor, such as in a basement, on the Underground/Metro, or even in a room in your home where you get bad reception.
8. Manage your music
When it comes to playing music, some mobiles are more power-hungry than others, but all will use up extra battery life. When playing tunes, be aware that you’re reducing your calling and standby time – and if you’re interrupted and have to take your earphones out, make sure you stop the music.
9. Switch to flight mode
In some situations where you want to listen to tunes or play games but don’t need the phone connected – travelling on the Underground/Metro, when you’re out of network coverage, or perhaps at night – you can save power by switching to ‘flight mode’. This automatically turns off the mobile phone’s radio transceiver and Bluetooth, reducing power consumption, but allowing you to use other functions. This means, though, you can’t make or take calls or receive texts, so remember to turn it back to ‘normal’ mode when you need to.
10. Reduce mobile internet browsing
Avoid unnecessarily long bouts of random mobile internet browsing; while it may be reducing your boredom levels, using a data connection will also be draining your battery.
11. Limit email checking
It’s great to stay connected with email on your mobile, but you could be unnecessarily eating up your battery life. With most mobile email apps, you can set how frequently your phone checks for new messages – but every data connection that takes place when your phone checks for email uses up a little more power. Think about how often you genuinely need to check for emails, and adjust your settings accordingly.
12. Know where your GPS is at
If you have a mobile with a GPS receiver built in for on-board satellite navigation, be careful that you don’t leave it active when you don’t need it. Also, be aware that using GPS-based satnav applications on your phone can rapidly reduce your juice, so use prudently.
The T-Mobile G1 Android is the most talked-about phone in town.
It may not be a better handset than the iPhone – but with a plethora of apps and updates on the way, the G1 is certainly a major force to be reckoned with.
With that in mind, here are 50 great tips to help you squeeze as much usability out of your T-Mobile G1 Android as humanly possible
1. Customise your home screen
You can select any icon from the pull-out menu and drag it onto the home page. To return it to the menu you’ll need to press and hold it until the menu tab shows a trash can, then drag it onto the trash can icon.
2. Quick email set-up
You can set up most POP3 or IMAP email accounts with major providers in a couple of clicks. Go to Email, press Menu-Accounts, then Menu-add account, enter your email and password and you’re ready to go.
3. Email default
Not surprisingly, the G1’s optimised for GoogleMail and you’ll be prompted to set an account up when you start it up for the first time. If you’d rather use another account though, remember to click ‘Send email from this account’ when you set it up or it will default to your Gmail account.
4. Push email
You can set your G1 to update your emails automatically from every five minutes to every hour, or only when you ask it to. In Email, press Menu, then Account settings, then Email check frequency.
5. Check your memory
You can check how much memory you have left on your microSD card. From the home page, pull open the Menu. Go to Settings, then scroll down to SD card & phone storage.
6. Save memory
With the list of apps available on Market growing steadily, it’s only a matter of time before you run out of space on your G1’s built-in memory. Delete apps that you don’t use regularly – you can easily download them again if you need them.
7. Save your battery 1
Like many high-spec smart phones, battery life on the G1 is an issue. Get into the habit of pressing the end key when you finish using it to shut the screen down.
8. Save your battery 2
Reduce the brightness. In the settings menu go to Sound & display, then scroll down to Brightness. Even at the lowest setting it’s perfectly viewable. You can also reduce the screen timeout while you’re there.- minimum is 15 seconds.
9. Save your battery 3
Turn off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth if you’re not using them – they’re all in Settings-Wireless controls. You can even turn off 3G and opt for ‘Use only 2G networks’ in Wireless controls-Mobile networks if you’re being careful.
10. Save your battery 4
And if you really want to stretch out your power line, you can turn off the ringer and rely on vibrate to receive calls. Go to Settings-Sound & display and click Silent mode while leaving Phone vibrate activated.
11. Notifications screen
Drag your finger downwards from the top of the screen to reveal the Notifications page. This will tell you of any pending emails, missed calls, downloads and other info.
12. Street View
Google Maps now has a Street View option which gives you 360-degree views of street scenes. Press Menu-Map mode-Street View (you’ll need to scroll down if you’re in landscape mode).
13. Problem with Street View
It’s a great little feature, but there are no Street Views for the UK yet. Paris is the nearest, but there are also Street Views in Spain, Italy, Belgium, and of course, loads in US and Japanese cities.
14. Android Apps
There are already dozens of third party apps available for the G1’s Android operating system, many of them free, and with more being added all the time – unlike the iPhone’s closed system, anyone can add them. Go to Market in the main menu for a full rundown.
15. Any Cut
Any Cut offers an easy way to make shortcuts to almost anything, including frequently dialled numbers, messages or even specific actions, just by pressing and holding the home screen.
16. ShopSavvy
Download this app from Market and you can use the G1’s camera to scan barcodes. It will then go online to find the best price for the product you’ve just scanned, along with any reviews or comments.
17. TuneWiki
Essentially an interactive community-based karaoke project you can search for songs and videos with accompanying lyrics and add your own. It’s a pretty good music player too.
18. Wikitude
This Market app uses Wikipedia and GPS to provide information on local points of interest wherever you happen to be. It’ll highlight places on the map but it’s best to use the trackball rather than your finger to access the info.
19. Shazam
Long available by dialling 2580, the track ID service is available as a free download, so when you need to know what that track on the radio is, you’ll only pay for your network’s data charges.
20. Memory card
The G1 comes with a 2GB microSD card hidden in a slot at the bendy end, just beneath the call start button.
21. Imeem music
This music streaming app lets you play music wherever you are. Select an artist and it will play a stream of related tracks from your chosen one and others. It’s like a jukebox in your pocket.
22. Zombie, Run!
This very silly but fun game uses the G1’s GPS system to identify zombies heading your way. Your task is to avoid them and get to your destination. It certainly livened up our mid-afternoon stroll down London’s Oxford St…
23. Screen errors
The G1’s capacitive touch screen is a thing of beauty – not so sensitive that you activate everything your thumb brushes against, but not requiring too much effort to press what you need. Sometimes it can be a bit slow to react though. In this case, hold your thumb on the link you need for a second or two – that should do it.
24. Security
You can set up your own security pattern to protect your precious G1 being vandalised by strangers’ manky fingerprints. Go to Settings-Security & location-Set unlock pattern. Then draw your own personal unlock pattern to connect at least four dots on the on the nine-dot grid.
25. Play video
The G1 won’t play video out of the box. Download Video Player from Market to play MPEG4 or 3GPP files. Expect to see other video players soon.
26. Switch network
Like the iPhone, the G1 has debuted exclusively on a single network and if you buy now you’ll be tied to an 18-month contract. But if the big pink one isn’t for you, wait until next year when you’ll be able to get a G1 that isn’t locked to any network.
27. Upgrade your memory card
With just 1GB memory on board the G1, you’ll need to add some more via microSD card if you’re going to get the best use out of it. It can handle up to 16GB which should set you back around £40.
28. Quick search
Google knows a thing or two about search. Get quick access to the Google toolbar by pressing the search key on the keyboard (bottom line, looks like a magnifying glass).
29. Keyboard shortcuts
You can manage your own keyboard shortcuts to any of the apps in your menu. Go to Menu-Settings and scroll down to Applications-Quick launch. There are a range of built-in shortcuts awaiting activation or you can set up your own.
30. USB security
If you’re concerned about security, there’s an automatic debug mode that swings into action whenever you connect to a computer via USB. Go to Menu-Settings-Application-Develeopment-USB debugging.
31. Non-Market apps
You don’t have to stick to third party apps from Market, but if you’re looking further afield, you’ll need to tell your G1 it’s okay. Go to Menu-Settings-Application-Unknown sources and tick the box.
32. Set MP3 as ringtone
If you really must have Tenor Saw’s Ring The Alarm or Anita Ward’ Ring My Bell as your ringtone, go to Music-Songs and press and hold the one you fancy. Then choose Use as phone ringtone.
33. Multiple apps
If you’re surfing the web, using your camera, whatever, and want quick access to your music player or email, just press and hold the Home key to superimpose your open apps menu.
34. Get Wi-Fi-ed
Put go-faster stripes on your internet browsing by connecting to a broadband network. From the Menu go to Settings-Wireless controls-Wi-Fi settings to search for available networks.
35. Quick silent mode
No need to fiddle through menus when you’ve just gone into a meeting with the G1 – just press and hold the call end button to activate silent mode. Press and hold again to bring the noise.
36. Speedy playlist management
It’s easy to add songs to playlists – just press and hold the track you want, then select the playlist you want to assign it to from the menu.
37a. Favourite contacts
You can set up a Premier League of your favourite contacts so you can keep all your essential numbers in one place. Open your contact’s details and press the grey star in the top right-hand corner – it turns gold, and that contact is in your Favourites list.
37b. Least favourites
There’s an option to automatically avoid any of your least favourite contacts. Scroll down in your contact’s details and check the box marked Send calls directly to voicemail. Et voilà – automatically screened calls.
38. Forward SMS and MMS messages
There’s no option to forward a message while you have the message open, so from your list of messages, press and hold the message you want to forward until a menu pops up. Select ‘Forward’.
39. Autofocus
The G1’s 3 megapixel camera has autofocus, but to make best use of it, half-press the shutter button (just like on many standalone cameras) before taking your shot. It will still work with a normal press, but with a longer delay.
40. Get your bearings
The G1 includes a compass to help you get your bearings in unfamiliar territory. Go to Maps-Menu-Map mode-Street view-Menu-Compass.
41. Zooming
Not as flash a mechanism as the iPhone’s pinch, but then you only need one finger. Tap the screen once in browser or picture viewing modes and zoom in and out keys appear. Press once or press and hold ’til you get the size you want. Easy.
42. Browsing shortcuts
The keyboard has some basic shortcuts for getting around. Try Menu+J for last page, Menu+K for next page, Menu+Space for home page and Menu+H to see your browsing history.
43. Quick zoom
Sliding the screen brings up zoom in and out buttons, but also a quick zoom in the bottom right-hand corner. This brings up a full webpage with a highlight window that you can move around until you find the bit you want to focus on.
44. Click to fit column
If you’re viewing a page with several columns of text, not all of it on the screen, tap on the text (so long as it doesn’t contain a web link) and the column will jump into the window.
45. Multi-page browsing
You can have several pages open at once when you’re browsing. Press the menu key and select Window you view your recent page history and open new windows.
46. Cut and paste
Get that feeling of superiority over iPhone users by cutting and pasting text from your documents and messages.
Cut – press Menu+ x
Copy – press Menu + c
Paste – press Menu + v
47. SplashPlay
Hmm, a phone-based guitar tutor that really works. It shows the fretboard of a guitar and illustrates the chords while a song plays – it could be one that you download or one from your own music collection that chords have been provided for. You can even press the strings on the screen to sound the notes.
48. IM
The default Instant Messaging client on the G1 is of course GoogleTalk but you’re not stuck with it as there are others available on Market including meebo and IM+, which supports AIM, MSN, Yahoo and others.
49. MMS
Got one over on smug iPhone users by taking a photograph, selecting Menu-Share and sending it on. If the pic’s too large it will prompt you to resize it.
50. Factory reset
And if everything should go to hell in a handcart, you can do a factory reset:
Switch off
Hold Home Key + End key for 20 seconds or until you see a triangle with an exclamation mark and a picture of the G1
Open the QWERTY keyboard and press Alt+W
Product manuals are lame. The last thing we ever want to do when we purchase a fresh new gadget is sit there reading through a manual. Instead, we love to dive right into the gadgetry and start playing with our new toys. So we went through the T-Mobile G1’s horribly boring 48 page user manual to find 10 useful tips that you’ll really want to know.
1. Dial by Voice
The G1 supports voice dialing, and you can easily call a friend by stating their name if you press and hold the Send key on the G1. Bonus Tip: If you want to add in another caller while you’re on the phone, press the Send key while in a call.
2. Use an mp3 as your Ringtone
We’re not big fans of people using mp3s as ringtones, since the music selection is often pretty awful. Nonetheless, we’ll tell you how with the G1. Open Music > Songs > and hold your finger on your song of choice. Next, select “Use as phone ringtone.”
Read on for more.
3. Access the Applications Menu from Anywhere
If you’re surfing the Web and want to quickly bring up your music player to switch songs, you can quickly do this by holding down the Home button on the G1. This will quickly bring up your Applications menu. If you want to go directly to the desktop, just press the Home button once.
4. Turn on Wi-Fi
Phones don’t just automatically have Wi-Fi capabilities turned on. To do this, press the Menu key while you’re on the home screen.
Next, click Settings > Wireless Controls and select Wi-Fi
Open Wi-Fi settings to force the G1 to search for available networks.
5. Place your phone in silent mode on the fly
You just walked into a movie theater a few minutes late, and you want to quickly put the phone in silent mode without browsing through menus to do so. Avoid this by toggling silent mode without opening the G1. Simply press and hold the End key to put the phone in silent mode.
6. Add songs to a playlist
When you’re playing co-pilot on a long road trip, the music selection is up to you. Make the song selection smoother by creating a playlist ahead of time. On the G1, open up Music > Songs, and then touch and hold any song that you want to add to a playlist. A menu will pop up, and you’ll want to select Add to playlist.
7. Install a microSD card
You can install a microSD card for adding more storage or using your phone as a portable hard drive (see tip 9), and here’s how. First open the keyboard. Next, look for a small memory card cover below the Send key on the G1. Take your microSD card and slide it forward with the gold teeth facing down.
8. Typing Tips
Insert special character: Press ALT + Spacebar
Delete entire line of text: Press ALT + Delete
Turn on all caps: Press Shift Twice
Move cursor to end or beginning of text: Press Alt while scrolling Trackball
Insert a Tab space: Press Alt + Q
Highlight text: Press Shift and roll Trackball
9. Use your phone as a portable hard drive
The G1 supports high capacity microSD cards, which means you can add up to 16GB of storage to it. That’s as good as carrying a portable hard drive around with you. To treat your G1 as a portable storage device, you need to turn on mass storage.
Plug your G1 into your computer using a USB cable. Navigate to the home screen and select Menu > Settings > SD card & phone storage. Next, select Use for USB storage. Now a folder will pop up on your computer, and you can drag and drop music, videos, or any file of your choice onto the phone.
10. Cut, Copy, and Paste Text
Copying, cutting, and pasting text from Web sites or documents is easy with the G1.
To Cut, press Menu and x.
To Copy, press Menu and c
To Paste, press Menu and v
