Discover the Android System

1. Discover the Android System Sunshine Coast Libraries’ Android Tutorial

2. Topics • Android basics • Ecosystem – all about apps • Keyboard • Syncing – Google Drive • Functionality – tips • Settings – accessibility • Security • Cool stuff

3. Surf the web Check email Listen to music Watch movies and TV shows Play games – cards, crosswords Manage contact Create to-do lists and reminders Digital photo album Share prices, weather updates Maps Take photos and videos Read newspapers, magazines and books Sync with your Google account anywhere in the world Things we can do!

4. System Requirements • Google Account – sign up online or through your tablet (free), you’ll get a new email address as well that you can use. • Internet access

5. What is Android? • Android is a operating system created by Linux and is supported and funded by Google • It’s main ideology is that anyone and everyone can create apps and change their phone or tablet to the way they want it. • The way that your tablet is designed is to use real world actions to use the tablet

6. Android – what can I get? • Many brands are now freely available (Samsung, Asus, Acer, etc) • Google’s own tablet is now available (Google Nexus 7 & 10) • What you want to use your tablet for depends on what you need • The majority of the sizes are: 8GB, 16GB and 32GB

7. What other features can I get? • Many different features are available • Micro SD card slot – for those that want expandable memory • Micro HDMI – for an easy way to project your screen on a TV or computer screen • If you want a faster tablet choose a quad core processor instead of dual processor although for most apps you won’t see a difference

8. Differences between a normal Android tablet and one with 3G • Tablet - normal: ideal if you have a wireless Internet router in your home or if you’ll be using your Android tablet near a wireless hotspot, like the library. No Wi-Fi = no internet • Tablet with 3G: keeps you connected to the internet even when Wi-Fi isn’t available, e.g. when outdoors, commuting, etc. 3G uses the same cellular signals your mobile phone uses and 3G data plans are purchased from phone companies.

9. Tablet Basics – back physical features Volume controls Head phone jack Back Camera

10. Tablet Basics – front physical features Front Camera Speakers

11. Examples of different tablets

12. What is an app? • An app is a program that runs Android devices – tablets as well as phones (among other devices). • Software bought at the local computer store will not work on Android devices • Apps must be downloaded/purchased online at the Play Store (more on this later) • There are over 700,00 apps, growing daily. • Prices range from 99c (very common) to hundreds of dollars (very rare). • To open an app: tap its icon on the Home screen or under the apps button

13. Apps - Widgets • Widgets are apps that have periodic updates through WiFi or another way into an app • Example: Weather widget can update itself (left) Quick access to Evernote (right)

14. Ecosystem – free, built-in apps

15. Finding apps • Unlike other tablets, all Android apps are under the Apps buttons • If you want, only some Apps are on the screens/pages

16. Keyboard • Automatically pops up when you touch a field where text can be entered • Re-sizes based on landscape or portrait orientation • .?123 key shows more buttons Jotting some notes in portrait mode Writing an email in landscape mode

17. Organising apps - folders • Similar apps can be placed in folders • Touch the app until it moves • Drag on app on top of another to group them in a folder • Click on the folder to name the folder • Click on enter to save Grouped apps Single app

18. Example of grouped apps

19. Organising apps – removing from page and deleting • Touch an app until it moves • Drag it to the bin or the ‘remove’ part of the screen • To delete an app from your tablet go to Settings > Apps/Application Manager > click on the app you want to uninstall > uninstall • Remember – you can always re download them onto your tablet. Go into the Play store to do this.

20. Functionality – re-open or close apps • Click on the screen button at the bottom • Tap app icon to reopen at the point you left off • Slide the app icon to the left if you want to close the app completely Open apps Button to open app manager to close or open previously used apps

21. Settings • There is one settings app to control all the settings of the tablet • Highlights include settings for Wi-Fi, 3G, background images (Wallpaper), email, usage and storage, security, multitasking gestures and accessibility. • Settings for individual apps are in the app itself but if you wish to delete an app, go to the applications manager in settings

22. Settings – Accessibility Android tablets incorporate numerous accessibility features including: • TalkBack: Controls spoken feedback for visually impaired users. • Large text: Check to increase the text size on all your tablets screen. • Auto-rotate screen: Check to have the screen rotate automatically when you change the tablet's orientation.

23. Settings – Accessibility • Speak passwords: Check to get spoken feedback while typing passwords. • Touch & hold delay: Lets you adjust the delay required for the tablet to notice that you're touching and holding an item (for example, to move an app to a Home screen). • Install web scripts: Enable this option to have the Browser provide spoken feedback as you browse and interact with web sites and applications.

24. Syncing and back up – Drive and computer Transfer information and files (syncing) between your tablet and other devices • USB connecting: use drag and drop or copy and paste • Google Drive: online cloud, 2GB free, connects to your Google account • Double Twist: popular to transfer music off computers • Dropbox: online cloud, 2GB free but can get more, easy app to use, a lot of programs use this as their file manager

25. Accessing your files on your tablet Best way to look at all your files • File Manager - Samsung • Astro file manager/ browser • Android file manager • ES File Explorer File Manager • X-plore

26. Syncing • Go to Settings > Personal > Accounts & sync. indicates that some or all of an account’s information is configured to sync automatically. indicates that none of an account’s information is configured to sync automatically • With the Google account, all calendar entries, contacts, Drive and Gmail are all automatically backed up. • Photos are not automatically backed up but you can use Dropbox as an easy way to do this or through Google Drive (settings in Gallery)

27. Security • Security features help protect the information on your tablet from being accessed by others. • Passcodes • Go to Settings >Security and lock screen >Screen lock/ Lock screen options • Encryption • Encrypt device: password required to decrypt device each time you turn it on • Encrypt SD Card: password required to decrypt SD card each time it’s connected • Remember: your device may have different security settings as it depends on the maker (Samsung, Google, Asus, etc)

28. Security Apps on your Android • Extra apps can be used to help protect your tablet from malware and virus’s • Last Pass: free (or paid $12/year) to save all your passwords into one password • Avast!: a free locator and malware protector • Lookout: a free locator and malware protector • Paid version allows safer internet browsing and a back up option ($2.99/ month of $29.99/ year) • DroidWall: a firewall for your tablet

29. Productivity • An Android tablet is a great tool for getting things done

30. Productivity – Kingsoft Office • Create word documents, spreadsheets and presentations in one app. Ability to do everything you can do on a computer! • MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint friendly • Available on the Play Store • Free

31. Productivity – Cam Scanner • CamScanner turns your tablet into a scanner and a fax machine. You can digitize any paper documents by photo shooting. Simply take a picture and CamScanner can auto-crop image, enhance image quality and create an industry standard PDF file. • Can be shared via email • Available from the Play Store • Free and paid

32. Productivity - Photos • FX Camera • Adds filters and effects to photos you take with your tablet • Available from Play Store • Free • Little photo • Adds film and retouch effects to your photos • Available from Play Store • Free

33. How to print from your Android • Install “Cloud Print” app onto your tablet • Follow the instructions http://www.google.com/landing/cloudprint/ • If you have a USB or some wireless printers, you will need to have the computer turned on. • You will need to have Chrome on your PC to be able to connect your tablet and printer. • Once installed, print like normal

34. Cool Stuff • Mirror the tablet screen on a TV. Requires purchase of micro HDMI to HDMI cable ($25 Officeworks) • Use Bluetooth to connect to wireless devices; keyboard, headphones, speakers. • Link everything with your Android phone • Link with Google Chrome where bookmarks and web pages can be saved and access on your tablet, phone and computer

35. Further info • Look at individual manuals • E.g. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10 User Manual (Google) • Google Nexus - http://support.google.com/nexus/?hl=en • Best other information • http://androinica.com/ • http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/31622-getting-started-android-tips-tricks.html • PC Mag 100 best Android Apps • Cnet Australia