37/ Can I change the look of my phone without changing the ROM?
You can indeed. Apps like LauncherPro offer a completely different
look to the standard Android interface and also include many features
such as 3D effects and a scrollable shortcut dock. It is safer than
changing the ROM completely.
38/ The Live Wallpaper seems to use too much battery life?
In tests the battery drain has been shown to be low with Live
Wallpapers, but it is still a problem for power users who run out of
battery power every day. The simple answer is to use a static wallpaper.
39/ My clock keeps losing time?
This can happen if your clock is set to automatically update the time
from your network. If the network clock is slow, so will your phone be.
Go to Settings / Date & time and untick the ‘Automatic’ box at the
top. Your clock should now run perfectly on time with only manual
adjustments needed occasionally.
40/ Can I block unwanted callers?
Most network providers do not offer this facility, but because
Android can be tweaked in so many ways there are still options open to
you. Extreme Call Blocker Droid works on many Android phone models and
blocks incoming calls in almost every way imaginable. It is not the
cheapest Android app available, but works extremely well and can save
you a lot of headaches in the future.
41/ My phone is slow at times. Are there any tools to help?
The first step would be to remove any unnecessary apps and to ensure
that your phone is not full of data you do not need. An app like System
Tuner Pro can also help by automatically tuning many parts of your phone
to ensure the best possible performance.
42/ Why can’t I use the SD card when my phone is attached to the PC?
By default this is not possible, but if you have rooted your phone
you can use an app like Multi Mount SD-Card which lets you access an
expansion card from both a PC and phone at the same time. It works very
well and this is in spite of our natural concern about accessing a card
from two places at once which could in theory lead to corrupted files.
43/ My phone has been stolen. Can I track it?
If your phone has already been stolen you will struggle to get it
back. This is, however, a case of prevention rather than cure and we
would advise installing a third party app to help track your phone.
PhoneLocator Pro is a good example and includes the ability to remotely
track a phone using GPS as well as letting you wipe or lock the phone.
Everyone should use a solution like this.
44/ Why can’t I use iTunes with my Android device?
You won’t be able to use DRM protected media on your Android device, but you can
still use iTunes
thanks to doubleTwist AirSync. It lets you synchronise your media
between iTunes and an Android phone or tablet and you can do so without a
physical connection. It is as good, if not better, than the Apple iOS
syncing solution.
45/ How do I close an app that keeps freezing my phone?
The solution is unfortunately more complex than it should be. Go to
Settings / Applications and choose ‘Manage applications’. Now choose the
app that is misbehaving from the list and tap ‘Force stop’. If the app
continues to misbehave you should try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
46/ Can I close running apps quickly?
The default task manager in Android is a good solution, but it could
be much quicker. Advanced Task Manager is the most popular tool to deal
with running apps and lets you manage all of your running apps with a
couple of taps. After a while the process become so natural that you
will forget you are even using it.
47/ My phone won’t connect to my PC using USB?
Most Android phones will connect without problem to a PC, but on
occasion they will run into trouble. The first place to look is the
manufacturer’s website to find the required drivers to connect it. They
are not always available and so you may need to send in a support
request to get them.
48/ Why does auto-correct not know all the words I need to use?
There is no way that an auto-correct system can know all of the words
you need to use, but you can add new ones quickly and easily. Type a
word and look for the ‘+’ sign below the text field. Tap it and the word
will be added to your dictionary for future use. The more words you
add, the more accurate your typing will become.
49/ The slide unlock feature is really annoying!
You can avoid the slide unlock by tapping the menu button twice. Not
all phones support this because some manufacturers add their own skins,
but the majority should allow this simple and quick workaround.
50/ Switching between keyboards takes forever!
If you have more than one keyboard installed it can appear to be
cumbersome to switch between them, but it need not be so. Simply press
and hold the ‘123’ button on the keyboard and you will be offered a
selection to switch to. It only takes a second.
51/ Why does my screen turn off when charging?
It doesn’t have to and the solution is very simple. Go to Settings /
Applications / Development and tick the ‘Stay awake’ option to keep the
screen on when charging.
52/ Can I reinstall a paid app?
You can. If an app is misbehaving, the last resort is to uninstall it
and then reinstall it which often resolves the problem. Go to the
Android Market and click on the ‘My Market Account’ link. You will see
an orders tab which should include a list of the apps you have
previously purchased. Choose an app and then tap ‘Install’ to complete
the process. The Market should not charge you for the reinstall.
53/ How do I know if I have the latest version of Android on my phone?
Go to Settings / About phone and choose ‘System software updates’.
Here you will see a ‘Check now’ icon to see if there is a newer version
of Android available for your phone.
