Beginner's Guide to Android

Welcome to the world of Google Android. You made a smart move opting for an Android phone, so grab that device and read “The Beginner’s Guide to Android.” This is designed to be a resource for mastering the most useful and exciting apps, tips, and tricks that Google Android has to offer.

So, where should we start? A mobile operating system is only as good as the apps that power it, so I’m sure that’s where you want to begin. Fair enough, but there’s something you should know before going app crazy. There are Key Policies of the Android Market to understand, chief among them the 24-hour refund rule. Read the market policies and then indulge in the fun part: downloading apps!

Apps and Android Market Mania

The Market has thousands of apps and it will be hard to navigate through them. A good place to start is reading 60 Incredible Apps, our selection of a few standouts that Android users should enjoy. Once you’ve got your fill of great apps, share the wealth! Participate in our #androidapps effort on Twitter and let others know what apps you enjoy. Each week, we will highlight the best apps that users recommend in our “Android Apps Alert” post.

Tips and Tricks: Tutorials, hacks, and neat tricks

Android is full of options to customize and control your device as you see fit. This section lists the tips, tutorials, and tricks that boost Android’s worth. Visit the tips section.

Below are links to a few articles that will help you get started on your Android journey.

Beginner's Guide to Android

HTC Sense Tips & Tricks

August 15, 2010 | by Lars Aronsson

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The first device to feature the HTC Sense user-interface was the HTC Hero that made its debut in Europe about a year ago. Since then, HTC has incorporated Sense in all its Android handsets except for the Nexus One…

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Beginner's Guide to Android

A Guide to Making Your Android’s Battery Last a Little Longer

August 11, 2010 | by Lars Aronsson

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A common complaint among Android users is short battery life. As we all now, Google’s platform has numerous benefits, but state-of-the-art features and constantly being connected seem to come with one drawb…

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Beginner's Guide to Android

AppBrain adds new install from any website feature; Androinica will adopt it

August 7, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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Since 2008, Androinica.com’s staff has worked hard to highlight the best applications. During that time, we made it a priority to include QR codes in our posts to make installing those apps easier. We ha…

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Beginner's Guide to Android

How to Install Apps to the SD Card by Default on Android 2.2 Froyo

August 3, 2010 | by Lars Aronsson

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The Android 2.2 Froyo feature that most people have been looking forward to is likely official support for installing apps to the SD card. It’s something that many feel should have been included from the start,…

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Beginner's Guide to Android

Android PSA: Read security permissions before installing an Android app

July 29, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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Hey there, Android fans. You may wake-up this morning to discover that there’s an allegedly rogue application in the Android Market that is stealing people’s data when installed. According to a…

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Incredible Apps: The 60 Best Android Apps (Part 1 of 2)
Applications

Incredible Apps: The 60 Best Android Apps (Part 1 of 2)

April 28, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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The Best Android Apps were easier to find when there were only a few great apps to choose. Now there are Desires, Droids, and Nexus Ones sparking more incredible apps in the Android Market. These are the 60 Best An…

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Tips: How to install Android beta apps and .apk files
Beginner's Guide to Android

Tips: How to install Android beta apps and .apk files

April 27, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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What’s an .apk file? Every time we post about beta applications, the comment section inevitably fills up with people confused about how to download and install Android apps that are not in the Android Ma…

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Tips: trim your bloated contacts list with a custom sync group
Beginner's Guide to Android

Tips: trim your bloated contacts list with a custom sync group

April 5, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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Google Gesture Search is great, but its existence reminds me that I have way too many contacts on my Android phone. My phone has hundreds of contacts because Google auto-adds people I frequently email. That…

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AppBrain browses Android Market on desktop and “syncs” downloads to phone
Beginner's Guide to Android

AppBrain browses Android Market on desktop and “syncs” downloads to phone

March 17, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka

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Android desktop browser sounds like an oxymoron since Google has insisted on a mobile-only distribution system for Android apps. And while AndroLib and Cyrket have done admirable jobs in making it possible t…

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Common questions and answers for the Android beginner
Beginner's Guide to Android

Common questions and answers for the Android beginner

November 5, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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There’s an Android phone in your hand and a desire in your heart to push that phone to the limit. The enticing Google Android operating system was too much for you to ignore, so let’s get to work answe…

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How to use QR codes [the barcode squares] to get apps
Beginner's Guide to Android

How to use QR codes [the barcode squares] to get apps

November 5, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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I recently got an email from someone asking, “What do I do with the barcode squares?” This is a common question asked on this site, so I figured that I might as well make a post explaining why those bla…

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My Android phone is rooted: now what?
Beginner's Guide to Android

My Android phone is rooted: now what?

September 8, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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The one-click root method inspired quite a few Android device owners to root their phone. Sadly, not all root functions are as easy to implement as the one-click method. Some of the hacks and features that inter…

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How to Understand Android root terms and procedures
Beginner's Guide to Android

How to Understand Android root terms and procedures

September 8, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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Be sure to read our introductory article before proceeding. So you took the plunge and rooted your Android phone. Congrats. Now get to work understanding what that means. First things first: realize that Andr…

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DoubleTwist will sync Android with your photos, music, and videos
Beginner's Guide to Android

DoubleTwist will sync Android with your photos, music, and videos

August 14, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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Have you tired of copying new music, photos, and videos to your SD card? Do you want to stop having to pick and choose which wallpapers or downloaded YouTube videos are new before transferring files on your SD car…

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Android resources for icons and wallpapers
Beginner's Guide to Android

Android resources for icons and wallpapers

May 13, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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Customization is one of Android’s greatest strengths. While there are plenty of options for giving your G1 homescreen a facelift, you may occassionally want to get something other than the pre-packag…

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Tips: Try to renegotiate your cell phone contract
Beginner's Guide to Android

Tips: Try to renegotiate your cell phone contract

April 8, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

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The one drawback to using T-Mobile’s My Account app is that it reminds me how little I used the minutes in my plan this billing period. Most of my friends communicated through texting, and my long conversa…

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