Android Phones For Dummies. Gookin Dan

helped you through the initial setup process. If not, read the generic Android phone setup process outlined in this section, and see the notes at the end of the section for details that may apply to your specific phone.

      1. Press the Power/Lock key to turn on the phone.

      You may have to press and hold the key. When you see the phone’s logo on the screen, you can release the key.

      

It’s okay to turn on the phone while it’s plugged in and charging.

      2. Answer the questions presented.

      You’re asked to perform some, if not all, of the following activities:

      • Select your language

      • Activate the phone on the mobile data network

      • Choose a Wi-Fi network (can be done later)

      • Set the time zone

      • Sign in to your Google account

      • Add other online accounts

      • Set location information

      When in doubt, just accept the standard options as presented to you during the setup process. Or you can tap the SKIP button to return to that step later.

      Use the onscreen keyboard to fill in text fields. See Chapter 4 for keyboard information.

      Other sections in this chapter, as well as throughout this book, offer information and advice on the configuration options and settings. So don’t worry if you make a mistake; your selection can be changed later.

      3. After each choice, tap the NEXT button or icon.

      

The button might be labeled with the text NEXT, or it may appear as the Triangle icon, shown in the margin.

      4. Tap the FINISH button.

      The FINISH button appears on the last screen of the configuration procedure.

      From this point on, starting the phone works as described in the next section.

      After the initial setup, you see the phone’s Home screen. Chapter 3 offers details on using the Home screen, which you should probably read right away, before the temptation to play with your new phone becomes unbearable.

      ❯❯ You may find yourself asked various questions or prompted to try various tricks as you explore your phone. Some of those prompts are helpful, but it’s okay to skip them. To do so, tap the OK I GOT IT button and the SKIP button, and if present, select the DO NOT SHOW AGAIN check box.

      ❯❯ Additional information on connecting your phone to a Wi-Fi network is found in Chapter 17.

      ❯❯ Location items relate to how the phone knows its position on Planet Earth. I recommend activating all these items to get the most from your Android phone.

      ❯❯ It’s not necessary to use any specific software provided by the phone’s manufacturer or your cellular provider. For example, if you don’t want a Samsung account, you don’t need to sign up for one; skip that step.

      ❯❯ Through your Google account, you coordinate your new Android phone with whatever information you already have on the Internet. These details include your Gmail messages, contacts, Google Calendar appointments, photos, music, books, and other Google account details.

      ❯❯ See the later sidebar “Who is this Android person?” for more information about the Android operating system.

       Turning on the phone

      To turn on your Android phone, press and hold the Power/Lock key. After a few seconds, you feel the phone vibrate slightly and then see the phone’s startup animation, logo, or hypnotic brainwashing image. Release the Power/Lock key; the phone is starting.

      Eventually, you see the phone’s Unlock screen. See the later section “Working the screen lock” for what to do next.

      If you’ve encrypted your phone’s data, you must work a screen lock before the device fully starts. See Chapter 21 for details on encrypting your phone’s data.

       Unlocking the phone

      Most of the time, you don’t turn your phone off and on. Instead, you lock and unlock it. To unlock and use the phone, press the Power/Lock key. A quick press is all that’s needed. The phone’s touchscreen comes to life, and you see one of several types of screen lock. Working these locks is covered in the next section.

      After you work the screen lock, you next see the Home screen. Chapter 3 covers how to interact with the Home screen.

      ❯❯ On a Samsung phone, you can press the Home button to unlock the device. The Home button is centered below the touchscreen.

      ❯❯ Removing the S Pen on a Samsung Galaxy Note unlocks the phone.

      ❯❯ The phone lets you answer or decline an incoming call without having to unlock the device. See Chapter 5 for more information on answering, declining, and ignoring incoming calls.

       Working the screen lock

When you unlock your phone, you see the lock screen, illustrated on a variety of Android phones in Figure 2-1. The lock screen shows a screen lock, such as the standard Android swipe lock, illustrated in the figure.

       FIGURE 2-1: Android phones’ lock screen varieties.

      To work the Swipe lock, swipe the screen in one direction. Some phones may show a Lock icon, which you drag to unlock the phone. Onscreen animation may assist you with working the Swipe lock.

      The Swipe lock isn’t a difficult lock to pick. If you’ve added more security, you might see any one of several different screen locks on your phone. Here are the common Android screen locks:

      Swipe: The standard screen lock. Swipe your finger on the screen to unlock the device, as illustrated in Figure 2-1. After swiping, you may see another, more secure screen lock. If so, work it next.

      Pattern: Trace a preset pattern over dots on the screen.

      PIN: Use the onscreen keyboard to type a number to unlock the device.

      Password: Type a password, which can include letters, numbers, and symbols.

      None: When this non-lock is selected, the device lacks a screen lock and you can use the phone immediately after pressing the Power/Lock key.

      Some phones provide additional types of screen locks. The most common is the fingerprint lock. To unlock the phone, you tap on or slide your finger over the fingerprint-reading gizmo.

      Other screen locks are available, including the Face Unlock and the Signature lock found on the Samsung Galaxy Note line of phones. For further details on screen locks and how to configure them, see Chapter 21.

       Unlocking and running an app

      The phone’s lock screen may feature app icons. You’ll find them at the bottom of the screen (refer to Figure 2-1), if they’re available. Use those icons to unlock the phone and run the given app.

      For example, to place a quick phone call,