Smartphones posts - How To- Page 103

How to set up speed dial on your Android phone

In the old days, speed dial was a vital phone function that saved time and energy, but now that so many of us have outsourced our contact info storage to smartphones, the feature doesn't get nearly enough love. Sure, you can reach almost any contact with just three or four clicks, but for those we reach out to every day, that is two or three clicks too many. Your Android phone has a built-in speed dial function that's under the radar, but if you're willing to give up space on a home screen, you can set up … Read more

How to pair a Bluetooth device with your Android phone

CNET's Antuan Goodwin gives you the details on how to pair a Bluetooth device with your Android phone.

How to use Google Chrome to Phone extension

Chrome to Phone is a Chrome browser extension that allows PC users to send links to their Android phones. It works in conjunction with the Android app of the same name and is simple to set up. CNET associate editor Seth Rosenblatt, recently provided an overview of Chrome to Phone. We'll show you how to set it up, step by step.

Install Chrome browser extension

Step 1: Using the Chrome browser, go to the Chrome Web store and search for "Chrome to Phone" or go to it directly. Once you've found the extension, click on the … Read more

Five lazy ways to find great live music

It always seems like the best concerts are the ones you hear about too late. But who has time to scour the show listings in the local paper or habitually check a band's Web site for tour dates?

There's a better way. In fact, there are so many sites out there promising personalized concert recommendations, I figured a roundup was in order. So here you are, five sites that will put you in tune with the best live music in your area, using data from your favorite music sites and services:

How to uninstall apps without using the Android Market

Downloading new apps is a great and fun way to experience new content from the Android Market. However, there might be times when one of the apps you've downloaded is less than desirable. If no Internet connection is present or you don't want to wait for the Android Market to load, here are a few quick steps for uninstalling these apps:

1. Open the Settings menu and choose Applications from the list.

2. Choose Manage applications from the next menu.

3. Look for and select the app you'd like to uninstall in the list. If … Read more

How to access Google Tasks on Android phones

Google Tasks is a nice and simple task list manager that's integrated into Gmail. Unfortunately, Google Tasks is unavailable as an Android app. To use Google Tasks in Android, you'll need to use the mobile Web browser on your phone. Here's how:

To access Google Tasks on your Android phone, you'll need to open up your favorite mobile browser and go to google.com/tasks. From your Android phone, you can perform most of the functions available on the desktop version, except for printing and e-mailing lists. Keep in mind that … Read more

How to customize search on your Android device

Google does search like nobody else and, with a few tweaks, your Android search tool can help you easily keep track of all the bits and pieces of your life. With a quick run through your settings and one fairly simple change of habit, you can save yourself plenty of time and get personalized hits you might otherwise have missed.

To get started, just click the menu button, then "Settings," then "Search." Click "Google search" to look at the big picture. If your search results are cluttered, try disabling one or more of the … Read more

How to manually transfer music to your Android's SD card

Phones that can browse the Web, e-mail, and check Twitter usually include a music player. And what better to listen to on your phone than your own music? Here's an easy guide to help add some tunes to your phone's library without any third-party software.

Step 1: Locate the music files on your computer.

Step 2: Connect the phone via USB cable and select "Turn on USB storage," which will allow you to mount the SD card to add music. If no prompt appears, there will be a USB icon in the notification shade (at top) … Read more

How to launch Android apps by plugging in headphones

The built-in speakers on most Android smartphones are OK in a pinch, but a nice pair of earphones always sounds better. Now, you can automatically launch TuneIn Radio, Slacker, Winamp, or any other audio app when you plug your earphones into your Android phone. Here's how:

First, search the Android market for Plug In Launcher and install it.

When you start Plug In Launcher, it'll go straight to the Headset tab and display four options. To select your favorite music app to launch, touch the area where it says, "Click Here to Assign," marked here with … Read more

How to optimize your Wi-Fi network with Wifi Analyzer

Wireless routers have quickly become an essential appliance in the modern home. Here's how to use the Android app, Wifi Analyzer, to optimize your WiFi network.

Wireless channel

Wireless networks use specific channels within the wireless spectrum. An overcrowded wireless channel results in decreased bandwidth and/or connectivity issues for your network. Use Wifi Analyzer to see what channels are in use and to identify the best channel to set on your router.

Step 1: The first time Wifi Analyzer is launched, it goes straight into the Channel graph view. To switch to Channel rating view, press the Menu … Read more