In an iPhone ridden world, one may feel lost in the shuffle when purchasing an Android phone. Have no fear! There are many things that Androids do just as well, if not better, than iPhones. We have compiled a list of 15 tips and tricks to get the most out of your device, available through Mobility Helpdesk’s partnership with AT&T connectivity solutions.
#1: Power Saving Mode
A common issue in our increasingly digital world is the advent of batteries dying quickly. While they are getting better, they have long been an issue point in smartphones, with their large and detailed displays laying claim to extended usage. This doesn’t have to be the case, however, as many modern devices support a form of power saving mode. AT&T’s mobile solutions can ensure that you are never wasting time trying to connect. Power saving mode can be accessed by navigating into the settings of your device, and is often a front and center option to activate.
#2: Set a Passcode
While this may seem like a bit of a no brainer, locking your phone with a PIN or fingerprint may be one of the best things you can do for your personal security. Mobility Helpdesk’s partnership with AT&T provides the security capabilities to be sure that your sensitive data is safe. We are all guilty of using an easily guessed PIN such as a birthday, or even 4 of the same character! We recommend using a face or fingerprint scanner for maximum security, with a backup PIN should you not be able to use the former. In today’s world, just about all your personal information is on your phone at all times, in the form of addresses, card info, and the like. Thankfully, most major phone manufacturers offer a way to remotely erase your information should your device be lost or stolen. All these options are configurable in your phone’s settings page!
#3: Text with Your Virtual Assistant
Whether it’s Alexa, Siri, Google or the like, you can enable your phone’s virtual assistant to text someone from your contacts. This is a good way to prevent distractions when driving if you need to send a text or even make a call. You can enable this in your phone’s settings, or when setting a new device up through Mobility Helpdesk’s AT&T connectivity.
#4: Use Google Photos
The majority of us have experienced the sinking feeling following the deletion of an important or even sentimental photograph. We have also experienced the frustration of not having the same photo accessible on all our connected devices. With Google photos, you can upload all your digital content: Photos, videos, and everything in between. You can either upload all your cherished photos for free, or you can pay to upload them in high quality. Regardless of which you choose, it’s always nice to have a backup through the AT&T network.
#5: Find my Device
Losing your phone is quite the annoyance, especially nowadays when we need our devices for safety, communication, and mobile business through the AT&T network. With Find my Device, you can ping your lost device with a sound and vibration so you can hear where it is. It’s like placing your wallet with your keys, so you never lose it! This can be setup in your settings page.
#6: Change up your look
Standing out with a fresh look on your phone can spice up your day. From wallpapers, text alert tones, icon packs, and ringtones, you have seemingly endless ways of customizing your phone experience. With AT&T connectivity, you can be sure you always have the best service. We encourage you to customize all of these looks in your settings page to get a look that suits you!
#7: Set Reminders
Let’s be honest: we all write things down that we need to do, but some we never get to. Google Keep has a nifty feature that reminds us at a predetermined time and date of whatever you write! If you have location services turned on, you can even set a reminder for a certain location. Be sure you use AT&T’s strong wireless network through Mobility Helpdesk to set reminders across devices with Google Keep. Example: If you want to remind yourself to feed the dogs every day when you get home, you can set your phone to remind you as soon as your location updates that you have arrived.
#8: Change the Size of Text and Images
Not many people know that you can navigate to the display settings of your AT&T connected Android device and alter the size of text and images that display on web pages and certain apps. This feature is particularly useful with a more elderly crowd who may appreciate the larger type.
#9: Set Volume Levels Independently
This feature is pretty great – you can adjust the volume of alerts, music, and alarms side by side. To do this, navigate to your settings page and select the sound or volume tab. From there, Android users can independently select the volume levels for several aspects of their AT&T phone.
#10: Smart Lock
Don’t you hate when you are cooking, both hands occupied, and your phone requires a PIN to unlock? I bet it makes you not even want to use a PIN! With the smart lock feature, you can set your phone to be unlocked when you are at a certain location such as your house. You can set this feature up under your lock settings. Be sure you are connected with AT&T so your location services are always correct!
#11: Select Your Default Apps
Setting your default apps ensures that all files of a certain type will open in the same way, and all links tapped will use the same browser. To set these defaults, navigate to the settings tab and choose your favorite apps to use. Mobility Helpdesk and AT&T can standardize the apps you use, so you will always be greeted with a familiar interface for your business.
#12: Free up Storage
This is becoming less and less of a problem, but for those with older phones that have smaller storage space, freeing up storage can speed up your device astronomically. With Mobility Helpdesk and AT&T connectivity, you can pick the storage amount and how it is utilized across your business. If you have apps, photos, videos, and other files you aren’t using, you can delete them to save space for the things that matter to you. To delete unnecessary items, go to the storage item under your settings page.
#13: Widgets!
Widgets are a beautiful thing that we wish iPhones had. A widget is a small bit of information that sits on your lock or home screen to give you quick updates to things like weather, news, messages, and the like. You can customize the widgets in your settings and drag them around your home pages and place them exactly where you want. AT&T’s network can ensure you are always up to date with the latest weather, news, and location specific information you need to run your business at peak efficiency.
#14: Take a Screenshot
If there is some information on your screen that you would like to save, taking a screenshot is a fantastic option. The method of screenshotting varies between different devices, but it typically involves pressing the lock and volume buttons simultaneously. You can store and share your screenshots across AT&T’s wireless network for web productivity in your business.
#15: Hotspot
Mobile hotspot is a great way to get a pseudo wifi connection in a pinch. This enables you to get an internet connection where wifi is absent, when you, for example, need to use your laptop. The process involves your phone taking the LTE connection it gets, and turning that into a wifi ‘hotspot’ for others to connect to. To enable your hotspot, simply navigate to your WiFi settings. From there, you can set a password for added security. AT&T’s wireless network is one of the fastest in the nation, and can provide high speed hotspots from just about anywhere.
That was 15 Android tips to make your phone more useful. In an increasingly mobile world, using a handset from Mobility Helpdesk connected to AT&T’s powerful wireless network enables you to do business from anywhere you desire.
