The tech industry is one in which there are some absolutely titanic struggles between companies for a share of the market. One is the rivalry between Google and Apple when it comes to operating systems, and it appears Google’s Android operating system is gaining the upper hand on Apple’s iOS. According to statistics published on the website of consumer and market data company Statista, Android is the most popular one in use and has 2.3 billion users worldwide. Android enjoys a 71.4% share of the worldwide mobile market.
Perhaps you own an Android device and are looking for ways to get the most out of it? Below are a few tips and tricks for using a device with an Android operating system.
Charge in Airplane mode
People spend a lot of time on their phones. You can save valuable time when charging your Android phone if you switch on Airplane mode. This is because when you disconnect your device, it doesn’t have to search for cell towers.
Customize your notifications
Although it’s long been possible to deny notifications on Android apps, Android 13 allows you to streamline the process. When you open an app for the first time, the app will ask you whether you wish to receive notifications. Just deny the app permission if you think you don’t need it. You can turn them on later by pressing down for a few seconds on the app on the phone’s Home screen. This brings up the “Notifications” option, which you can tap and then customize.
Install apps from other apps stores
Google Play is, of course, the best place to download apps from for your Android device. There are lots of terrific apps, however, that aren’t on the store because of Google’s stern guidelines or because developers have preferred not to place them on there. It’s possible to download third-party apps and use them on Android devices. To be sure you’re downloading an app from a reputable provider, visit trusted alternatives such as Amazon app store.
If you enjoy playing a few games of poker, one type of app you may wish to download is an online poker app. Online casinos and poker operators try to make their services as accessible as possible, so whether you’re using an Android device of an iOS one, the operator is likely to have created an app for it. If you’re more into sport than casino gaming, you may prefer something connected to sports betting.
Remove bloatware
Whereas Google Pixel phones provide a clean user experience, some other phones feature lots of unwanted apps that take up space on your phone, send notifications that you don’t want and, because they run in the background, use up data and battery. You can stop these apps from eating up space on your device by uninstalling them. Not sure how? A quick search on Google will bring up plenty of tutorials that explain how to do it.
Change the language of your phone app by app
If you have to live with more than one language in your day-to-day life, being able to change the language app by app, rather than change the entire interface of your phone, will be a game changer. To pick a language for an app, go to your device’s settings, choose “Languages & input” and then tap “App Languages.” Note that the “App Languages” option only appears if you have multiple languages set on your phone. Some developers still have a little work to do per-app language settings working, so your favorite apps may not have it yet. It’s worth a try though.
Use App shortcuts
App shortcuts are a handy little feature that can provide links to specific functions within apps on your phone. You can get to specific parts of an app without having to open it up, going through the menus and tapping several commands to finally get what you’re after. All you have to do to go through the shortcut options is press your finger down on an app for a second or two and the app will bring up some possibilities. The Google Calendar app, for instance, lets you create a new event, new reminder or new task from the menu.
Split the screen
Did you know that you can see two apps at a time when using an Android device? The split screen mode has been a longstanding one on Android devices but is often forgotten about. Depending on the device and the version of Android, you might see this as “Split top” or “Open in split screen view.” Just tap the “Overview” for any app, find the split screen command and tap it, and then choose the second app you wish to view whether it’s a podcast or any other entertainment app.
Android is a highly popular operating system, and there are lots of different ways to get more out of it. Other things you may wish to do include quick launching the camera by double-clicking the power button or turning on the notification history by going to “Notifications,” then “Notification history” and then turning on the “Use notification history” toggle.
