Android: instructions for use
The history of one of the most famous mobile platforms begins back in 2003. However, many mistakenly believe that the start of this giant dates back to 2008, when the first version 1.0 was released to the world. In fact, the gears of the huge mechanism started turning 5 years earlier, at the moment when Andy Rubin and his friends decided to implement their own mobile operating system. That's when they registered a company called Android Inc.
However, before creating the operating system itself, the developers focused their attention on devices that could run on them. Communicators had to support GPS technology, adapt to the user's needs and constantly be with them. But existing at that time Cell phones, were unlikely to cope with the task.
As a result, a little-known startup that did not generate any income did not receive the necessary investments, as a result of which already in 2005, the founders of the company spent their entire budget on research. And this could be the end of the story of one of the best OS, but the company was noticed by Google, which bought it just a few months after bankruptcy. From this moment the modern history of the mobile platform begins, and it was then that the first detailed instructions Android.
First working version operating system was officially released on September 23, 2008, and Android instructions user, as well as the system itself were completely free, as they were originally conceived as an open platform. In our country, the Android user manual in Russian became available a few months later. Then the system begins to develop rapidly and acquire new capabilities and functions.
Advantages of Android
Today, users are divided into two camps: Android and iOS supporters. Both systems are convenient, but at the same time they are strikingly different. It’s quite easy to understand the difference if you download the Android and iOS instructions for free.
So, after reading the Android user manual in Russian, you can immediately conclude that this is a completely open and free operating system. The user does not need to purchase any additional programs and applications in order to work with his favorite gadgets.
Another undeniable advantage is the possibility of complete personalization for the user. Each owner of a device running this OS can easily configure it individually. You can change everything - the lock screen, the location of shortcuts and widgets, add new icons and many other features.
Many people note the convenience of supporting several at once user accounts. This allows several people to work with tablets and smartphones at once. For example, you can create a child account and set limited access to applications. You can learn about this and much more right now if you download the Android instructions.
The disadvantages include the fact that most mobile equipment manufacturers create their own frames with a unique design and functions, which significantly changes the original core of the system. Very often such “innovations” become the reason incorrect operation operating systems. But, if the user wants to work with “pure” Android, today you can buy smartphones from the Nexus or Pixel line, which are produced by Google together with LG, HTC, Samsung and other well-known companies.
Getting to know something new mobile device a very interesting process, especially if this is your first smartphone or tablet. First, make sure you are familiar with interface your device and know how to perform main goals, including screen, built-in applications, etc. Then you can move on to some other basic tasks such as connecting to the Internet using Wi-Fi.
The first time you turn on the device, you will be asked to set up several features, such as your preferred language, date and time, and (most importantly) your Google account. If you don't have account Google, then you can create during the installation process.
Why is a Google Account so important? because your Google account is "your identity on your device". Not only does it connect you to the Cloud, where your photos and contacts are stored, but it also gives you access to Play Store , where you can download and purchase various applications.
It also gives access to other Google services, such as Gmail, Chrome, Google Drive and YouTube. For more details, check out our tutorials.
Getting to know your device
After initial setup phone, you will see a simple screen with several icons, buttons and other various functions. This is one of the most important parts of your device, it is main screen- where icons of all your favorite applications will be displayed.
As we have already said, every Android device is unique. (We talked about this in the previous lesson). This means that your device and some tasks may also perform slightly differently depending on your phone or tablet. Fortunately, you can learn a lot by comparing your device with ours (LG Nexus 5 from which we take screenshots and show in our lessons).
The image below highlights the interface, home screen and other features. You can read the description of these elements below the image.
1. Notifications
Notifications are notification signals that let you know about activities, offers, changes, updates, etc.
To view notifications, swipe down from the top of the screen. From there, you can see more detailed information about each notification.
2. Status bar
Area on the right top corner displays current information about your device (signal strength, Wi-Fi status, battery life, and time). In our example, there is an icon indicating that the phone is in vibration mode.
3. Google Now
Many new devices come with a tool called Google Now. It gives easy access to some of its features.
4. Widgets
This is an example of a widget that can be added to your device. Basically, widgets are like mini versions of your apps: they're bundled with specific features so you can access them directly from your home screen.
For example, the widget in the image allows you to control important settings such as Wi-Fi and screen brightness. You may have different widgets on your device, or you may not have any at all, depending on the make and model of your device.
5. Applications
The icons you see on the home screen are application shortcuts. All you need to open the application is click on the right application and it will open.
You can add and change app locations as you wish.
6. Home screen
This display area is the main screen. It stores shortcuts to all your apps so you can access them with just one tap.
If desired or necessary, you can always create multiple home screens to organize and group applications. To move between screens, swipe left or right on the screen.
7. Favorites
The panel at the bottom of the screen is called Favorites. There are shortcuts to the most commonly used apps, such as the default camera or web browser, but you can always customize it to your liking.
Every Android device has a set of navigation buttons. They are usually part software, but they can also be part of the hardware (i.e., built into the device's memory).
The two most important buttons are: Home- returns to the main screen and Back. On new devices there is a button Recent Applications. This feature allows you to navigate between open applications, same as in the example below.
Basic Applications
We will discuss the main applications in detail over the next few lessons. Now just look on your device Basic built-in applications. Their names may vary slightly depending on the phone or tablet, but their icons should give you some idea of the app.
- App with icon Telephone designed for making calls.
- Messages for exchange text messages, or Hangouts for text messaging via Google plus chat.
- Email For driving by email or Gmail if you have a Gmail account.
- Contacts for creating and storing people's contacts.
- Chrome to view web pages (can also be called Internet or Browser).
- Camera for taking photos and videos.
- Play Store or Play Store to download applications.
- Settings to configure settings.
Some of these apps may already be installed on your home screen. If not, you can view all your applications by clicking on the view applications button at the bottom main screen.
Basic Gestures
These are the gestures you will use to interact with touch screen devices. This is similar to how you click something on a monitor screen with a mouse. And on the device, you simply touch the screen with your finger.
- Click(tap) to launch an application or select an option.
- Click(touch) and hold to access other options (it's like right-clicking)
- Drag to scroll up and down, left and right, or any other direction on the screen
- Swipe left or right to “flip” through pages on the Home screen, photos, or pages in an e-book
- Double click to zoom in or out in certain apps, such as Maps or Chrome.
- Press and hold on empty space to zoom in or out almost anywhere.
Access to the Internet
The device can connect to the Internet almost anywhere, be it mobile transmission data (3G/4G or LTE) or nearby Wi-Fi. So what is their difference? Most cell phones tariff plans will only give you a certain number of megabytes per month, but with Wi-Fi, you can use the Internet unlimitedly.
To connect to Wi-Fi (optional):
Are you in the zone Wi-Fi networks(such as at home or at work), you can easily connect to it using the steps below. You only need to connect to the Wi-Fi network once. The next time you are in this area, you will be connected to the network automatically if you turn on the Wi-Fi function on your device.
If the network you are connecting to is not password protected, then you can access it without a password.
You've probably already used the virtual keyboard on your device. It automatically opens when you write a letter, search for information on the Internet, or fill out a form.
This keyboard is smaller than a traditional keyboard but has very convenient shortcuts for quickly typing like symbols, numbers and capital letters. To access keyboard features, you just have to know where to look for them.
The image below highlights the keyboard elements. You can read the description of these elements below the image.
1. Cursor
The cursor points to where the text will appear.
2. Offers
Some keyboards have their own suggestions or corrections for spelling errors as you type. To choose one of the options, simply click on the one you need.
This convenient feature allows you to enter text without using the keyboard. Just tap the microphone (either on your keyboard or in the text field) and you can dictate what you want to type.
4. Basic keys
The main part of the keyboard includes the letter keys, space keys, and sometimes some basic punctuation. Use these buttons to type text.
5. Shift key
Press the Shift key to turn on capital letters. On most devices, double click includes Caps Lock.
6. Removal
Press the X key to delete the previous character. To delete entire words or phrases, press and hold the key.
7. Numbers and special characters
Click to access numbers and special characters.
If you do not find the symbol you are looking for, click on = \ < . This will open up even more alternate symbols.
Introduction
operating system Android (Android) today is hardly inferior to Windows in terms of prevalence. It is used in more than 90% percent of smartphones and tablets. Distinctive feature Its user (graphical) interface is that it is designed to be used without a keyboard or mouse - only with a screen that responds to finger touches (touchscreen).
In general, managing Android is not difficult.
This instruction in some details may not correspond to the Android interface on specific device. The fact is that some device manufacturers change standard interface Android. Samsung is making especially big changes.
However, the general principles of interface organization remain the same.
Unlocking the screen and the Android desktop
The first thing you will see when you turn on your device is the unlock screen:
You need to touch the image of the lock with your finger and, without releasing your finger, drag it to the right, to the border of the circle and release it there:
Note. On some devices, there may be another image instead of a lock. But the principle remains the same - you need to swipe your finger across the screen.
After unlocking the screen, the desktop will open on which all controls are concentrated:
At the very bottom of the screen there is a status bar and a system tray - they are black. The status line contains the main control buttons, from left to right:
- Back button. Return to the previous window of the active program. If the program has one window, this button closes the program.
- Home button. Return to desktop. Minimizes the active program and opens the desktop.
- "Swap" button. Opens a preview of all running programs. Thanks to this, you can conveniently switch between running programs.
- Window button. Menu active program. Opens a menu with commands for the program that is currently active.
- Adjusting the speaker volume.
- Take a screenshot of the screen.
Note. On some devices, the status bar may not have volume and screenshot buttons.
At the right end of the status line is the system tray. It displays program messages and program icons. If you touch the tray, a menu will open with quick settings:
Note. Not on all devices, when you touch the tray, the quick settings menu opens. Some manufacturers may not have such a menu. Or it may open in a different way, such as by swiping your finger from the top edge of the screen.
Just above the status bar there is a launcher with shortcuts to your favorite programs.
Touchscreen Android
All control of programs and Android itself is carried out by touching the screen. Android divides touches (also called gestures) according to their nature:
- Quick touch (touch and immediately remove your finger) - similar to a computer double-clicking a mouse or pressing enter. Performs a default operation, such as starting a program or opening a file.
- "Long" touch (touch and hold your finger) - similar to a computer click right button mouse - offers additional operations. Or selects text, file, element.
- “Zooming” is touching with two fingers at the same time and then moving them towards each other or vice versa. Increases or decreases the font in a document or the size of a picture.
- "Scrolling" is a sliding movement of a finger across or along the screen. Displays elements that are hidden beyond the borders of the screen. For example, a list of files, the next picture in the gallery, Next page document.
Working with files in Android
Opening, copying and deleting files in Android is done the same as in any other OS - through special program file manager. There are many such programs for Android. File manager, which comes with Android, is easy to use:
In the top panel there are buttons that show the folder you are currently in. And buttons for available operations. Tapping a folder quickly opens that folder. Tapping a file quickly opens that file.
If you need to select files (folders) for copying or deleting, you need to make a long touch on one file and when it is highlighted, select the rest:
Selected files can be deleted, copied, cut, or sent via Bluetooth or WiFi. If you need to copy or transfer files, then after selecting and copying (cutting) them, you need to go to another folder and click the "Paste" button there.
If you need to select all the files in a folder, this is done as follows:
First, select the first file (with a long tap), Then touch the “Selected” button. An additional “Select All” button will open.
Programs can be launched through shortcuts in the launcher or on the desktop, as well as through the main Android menu.
If you touch the program menu icon in the launcher, the program menu will open:
One screen may not fit all installed programs. To scroll through the menu, you need to make a sliding movement with your finger from right to left.
If you briefly touch the program's shortcut, it will be launched. If you touch and hold your finger, after a while the desktop will become visible and you can move the shortcut to the desktop with a swipe of your finger.
Switching between programs in Android
If you touch the button to switch between programs - .
A screen will open showing previews of all running programs:
On this screen you need to touch the desired program.
If you quickly move the program window down, the program will be closed.
How to close a program on Android
First way. Press the "Back" button in the Android taskbar. But if this is a program with several windows, such as a browser, using this button is inconvenient. In addition, the program does not actually close, it becomes invisible, but it continues to remain in RAM.
Second way. Click the "Window" button.
If the program has a main menu, it may have an exit or close command:
Or this program menu:
Third way. Click the "Swap" button in the Android taskbar. Then find the window preview and move it down:
Fourth way. Open system settings, go to the applications tab, then open the "Running" programs tab and tap the desired program:
and in the new screen click the "Stop" button
Note
Programs on Android do not actually close in the first three ways! That is, they continue to hang in the background and can work in the background. Eating up the battery and even Internet traffic.
Moreover, even after closing the program, in the fourth way, it can start again after some time. When a certain event occurs. For example, when connecting to the Internet.
Therefore, you need to periodically review the list of running programs and stop unnecessary ones.
Installing programs on Android
Internet connection on Android
On most Android devices, you can connect to the Internet via networks mobile operators or WiFi. Both of these methods are available through the device settings - Wireless networks section.
If you need to switch from WiFi to 3G or vice versa, you must first turn off the current Internet source and only then turn on another one.
The Android keyboard appears on the screen automatically when you touch the data entry field:
The keyboard that comes with Android is not very comfortable. on her number keys and keys special characters moved to another set that needs to be switched to. In addition, there are no arrow keys for moving the cursor and no Alt, Ctrl keys. Second set of characters:
And the third set of characters:
As you can see, if you need curly braces, you will have to change two sets of keys in order to get to them.
However, in Android the keyboard is a program and this means that it can be replaced with another. For example on Hacker's Keyboard:
It's almost like a real keyboard. The most important thing is that it has arrow keys to move the cursor. This is very convenient because moving the cursor several characters using your finger or the graphic slider is hell. But since there are more keys on it, their size is smaller and you need to work with it more carefully.
To switch languages on Hacker's Keyboard, you need to slide your finger over the space bar.
Switching between keyboards is done in the Android settings:
Selecting and copying text in Android
When actively working with texts on computer device sooner or later there will be a need to copy text and transfer it to another program (document). In ordinary operating systems this is done easily - the context menu or Ctrl + C. In Android it is more difficult. First, you need to quickly touch the screen twice on some word from the fragment that you want to copy. The word will be highlighted and two sliders will appear:
By holding the slider with your finger, you can move it and thus select as much text as you need. After this, you need to touch the selected text and do not release your finger until the menu appears:
In which you need to select "Copy". IN different programs this menu may look different. For example, instead of text there may be icons.
Then go to the program (document) where you need to paste the text and into in the right place touch the screen and hold your finger until a similar menu appears, but in it, respectively, select “Insert”.
Of course, copying text in Android is inconvenient. But in the absence of fish there is fish.
Summary
Of course, a device running Android cannot fully replace full-fledged computer, however, at the very least, common types of work can be performed on it. Up to editing simple files MS Word, Excel.
If your Android device supports USB-Host (OTG) mode, then you can connect a USB mouse and keyboard to it and it will be much easier to work with text.
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What is this? Android is the program with which you control your device. Its history began in 2005, when Google bought the development company of the same name and began developing the platform. In September 2008, the first stable version was released Android version— 1.0 (codenamed Apple Pie). Over the next four years, 14 “editions” of the OS were released. The release of the latest version to date - 4.1/4.2 (Jelly Bean) - took place in June 2012.
Android, which receives support from the world's largest search engine, has quickly become the most popular mobile OS in the world. Its success was largely due to its openness source code and Google's policy of allowing manufacturers to install Android on their products for free. "Robot" is preferred by such large companies as HTC, Samsung, Sony and Motorola.
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