Friday, December 7, 2012

Android Phone, Customize It

By Chris Pastor


The great selling point of an Android tablet and phone is its practically endless customization options as compared to the likes of the iPhone, iPad and Blackberries. When there's something that you don't like about an app, a feature or function then feel comfortable knowing that there's a large numbers of alternatives available.

Beginning with the basic customization options the very first thing you might want to do is alter the normal wallpaper to something that resonates better along with your personality. To alter the wallpaper you have to touch the 'menu' button and pick 'Wallpaper' on the list of options. You can then select any image on your smartphone and choose it as the wallpaper. You can even touch and drag to highlight a precise area of a picture to use as the wallpaper. Don't forget using the connectivity options it's also possible to transfer an image from your PC to your mobile. If you still can't select the right wallpaper there is even a free application on the market named Backgrounds will supply you with access to a huge number of wallpaper images.

Your next essential customization option is to change your ringtone to something a bit more 'You' as opposed to the default ringtone. To set the tone hit the 'menu' button, go to 'Settings' and then go to the 'Sound and display' option. If you have not already done so, you can actually transfer an MP3 file to your phone and set it as your ringtone. To achieve this you will need to create a folder on your memory card called 'ringtones'. Copy the song you intend to use and Android is going to do the rest. If you would like even more control over the ringtone you'll be able to download a free application named RingDroid. This application will let you alter an MP3 and save only the awesome chorus as your ringtone.

Should your Android phone comes with a color LED you have probably observed that it flashes when you have a missed call or message. You can control the color of the LED to show a certain color for specific events. As an example you could set it to flash red if you missed a call from your manager and blue if you missed a call from your colleague. To pimp out the LED color, download a free application named Missed Call.

When the basic personalization is complete, you can start diving a little bit deeper and customize your Android phone to your particular requirements. One gripe some folk have is that the default messaging system. It is a little cumbersome and clunky. Nevertheless, various developers have come up with alternative messaging apps that are more user-friendly and include more features. Handcent has established itself as the best replacement for the default messaging app. Those who use it, swear they'd never go back.

The next piece of customization you should have a look at is swapping out the default virtual keyboard. While it is relatively functional it's missing some finesse, which is where the BetterKeyboard app enters the picture. You can add and take away custom buttons, modify the look and use a number pad if you want. If you're sending a lot of emails or texts then BetterKeyboard is a recommended customization for your Android phone.

Ultimately you may modify the home screen to display the information you want. The LauncherPro app does a fantastic job of this allowing you to have as many as seven screens. This is extremely useful if you use your phone to juggle business and personal work.




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