Android now equips 84% of smartphones in the world (yes yes), and 71% in Europe, an overwhelming majority for Google's mobile OS (ZDNet figures). It is apparently a little less brilliant for tablets, but it still represents a few million devices.
If I believe my Google Analytics over the last 30 days, among the visitors who come to this blog from a mobile device you are 62% on Android, 34% on iOS, the few remaining crumbs sharing between Windows Phone and some brave under BlackBerry, Playstation Vita or Firefox OS.
In short, I think that an article to improve the use of your favorite device can be useful. There are some shortcuts that many do not know and that can make life easier. Here is a nice list.
Open the camera with a double-click on power
photo flickr / Maurizio Pesce
It is sometimes necessary to react very quickly not to miss a beautiful photo, and the time necessary to seize his camera, unlock the screen, open the camera and take the shot really does not help in this task.
Android developers have already proposed a convenient shortcut in a corner of the home screen that can directly open his device on the dedicated application.
But it is possible to go even faster, at least on smartphones not too old: since Android 6.0 just click twice on the power button to launch the application, even the screen off. It's that simple.
Some facetious builders may have changed this behavior, such as Samsung, who prefers double-clicking the Home button, or Motorola, who prefers to break his wrist by shaking his device.
Note that if you happen too frequently to take pictures of your pockets by mistake because of this function, and you want to disable it, it is possible in Settings / Display.
Quickly search an application
When you install a good amount of applications on your device, it can quickly become tedious to go through the long list to find the one you are looking for.
The first thing to do is often to organize its home screens to have on hand those that are used most often. And that's good, I've done a full article here.
For the rest, there are two small tips that can save a lot of time:
- just start typing the name of the desired application from the Home screen in the Google search bar, to see it appear almost instantly under the search results (left screenshot)
- or in case you have not seen it, there is a search bar at the top of the list of applications (right capture). You can even land directly in it by making a long press on the applications icon from the home screen. Also note, the link "access to the Play Store" that appears right below during a search keeps the query typed and can also save time for the search for new applications.
Use quick answers for SMS
Here is an underestimated feature of our Android smartphones, which quickly becomes essential when we have taken taste.
The fast answer function allows to politely reject a call by explaining to our interlocutor by SMS the reason of our unavailability.
On the classic Android since version 4.0, just slide your finger up at the time of the call, and choose the desired message from a small list (left screenshot).
The plus is that it is of course possible to customize these messages to his liking. It happens in the phone application, Settings, Quick replies. 4 different messages are customizable, it is limited but it must allow to deal with most situations (right capture).
The facetious builders who have nothing else to do than stash Android's features may have stowed it somewhere else, I'll let you look in their docs while cursing them up to the 3rd generation.
I do not regret to equip myself only with Nexus, like.
Unlock the device in a flash with Smart Lock
We can not repeat enough that it is more than advisable to set up a screen locking system a secure minimum, rather than simply dragging your finger.
Android offers a variety of solutions in this direction, via PIN, schema or password.
Unfortunately this has the effect of considerably slow down the process of handling the device, thus destroying all the efforts made through this article.
But it is fortunately possible to "bypass" this security thanks to the Smart Lock function, which automatically unlocks the device in certain specific cases:
- when another "trusted" device is present nearby. The most practical being a connected watch, but we can also think of the Bluetooth system of his car, or a NFC sticker wisely placed.
- when you are in a "place of trust" (just add an address in Google Maps),
- thanks to facial recognition (be careful with people who look like us or use photos, it's not yet an exact science),
- thanks to the recognition of his voice (same remark with a near voice stamp or a recording),
- or simply by detecting when the device is moving, and only locking it when it is set.
It is possible to combine several of these solutions to adapt to its use.
In any case, we must be aware that it decreases the level of security, but that it can be a good compromise for those who want a minimum of peace without sacrificing their comfort of use.
To configure all this, this is done in Settings / Security / Smart Lock.
Call or send an SMS to a loved one in one click (or almost)
A function very largely underutilized in my opinion, and it is probably a shame.
We all have a small number of contacts that we call much more frequently than others; parents, children, spouse, psychiatrist, best friend ...
Having to search them in the directory of his contacts is a waste of unnecessary time, even using the search function offered by Android.
It is first possible to add them to our favorites, simply by clicking on the small star on the contact card. The favorite contacts are then found in the tab provided for this purpose, which is already a little order.
A classic, but we can do even better!
Simply open the list of widgets (via a long press on an unoccupied space of the home screen), and go to the "Contacts" section. It appears here before your eyes amazed three small format 1x1 (thus not bulky), which allow the choice:
- to open the form of the selected contact (bof),
- to directly call the chosen contact (better),
- to open the SMS application on the conversation with the selected contact (even better).
That's enough to pick up a few tens of seconds each day, which will be transformed over the years in precious hours gained to be able to view more videos of chats on YouTube.
Do not thank me.
Start navigation directly with a pre-registered address
While we're in the widgets, here is another handy tip.
Google Maps offers two widgets that allow you to launch the application as follows:
- either in "Car Mode", ie directly with the navigation activated and the search bar at the top,
- Or, even more practical, by launching the navigation directly with a pre-registered address. Perfect to get home from anywhere, without the need to search. It is possible to add as many widgets as necessary (home, work ...) by naming them differently. The icon proposed by Google changes according to the mode of transport chosen (car, public transport, bicycle, on foot).
Bonus: pilot his device to the voice to do everything faster
Past the point of fun with this feature that seems to immerse us in a sci-fi movie, we can realize that the voice command can really be very practical if we take the trouble to tame it.
So much so that I made a complete article some time ago (which also concerns Siri and Cortana, no jealousy). To summarize quickly, it is for example possible to:
- do research,
- open applications,
- control his device and his music,
- set alarms and appointments,
- call his contacts and send them SMS or mails (cf capture I have hidden the number of Chuck to respect his private life),
- use navigation,
- translate in real time,
- ...
.
Well, I hope you learned things today. Feel free to share your own tips and tricks comments are made for that ;-)
