A basic introduction to Android, a few popular apps, and a number of reference links that might help someone explore some of the potential of a new Android phone or tablet.

1. What is Android, How to use it,
and what's it good for?
Or what I what I love about my smart
phones and tablets, and discovered while
playing with them.
http://www.slideshare.net/msz/
Mark S. Zinzow
December, 2013

2. What is Android?
"Android is an operating system based on the
Linux kernel, and designed primarily for
touchscreen mobile devices such as
smartphones and tablet computers. Initially
developed by Android, Inc., which Google
backed financially and later bought in 2005" ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29

3. What is Android?
A versatile operating environment to do
more stuff for free, or at lower cost, than
most any other computing environment
with low cost hardware.
Best Android Apps
The Guide for Discriminating
Downloaders
By Mike Hendrickson, Brian
Sawyer

4. What kinds of devices run Android?
Smartphones, TV Media Streamers,
Tablets, Ebook Readers, Netbooks,
Smart Watch, Car Computers,
Game Consoles
http://www.android.com/devices/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices

5. What flavors does it come in?
Release No. - Name
Android 1.5
- Cupcake
Android 1.6
- Donut
Android 2.0-1 - Eclair
Android 2.2
- Froyo
Android 2.3
- Gingerbread
Android 3.x
- Honeycomb
Android 4.0
- Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.1-3 - Jelly Bean
Android 4.4
- Kit-kat
Android 5.0
- Key Lime Pie
Stock Android systems are more likely to
be updated than customized Android.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Cupcake-Donut-Eclair-Froyo-Gingerbread-Hone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_features_in_Android
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history

6. How do I use it? (The Basic UI)
●
Touch Controls - Tap, Long Press, & swipe (like single
click, double or right-click, and scroll)
●
Home screen(s) (like Windows Desktop)
●
Adding & Removing shortcuts
●
Voice search
●
Common buttons: Home, Menu, Back & Search
Recent Apps button replaced Menu and Search in Android
3.0 (Honeycomb).
●
Virtual Keyboards & Text Editing
●
Notification Area or Status Bar
●
Settings e.g. Sync & AutoSync

7. Touch Controls
●
●
Tap: Used to select a button or icon, e.g. launch app,
select a menu item or paste button
Long Press, or Touch & Hold: Select object for drag
(e.g. to trash), or cut, copy, or paste
●
Double Tab: Used to toggle zoom in/out
●
Pinch: Used to zoom in or out with fine control
●
●
Swipe or Slide: Scroll through home screens, pages of
a document or web site, etc.
Two finger scroll or drag
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touch
http://androidadvices.com/touchscreen-on-android-phone/

8. Touch Control – Pinch Example
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/windowsviews/conceptual/UIScrollView_pg/Zo

9. Example Home Screens
Notice the notification area at the top, and the standard
control buttons are the same on each of these three screens

10. How to customize an Android home screen, part 1: Launcher basics
http://www.pocketables.com/2012/07/how-to-customize-an-android-home-screen-part-1-launcher-b
http://tinyurl.com/launcher-basics

11. Adding & Removing shortcuts
Long Press on an empty area to pop up add menu, or an icon or shortcut to
select it to drag to trash icon which will pop up after you select something.
http://www.onlineandroidtips.com/os/shortcuts.html

12. Voice Search
Voice Search gives you Google searches and a lot more with out
having to type anything!
Everything You Didn't Know You Could Do with Google's Voice
Commands
http://lifehacker.com/everything-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-google-voi-512727229
How to Create a Custom Voice Command for Anything on Android
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-custom-voice-commands-with-tasker-and-aut-1282209195

13. Voice Commands
Call [name or number]
Define [word]
Map [place]
Note to Self [message to email]
Navigate to [place or address]
Go To [website]
Send Text to [name or number, message]
Email [name, message] Play [group or song title]
Android Voice Commands
http://www.usemydroid.com/android-voice-commands/
Android 4.4 KitKat lets you say 'OK Google' to activate
touchless search
http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/31/android-kitkat-nexus-5-google-now-search/

14. Common Android Buttons
Pre 3.0
vs.
3.0 & Above
Menu, Home, Back & Search (in 1 & 2) vs. Back, Home, Recent Apps (in 3.x & 4.x + )
Android Fragmentation – Truth or FUD? Hardware or Software?
http://www.plomonet.com/2011/11/06/android-fragmentation/

15. More Buttons & Icons
Share Icons
Three Square
Dots = new
Menu Icon

16. Android Keyboards: Hardware & Virtual
Standard default Keyboards
Hacker's Keyboard - Adds Fn/Tab/Ctrl/Esc keys, and esp. useful arrow keys!

17. Text Editing: Move, Copy & Paste
How to Copy and Paste on an Android
http://www.wikihow.com/Copy-and-Paste-on-an-Android
Guide: Using the OnScreen Keyboard on your Android Phone
http://androidadvices.com/guide-onscreen-keyboard-android-phone/

18. TIP: Buy at least one extra stylus
Most fingers are larger than keyboard buttons or letters on a screen. There are
usually hundreds of auctions on eBay where you can get 8 or 10 Styli for under a
dollar shipped.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?clk_rvr_id=551741736265&_nkw=stylus&_sop=15
Just drop a half dozen auctions or so into Gixen, or similar snipe service, and place them in the
same group to easily get one at your target price! http://www.gixen.com/

19. Notification Area or Status Bar

20. Settings: Look Through Them!
http://wiki.witopia.net/wiki/Google_Android_DNS_Settings

21. Settings to Save Battery or $
http://www.techshout.com/guide/2012/12/how-to-save-battery-on-android/
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-101-keep-your-picasa-account-synced-your-android-device

22. Haptic Feedback settings
How to enable/disable haptic feedback on Android phone
Android A to Z: Haptic feedback
Auto Haptic Widget
Haptic Effect Preview

23. What can I run on Android?
Software programs are called apps (short for
applications) and distributed through
Markets, Stores or web sites.
Google Play (formerly Android Market)
http://play.google.com
(Tip: Count stars, read reviews, check screen shots,
and similar apps before installing.)
Amazon Appstore for Android (Free paid app every day)
http://www.amazon.com/getappstore
Getjar (limited app market often found on cheap tablets)
http://www.getjar.com
Google Play Hits One Million Android Apps - July 24, 2013
http://readwrite.com/2013/07/24/google-play-hits-one-million-android-apps
35+ Best Websites for Free Android Apps
http://www.designrazzi.com/2013/free-android-apps/

24. Sideloading
How do I bootstrap a Market that didn't come with my device?
APK Downloader Chrome Browser Extension – Downloads apps to your PC
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/
Sideload. (Side-load). To move files / content from one local device (such as a computer) to
another local device (such as a phone.) http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=485
TIP: Keep your .apk (Application PacKage File) install files with version numbers, so
you can revert to an old version, uninstall apps that run in the background when not
using them, or reinstall a hung app even when offline (much faster than rebooting
on many devices).
How to Sideload Android Apps
http://lifehacker.com/5943562/how-to-sideload-android-apps
http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2012/01/16/pandigital-supernova-how-to-install-android-market-an
http://www.androidcentral.com/swm

25. Websites for APK archives
or direct downloads
Warning: There is greater risk of getting APS containing malware
when bypassing an approved market such as Google Play.
AndroidDrawer.com – simple download of new and
older versions of Android Apps. Don't like the latest app
release? Go back to a perfectly working previous one!
(Updated) How to Download Android Apps APK to PC from Google Play
Android FileHost is
(“Real APK Leecher” exe - May be worth knowing about
a free file hosting
should APK Downloader stop working.
solution for
developers.
http://www.hacktabs.com/download-android-apps-apk-toyour-pc-from-android-market-or-google-play/
http://www.apkfiles.com/ Neat Android themed web list.
http://www.tucows.com/mobile/android Well established
http://en.uptodown.com/android
Nice search and rank
http://www.freewarelovers.com/android User submitted...
https://m.app.box.com/view_shared/93t5vc7np8
http://www.androlib.com/
http://slideme.org/
I'm not sure I'd trust these:
http://www.apkarchive.com/ Annoying pop-up windows.
http://www.apkdownloads.com/ Same as above.
Android Vending - Download
android apps without access to Google
Play. http://androidvnd.com/

26. This App needs Root, what's Root?
Basically a way to take full control over your device.
Downside: apps that require DRM like Netflix
may refuse to run, or worse...
See:
http://www.clockworkmod.com/
Hack your Android like a pro: Rooting and ROMs explained
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57578709-251/hack-your-an
https://www.google.com/search?&q=android+root+roms
7,250,000 results

27. Games
https://www.google.com/search?&q=android+game
1,040,000,000 results - over a Billion!
Angry Birds, Arcade Classics like Bejeweled, ...,
too many to review, this could be a presentation in itself.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirds
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ezjoynetwork.jewelsmaze
TIP: Find a game partner online anytime night or day for
Scrabble, Chess, Bridge, etc.
Search Google play for "online game"
? Audience Favorites ?

28. Some Useful Apps
https://www.google.com/search?&q=android+most+useful+apps
41,300,000 results
There will be a lot more that I will have time to highlight, or even
know about myself! e.g. Shush! When you turn your ringer off
for a meeting or movie, this app turns it back on afterwards.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.publicobject.shush

29. Web Browsers
Puffin, Dolphin, Firefox,
Chrome, Opera, Maxthon,
Baidu, Boat, Orweb...
Browser Wars: the best 10 Android browsers go toe-to-toe

30. Mobile vs. Desktop Web Pages
http://m.gasbuddy.com/touch/
See also an early attempt to
get around Gasbuddy map
navigation limits on Android
devices:
http://www.zguru.us/gas.html
http://www.gasbuddy.com

31. Browser User Agent Setting
Gecko user agent string reference
Custom User-Agent String
– Android Firefox Add-ON
8 Reasons Android Owners
Should Try Dolphin Browser
Puffin Web Browser Free –
Settings, Mobile browser mode

32. Puffin Virtual Track Pad Two Finger Drag
http://www.puffinbrowser.com/help/#drag_and_drop_with_trackpad

33. QR Code Reader
Barcode Scanner
Use your camera to read and load a URL, add a
contact entry to your address book, add an event to
your calendar, or login to a password protected WiFi
network, purchase something in a printed ad, etc.
See also: http://www.qrstuff.com/
for one of the best QR Code generators and
list of uses.
TIP: When scanning
a barcode from a
computer screen,
point the camera at
the screen before
tapping the camera
button for better
automatic brightness
and contrast
adjustment.

34. Utilities
Super aTool Box-cache battery
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.lepeng.superb
TIP: Move as many apps as
possible to your SD or
MicroSD card!
X-plore File Manager
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgam

35. File Transfer
AirDroid, Bump,
ES File Explorer File
Manager, etc.
AirDroid TIP: Point camera at
display before tapping the scan button.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bumptech.bu

36. Music/Media players/streamers
Winamp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nullsoft.winamp
Stitcher Radio - News & Talk
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.stitcher.app
http://www.stitcher.com/
Public Radio & Podcast
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nprpodcastplayer.app
VLC for Android Beta
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc.betav7neon
HBO Go, TWC TV, Xfinity player, YouTube,
Hulu Plus, Netflix, TuneIn Radio, etc.

37. eBook & PDF viewers
Cool Reader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.coolreader
EBookDroid - PDF & DJVU Reader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ebookdroid
Kindle, B&N Nook, etc.
See also for your desktop:
http://www.calibre-ebook.com/
Apprentice Alf's Blog:
http://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/
Free ebooks - Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/
Baen Ebooks - Free Library
http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx

38. Free Voip
(Voice over Internet Protocol) Free calls & Free Video Chat
GrooVe IP - Free Calls + Text
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gvoip
OBiON Android
https://play.google.com/store/a
pps/details?id=com.paad.hello
http://blog.obihai.com/2013/10/important-message-about-google-voice.html
Skype, Google Hangouts, &
many more!

39. Free Smartphone Cellular Services
Pay $106 to $269 for the phone, and skip thousands of dollars in service contracts
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO)
http://www.freedompop.com/phone/
https://www.facebook.com/FreedomPop
NO Monthly Fee Basic Plan,
low monthly fees for more talk time and data!
Monthly Cost
Voice Minutes
Texts
Data
$0
200
500
500Mb
$7.99
200
Unlimited
500Mb
$10.99
Unlimited
Unlimited
500Mb
Over Limits
2 cents ea.
Unavailable
2 cents/Mb
$9.99 Upgrade from 500Mb to 1Gb/month of Data
Beware default Automated Top-Up setting charges $10 when you have 100 Mb of data left.
Premium plans: 2Gb@$19.99 or 4Gb@$34.99/month. Catch: NO ROAMING. Bring your own phone to F
http://www.scratchwireless.com/
Scratch service gives you free unlimited calling, texting, and data anytime you’re connected to
Wi-Fi and free texting even when you’re away from Wi-Fi. Great emergency phone as 911 calls
are free and always use cellular networks to help pinpoint your location. Daily & Monthly passes
can be purchased over the cellular network for use off Wi-Fi.

40. Wi-Fi Analyzer - Measure
wireless router signal strength around
your home and detect overlapping
channel interference to optimize
wireless network performance. (-70
dBm threshold)
NOTE:
Apple
forbids this
type of app
on their
devices
(Iphone,
Ipad etc.)

41. Health & Fitness apps
Cardiograph,
SleepStats,
Sleep as Android,
Pedometer, diet apps,
and many others
See also:
http://www.qualcommtricorderxprize.org/
A $10 million
competition to bring
healthcare to the palm
of your hand.
http://www.xprize.org/
How a Decision Tree Revolutionized Heart Attack Diagnosis

42. GPS, Maps & Navigation
Google Maps,
Sky Map,
Google Earth,
OsmAnd,
navFree,
Route66, etc.

43. More!
Candle, language translators and tutors,
flashlights, musical instruments,
stopwatch/timers, sound/dictation
recorder, text to speech, DLNA Server,
Remote control and Remote Desktop,
Hacker's Keyboard, Google Currents
Duolingo Gives A Fillip To Free
Language Learning With Crowdsourced
Lessons
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/duolingo-gives-a-fillip-to-free-language-learning-with-crowdsourced-l

44. Any easy way to make my own App?
http://livecode.com/
“If you’ve never tried programming before then
LiveCode is the perfect tool to get you started. Unlike
traditional coding languages it uses simple English
language that is intuitive and easy to learn.”
Create an iPad app in 3 minutes with LiveCode (18:46)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVwI66ag24E
How Does LiveCode Work? (0:45)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HF_FcHOP-s

45. More Programming Tools
AIDE - Android IDE - Java, C++
IDEdroid Free
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/
Pépé le compiler
Build a Simple Android App Java language, Eclipse, & basic
Android SDK
Terminal IDE
*IDE = Integrated development environment
100 Tools to Develop the Next Killer iOS or Android App
| DailyTekk

46. What happens when you go App happy?
Or too much of good things...
ERROR: Low on space - Internal phone storage is getting low
Clear Storage Space on Your Phone Without Rooting
http://android.appstorm.net/how-to/hardware/clear-space-without-rooting/
How To Free Storage Space On Your Android Device (suggests DiskUsage app - VERY GOOD!)
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-storage-space-android-device/
How to increase internal memory of android phones (suggests History Eraser app among others)
http://www.buddinggeek.com/2011/08/increase-internal-memory-htc-android.html
Consider carefully how you want to manage your apps given the space on your device!
https://www.google.com/search?&q=android+++%22Internal+phone+storage+is+getting+low22
SD Maid - System
Cleaning Tool

47. Virtual Android for Windows
5 Best FREE Android Emulators For Windows 8,7,XP
http://www.techbate.com/5-best-android-emulator-for-windows-87xp/
Android SDK mobile device emulator — a virtual mobile device that runs on your computer
http://developer.android.com/tools/help/emulator.html
Windroy: A Better Android Emulator for Windows
http://thefluffyheads.com/nerdy-nathan/windroy-android-emulator
Install Jelly Bean Android 4.3 on Windows 8 With VirtualBox

48. Virtual Android
Genymotion Finally Gives us a Good Jelly Bean Desktop Emulator
http://androidspin.com/2013/07/08/genymotion-finally-gives-us-a-good-jellybean-desktop-emulator/
http://www.genymotion.com/
http://linuxonandroid.org/
How to Install Android in VirtualBox
http://www.howtogeek.com/164570/how-to-install-android-in-virtualbox/
http://www.android-x86.org/documents/installhowto
Windows, Linux, U
Run Android 4 ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) on a Mac or PC with VirtualBox
http://osxdaily.com/2012/02/23/android-4-ics-virtualbox/
How to install and run Android VM on VMware Player
http://xmodulo.com/2013/02/how-to-install-and-run-android-vm-on-vmware-player.html
http://androvm.org/blog/
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntuguide
http://schier.co/post/install-genymotion-2.0-in-ubuntu
http://www.infinum.co/the-capsized-eight/articles/is-your-android-emulator-just-too-slow

49. Q & A, Demos, More?
Thank you for your attention. I hope this inspires fun.
Questions? Demonstration Requests?
Encore slides? ? Audience Favorite Apps ?
My presentation slides are available online at:
http://www.slideshare.net/msz/

50. Encore Apps
Sketch Guru – Transform pictures to black-white/color sketch
with 13 effects including: Gouache, PencilSketch, ColorPencil,
WaterColor, HalfTone, SimpleSketch, ComicB&W, BlackBoard,
BlackBoardColor, Print, B&W, PencilSketch2 and No sketch
Plasma Sound – fully-featured,
100% free music instrument inspired by
the Theremin, Continuum, Keyboard and
Sequencer.
Gmote – Remote control for your
computer, allowing you to start and
control movies and music at a distance,
Control PowerPoint, WiFi
touchpad/keyboard. (One of the first.)
Torque Pro
– OBD fault
codes, car
performance,
sensor data
and more!

51. Encore Apps
Security Tool: KeePassDroid password database with sync to PC.
FormFiller is a useful tool that helps you
to save time on filling web data (such as
names, cell number, and mailing address).
Sound Recorder& Voice Recorder –
Sound Recorder is a high quality (voice)
recorder/player,it designed for simplicity and
able to record voice notes/voice memos/audio
Digital Inspiration - Protect your Android Phone with these Security Apps
Google Android Device Manager
Prey Anti Theft
Lookout Security & Antivirus
The Android Device Manager
shows a list of all Android
phones and tablets that are
connected to your Google
Account and helps you locate
them on a Google Map. You can
ring your phone (in case it is
hiding beneath the pillow) from
the browser, lock the device
with a custom PIN or perform a
factory reset which permanently
deletes all the data on your
phone.
See More in the DI article!
Wheres My Droid

52. Root Apps
Greenify *ROOT: Renew my Phone - Helps you identify
& hibernate misbehaving apps when not in use to stop
them from lagging your device and leeching the battery.
[root] Ntfs Mounter - “Automatically mount and
dismount NTFS/FAT/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 formatted
USB Sticks, USB HDD, SD Cards”
Paragon exFAT, NTFS & HFS+ - Mount Windows NTFS or Mac OS X HFS+
Hide my Root - On some roms (usually rooted stock
roms), Hide my Root will allow you to use Google
Videos and similar apps on a rooted phone. On custom
roms such as CyanogenMod, it will not allow you to use
Google Videos and similar apps on a rooted phone.
Wifi Password Recovery [ROOT]
After android Root?
Safe Backup Root
- Complete data
backup and
recovery on
Android devices
ZDbox ( Root Task Killer ) system optimize toolbox

53. Low vs. High end Tablets
FeatureTablet
Coby Kyros MID7034-4
Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16GB
Toshiba Excite Pro AT15LE-A32
Display pixels
800 x 480
1920x1200
2560 x 1600
7"
8.9"
10.1" 178° wide-viewing angle
Touch sensor
Resistive (No multi-touch)
10 point capacitive touch
Capacitive 10-finger multi-touch
Processor
ARM Cortex-A8 1.00GHz
Dual-core TI OMAP 4470 1.5Ghz
1.6 GHz Tegra 4.0 quad-core
0.5 GB (512MB)
1 GB
2 GB DIMM
Battery Life
~5 hours
~10 hours 6000mAh 22.2Wh
~9.5 - 11 hours
Storage/Slot
4GB / microSD up to 32GB
16GB / NONE
32GB / Micro SD
802.11b/g n?
dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n MIMO
Dual-band 802.11ac/a/b/g/n
NONE?
Front only
orientation
Ambient light sensor, accelerometer,
gyroscope
Ambient Light Sensor, Gyroscope, 3axis Accelerometer
GPS Receiver
No
No
Yes & Digital Compass
Speakers
one
2 Stereo
Harman Kardon® stereo
1 USB 2.0
USB 2.0 (micro-B) Micro-HDMI
(micro-D)
Micro HDMI, Micro-USB 2.0
4.0 (ICS) (No Google Play)
Based on 4.0.3, API level 15
Stock 4.2, Jelly Bean
Sale link
Ben's Bargains
Ben's Bargains
Warranty
90 days
1 year
1 year
Best Price
$34
$169.00
$489.99
List Price
$89
$284.00
$499.99
Newegg, Amazon
Amazon, Specs
B&H, Specs
Display size
RAM Memory
Wi-Fi Network
Camera(s)
Sensors
Ports
Android Ver.
Vendor Link(s)
1.2MP HD Front/ 8MP F2.2 back