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There are a lot of awesome features on your Android phone that you probably don’t know. Here we are gonna share the ones we think can help you make more efficient use of your phone.
Basic Android Tips You Need to Know
Here are some basic tips and tricks you should be aware of when using Android devices:
#1. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use to save battery
By turning off Bluetooth, you can prevent unnecessary battery drainage. Even though the impact is small but it can help you in the long run.
#2. Don’t leave your phone exposed to the hot weather for a long time
Your phone’s battery is sensitive and can get permanently damaged and deteriorate if exposed to direct sunlight above 45 degrees Celsius for a long period of time.
#3. Avoid cheap or fake chargers and charging cables
Although it won’t harm the phone directly, cheap charging cables can make the electric current unstable. Whereas, cheap/copy chargers can cause serious damage to the phone and battery if used for longer.
In an event of overcharging, a short circuit can occur due to which your phone can catch fire. So to prevent this, it’s always a good idea to buy the original charger regardless of the price difference.
#4. Clean the charging port regularly
Over time, as you use your phone, a lot of dirt and dust gets stuck to the phone charging port. And a port that is never cleaned may cause charging problems somewhere down the line.
To clean the charger port, you can use a wooden toothpick, compressed air, or cotton buds to get rid of any visible dirt and debris. Make sure to never use any liquid as moisture can damage your device.
This brings us to the next point…
#5. Water damage is expensive so clean your phone with a dry cloth
Most smartphones and tablet devices are not waterproof, they are water resistant only. And liquid damage is not covered under warranty and is expensive.
The direct spraying process of any liquid onto the phone can make it easily seep into the exposed parts of the phone, such as the speakers, earpiece, microphone, and charger jack.
If you want to clean your Android device using any liquid, you should first spray on a microfiber cloth (make sure it is slightly damp and not soaking wet) and then use it to clean the phone/tablet.
#6. Charge your phone before the battery runs out
A depleted phone battery (to the point where your phone automatically turns off) can put your phone’s battery at risk of not being able to last longer than it should as doing this frequently puts a lot of strain on the battery.
Each phone has its own number of charging cycles and a fully draining battery affects the battery performance. So make sure to connect your phone to the charger when the battery reaches 15 percent.
#7. Battery optimization apps are useless
Android OS now comes with native optimization features to keep your battery and device at their optimal performance, so you no longer need to install any optimization apps on your device.
#8. Restarting the smartphone at least once a week can increase its performance
Voluntarily restarting your phone every once in a while will help increase the performance of your phone, can extend its battery life, free up any unnecessary load on the memory, and prevents unexpected crashes.
#9. Use VPN to keep your browsing activity and identity secure
There are many ways to keep yourself and your identity safe when surfing the internet, and using VPN encryption is one of them.
VPN hides your personal identity and encrypts your browsing fingerprints so you don’t expose your true identity to any website or app.
Android Photography Tips
Here are some tips and tricks to help you take good photos using your Android smartphone camera and enhance your photography skills:
#1. Use rear or side light assist
One of the simplest photography techniques is to consider the direction of the light before shooting.
Sunlight or artificial lights are very helpful so that objects look sharper, brighter, and more conspicuous. It would be even better if the light came from behind the object to be photographed.
In addition to making the photo appear brighter, the reflection of light adds to the beauty of the photo. So, you have to be aware of the lighting around the object.
#2. Move closer to the object instead of zooming
Resolution is one of the troubling limitations of phone cameras. The resolution and the overall quality tend to decrease when you use the zoom feature. As a result, the photo will appear blurry and dark.
So, how do you find the right focus to get those beautiful shots?
We will always recommend you to use the manual method i.e. moving your camera closer to the object to capture those sharp images.
#3. Enable the grid lines
If you want to achieve a better positioning of the object in the frame and properly follow the basic photography techniques, we will highly recommend you enable grid lines to feature from the camera settings.
You can find it by the name of “Grid Lines”. Once activated, this feature will show up some lines and boxes on your screen. Use these to make your photos more geometrically appealing.
#4. Stabilize your hands and body
If your hands are shaky then the photos will turn out to be blurry. Stabilizing your overall body movement and phone can help you take some really sharp photos. Especially if you are taking nighttime shots at low shutter speeds.
Tip: You can pull your elbows closer to your body and control your breath before tapping the shutter button.
#5. Turn HDR on/off for the right scenario
HDR or High Dynamic Range is used to dynamically adjust lighting levels and is specifically used to capture landscapes to show extra lighting and shadow details.
When you activate the HDR feature, the camera software will automatically increase the lighting according to the requirements and conditions around the object.
Your phone’s camera does this by taking multiple photos and combining them together to capture additional details.
#6. Understanding the composition
By understanding composition, you can give your photos an aesthetic look. There are so many compositions that you can apply when shooting.
For example, you can take photos with a focus on unique shapes, and leading lines, or make use of negative space around objects to make the results appear stronger and draw attention to the object. On the other hand, you can also display a simple composition.
For certain objects, following any one of these compositions can actually make the result look artistic and eye-catchy.
Hidden Android Features
Did you know there are a number of hidden and secret features in our Android smartphones that many are not aware of and are actually quite helpful?
#1. Dynamic media control
Media control is included in the latest Android OS 11 update; this feature makes it very easy for users to continue listening to the songs without actually reopening the app.
In the previous Android OS, media player controls were in the notification area, but now they are shifted right below the Quick Settings panel. You can resume playback or change tracks directly from the notification card.
#2. Built-in screen recorder
With recent development in Android OS, Google has added a built-in screen recorder feature for smartphones and tablet devices, which can be quickly accessed from the Quick Settings panel.
If you are an original Android user then you must be aware that in previous Android versions screen recording could only be achieved by installing third-party apps from the Play Store.
#3. Better control over the notifications
Usually, if you leave your phone unattended for a longer period and come back then you will notice that your phone’s notification area has become overloaded with notifications from different apps, making it hard to find the important ones.
Not anymore!
With the latest Android 11 OS update, you get better notification control as all the notifications coming in from the instant messaging apps are at the top and categorized under “Conversations” as they get the maximum priority. While other notifications are pushed down.
#4. Notification history
Sometimes in hurry, we accidentally clear all the notifications because we feel they are not important. However, little did we know that some important notifications related to the meeting might have got dismissed too.
But with the latest Android, we don’t need to worry about it as this update brings a notification history feature that allows you to see all the notifications you have received in the last 24 hours.
#5. Pin favorite apps on the share page
If you have ever tried to share an image or a video from Gallery to WhatsApp then you must have spent a little while to find the app on the share page. And how Android places it randomly.
With Android 11, you can pin your frequently used apps to the share page, which makes sharing files and media quicker and easier.
#6. Save battery with dark mode
Thanks to Android 10, you can manually activate the dark theme or dark mode to save battery life and reduce strain on your eyes during nighttime or when you are in a dark area.
With the latest updates, the dark mode can be scheduled from the settings, which will automatically enable it based on the time of the day i.e. sunrise/sunset or during specified hours only.
#7. Stricter app permissions for enhanced privacy
App permissions have become stricter in the latest Android for better privacy.
Now you can grant temporary permissions for things like location or camera only while you are using the app. Once the app is closed, the app will no longer have access to your location or camera.
However, the settings are up to you and can be personalized, if the app in question is trustworthy then you grant permanent permissions to the app.
#8. App Suggestions (Google Pixel Only)
App suggestions fill the slots at the bottom of the home screen with apps that you use frequently. This feature will make it easier for you to access frequently used apps without having to open the menu or app drawer.
#9. Access to chat bubbles directly from the notifications
Unlike chat window, which requires you to keep the app open. Chat bubbles do not require you to open the app, you can directly access it from the notification panel. And it will stay handy on the screen.
When you receive a notification from any instant messaging app, simply swipe down the notification panel, and tap on the circle icon (located at the bottom left side of the notification), this will pop open the conversation in a bubble.
To close the chat bubble, you need to hold it, and then drag and drop it at the bottom of the screen. It’s that simple and fluid.