There's an App for That!

Organize Your Life with Android Apps!

Presentation by Tracy Smith, Reference Librarian

What are Apps?

Apps are web sites that have been designed to run on your Android device and can perform many of the same functions, and can offer an easy to use interface.

App Tray

Notification Bar

What makes a good app?A good app has a simple user interface.A good app is also stable and does not crash frequently.

Advantages of AppsMany offer the ability to sync and access content on multiple devices

The Smartphone is a computer that fits in your hand. The apps make it possible for one device to do the work of many.

Let's discuss some devices that apps might replace...

What devices can Apps Replace?● GPS System● Digital Camera● Digital Video Recorder● Radio● Alarm Clock● Monthly planner● MP3 Player● Flash Drive● Hand-held scanner● Notebooks

Can you think of any others? Does this sound too good to be true? While a SmartPhone camera will never replace a high-end digital SLR camera, I like to think of the SmartPhone/Tablet as a high-tech swiss army knife. Useful in many ways, only limited by what we know--or the SmartPhone's amount of memory and/or speed of network connection.

Your Gmail Account is Key● Signing up for a Gmail account associated

with your cell phone● More features will now be available on your

phone● You can now install apps from your PC or

Android phone using Google Play and other resources for Android Apps

Register your device to a Gmail account● If you have not done so, you begin

registering your device with a gmail account.● This allows you to install and set-up apps for

your device while logged into gmail on a PC.● Finding and Installing apps using Google

Play is easy

Google Calendar: Syncing across devices You might already be familiar with Google Calendar...did you know....

The changes made on your PC automatically update the calendar app on the Android device(s) associated with your Gmail Account & edits made on your phone will appear on your PC

Get Your Email on Your Smartphone● Add your email accounts● Access your email account(s) on-the-go● Add your email account● You can access more than one email

account on your device● You will need your username/password● Some types of accounts will require more

information to setup.

Notifications Bar● Notification Bar: at the top of the screen.

Includes clock, battery level, signal meter, wifi icon, application updates from facebook, twitter; updates can come from any App.

● To view notifications, swipe finger from top of screen downward.

● To clear individual notifications:select notification, swipe to left or right to clear it.

● To clear all notifications: select the x in the upper right corner. It's similar to closing a Windows program

This is what is seen when swiping downward from the notifications bar. You get more detailed information on the tiny icons that display at the top of the screen.

Tip: Swipe from the top of your device's screen to the bottom to view notifications in detail as seen here:

Swipe Downward

Navigating Your Smartphone: Widgets● Widget: Smaller version of app that can run

from your home screen, such as a clock, or a weather App.NOTE: Widgets are self updating.

Examples of Widgets

TIP: To add a widget, press your fingertip to blank space on the home screen, select the apps and widgets menu that appears. Tap and hold an icon to move it to the home screen.

Phone Navigation

Sample home screenNOTE: Your phone or tablet may look different, depending on carrier and Android version running on your phone/tablet

Tip: New version of the Andoid operating system do not have physical buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Navigating: Bottom of HomescreenAndroid Docker or "Favorites"● Phone dialer● Contacts● Apps Tray● Text Messaging● Browser● CustomizableMenu Buttons (left to Right)● Back● Home● Recent/Running Apps

Docker or Favorites

Action Bar

Back button Home

view openapps

Messaging app

Apps Tray

Browser

How to Install a new App● Use the Google Play Store

o On a PC Log onto Google Play Search for and Install App

o On Phone Open Google Play Apps Search for App Install App

NOTE!● Before you install a lot of Apps, Install this:

o A micro SD Card with plenty of memoryo Your Smartphone will thank you with better

performance

Use your Library Apps!

● Get Overdrive Media Console to check out ebooks

● Find ebooks to check out on eLibraryNJ.com● Get the BookMyne app to search the library

catalog

Overdrive Media Console App Icon.

Use a browser to visit our library catalog or try Bookmyne, which is optimized for a mobile device.Visit eLibraryNJ.com to check

out eBooks

CallsUpgrade your phone call app

CallApp for AndroidEnhanced Contact information culled from social

networking sites (includes updates), and information about business from Yelp & Foursquare

Social Media on your SmartPhoneYou can do Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn on your SmartPhone or Tablet

Upgrade Your Experience, try Hootsuite App and put Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare into one place

Informative/Social AppsLooking for a place to go?Or looking for a type of business/serviceTwo recommended apps:● Foursquare

o A resource if looking for entertainment/shopping.o It's a social experience because users review

establishments & create the information.

● Yelpo Similar to Foursquare; use Google Maps to find

everything.

Must have Apps● iFax

o Fax from your phone!o Scan document, then faxo App creates professional fax cover

page.● Evernote

o A notebook to store your ideas, record your thoughts, voice, photos, web page clippings

o Use on multiple devices

Must Have Apps● Weatherbug -- Favorite Weather app

o Updates locationo Has useful Widget on Homescreen

● PageOnceo Manage you bill paying and financial

statements all in one placeo Drawback: not all creditors/billers participate

with program● Any.Do

o Recommended task list/reminder app

Best Financial AppsPageonce, Paypal, Mint, Manilla have been consistently recommended by reviewers*

Read more*Reviewed online in PC Magazine, "Best Mobile Finance Apps" by Jill Duffy published April 23, 2012, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400562,00.asp Accessed May 2, 2213

Mobile Online BankingYour bank may now offer an app for that!Then you can● Check your account balances● Pay bills● See images of canceled checks● Possibly deposit checks via smartphone● The Caveat:

o You have just put very sensitive information on your device

o You should secure your device by setting a pin number access code or use a security app.

A Word about SecurityThe minimum: Create a screen lock code under the settings menu

Lost your PhoneInstall an App to help you locate and/or erase security information if phone or device is lost:Wavesecure, Lookout

Security, Plan BLost your phone, without a locator App?Try Plan B:● Install on the missing device remotely via PC● Use another phone to call the missing phone

Viruses, Malware and PrivacyViruses Privacy and Malware● Android not as vulnerable to viruses as the

PC● Install Apps from a known source, such as

Google Play● Many Apps request security permissions

beyond what is necessary● Some QR codes are linked to Malware when

scanned; scan them from trusted sources.

How to choose an App● There are many articles recommending apps● Try an App and see how it works● For example, Fast Customer

o Navigates the voicemail menus for you and calls you when a human in on the phone.

o My trial brought mixed resultso FastCustomer sometimes worked well, other times it

falsely reported the customer service center was closed. Putting it in perspective:

Apps are not perfect but... They are wonderful when they work Many apps are free or offer free trials

Choose a Browser AppNot satisfied with your phone's web browser?Did you know you can change it?The Dolphin browser App is recommended*● Tab browsing● Responsive to voice commands● Opens Quickly

*According to reviews read

Useful AppsAlready on your phone

● Google Searcho Do not confuse with opening Google in Web Browsero Much faster than opening web browser

● Google Mapso Search for businesses, places nearby

Get directions by car or walking Mass transit info Read Reviews from others if available Save maps for offline viewing

● Voice Recognitiono Speak commands, such as "open camera"o Tap the microphone on the keyboard and it types what

you say.

Scan with your SmartPhone● Camscanner App turns your

SmartPhone into a portable scanner

● Your can create PDF Files● Camscanner also makes an App

for scanning business cards to import into contacts.

● Used the Business card scanner app with mixed results.

● Reviewed by The Daily AppCamscanner For Scanning Business cards.

Camscanner free app creates serviceable PDF scans

Sample PDF File scanned by android SmartPhoneI scanned this article from a magazine about the CallApp for Android

Do More: Move scanned docs to cloud storage, or organize in Evernote

I scanned from a magazine open on my lap. Despite scanning in less than optimal conditions, this document is serviceable

Video Call Apps● Skype

o Free Voice & Video calls to other Skype users o Cheap International callso Handout about Skype available

● Google Talko Android's version of the Ipad app "Facetime"

● Fringeo Offers video chat, voice calls & live text chato Offers group video chat for up to 4 userso Use over data plan or wifio Also available on Ipad/Iphone

● ooVooo Video chat possible across

Android/Apple/Windows platformso Chat with up to 12 people

Camera: Beyond snapping PhotosYou've just taken a picture...What can you do with it? With android you can...● Post to Facebook● Share on Twitter● Upload to cloud storage● Send it in a text message● Upload to Picasa ● Store it in your gallery App● Now you can take photos and list items on

Ebay or Craigslist, no computer required!

So many photos--where can I put them?● Plug your camera into your computer with a

USB cableo Now your phone has become a USB deviceo Easily transfer photos to your computer

● Just remember to properly connect & disconnect your phone as you would any USB device

Free Photo EditorPicasa is a free photo editor from Google.Here is an example of a photo collage I made in minutes, and posted to FourSquare:

Your SmartPhone can help you...Fix Your Car!There's an app for that!When I needed to find a new place to take my car, I found an app to search for a nearby repair shop that had many reviews from satisfied customers.

Music on your Phone: Transferring Files

From Android Central Forums: Copy your Music, Photos, and Wallpaper to your Android phoneIf you do not use iTunes, it is easy to copy photos, music, or other files to your phone:1. Connect your phone to your PC with your USB cable.2. Swipe down the top notifications bar.3. Tap Just Charging or USB connected, etc. Tap Disk Drive or Connect USB, etc.4. When your phone pops up on your PC as a new USB drive, go into file explorer. If you have a microSD card and internal memory, your phone might show up as two different drives, for instance F: and G:.5. In windows, right-click Start the click Explore.6. Create "Photos", "Music", "Wallpaper", or "Documents" folder on your phone if you need to.7. Drag and drop files or folders to your phone. Use subdirectories to create albums under artist names.8. When done, right click on the phone drive letter and click "Eject" & disconnect.9. Reboot the phone so that it will find the new files: Long-press Power to turn off then long-press Power to turn back on.

Recommended Music AppsPandora

TuneIn Radio

Rdio

Google Music

Description from Google Play:TuneIn lets you listen to the world’s radio with music, sports, news, talk, and comedy streaming from every continent. Enjoy 70,000 live radio stations and 2 million podcasts, concerts or shows on your Android phone or tablet, all for free.

This favorite Internet Radio site is now available as an App

Discover your next favorite song with Rdio, a service for streaming unlimited music—on-demand and ad-free—on your Android device.

The Google Play Music app lets you listen to your music collection anywhere. All your music is stored online, so no need to worry about syncing or storage space.

VoicemailAccess Your VoicemailTap the notification from the notification barOpen up dialer and long press number 1● To set up, enter your voicemail number in

Settings>Voicemail Settings>Voicemail number

● Visual Voicemail● Google Voice● Third Party Visual voicemail apps such as

Youmail, Visual Voicemail Plus

USB ModeUse a USB cable to connect your phone to your windows based computer and you can transfer these files:● Pictures● Music● Other files● Bonus: You can charge your phone at

the same time!

Cloud Storage Apps

A Cloud Storage App:● Free up space on your device● Backup your files● Free data storage up to a certain limit● Very convenient. Cannot lose it, like a flash

drive Some cloud AppsGoogle Drive, Dropbox, Sugarsync

QR Codes Demystified● Have You seen these?● QR Codes are two-dimensional

barcodes such as web URLS or text● If your device has a camera & barcode

scanner app, your device is reader to scan and decode this into intelligible information

● This scanned information may contain a video, article and more

● Recommended: Install a QR Code Reader app

Printing from Your Device

Your Options● New printers are e-print/Cloud print ready

● Try Google Cloud Printo Go to Google.com in the Chrome Browsero Select the More tab, then select Even Moreo Open Google Cloud Printo Follow steps to add your printer

Google Cloud Print

Quick LaunchSet keyboard shortcuts to launch applicationsFound in Settings Menu● Search + a opens Application Manager● Search + b opens Browser● Search + f opens Facebook● Search + g opens Gmail● Search + i opens Calendar● Search + p opens Music● Search + s opens Messaging

Demonstration: Camscanner & Fax AppsiFax App Demo Send a fax from device to nearby Fax machine

Camscanner App:Scan a document, share it to Google Drive.Open Google Drive on a PCThe Scanned document magically appearsScan & Store to Google Drive is a snap!

Google Apps

This presentation using the Google Apps Slides App was created using a free suite of web based applications, and this file was stored on Google Drive

TIP: Be sure to sign out of Google Apps and check your setting if you use them on a shared computer.

ReferencesClare, Andrew The Rough Guide to Android Phones & Tablets, Second Edition London: Rough Guides Ltd, May 2012

Enis, Matt Mobile Evolution: The growing popularity of native apps is growing in tandem with improvements in functionality Library Journal, February 1, 2013, pp 34-36

References● Let a 1000 gadgets (and some apps) bloom

MCL Blog, posted 03/12/2013http://mercercountylibrary.blogspot.com/2013/03/let-1000-gadgets-and-some-apps-bloom.html

Android History from theverge.com● Getting Started on Android: Tips and Tricks fr

om Androidcentral.com Forums

Learn more about Android Apps Onlineappbrain.comandroidcentral.comlifehacker.comandroidandme.comPCmagazine's top Android Apps list online www.quixey.com - the Search engine for Appswww.apps4librarians.comlibrarylinknj.org Technology Speed Dating program handouts available online