your ear, plugs into the phone’s headphone jack.
Between the earbuds and the sharp, pointy thing, you might find a doodle button. The button is used to answer a call, mute the phone, start or stop the playback of music, and perform other functions.
A teensy hole on the doodle serves as a microphone. The mic allows you to wear the earbuds and talk on the phone while keeping your hands free. If you gesture while you speak, you’ll find this feature invaluable.
❯❯ If your Android phone didn’t come with a set of earbuds, you can purchase a pair at any electronics store where the employees wear name tags. Ensure that the earbuds feature a microphone or doodle button.
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❯❯ You can also use a Bluetooth headset with your phone, to listen to a call or some music. See Chapter 17 for more information on Bluetooth.
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Adding accessories
Beyond earphones, you can find an entire Phone Store full of accessories and baubles that you can obtain for your Android phone. The variety is seemingly endless, and the prices, well, they ain’t cheap. Here are some of your choices:
Phone case: Protect your phone by getting it a jacket, one that further expresses your individuality.
Screen protectors: These clear plastic sheets adhere to the touchscreen, protecting it from scratches and other abuse. Ensure that you get screen protectors designed specifically for your phone.
Belt clip: To sate your envy of Batman’s utility belt, consider getting a fine leatherette or Naugahyde phone case that you can quickly attach to your belt.
Car charger: This gizmo connects your phone to the car’s 12-volt battery source. If you’re over 40, the power source was once known as a cigarette lighter.
Car mount: This device holds your Android phone so that you can easily see it while driving. It makes for easier access, although these things are forbidden in some states. See Chapter 17 for information on using Bluetooth in your car for hands-free phone operations.
microSD Card: When your phone supports this type of removable storage, consider buying this memory card. See the earlier section “Installing a microSD card.”
Dock: This is a heavy base into which you can set your phone. Some docks are simple cradles that prop up the phone for easy bedside viewing. Others are more sophisticated, offering USB connectors and maybe even a real keyboard.
Wireless charger: Not every phone can be charged wirelessly, but if yours can, definitely get a wireless charger. Set your phone on the pad or prop it up in the dock. The phone’s battery starts magically recharging.
Screencasting dongle: This accessory connects to an HDTV or computer monitor. Once configured, it allows you to cast the phone’s screen onto the larger-screen device. It’s ideal for watching movies, Netflix, or YouTube videos or for enjoying music. Google’s Chromecast is an example of a screencasting gizmo.
Houses built in the 1930s and 1940s often featured a special hole in the wall called a phone cubby. It was the shrine in which you would find the home’s hard-wired phone. You should treat your Android phone with similar reverence and respect.
Toting your Android phone
The compactness of the modern cell phone makes it perfect for a pocket or even the teensiest of party purses. And its well-thought-out design means that you can carry your phone in your pocket or handbag without fearing that something will accidentally turn it on, dial Mongolia, and run up a heck of a cell phone bill.
Your Android phone most likely features a proximity sensor, so you can even keep the phone in your pocket while you’re on a call. The proximity sensor disables the touchscreen, which ensures that nothing accidentally gets pressed when you don’t want it to be pressed.
Storing the phone
I recommend that you find a single place for your phone when you’re not taking it with you: on top of your desk or workstation, in the kitchen, on the nightstand – you get the idea. Phones are as prone to being misplaced as are your car keys and glasses. Consistency is the key to finding your phone.
Then again, your phone rings, so you can always have someone else call your cell phone to help you locate it.
❯❯ While working, I keep my phone next to my computer. Conveniently, I have the charger plugged into the computer so that the phone remains plugged in, connected, and charging when I’m not using it.
❯❯ Phones on coffee tables get buried under magazines and are often squished when rude people put their feet on the furniture.
❯❯ Avoid putting your phone in direct sunlight; heat is bad news for any electronic gizmo.
Chapter 2
The On/Off Chapter
IN THIS CHAPTER
Configuring your Android phone
Turning on the phone
Unlocking the phone
Adding accounts
Locking the phone
Turning off your phone
It would be delightful if your Android phone were smart enough to pop out of the box, say “Hello,” and immediately know everything about you. It doesn’t, of course. That introduction is still necessary, and it requires some careful attention. It’s all part of the initial setup-and-configuration process that happens when you initially turn on the phone. And if you haven’t yet turned on your phone, this chapter shows you how.
Modern, technical gizmos lack an on–off switch. Instead, they feature a power button. In the case of your Android phone, the button is called the Power/Lock key. This key is used in several ways, some of which may not be obvious or apparent.
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Turning on your phone for the first time
The very first time you turn on an Android phone is a special occasion. That’s when you’re required to work through the setup-and-configuration process. Don’t worry: It needs to be done only once. After that, turn on your phone according to the directions in the next section.
The specifics for the setup and configuration differ depending