Android Phone Customizations | The Communication Blog

Monday, December 10, 2012

Android Phone Customizations

By Bill Sutton


The best selling point of the Android tablet and phone is its almost infinite customization options when compared to the likes of the iPhone, iPad and Blackberries. When there's anything that you don't like about an app, a feature or function then feel comfortable knowing that you will find a multitude of alternatives available.

Beginning with the basic customization options the very first thing you might want to do is change the standard wallpaper to something that resonates better along with your style. To modify the wallpaper you have to touch the 'menu' button and then pick 'Wallpaper' on the list of options. Then you're able to select any image on the phone and choose it as the wallpaper. It's also possible to touch and drag to highlight a specific part of an image for the wallpaper. Do not forget along with the connectivity options it's also possible to copy an image from your PC to your phone. If you still can't select the right wallpaper there is a free app on the market named Backgrounds will provide you with access to 1000s of wallpaper images.

Your next essential customization option is to change your ringtone to something a bit more 'You' as opposed to the default ringtone. To set the tone hit the 'menu' button, go to 'Settings' and then go to the 'Sound and display' option. If you have not already done so, you can actually transfer an MP3 file to your phone and set it as your ringtone. To achieve this you will need to create a folder on your memory card called 'ringtones'. Copy the song you intend to use and Android is going to do the rest. If you would like even more control over the ringtone you'll be able to download a free application named RingDroid. This application will let you alter an MP3 and save only the awesome chorus as your ringtone.

If your Android phone comes with a color LED you have probably noticed that it flashes if you have a missed call or message. It is possible to control the color of the LED to show a particular color for particular events. For example you could set it to blink red in the event you missed a call from your manager and blue if you missed a call from your friend. To pimp out the LED color, download a free app named Missed Call.

When the basic personalization is complete, you can start diving a little bit deeper and customize your Android phone to your particular requirements. One gripe some folk have is that the default messaging system. It is a little cumbersome and clunky. Nevertheless, various developers have come up with alternative messaging apps that are more user-friendly and include more features. Handcent has established itself as the best replacement for the default messaging app. Those who use it, swear they'd never go back.

Yet another bit of customization you may want to look at is swapping the default virtual keyboard. While it is relatively functional it's lacking a certain finesse, which is where the BetterKeyboard application enters the picture. You can include and remove custom buttons, change the look and use a number pad if you wish. For anyone who is sending a considerable amount of emails or texts then BetterKeyboard is a recommended customization for the Android phone.

Lastly you could customize the home screen to show the info you truly want. The LauncherPro application does a fantastic job of this letting you to have as many as 7 screens. This is extremely useful should you use your phone to juggle business and personal work.




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