My DROID: (Covers DROID 3/Milestone 3, DROID Pro, DROID X2, DROID Incredible 2/Incredible S, and DROID CHARGE), 2nd edition
Published by Que Publishing (October 4, 2011) © 2012
- Craig James Johnston
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My Droid 2/e covers the following Android phones:
DROID 3/Milestone 3, DROID Pro/Motorola Pro and DROID X2 by Motorola, DROID Incredible 2/Incredible S by HTC, and DROID CHARGE by Samsung
Step-by-step instructions with callouts to DROID phone images so that you can see exactly what to do
Help when you run into problems or limitations with your DROID phone
Tips and Notes to help you get the most from any DROID model: DROID 3/Milestone 3, DROID Pro/Motorola Pro and DROID X2 by Motorola, DROID Incredible 2/Incredible S by HTC, and DROID CHARGE by Samsung
Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your DROID phone working just the way you want.
Learn how to:
• Get started fast!
• Make the most of DROID’s Android software and state-of-the-art hardware
• Discover hidden DROID shortcuts and goodies
• Master the unique features built into your DROID Incredible 2, DROID 3, DROID Pro, DROID X2, DROID CHARGE, or older DROID phone
• Save time and money with powerful phone tools such as voicemail, automated transcription, three-way calling, and Google Voice
• Set up and use any email account, from Gmail and Exchange to POP3 or IMAP
• Send and receive text and multimedia messages
• Communicate with contacts, including Facebook, Gmail, or Exchange contacts
• Create and manage appointments, and sync them with Google Calendar
• Play music and videos, search YouTube, and upload your own videos
• Capture, store, and share photos…even take perfect portraits of yourself!
• Connect to the Internet, Bluetooth devices, and your company’s VPN
• Get instant information updates with real-time widgets
• Browse the Web
• Find, choose, install, and work with new DROID apps
• Keep your DROID up-to-date, reliable, and running smoothly
• Make the most of other Android smartphone models
Prologue: Getting to Know Your DROIDÂ Â Â Â 3
What Is DROID?     3
Your DROID’s External Features    4
Fundamentals of Android    23
Installing Synchronization Software    42
1 Contacts    47
Adding Accounts    47
Working with Contacts (DROID Pro and CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 52
Adding and Managing Contacts    62
People (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 74
Dialer (DROID X2 and DROID 3)Â Â Â Â Â 83
Adding a Contact to Your Home Screen    93
2 Using the Phone and Google Voice    97
Getting to Know the Phone Application (DROID 3, DROID Pro, DROID X2, and DROID CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 97
Getting to Know the Phone Application (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 99
Receiving a Call (DROID 3, DROID Pro, and DROID X2)Â Â Â Â Â 101
Receiving a Call (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 101
Receiving a Call (DROID CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 102
Handling Missed Calls    102
Placing a Call (DROID3, DROID Pro, DROID CHARGE, and DROID X2)Â Â Â Â Â 103
Placing a Call (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 108
Configuring the Phone Application    112
Google Voice    120
3 Audio and Video    133
The Music Application—Audio (DROID 2, Pro, X2, CHARGE)     133
Managing Playlists (DROID 3, Pro, X2, CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 138
The Music Application—Audio (DROID Incredible 2)     141
Managing Playlists (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 144
Playing and Sharing Videos with the Gallery Application (DROID CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 147
Playing and Sharing Videos with the Gallery Application (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 152
Playing and Sharing Videos with the Gallery Application (DROID 3, X2, and Pro)Â Â Â Â Â 154
Recording Videos with the Camera Application (DROID CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 158
Recording Videos with the Camera Application (DROID X2 and Pro)Â Â Â Â Â 160
Recording Videos with the Camera Application (DROID 3)Â Â Â Â Â 163
Recording Videos with the Camera Application (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 165
YouTube    167
Amazon MP3Â Â Â Â 170
4 Connecting to Bluetooth,Wi-Fi, and VPNs    177
Connecting to Bluetooth Devices    177
Wi-Fi    181
Cellular Networks (GSM—DROID Pro and Incredible 2)     186
Cellular Networks (CDMA—All DROIDs)     188
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)Â Â Â Â Â 189
3G Mobile Hotspot    192
5 Emailing     205
Gmail    205
Setting Up Email Accounts    215
Working with the Messaging Application (DROID 3,Pro, X2)Â Â Â Â Â 243
Working with the Email Application (DROID CHARGE)Â Â Â Â Â 248
Working with the Email Application (DROID Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â 256
6 Browsing the Web    265
Navigating with the Browser    265
Managing Bookmarks,Most Visited, and History    269
Managing Multiple Windows    280
Customizing Browser Settings    281
7 Text and Multimedia Messaging    287
Text Messaging Application    287
8 Date,Time, and Calendar    307
Setting the Date and Time    307
Alarm & Timer Application (DROID 3, Pro, X2)Â Â Â Â Â 309
Clock Application (DROID CHARGE and Incredible 2)Â Â Â Â Â 312
Using the Calendar Application    321
9 Taking, Storing, and Viewing Pictures    337
Using the Camera    337
Viewing and Managing Your Photos    349
Synchronizing Photos with Your Computer    363
10 Working with Android Applications    373
Configuring Google Checkout    373
Navigating Android Market    375
Browsing Apps by Category    376
Deleting Applications    381
Keeping Applications Up to Date    386
11 Customizing Your DROIDÂ Â Â Â 389
Change Your Wallpaper    389
Using Scenes (HTC DROIDs only)Â Â Â Â Â 394
Using Profiles (Motorola DROIDs Only)Â Â Â Â Â 396
Using Skins (HTC DROIDs only)Â Â Â Â Â 397
Changing Your Keyboard     399
Adding Widgets to Your Home Screens    402
Region and Language    405
Accessibility Settings    406
Search Settings    408
12 Maintaining DROID and Solving Problems    411
Updating Android    411
Battery Optimizing    413
Index     422
Craig James Johnston has been involved with technology since his high school days at Glenwood High in Durban, South Africa, when his school was given some Apple II Europluses. From that moment technology captivated him, and he has owned, supported, evangelized, and written about it.
Craig has been involved in designing and supporting large-scale enterprise networks with integrated email and directory services since 1989. He has held many different IT-related positions in his career ranging from sales support engineer to mobile architect for a 40,000-smartphone infrastructure at a large bank.
In addition to designing and supporting mobile computing environments, Craig writes about it for BYTE Magazine at BYTE.com and CrackBerry.com, a leading BlackBerry blog. Craig also cohosts the CrackBerry.com, BYTE Wireless Radio, and BYTE Apple Radio podcasts.You can see Craig’s previously published work in his books Professional BlackBerry,My BlackBerry Curve,My Palm Pre,My Nexus One,My Motorola Atrix 4G, and My BlackBerry PlayBook.
Craig would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact Craig about your experiences with My DROID at http://www.CraigsBooks.info. All comments, suggestions, and feedback are welcome, including positive and negative.
Need help? Get in touch