So you have this nice new Android phone. Now what? You can use facebook, sent texts, maybe even email. But is that it? Not by a long shot!


There are many more things you can do that you probably dont realize. Your Android phone can do much more than even an iPhone can do. Your Android phone is the most customizable, powerful mobile device that has ever existed.

First to clarity a few things. Android is an operating system. Just like Windows, Linux or the Mac OS. Its called "Android" not "Droid". "Droid" is a name given by Verizon and Verizon only to its line of smart phones running the Android operating system. An Android phone on AT&T or Spring or TMoble is the same as on Verizon, but only Verizon advertises their phones as "Droids". An Operating System is the software that runs a device. The iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch uses iOS from Apple. Blackberry uses their own Blackberry Operating System, etc.

Now, how to install programs or Apps (short for Applications) on your Android device...you will have an icon on your phone for the Marketplace. This is the google store where you can download and get both free and paid apps. If you cant find it easily, try clicking the Magnifying Glass button on the phone (commonly called the Search Button) then typing "market" and it should come up. Here you can search for and install new apps.

So start, here are some of the most popular things to do with your Android Phone...



Facebook: Many Android phones come with Facebook already installed but you can always download and install it for free from the market. You can do the most popular things you do on facebook which are read/write/comment and upload pictures right from your phone.



Twitter: Twitter is a popular site which allows you to write short messages up to 140 characters at a time. You "Follow" people you know or who write interesting things and people can follow you. Its a great way to let friends know what your up to, get news, have small conversations. Check it out at www.twitter.com

 



Foursquare: Foursquare uses the GPS in your phone to know were you are and allow you to "check in" at businesses or locations you visit. You can do it just to let peopel know where you are, or even get discounts at stores. Many businesses advertise on foursquare things such as free coffee when you check in on four square when at our store. Four square also makes it fun by giving you points and badges in the program to encourage you to check in everywhere you go.



The Internet: Obvious but many people dont realize that having access to information anytime you need it is very handy. Store information, restaurant menus, check a price on an item, anything you normally use the web for but with you all the time.

 

 



Maps: Your Android phone has a full GPS system with Google Maps and turn-by-turn directions built right in and its more up to date than any stand alone GPS system you have in your car.

 

 

Music: With that Android phone in your pocket, you dont need an iPod. This little device can do everythign the iPod does and much more. Get a program like Double Twist and it makes it even easier. Also you can use APPS like Slacker to stream music right over the internet to your phone anytime.

 

 

Movies & Videos: You can transfer movies, watch YouTube, use VeVo for music videos right on your device. Just search the Marketplace store for these programs. By the way, NetFlix is coming soon!

 

 

Evernote: Are you someone who likes to make lists? keep notes? stay organized? Everynote will even allow you to take a picture and store it in there. One popular example is taking a picture of a wine bottle label. Evernote will read the information and store it along with the picture. Next time you can just type "merlot" and that picture will pop right up. Dont worry about remember things, just Evernote it.

 

 

News: There are many ways to get your news today on your phone. The old way: NYTimes app, Fox News App, etc. The New Way: Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader. Either way you like it, its all in there.

 

 

CardStar: Carry a lot of cards in your wallet? Grocery Store, CVS, BJ's, Staples. Why bother? Just scan then with your phones camera or enter the number from the card and Cardstar will put a complete replica of the card on your phone alone with the barcode. Just show that to the casher or scanner next time. Dont be shy, all us geeks do it these days!

 

 

There are dozens of other great things you can use your Android device for, way to many to list here but these should get you started. Just search around in the Marketplace and discover some of the over 100,000 out there.

Now a little more about what makes your phone so much more powerful than a blackberry or iPhone.

Unlike those phones with allow you to just download an App, Android allows you to be much more specific with how you can customize your phone. Make it your own! Everything from animated backgrounds or widgets that are interactive right on the screen. Dont like that you can only fit a certain number of icons on main screen, Get Multicon and fit up 64 icons in the normal 16 space. Want a single button on your screen to do things like turn on wifi, turn off bluetooth, etc? Get Widgetsoid. Want to read/write Word and Excel documents? Get DocumentsToGo. Want a spefic music program to launch automatically when you plug your headphoens in? Get PlugInLauncher. Want a better texting program that allows bigger text, customer messages, and more, get Handcent.

Some examples of customizing your phone:



The point is you have choices! You may find you can do more with your Android phone that on your desktop computer. At least some more interesting things because a mobile device today can incorporate The Internet, Phone, Texting, GPS, Camera, Camcorder, Music, Speech to Text, Text to Speech, so many things into one single device.

Take the time to search the Android Market on your phone, search the internet for Recommended Android Apps or Android App Reviews. You will be amazined that your probably not taking advantage of 10% of this incredibly powerful device.

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