The great selling point of the Android tablet and phone is its almost infinite customization possibilities when compared to the likes of the iPhone, iPad and Blackberries. When there’s anything that you do not like about an app, a characteristic or function then rest assured that there’s a large numbers of alternatives available.
Beginning with the basic customization options the very first thing you might want to do is alter the normal wallpaper to something that resonates better along with your personality. To alter the wallpaper you have to touch the ‘menu’ button and pick ‘Wallpaper’ on the list of options. You can then select any image on your smartphone and choose it as the wallpaper. You can even touch and drag to highlight a precise area of a picture to use as the wallpaper. Don’t forget using the connectivity options it’s also possible to transfer an image from your PC to your mobile. If you still can’t select the right wallpaper there is even a free application on the market named Backgrounds will supply you with access to a huge number of wallpaper images.
The next essential customization option is select a ringtone to something a tad more ‘You’ than the default ringtone. To change the ringtone hit the ‘menu’ button, touch ‘Settings’ and then go to the ‘Sound and display’ option. If you haven’t already done so, you could copy an MP3 to your phone and use it as your ringtone. To do this you need to create a folder on your memory card called ‘ringtones’. Copy the track you would like to use and Android is going to do the rest. When you need even more control of the ringtone you could download a free app called RingDroid. This app will enable you to edit an MP3 and save just that awesome chorus as your ringtone.
If the Android phone has a color LED you have probably noticed that it flashes when you have a missed call or text message. You are able to control the colour of the LED to show a certain color for particular events. As an example you could set it to blink red if you missed a call from your boss and blue if you missed a call from your colleague. To customize the LED color, download a free app named Missed Call.
Once the essential customization is finished, you can begin diving a bit deeper and personalize your Android phone to your exact needs. One complaint some folk have is that the default messaging system. It is somewhat awkward and clunky. Nevertheless, various developers have developed alternative messaging apps which are more user-friendly and incorporate more features. Handcent has established itself as the number 1 substitute for the default messaging system. Folks who use it, swear they’d never go back.
The next piece of customization you should have a look at is swapping out the default virtual keyboard. While it is relatively functional it’s missing some finesse, which is where the BetterKeyboard app enters the picture. You can add and take away custom buttons, modify the look and use a number pad if you want. If you’re sending a lot of emails or texts then BetterKeyboard is a recommended customization for your Android phone.
Lastly you can change the home screen to display the data you truly want. The LauncherPro app does a great job of this enabling you to have as many as 7 screens. This is extremely useful should you use your phone to manage business and personal work.
Before buying a device check out the many Android tablet reviews online. Make sure you are buying a device that is perfect for you. Android tablet and device reviews will shed light on the good and bad of any device.