Last time we talked about the physical features of Android devices. This time we’re going to talk about some of the software on your homescreen!
When the device is turned on and unlocked it shows the home screen. The home screen is a customizable page where you can keep frequently used apps and widgets. Arrangement comes down to personal preference. This is what my homescreen looks like:
I usually hold my phone with my left hand (and type with my right). To make using my phone easier I cluster everything along the left and bottom of my screen so I can reach everything with my thumb. I try to avoid placing too many apps on my homescreen to avoid accidentally touching things.
Here are some instructions on how to move things around.
The notification menu is an important feature. To access it, swipe your finger down from the very top of your screen. It displays notifications from different apps like unread text messages, emails, updates, etc. The menu also provides quick access to frequently used settings like wifi, cellular data, bluetooth, or the flashlight feature. These things can vary depending on the manufacturer.
Widgets are tools that come as extra features with some apps. There are three widgets on the screenshot I shared of my phone to show me weather, control podcasts I’m listening to, and to control music I’m listening to.
Here are some instructions on how to find and place widgets.
Remember, you can make your homescreen look pretty much however you want. That includes changing the background (wallpaper). Here are some instructions if you’d like to set your wallpaper to a nice picture you took!