My Android Tablet

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 ][ 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 co-hosts the CrackBerry.com podcast, as well as guest hosting on other podcasts including iPhone and iPad Live podcasts. You can see Craig’s previously published work in his books Professional BlackBerry and My iMovie, plus many other books in the My series, including books covering BlackBerry, Palm, and Android devices. Craig also enjoys high-horsepower, high-speed vehicles and tries very hard to keep to the speed limit while driving them. Originally from Durban, South Africa, Craig has lived in the United Kingdom, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New Jersey, where he now lives with his wife, Karen, and a couple cats. Craig would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact Craig about your experiences with My Android Tablet at http://www.CraigsBooks.info. All comments, suggestions, and feedback are welcome, including positive and negative.

Prologue:  Getting to Know Your Android Tablet   3
Your Android Tablet’s External Features   3
Front   4
Back   6
Other Buttons and Connectors   7
First-Time Setup   8
Set Up Your Android Tablet    8
Fundamentals of Android 5.0 (Lollipop)   12
The Lock Screen   12
The Home Screen   14
The System Bar   18
Using Your Touchscreen   19
Using Your Keyboard   20
Edit Text   25
Menus   26
Switch Between Apps   27
Setting Up Multiple Users on Your Tablet   28
Add a New Tablet User   28
Add a Tablet Guest User   30
Installing Synchronization Software   31
Install Android File Transfer (Apple Mac OS X)   32
Install Google Music Manager (Apple Mac)   33
Install Google Music Manager (Windows)   35
Configure Music Manager (Windows and Apple Mac)   36
Chapter 1  Contacts 41
Adding Accounts   41
Add a Work Email Account   42
Navigating Contacts   48
Edit a Contact   50
Add a Contact Photo   51
Adding and Managing Contacts   53
Add Contacts from an Email   53
Add a Contact Manually   54
Add a Contact from a vCard   55
Customize Contacts Settings   58
Contact Groups   58
Choose Contacts to Display 60
Joining and Separating Contacts   61
Adding a Contact to Your Home Screen   64
Chapter 2  Audio, Video, and Movies   69
Music   69
Find Music   70
Purchase Music   71
Add Your Existing Music to Google Play Music   73
Use the Music App   75
Work with My Library   77
Work with Playlists   78
Instant Mixes   80
Control Playback   82
Work and Listen to Music   84
Listen to Music with No Wireless Coverage   85
Change Google Play Music Settings   85
Recording Videos with the Camera Application   88
Record Video   88
Change Video Settings   90
Play Videos   92
Share Videos   95
Delete Videos   97
Change Photos App Settings   97
Movies and TV Shows   100
Buy and Rent Movies   100
Buy TV Shows   103
Use the Play Movies & TV App   105
Copy Videos from Your Computer   107
Watching Videos with YouTube   109
Navigate the YouTube Main Screen   109
Navigate the YouTube App   110
Play a Video   111
Upload a Video   112
Change YouTube Settings   114
Chapter 3  Connecting to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and VPNs   117
Connecting to Bluetooth Devices   117
Pair with a New Bluetooth Device   118
Extra Bluetooth Options   120
Change Bluetooth Device Options   120
Wi-Fi   121
Connect to Wi-Fi   121
Adjust Wi-Fi Network Options   124
Set Advanced Wi-Fi Options   124
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)   126
Add a VPN   127
Connect to a VPN   128
Near Field Communications (NFC)   132
Enable NFC   133
Chapter 4  Email 135
Adding Accounts To Gmail   135
Add a Google Account   136
Add a New POP3 or IMAP Account   138
Add a Work Email Account   142
Navigate the Gmail App   145
Compose an Email   148
Read an Email   151
Customize Gmail App Settings   154
Chapter 5  Browsing the Web with Chrome   163
Navigating with Chrome   163
Get Started with Chrome   164
Use Web Page and Chrome Options   165
Master Chrome Browser Tricks   167
Managing Bookmarks and History   169
Open a Bookmark   169
Manage Browsing History   171
Customizing Browser Settings   172
Chapter 6  Google Now and Navigation   181
Google Now   181
Set Up Google Now   184
Google Maps   190
Get Directions   192
Configure Google Maps Settings   194
Use Offline Google Maps   195
Chapter 7  Working with Date, Time, and Calendar   199
Setting the Date and Time   199
Clock Application   201
Navigate the Clock Application   201
Manage Alarms   202
Adjust Clock Settings 204
Using the Calendar Application   205
Get to Know the Calendar Main Screen   205
Adjust Calendar Settings   206
Use Quick Responses   209
Add a New Event   210
Respond to an Event Invitation   212
Chapter 8  Working with Android Applications   215
Configuring Google Wallet   215
Navigating Google Play   216
Install Free Applications   218
Buy Applications   220
Manage Apps   222
Adjust Google Play Settings   224
Chapter 9  Customizing Your Android Tablet   227
Changing Your Wallpaper   228
Wallpaper from Pictures in the Photos App   228
Live Wallpaper   229
Wallpaper   230
Changing Your Keyboard   231
Adding Widgets to Your Home Screens   233
Add a Widget   233
Remove and Move a Widget   234
Customizing Language   235
Adjusting Accessibility Settings   236
Modifying Sound and Notification Settings   239
Changing Display Settings   241
Changing Security Settings   243
Chapter 10  Google Wallet   249
Setting Up Google Wallet   250
Adding Methods of Payment   251
Add a Credit Card or Checking Account   251
Using Loyalty and Gift Cards   252
Add an Existing Gift Card   253
Add an Existing Loyalty Card   254
Using Google Wallet   257
Google Wallet Settings   258
Chapter 11  Books and Magazines   263
Books   263
Navigate the Play Books App   264
Buy Books   265
Read Books   267
Magazines and Newspapers   271
Search for Stories   272
Purchase or Subscribe to Publications   272
Read a Publication   274
Chapter 12  Maintaining Your Android Tablet and Solving Problems   279
Updating Android   279
Optimizing Battery Life   281
Looking After the Battery   281
Determine What Is Using the Battery   281
Applications and Memory   283
Checking Your Apps’ Data Usage   284
Caring for the Android Tablet’s Exterior 286
Getting Help with Your Android Tablet   287
Chapter 13  Taking and Editing Pictures   289
Using the Camera   289
Adjust Camera Settings   293
Take Regular Pictures   295
Take Panoramic Pictures   296
Take Photo Sphere (360 Panoramic) Pictures   298
Take Lens Blur Pictures   299
Viewing and Managing Your Photos   302
Navigate Photos   302
Delete Photo Albums   303
Review and Share Pictures   304
Edit Pictures   305
Modify Photos App Settings   318
Managing Photos with Your Computer   319
Manual Picture Management   319
Automatic Picture Management on a Mac   322
Synchronizing Pictures Using Your Google Cloud   323
Index   325