Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 03:01 AM PST

When using one of the many variations of Android on your smartphone (i.e. Droid, Galaxy S, HTC, etc.) you have the ability to highly customize your home screens with widgets, shortcuts and apps. While every Android phone is slightly different when it comes to what widgets are available, they are customized using the same method.

There are also many third-party apps and “widgets” you can place on your home screen that can be found in the Android “Market,” Google’s version of an “App Store.” This very open and customized experience has made Android one of the most popular smartphone operating systems to date.

To customize your home screen, swipe left or right on your phone to find a screen with some open space. Depending on which Android phone you have, there may be 3, 5 or even 7 home screens to swipe through.

Home

Once you’ve found a home screen with empty space, press your finger in the open area and hold it there for two to three seconds. A new menu will appear and you can release the screen.

This new menu gives you several options to choose from. Tapping on the Shortcuts button will allow you to create a home screen icon that takes you directly to a specific application, web browsing bookmark, contact, mail inbox, music playlist, or several different options as well. This is a helpful way to create a speed dial icon right on your home screen.

Shortcuts

Tap on Widgets to bring up a new menu of active home screen widgets that you can place anywhere on your phone. These widgets are more than shortcuts to an application, they are live “windows” that you can interact with right on your phone. The Facebook widget for instance, allows you to post a status and see your friends posts right on the home screen without opening the app.

Widgets

Selecting the Folder option includes phone number shortcuts, starred contacts, or create a folder to place several app shortcuts.

Folder

Once you’ve placed icons and widgets on your home screens, you can move or delete them at will. Tap and hold on an icon or widget to edit its location.

Move Icon

If you want to remove an icon or widget, hold your finger on the item and drag it to the bottom of the screen where it says Remove.

If you’re trying to move an icon or widget to a home screen that is already full, you will see an error message at the top of the screen saying there is No space on this screen.

No Space