Top 10 Tweaks For Enhancing Your Android Experience

There are bunch of things you can do on your Android phone, as well as tablet to make it more secure, interactive and productive. These tricks will not only help you learn many cool stuff, but will also show you how you can get your daily work done, saving a lot of money and time in the process.

App up

Installing applications customize with the new Holo theme guidelines from Google and the ones made by credible developers will improve your Android experience drastically. Check out appadvice this list for the best free Holo themes apps available right now.

Secure the base

Unlike iOS, Android has an open ecosystem. While that comes with its own set of advantages, the real downside of such an ecosystem is fast spreading malware. If you are not careful while browsing the internet you might be the next target. Installing free Anti-virus programs from the Play store like Lookout or AVG is a start. And there are other ways to make sure you are virus free.

• Don’t click on any link that promises free stuff through a small “survey”.That’s usually a trap.

• Sometimes side-loading apps from non-credible sources can also infect your device.

• While installing apps from Play Store always look at the ratings (anything above 4.25/5 is great) and reviews to make sure that the app you are downloading is not a clone or a malware.

Gain knowledge

Android has many apps designed to spread knowledge. You can grab apps like TED, Howstuffworks, Algebra Tutor, Wikipedia,  Kindle, WolframAlpha and polish off that brain of yours.

Remote control your PC

You can use Android phone/tablet to control your desktop/laptop when you are away. Remote control apps such as Logmein and team viewer are very efficient at doing this. Heck, you can even play battlefield 3 on Nexus 7 using Remote desktop app with amazing performance.

Remote Control Your Phone

You can even do the opposite, Use your PC to control your Android Device. Why use the small display of your phone when you can use the full size keyboard of your computer to send text messages. Mightytext does just that.  Use Airdrop and you won’t have to connect your phone with your PC through USB ever again. Airdrop can upload, download and backup files wirelessly. It even lets your install APKs from your PC.

Free alternatives to paid services

• Texting – You can use one of the abundant apps like Free SMS India, JaxtrSMS app and of course WhatsApp to turn down your SMS bill or to text after you surpassed the day’s TRAI limit.
• Navigation.

• TV – You can use Apps like Mundu TV or NextGTV to watch TV channels for free or for a relatively cheap rate on your Android Phone or Tablet.

• Calls – You can use Apps like Skype, Viber or Tango to make free voice and video calls over Wifi or 3G network.

Track your stolen device

At some point in life, it will happen. You will forget your phone in the bar or it will be stolen from the local train. Use these apps to get your phone back, if not wipe your phone so the your data is not out in the open.

The only application you need to install for complete peace of mind is Cerberus. It does many things like remote control through its website, SMS and it alerts you when the SIM card is changed. You can track your stolen device by locating it through GPS, sounding a loud alarm, recording through Microphone locking the device with a code etc.

Automation

This is a place where the open Ecosystem of Android really shines. Using applications like Tasker (requires root) , Automateit and on{X} ( works without root) you can put your Android Phone on auto pilot when you focus on more important things. Using these applications many interesting things can be accomplished.

• Turning your phone to airplane more at night to save battery.
• Turning your phone to silent mode when you are in a meeting or at the gym.
• Automatically Launching music app with headphones are plugged in.
• Remind you to pick up groceries when you are near your departmental store.

The list of things that can be done using Tasker is only limited by your imagination.

Gain Root Access

The best thing i did after getting my Phone was to gain Root access. I cannot stress how life changing this is for your device. I am currently running ICS on my smartphone which is still stuck at Ginger Bread and may never officially be updated to ICS. Rooting has many other benefits other than giving you the ability to install Custom-roms. You can create Backup of specific application or the whole system, freeze unwanted apps, delete the bloatware that came pre-installed with your device, overclock, under-clock  battery management are just a few advantages of rooting.

Install a Custom Rom

Rooting without installing a Custom Rom is like going to a party and not getting drunk. Installing the highly credible versions of custom Roms like CyanogenMod or AOKP or MIUI will improve the performance of your device by nearly twofold. Custom Roms are mostly devoid of bloatware, unwanted apps or overly customized skins. They are simple, clean and amazingly fast. My quadrant score on non rooted GB Sense 2.1 ROM was 1200. When i switched to MIUI GB it jumped to 2200. Now i agree that these number sometimes don’t do justice to real world usage, but the improvements i saw by installing custom Rom’s was nothing short of Staggering.