Simply obtained a brand new Android smartphone for the vacations? If it’s your first one, it may very well be somewhat intimidating, so to get you began, listed here are a couple of apps you must instantly set up or arrange on a brand new Android gadget. Alternatively, when you’re not already utilizing these apps, it is likely to be time to present them a shot!
Use a password supervisor!!
All of us have a ton of on-line accounts, and one of the best ways to each handle and defend that knowledge is with a password supervisor. Password managers often work by encrypting your knowledge behind a “Grasp Password” or another means whereas permitting you to prepare that knowledge by the location it really works with or in folders.
Getting a password supervisor is likely one of the most vital but in addition one of many best methods to reinforce your on-line safety.
Certainly one of our favourite password managers is 1Password, with inexpensive pricing, wonderful safety that makes use of each a grasp password and a “Secret Key,” and an easy-to-use app.
DashLane works similarly but in addition has an choice to routinely change your passwords for you and some free performance, too. If you actually need a totally free choice, although, Bitwarden is a superb choice. ProtonPass is a newer option that additionally integrates with ProtonMail, a safe electronic mail shopper. It additionally features a neat function the place you’ll be able to create electronic mail deal with aliases to keep away from spam. The password supervisor itself is free, however a few of the options require a subscription.
The one password supervisor we at present don’t actively suggest is LastPass. Whereas it has a strong free tier, the corporate has had a number of notable safety breaches, together with one only recently where password vaults from customers were stolen. It’s nonetheless higher than nothing, however the free tier shouldn’t be definitely worth the trouble anymore.
Up your messaging sport
Google Messages (RCS)
Within the US, a minimum of, messaging has historically been a sore level of Android smartphones. Fortunately, Google has been onerous at work making an attempt to repair that in latest months, and now, the answer generally known as RCS (Wealthy Communication Companies) is accessible to every Android smartphone in the world at this level.
How are you going to get RCS in your gadget, and extra importantly, what’s the profit? The profit, firstly, is that RCS is far more succesful than SMS/MMS. Footage may be despatched in greater high quality, typing indicators, and extra all arrive with RCS. Group chats additionally get an enormous improve too. On prime of that, RCS chats are now encrypted to supply higher safety.
Principally, RCS is like Apple’s iMessage, however for Android telephones. Quickly, Apple will be bringing RCS to the iPhone, which is able to enhance media sharing, options, and doubtless group chats, too. The green bubble won’t be gone, but it surely’ll be method higher than it’s at present.
To get RCS in your Android telephone, all it’s good to do is download Google Messages.
The free app is an SMS app at coronary heart, however it could actually additionally allow RCS messaging on any provider and any Android smartphone too. Merely obtain, set it as your default SMS app, and watch for the immediate to activate RCS. We’ve obtained a extra detailed tutorial on the process as effectively, plus some suggestions and tips on the best features you should turn on. RCS through Google Messages is end-to-end encrypted for each 1-on-1 messages and group chats.
Telegram, Sign, & different messaging apps
If you need an app for even higher messaging, you’ll be able to transcend the RCS and typical SMS. Telegram is one among our favourite messaging apps, and it really works loads just like the tremendous standard WhatsApp. In contrast to that app, although, Telegram works simply on a number of smartphones or tablets at one time and backs up your whole messages routinely. Plus, the whole lot continues to be encrypted, and you’ve got each voice and video calls obtainable. The app is at all times getting higher via updates and has improved its messaging expertise tremendously alongside including a extra sturdy video name app, too.
Discord is one other nice messaging different, providing non-public messages in addition to “servers” to host a couple of pals or a whole lot, all with rooms and chat admins. It’s an ideal expertise and one which’s particularly wonderful for players.
In the meantime, Signal is an much more privacy-focused messaging app that grew to become particularly standard when Meta-owned WhatsApp was beneath hearth for brand new privateness insurance policies. In fact, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the recognition of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger each globally and within the US. Whereas many are uncomfortable with Meta, these apps are nonetheless much better than the standard SMS you’d in any other case be utilizing. Facebook Messenger now even defaults to end-to-end encryption, which is an enormous deal!
Google Meet
Video calling is an effective way to maintain up with family and friends past simply texts and audio calls, and there are some nice providers to do it. Utilizing Google Meet for calling family and friends is totally free, and it really works throughout a ton of gadgets. Android telephones and tablets. Chromebooks. Home windows and macOS. It even works on iOS!
Consider it as Apple’s FaceTime however not locked down to 1 ecosystem.
The app works along with your electronic mail deal with and options enjoyable filters and even display screen sharing on some gadgets. Its finest function, although, may simply be how effectively it really works on less-than-ideal connections.
Zoom and extra
Probably the most standard video calling/conferencing instruments through the pandemic was Zoom. By its reputation alone, that is an app you must have installed. The service gives conferences that you may hook up with with only a hyperlink or a password, simply connecting with family members and pals or utilizing it for enterprise conferences. Many colleges are additionally utilizing Zoom for distant studying. It’s a strong app and one which’s not going to value you something until you’re the one internet hosting, and even then, it’s obtained a free providing.
Different nice video-calling apps embody:
- Skype is likely one of the unique video calling apps that also works nice, particularly for family and friends.
- Facebook Messenger, a service that numerous folks within the US at present use, has a wonderful video calling choice alongside its messaging options.
Again up your photos and movies
Google Photographs
One of many first issues you must set up on a brand new Android smartphone – or an iPhone, for that matter – is Google Photos. For the overwhelming majority of Android customers, the app can be pre-installed in your gadget, however you’ll nonetheless must get issues arrange.
To try this, merely open the app, sign up along with your most popular Google account, and resolve on backup choices. Photographs will routinely backup your photos and movies within the background, however you’ll want to inform it if you would like that carried out over Wi-Fi solely or on mobile knowledge, as effectively.
From there, you’ll simply must resolve on high quality. Google gives full-resolution backup in addition to a barely compressed, data-saving choice that may lose a little bit of high quality, however you’ll be hard-pressed to inform the distinction. Plus, there are some killer options obtainable with a Google One subscription, such as Magic Eraser and a ton of useful enhancing options.
You’ll get 15GB of storage totally free, with charges beginning at $1.99/month for added storage via Google One, which provides storage to not solely Photographs, but in addition Drive and Gmail.
Amazon Photographs and extra
Exterior of Google, there are another strong choices for storing your photographs. Amazon Photos has the most effective values, with limitless photograph storage for Prime prospects, whereas OneDrive has inexpensive charges and a sturdy setup for each photographs and recordsdata alike.
Improve your keyboard
Gboard
The keyboards pre-installed on numerous at present’s hottest Android smartphones are, effectively, not nice. Whereas a lot of it comes down to non-public choice, you may get extra options and, in lots of circumstances, higher performance out of a special keyboard.
Our prime choose? Google’s own Gboard. This keyboard has an ideal structure that’s comfy for typers of all types and helps options comparable to gesture/swipe typing, GIF search and enter, and a lot extra. There are even distinctive options such because the “Emoji Kitchen,” which might create some wacky emoji stickers on the fly. You can even theme Gboard to your coronary heart’s want.
There’s additionally a useful toolbar that you can customize!
Put merely, it’s a wonderful keyboard that’s completely free, and if it wasn’t already in your telephone (it’s not put in by default on Samsung Galaxy gadgets, for instance), you must give it a attempt. Check it out on the Play Store.
SwiftKey and extra
If Gboard isn’t fairly your fashion, there’s one other nice choice on the Play Retailer within the Microsoft-owned SwiftKey. This keyboard has been one of the vital standard Android apps because the platform’s app retailer existed. Not too long ago acquired by Microsoft, the app gives wonderful gesture typing and options the neat trick of studying and adapting to your typing fashion and your spelling errors too. SwiftKey helps over 400 languages and is free. It even helps syncing your clipboard with Windows PCs.
One other keyboard you may like is Grammarly. It was popularized as a Chrome extension however works nice on Android, too. The Grammarly keyboard for Android goes past fundamental spell examine to supply grammar fixes and alternate phrasing to enhance the way you ship texts and emails, and it additionally has some useful AI features too.
Don’t lose your telephone or your knowledge
Set Up Discover My Machine
Right here’s one other app that ought to already be put in on any new Android smartphone. “Discover my Machine” is a Google app designed that will help you hold monitor of your smartphone ought to it’s misplaced. If the app isn’t put in in your gadget for some purpose, Find My Device is accessible via the Play Store.
If you open up Discover My Machine, you’ll be prompted to sign up with a Google account and enter your password, as effectively. As soon as that’s carried out, you’ll be capable of see your gadget in addition to any others hooked up to your account. You may then ring, lock, or wipe any gadget in your account. The identical applies to your new telephone in addition to every other Android gadget you personal, a buddy’s Android telephone, and even only a net browser. As a facet word, the core performance of really discovering your telephone with this app is on by default in Google Play Companies, however by utilizing the app, you’ll get a bit extra management in addition to having the ability to discover your different Android gadgets via the app in addition to serving to pals to seek out their telephones.
The Discover My Machine app can be the way you’ll use AirTag-like trackers designed for Android. These trackers may be accessed via the app and use a community of Android telephones that will help you discover them in the event that they’re misplaced.
On Samsung gadgets, you’ll additionally need to arrange SmartThings Discover for comparable performance.
Google One
For those who do lose or break your telephone, you don’t need to lose your knowledge. That’s the place Google One is useful. With any Google One storage plan (beginning at simply $2/month), you’ll get improved backups of your telephone. By default, Android already backs up core knowledge totally free to your Google account, however the One app can again up SMS messages and MMS messages alongside along with your photographs and movies.
Backup (and switch!) your SMS
For those who’re nonetheless dealing with numerous your messaging via SMS, it’s good observe to again that up. SMS Backup & Restore is a useful little shopper that may again up your SMS and MMS messages to Google Drive or different cloud storage for safekeeping, however the particularly useful half is restoring messages. This may be helpful as you arrange a brand new telephone or when you’re planning to make the swap in a while.
Handle your cash
Google Pockets – Handle faucet to pay and extra
Cellular NFC funds are tremendous handy, and setting them up on Android is simpler than ever. Google Wallet is a free and quite simple app that allows you to add credit score/debit playing cards to your telephone for NFC funds, in addition to holding your loyalty playing cards, present playing cards, COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, airline passes, and a lot extra. It’s additionally engaged on including help for driver’s licenses in select US States, a lot of which are now available.
Google Pockets is pre-installed on most Android gadgets, however you may need to manually obtain it on a Samsung gadget, for instance. On Samsung gadgets, you can too use Samsung Pay for comparable options.
Cash switch apps
Sending cash has gotten an entire lot simpler with apps, and there are some wonderful decisions to take action. Listed here are a couple of standard choices.
- PayPal: The traditional, PayPal is an effective way to ship cash to your family and friends however can be tremendous helpful for on-line buying in addition to promoting.
- Venmo & Cash App: Each utilizing the identical fundamental mannequin, Venmo and Cash App are wonderful apps for sending cash between family and friends with usernames for sharing and simple linking to your financial institution. Plus, since they’re broadly used, most people are often going to have a minimum of one among these two.
These are preferable to Zelle, which you doubtless have linked to your checking account. Whereas Zelle works effectively, it’s infamous for fraud to the purpose of an ongoing federal lawsuit.
One of the best note-taking Android apps
Google Maintain Notes
Maintaining monitor of reminders, lists, and extra may be made a lot simpler by utilizing a note-taking app. Personally, my favourite note-taking app on Android is Google Keep Notes, and it’s one thing that simply appears to maintain getting higher over time.
Google Keep is completely free and allows you to retailer notes, lists, and even drawings within the app. There are additionally some AI features that have been added recently. Notes are synced to your Google account, which suggests you’ll be able to entry them on every other gadget, together with computer systems. With a quick setup, you’ll be able to even use Google Assistant audio system, such as the Nest Mini, to handle a buying record.
Different note-taking apps
If you need one thing that’s not from Google and has a couple of extra superior options, Microsoft OneNote is a superb choice. The app is totally free, although it really works higher with different Microsoft apps utilizing a Microsoft 365 subscription. You may again up notes and drawings and insert photos within the app, and like Google’s app, they’ll sync throughout gadgets along with your Microsoft account.
Different good choices embody Joplin, an open-source and multiplatform note-taking app, in addition to Notion, a well-liked app that works throughout platforms and integrates some AI options.
Hyperlink to Home windows
For those who spend all day at a desk, it may be tremendous handy to maintain your Android telephone related to your PC. With the Link to Windows app, that’s tremendous simple.
After connecting, Hyperlink to Home windows permits Android customers to take telephone calls on their PC, use messages, carry their notifications to their laptop, and even entry their photographs and movies with out hooking up any wires. You may even mirror Android apps out of your telephone as much as your laptop. Microsoft continues to construct on the app and add new options and deeper integration with Windows.
How one can arrange Chromebook Cellphone Hub
Alternatively, if in case you have a Chromebook, you’ll be able to arrange “Cellphone Hub.” This gives a lot of the similar options as Hyperlink to Home windows however additional builds on it with help for establishing a hotspot and utilizing your telephone as a “key” to unlock your ChromeOS gadget. You don’t need to obtain something to arrange Cellphone Hub both, simply comply with the directions beneath.
A number of extra noteworthy apps:
- Waze: Whereas Google Maps will do the trick for a lot of, Waze gives crowdsourced dwell site visitors knowledge and studies for velocity traps and extra.
- Feedly: Wish to hold monitor of the information utilizing customized RSS feeds? Feedly is likely one of the finest apps for the job, and it’s free!
- Google Home/Amazon Alexa: Acquired some good dwelling audio system or shows? You’ll need to have the Google Residence or Amazon Alexa apps put in, relying on what gadgets you personal.
- Get a Third-party launcher: Putting in a brand new launcher is an effective way to completely customise the homescreen in your new Android telephone. Nova Launcher is a superb choice for added flexibility, however Niagara Launcher offers a novel and customizable expertise that’s completely different from something you’ve ever tried.
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