Difference between revisions of "How Do I: An Android Q&A"

Revision as of 21:34, 8 August 2014

determine Android O/S version

The touch path varies from one device to another. Here are some common touch paths (menu layers you navigate through) to find your device Android OS version.

• Menu -> Settings -> About Phone -> Android Version
• Menu -> Settings -> About Phone -> Software Information

find WiFi MAC address

On an Android phone with Android version 2.3.3

• Menu -> Settings -> About Phone -> Status -> Wi-Fi MAC address

find WiFi IP Address

On an Android phone with Android version 2.3.3 that is already connected to Wifi and obtained an IP address. Allow time for a fresh connection to obtain an IP address and establish data communication.

• Menu -> Settings -> Wi-Fi settings, and look for the network connected to under Wi-Fi networks. Tap on the network you are connected to so that a dialog with network status, speed, signal strength, security type and IP address appears. If you have obtained a valid IP address or have one configured static it will appear here. Do not click on the Wi-Fi, "connected to..." at the top with the checkbox or you will drop the link.

configure a static IP address for WiFi

The touch path varies from one device to another. Here are some common touch paths

• Menu -> Settings -> Wi-Fi settings -> select the Network (hold down) -> Modify network config -> Show advanced options > IP settings -> Static
• Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Wifi Settings -> look for the network connected to under Wi-Fi networks and long press the network. -> Modify network

enable USB debugging

The USB debugging feature is sometimes needed to do things such as connect via USB cable to a PC for the purpose of basic file transfer, so that the Android device appears as a simple drive letter on the Windows machine. USB Debugging Mode was actually designed to facilitate a connection between an Android device and a computer with Android Software Development Kit (SDK). USB Debugging Mode is used to establish a direct connection between an Android device and a PC. USB Debugging is also necessary to root the Android device.

On an Android phone with Android version 2.3.3

• Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging

modify the WEP/WPA or other secure WiFi password for a saved network

On an Android phone with Android version 2.3.3

• Menu -> Settings -> Wi-Fi settings -> look for the network connected to under Wi-Fi networks and long press the network. -> Modify network.

turn off carrier network radio and disconnect from the carrier network while still using Wifi

With traditional Blackberry phones it was easy to turn off the radio for the telephone carrier and still use WiFi. Android phones don't seem to have a checkbox to turn on or off the telephone network radio. One way to accomplish this on many Android phones such as the Casio Commando is to use "Airplane Mode." In Airplane Mode all internal radios are deactivated, including the carrier radio, WiFi, and Bluetooth. However, you can manually turn the WiFi radio on in Airplane mode while keeping the carrier radio off.

• Turn on Airplane Mode, Menu -> Settings -> Wireless and Networks, -> check the box for Airplane mode, wait a few seconds, then check the box for Wi-Fi. The phone will be disconnected from the carrier network and can still connect to a wireless access point.

take a screenshot

Functionality depends on the Android device and Android OS version. The functionality is nonexistent on old Android devices. Here are some common methods for different devices and Android versions.

For old Android devices using Android OS 2.3 and older a 3rd party app is required. It may be necessary to root the device to enable functionality for the app. Some manufacturer specific models have a built in screenshot function specific to their brand. If your device is newer running Android 4 and above you can press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time, hold them for a second, and your phone will take a screenshot.

One some Samsung Galaxy phones you press the Power and Home buttons at the same time to take a screenshot. Some models require you to create a new screen swipe gesture.

Another method on some Android models uses only the power button. Just press and hold the power button from 1-2 seconds until you see a menu with options "Power off, Airplane mode, and Take screenshot."

Some phones such as the Motorola Droid Pro can have a screenshot captured of the phone from a Windows PC via USB cable using software and USB Debugging mode. A web site with instructions is located here.

On the Coby Kyros running Android 4.0.3 long tap the third icon on the bottom which is the one just right of the home icon. When it is long pressed, a screenshot will be captured and stored in the default path of /sdcard/Pictures/Screenshots as a PNG image.

root the android phone or tablet

also known as root rooting jailbreak jail break jailbreaking unlock unlocking cracking modding and obtaining root or administrator rights and privileges or the ability to chroot.

It is not necessary to pay someone or buy special software to root your Android device. Some Android devices are very easy to root, while others it may be practically impossible. With devices such as the Casio GzOne Commando the process is easy if the phone has an older Android OS version, while practically impossible after the latest update. Other models such as the Motorola Droid Pro are easy to root if you roll back the OS update, because it is possible with this model. Any version of the Pantech Breakout seems to be repetitively easy to root. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) seems easy to root.

You have to understand that your phone carrier does not want you too root your Android phone. Tablet manufacturers such as Samsung also do not want you to root your Android device. They have business reasons for this. Rather than allowing you full control over something you own and paid for, they want to maintain control of it so you can't remove crap such as useless junk apps they force on you.

When purchasing an Android device you intend on rooting, you really need to do some research to ensure you purchase a device that is root friendly. Why Root My Android explains the advantages to having full root access of your Android device and discusses some of the risks involved during the process and afterwards. Specific rooting guides can be obtained by searching this site and external resources such as Phandroid Android Forums under device sections labeled "All Things Root."