Industry News
Android Customization: How to Customize Your Android Phone
Posted on April 25, 2011
If you're like most people, the first thing you want to do with your mobile phone is customize it. Android customization is easy and more robust than almost any phone operating system to date. It allows the same kind of customization as other phones, with a few more options available. Here's how to make your Android phone reflect you.
Wallpaper
Just like PC's, one of the first and easiest item to customize on a mobile phone with a screen is the wallpaper. Android customization is no exception. Simply long-press on the home screen until the home screen menu appears. Tap "wallpaper," select your source, browse for an image, and tap "set wallpaper."
If you can't find an image you want, you can go to the Android Market and download an image. Or, if you really want to be unique, use a picture you have taken yourself. You have the option of cropping a picture before using it as wallpaper. When taking the picture, you may want to think about whether it works best as portrait or landscape.
One interesting feature of Android 2.0 phones and higher is the ability to have live wallpaper. This is animated wallpaper. For instance, a picture of a pond may ripple when you touch it.
Sounds
Of course, no phone is truly customized until the ringtone is selected. The Android marketplace is a good source of ringtones. If you've downloaded music, you can choose one of those as your ringtone.
To set a new ringtone, tap menu on the homepage. From the menu, choose settings, then sounds and displays. Now you can change the ringtone or notification ringtone.
Widgets & Apps
There are thousands of widgets and apps available on the Android marketplace for download. This is where you can truly make the phone your own.
Once you have downloaded an app, it will be added to the "All apps" page, accessible by pressing on the downward arrow at the bottom right of your screen after backing out of the Android marketplace.
To add an app to your homepage, or any other page, in order to have quick access to your favorite apps, simply long-press on the page and choose "App". Choose the appropriate app and it will be added to that page. To add a widget to front page, long-press on the page, but this time choose "Widget" from the menu.
To remove a widget or app from a front page, simply long-press on the app, and after a moment you will be able to drag the app towards "Remove" at the bottom of the screen.
Themes and Skins
One final way to customize your Android is by choosing a unique theme or skin. While there are several choices available, there is no good way to install them. Every method seems to have its drawbacks, and some could even void your warranty. If you are tech savvy and brave, there are sites which discuss how to do this. Otherwise, you might do well to wait for a future version of Android which allows easy and trouble free installation of new themes and skins.
Making a phone your own by customizing its features is one of the joys of having a mobile phone. Decide how you can make your Android phone reflect you and meet your needs and then make it happen.
