How do you get Facebook Home, for Android?

I've never been that excited about launchers, but there's a new one coming that's rather different. This one, you see, has a purpose. Facebook Home, which can be installed only on Android, is a film through which your phone is viewed. Facebook becomes central to your smartphone experience, starting with the homescreen and lockscreen, which are replaced with "Cover Feed"... streaming of posts and pictures, which you can actually like, comment on, etc, natively; no need to open the Facebook app. Chat Heads is the second big feature; this combines Facebook messages with texts, and allows multitasking so you can work in another app and then come back to the chat, without interruption. Lastly, Facebook Home includes an App Launcher. It... ehm... launches apps. I'm not so very excited about this particular aspect of Facebook Home.

In summary, Facebook Home makes Facebook more than just easily-accessible... rather, it's already active, no matter what else is open on your phone. View the official website, for more information. The first phone to include Facebook Home natively is the HTC First, already available for pre-order here. You don't have to buy the HTC First, though... the family of apps will be available for download from the Google Play Store on April 12. Currently, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the HTC One series are supported, but I'm confident Facebook Home will be available across-the-board, quickly. If you have an Android, that is. If you have an iPhone, well, to quote Doug Gross, CNN contributor, "Your wait might be quite a bit longer. Or, you know, forever." Can anyone tell me why that might be? It's because Android is an open source operating system, permitting such overhauls as Facebook Home. That is why we love it.

That's also why Android is winning the smartphone war. In the first quarter of 2013, Android accounted for 51.2 percent of smartphone sales, compared with Apple's 43.5 percent, according to The Economic Times. It is interesting to note that new smartphone subscribers in that same time period leaned drastically toward Apple, over Android. When you view that in light of the total picture, in which Android dominates, the conclusion is that the novice buys an iPhone... later realizing iPhone doesn't cut it and switching to Android, for the complete smartphone experience.

How do you get pictures to look right as wallpapers, on an Android?

There's something about spring, don't you think? Everyone has their particular perception of the season, but spring makes me think sun and bright, long skirts and daisies. Of course that means it's time to update my Android's wallpaper, from the Dr. Seuss quotes page (Dr. Seuss' birthday was March 2nd) to fresh and beautiful daisies.

A few Androids allow you to set your wallpaper as locked, so that the image is repeated as you swipe between your homescreens; but most spread the image across all the screens, so you see just a portion on each, as demonstrated by my lovely daisies (Is there a more cheerful flower? I think daises are widely undervalued.). That means that the size of the photo you set as your wallpaper is important. You don't have to be precise, but you'll want the shape of your picture to be approximately right, because when you set it as the wallpaper it has to fit a fixed shape. You can determine the correct resolution yourself, by taking the display size of your screen (which can be found in any specs list), and doubling the second number. For example, the Nexus 4 screen size is 768 x 1280, so the wallpaper size is 1536 x 1280; the Samsung Galaxy S III screen size is 720 x 1280, making the wallpaper size 1440 x 1280. Googling "Nexus 4 wallpaper size" is also a viable option. While optimal images will be exactly that size, the issue is really just shape, so keep the ratio approximately right and your images should fit nicely.

If you are setting a picture already on your phone as the wallpaper, crop it to the approximately-correct shape, then either touch and hold or hit menu to bring up the Set picture as option. Choose Wallpaper, and then adjust the crop to your preference. Depending on the phone, you will see options like setting the picture as your lockscreen also, and scrolling or keeping the picture static. Hit OK and enjoy.

If you need to first get the picture from your computer to your phone, start by plugging your phone into your computer via micro USB. In the AutoPlay that comes up on your computer, click "Open device to view files." Right-click the folder DCIM, and create a new folder called Wallpapers. Next, locate the picture in your computer's Pictures folder (if it's not there yet, well then you'd best put it there), and then drag and drop it from its original location to the Wallpapers folder on your phone. Now proceed to set the picture as your wallpaper, from your phone.

If you found a picture in your phone's browser, or if perhaps the picture was sent to you in an email that you are viewing on your phone, you need to save it to your phone first. This will be done by either touching and holding, then hitting Save or Download, or else by opening the menu and hitting Save attachments. Now the picture will be in a Downloads folder, in your gallery, from which you can again set it as your wallpaper.

How do you learn about the Samsung Galaxy S IV release?

How Do You Android is deeply troubled that two articles in a row cover new phone releases. If this troubles you deeply, you may ask, why not choose a different topic?  Because I have big news... excruciatingly big news: A phone manufacturer has announced a new phone.

...Anticlimactically put, no?

March 14, 2013 is poised to go down in history as the day the Apple empire came crashing down, thanks to the unveiling taking place that day, in iconic New York City.

...Now we're looking at melodramatic, as well as highly unlikely.

Yes, the next next big thing is coming -- the Samsung Galaxy S IV. We know nothing at all about it, currently. Rumors aren't even giving us much to go on... probably some advances in mobile payments through NFC (Near Field Communication -- meaning you need only walk by Starbucks in order to spend $6 on coffee), a 360-degree camera (360? how on earth...), and the possibility of a central new syncing program attempting to rival iTunes. 

Do you find it amusing that Samsung officially announced its official announcement? The event is taking place in NYC this time (while the S3 was released in London), on March 14 -- at that point we hope to hear some specs. 

While I expect, in order to form a valid opinion of it, to get a hold of an S4 at some point, I plan to stick with the Nexus 4, for actual use, a while longer. The true reason is shamefully far from techy: the glass back of the Nexus 4 allows me to put a skin under the bumper case, and I really like this skin.

How do you perceive the new LG Optimus G Pro Android smartphone?

It's a pretty sweet phone, and there's a nice amount of hype, so I really should withhold judgment until the phone reaches us here in the states (sometime in the 2nd quarter is the expectation). But I'm throwing caution to the wind, and questioning the way this launch is being handled... we shall see whether the numbers end up confirming the insignificance of my marketing opinion. (If I'm right, official consulting hours are between 8 and 5, every other Thursday.)

First, a bit about the phone itself, starting with this picture LG recently released:

The percentage of the surface that is actual screen, particularly side-to-side, is pretty impressive... noticeably higher than that of the S III. I am wondering why LG is following in Samsung's footsteps by including a physical home button -- what am I missing, people? ...what reason is there for a physical home button? A few specs of the phone include a 5.5" screen (making this phone officially enormous), LTE networking, a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, and a competition-busting 13MP rear-facing camera plus 2.1MP front-facing camera. The AMOLED screen has a resolution of 400 pixels per inch (1920 x 1080 pixels), which LG is touting as great for HD video-viewing, with a hefty 3,140 mAh battery to keep up. Built-in storage of 32GB, plus 2GB of RAM, and finally that holographic design on the back that LG introduced in the Nexus 4, wrap up the highlights (and yes, you should be afraid due to the lack of a price projection). One minuscule downside: the phone is running Android version 4.1.2, though 4.2 has been out since the end of 2012. The differences between Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and Jelly Bean 4.2 are significant, so I'm only calling this downside minuscule because I assume updates will roll out quickly. Overall, definitely a note-worthy phone (or phablet, since it's 5-6"), with top-of-the-line specs, and an attractive design. So what's my problem?

We're excited about the LG Optimus G Pro now, watching Korea skip along with a shiny new phone we can't yet have; but we have a very short attention span -- we don't plan on being excited any longer, when we finally get it, in a few months. It might have made more sense to keep rumors swirling, but facts few, a little while longer, over here. Additionally, LG seems to be positioning the product as top-of-the line, no competition. So it may be, right now, but in a few months there will be bigger and better. LG has shown Samsung and HTC and Motorola exactly what they need to one up. Past precedent says they accept the challenge.

How do you sync an Android phone with an Apple computer?

Mind you, I'm not condoning such behavior; however, it's a step in the right direction to recognize that owning a Mac does not force you into choosing an iPhone.

Google's official (and free) solution to the Apple/Android integration problem is the most likely to suit. It's called Android File Transfer, and must be installed on your Mac. After it's installed, connect your Android to your Mac, via USB cable, and double click to open Android File Transfer on the computer (after the first use, the program will open automatically). Your phone should be recognized automatically, but if you run into any trouble here, try enabling USB debugging on your Android (Settings > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging). The Android File Transfer program is pretty self-explanatory... the amount of space available on your device is shown, and you can move files and folders around between your computer and your phone. 

To download Android File Transfer, click here. 

For Android File Transfer support, click here.

If you aren't concerned about syncing anything but music, between your Mac and your Android, you might want to try Google Play Music, another program directly from Google. Install the app on your Android, and navigate to http://play.google.com/music on your Mac. Click Upload Music in the top right corner, then click Download the Google Play Music Manager. Once the Google Play Music Manager is installed on your computer, personalize exactly what music is uploaded to Google Play Music (all of iTunes, including playlists, is an option). After the upload is complete, your music will be available in Google Play Music, on your Android. 

To download Google Play Music on your Android, click here.

To download Google Play Music Manager on your Mac, click here (then click Upload Music > Download the Google Play Music Manager.)

There are a lot more options for syncing an Android phone with an Apple computer, so if you don't like these methods, look around for others, such as Samsung Kies, HTC Sync, doubleTwist, Salling Media Sync, and SyncMate, to name a few.

How Do You Know Android? (Easter Eggs & Hidden Features)

I spent some time, last weekend, with three iPhone-toting friends. Now, I try to keep my Android fervor contained, but if my input is invited, I eagerly enter into discussion. One iPhone argument presented was the ease of use, resulting in a straightforward smartphone experience -- no options means no confusion. Based on the fact that these are highly intelligent dudes, who aren't satisfied with face value, but must delve toward the root of any topic, I am unconvinced; iPhones don't cut it for their personality types, and I think they realize that. Unfortunately, I also encountered the brick wall of no strong iPhone or Android preference, simply happy with a phone that makes and receives calls: touche. However, one final point discussed was that iPhones have unpublished hidden features that are fun to discover; that point is the prompt for this post.

iPhone cannot compete with Android in terms of hidden features:

1. Most Android phones will let you rename folders (in your gallery, for example) by longpressing the folder name.
2. Another feature on most Androids is keyboard shortcuts like Search + B for Browser, Search + C for Contacts, Search + M for Messaging, Search + G for Gmail, etc.
3. On the Samsung Galaxy S II, the screen brightness can be adjusted by holding the notifications bar until the bar disappears and the adjuster takes its place.
4. On the Nexus 4 camera, swipe your finger from the top left and right corners to reveal menu shortcuts, for exposure and focus.
5. On the Nexus 4, reveal hidden developer options by locating Build Number under About Phone, and tapping 10 times.
6. On the Nexus 4, repeatedly tap Android Version, under About Phone, to reveal the Jelly Bean version Easter Egg. This time around it's a BeanFlinger game. Once you've found the Easter Egg and played it once, the game will become a "Daydream" screensaver menu option.

There are many more hidden features, tips, and tricks for Android... but if I told you what they all are, they wouldn't be a surprise any more. As you customize your Android, with widgets, preferences, etc., molding the perfect-for-you smartphone, you'll realize there are endless discoveries to be made.

How do you convert a standard SIM card to a micro SIM card?

It's very easy; so easy it might be a little silly to devote a whole article to the task. In a word: cut.

Unnecessary tools:

• A nail file
• Sandpaper
• A ruler
• A pattern
• A brain

Since there is quite a risk of damaging the SIM card in this process, step 1 is to call or visit a location for your carrier, like an AT&T store; they often have the tool to convert a standard SIM to a micro SIM and will do it for you, free of charge. 

If you are conducting the surgery yourself, come to terms with the reality that your SIM card might not survive the encounter -- but I think it will. The only thing that's difficult about the process is determining exactly where to cut your card. There are a lot of diagrams and patterns that you can print out, but I find them more confusing than beneficial. Find a picture, like the one above, that shows a SIM card with the same design as yours. A standard and micro of the same SIM, to show before and after, would be the most helpful, but I did just fine with only the after, micro part. 

The material of SIM cards is a lot easier to cut than you might expect. I read dire warnings that if your scissors aren't sharp enough to slice through a 1-inch stack of index cards, simply by placing the stack within 4 inches of the scissors, you have no chance of success. I found this misleading; my scissors fall under the category "eh." I decided to try it with my inadequate tools because I knew it was cut the SIM or buy a new one -- not a lot of risk.

Open up your phone and locate the slot into which you tried to mash your SIM card, before you realized it was micro. Study the slot. Be the slot. This will help guide your hand as you cut... maybe. Compare your standard SIM to the micro SIM example you located, and cut so that it will match ex posto facto (you might want to keep in mind the size of that slot). Cut much, much, MUCH less than you think you should. One tiny sliver at a time. It will probably fit bigger than you were expecting. Don't forget it goes in the tray upside down... put the angled corner on the same corner as when it was standard; don't mix that up. By the way, you do not need to sand or shave or in any way de-roughen or slenderize. Even if your particular phone takes the kind of SIM that is shorter than standard, it should fit without shrinking. All that matters is the metal part... the conductors.

Now at some point just stick it in... wiggle it around a little... it'll probably work. 

How Do You Know Android? (Best Apps of 2012)

Between Christmas and New Year's is a funny time; we're done with the carols and the cranberry sauce, but we're not ready for 40 hours. Those among us on a schedule have it easy: no decision -- days off and work days. It's the self-employed who have that intense decision regarding the proper amount to work during the holidays. Well, 15 hours it is. I always say why work 40 hours a week and earn a steady income, when you could work 90+ hours a week and just pray the money follows the effort?  Ah, yes... self-employment is the life. By which I mean you have to be out of your mind to dive head first into self-employment. Thankfully, I am. Deeply. And what does this have to do with Androids, you may ask. Little... very little.

Google just released its best apps of 2012 list, which usually attracts a bit of attention. Everyone has best of lists, but Google's seems more authoritative to me. In no particular order, let's welcome the Google's choice BEST APPS OF 2012 TO HowDoYouAndroid.com!
 *WHISTLES AND APPLAUDING*

TED:
A brilliant way to redeem time spent in lines or waiting rooms, the TED app gathers those talks and conferences that would have been life-altering to attend. Now you can alter your life via your Android. From the Google Play Store description: "TED's official Android app presents talks from some of the world's most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus, and music legends."
Get TED for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Pixlr Express:
This beautiful little app has a gorgeous UI, making it easy to add any effect you'd like to a picture, or to edit and refine. There are a lot of picture editing apps, so it's nice to know this is the one Google itself considers the best.
Get Pixlr Express for Android from the Google Play Store here.

SeriesGuide Show Manager:
The Show Manager app is just a streamlined way to keep track of what's playing when. In addition to finding the next showing of an episode you missed, you can also share episodes with friends. A convenient feature is the offline mode.
Get SeriesGuide Show Manager for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Mint.com Personal Finance:
Mint.com's financial planning service is widely used from computers, but now there's a beautiful edition for tabs and smartphones... and for some crazy reason, it's free. From the Google Play Store description, "Mint pulls in all your personal finance accounts into one place, so you can manage your money form anywhere. Track your spending, create a budget, and save more."
Get Mint.com Personal Finance for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Fancy:
I don't know what the Fancy app icon is. A popsicle? A wig on a stand? A sagging umbrella? Help me out, people... what is that? I refuse to write a description of an app with an unidentifiable icon; here's the Google Play Store description: "Discover amazing stuff, collect the things you love, unlock crazy good deals. Fancy is the place to discover, collect and buy from a crowd-curated catalog of amazing goods, wonderful places and great stores. Part store, magazine and wishlist, Fancy is the best place to buy great things. Use Fancy to find a gift for any occasion and share your favorite discoveries with all your friends."
Get Fancy for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Ancestry:
Everyone knows about ancestry.com... figure out the cool or crazy people from whom you've descended. Actually an interesting study. This app does the same and more, with capability to grow your own family tree, adding members and inserting pictures.
Get Ancestry for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Expedia:
A mobile version of Expedia seems particularly useful to me... if one needs Expedia, one is most likely traveling; therefore, portability is essential. You can book your flights and hotel rooms, and even use provided discount codes and offers.
Get Expedia for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Pocket:
Pocket is a mobile e-reader, but not like Kindle or Nook... this one is for news articles, videos, etc. The purpose of this app is to save, in your "pocket", documents or media you encounter, to take out and read later. Pretty cool.
Get Pocket for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Grimm's Snow White:
This app is an interactive pop-up fairy tale book, for children. The award-winner app developer has created an Android app version of the classic brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Get Grimm's Snow White for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Pinterest:
You knew it would be on the list... here's Pinterest. Does it need an explanation? Ok, ok... it's social networking with pictures. Create galleries to share what you like with friends, even posting captions.
Get Pinterest for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Evernote:
I like this icon. It's an elephant; I can tell because it looks like an elephant. Fancy, please take note. Evernote is like those little memo apps that usually come pre-installed on your phone, but it also has to-do lists, picture capability, record voice reminders, etc. I say ditch the little memo app, and use Evernote, which does everything in one convenient place.
Get Evernote for Android from the Google Play Store here.

Zappos:
Buying online is convenient, but paying shipping is lousy, and the inconvenience/expense of returns makes it a bother. That's why my favorite aspect of Zappos is the free shipping and returns. Zappos carries about any item in any brand you can think of, making it a great go-to business for any shopper. The portability brought with this Android apps improves the experience that much more.
Get Zappos for Android from the Google Play Store here.

And that's Google's best of 2012 list. I can't say that my list would be quite identical, but until I make Forbes 500, I'll be just one more; I'm waiting until I have credibility to blow the world wide web away with my best of's.

How do you add widgets to your home screen?

An Android widget is like a regular icon for an app, in that when touched it opens that app. The difference between a simple icon for an app and a widget for an app,  though, is that a widget has a smaller or simplified version of the app right there on your homepage, as well as linking to the full app. This is a screenshot of my current home page, with the top three items widgets (unfortunately my Starbucks widget doesn't fit on this page, and is pushed out to screen 2):

Let's take The Weather Channel app and widget as an example. You download the Weather Channel app from the Google Play Store, and you set the icon on your homepage. Now when you touch that icon, you get to the weather page, where you can see the forecast for your location. The widget for the Weather Channel app, however, will show you what location's weather is currently showing, the current temperature, and the high/low for today and tomorrow... all constantly visible on your home page (or whichever page you put the widget on). If you touch the widget, you'll be brought to the full weather.com app, where you can see the 10-day forecast, hourly forecast, change locations, etc.

If you touch and hold a blank spot on your home screen, you will see the option for widgets. Touch that and you'll be brought to a list of all widgets available for your currently-installed apps. A widget will not show up in this menu if you don't have the app installed... part of installing the app will be adding its widget to the list, if it has that capability.

This feature is a really special aspect of Android, that iPhone users envy. The ability to actually see a bit of info or do a little something without opening the app is a very useful feature that you should start to take advantage of, if you don't already.

How do you lower an Android phone bill?

Did you know that it's no longer uncool to have a contract-less (prepaid or pay-as-you-go) phone? I am very opposed to contracts, like Verizon or Sprint offer. I have researched phone carriers extensively, and arrived at the conclusion that Straight Talk is the best option.

I used Virgin Mobile happily for a while, and they are the best if you're happy with limited minutes. Virgin Mobile's plans are restarted each month, and they offer unlimited text, unlimited data, and 300 minutes for $35, which is phenomenal; however, 300 minutes isn't going to be enough for most people. Their next plan is $45/month, which gets you up to 1,200 minutes; at this point you're paying $45, so you might as well be using Straight Talk, which is $45/month for unlimited talk, text, and data.

One very cool thing about Straight Talk is that using this provider gives you the option to have practically any phone you want, because of their "Bring Your Own Phone" program. Any GSM (meaning uses a SIM card) phone that is unlocked, T-Mobile, or AT&T (or a Straight Talk phone, of course) will work with Straight Talk. Regarding how good coverage will be for these phones: Straight Talk or unlocked phones use Verizon's prepaid towers, while AT&T or T-Mobile phones through Straight Talk use the AT&T or T-Mobile towers. That means your coverage is premium... the same coverage as if you were using the providers directly. Like Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk is prepaid, so every month (unless you pay for multiple months at once) you restart your plan.

So Straight Talk offers $45/month for unlimited everything, and the widest phone selection you'll find anywhere -- do you know of a better carrier?

How do you install/uninstall apps on an Android?

There are two ways to access apps (which is short for applications) for an Android phone.

The first way is from your phone itself. One of the apps that your phone had when you got it, that can't be uninstalled, is called Play Store (it may be called the Market, but the first time you open the Market you'll be prompted to upgrade it to the newer version, the Play Store). Touch this, and you'll have access to the 563,000 and counting Android apps. You can look through top free apps, top paid apps (if you feel you should; there are enough free apps that paying is rather a waste of money, for the most part), top recommended apps, etc... you can also search by keyword (like flashlight or memo) or by app name (like Angry Birds or Instogram). Once you locate an app you're interested in, touch it and you'll see its description, reviews, some screenshots, and the option to install it. Helpful hint: if an app isn't compatible with your phone, it's not going to show up in the Play Store on your phone.

The second way to get at apps is from your computer, by navigating to https://play.google.com/store. Here, like on your phone, you can look at top apps and you can search for apps. However, all apps will come up, compatible with your phone or not. Since you're signed into Google on your phone and your computer, the Play Store from your computer will do a quick check, after you open an app page on your computer, and will let you know if it is compatible with your device. You can click to install the app from your computer, and verify that Google is sending it to the right device. Within a few seconds, you should see something installing on your phone.

To uninstall an app using your phone, go to your phone's settings, then Manage Applications. Open the "Downloaded" tab, and find the app. Touch it, and from there uninstall. Your second option to uninstall apps, still using your phone, is to open the Play Store, then touch the menu, then "My Apps." Touch the app you're trying to uninstall, and you'll see that uninstall option. From your computer, open the play store website, and click the "My Android Apps" page. You can click to uninstall apps from here. A second option from your computer is to search for the app, which Google will recognize that you have installed, and give you the option to uninstall.

How do you move contacts from an old phone to an Android phone?

If you've had an Android phone before, then your contacts are all saved in Google, so just going through the set-up process with your new phone (see blog post Getting Started) will pull in your contacts.
However, if this is your first Android, then there are a couple different ways to avoid that hideous process of manually re-entering each number.

First, and most likely to work, on your old phone, export your contacts to your SD card. Open your contacts, then open the contacts menu, where you should find the option to export to SD card (you'll have to have an SD card installed in your phone at this point). Then take out the SD card and switch it to your new phone. Now open your contacts on the Android, touch menu, and import from SD card.

Second, sometimes you can't move your contacts to your SD card, but, if the phone is GSM (meaning uses a SIM card), you should still be able to move them onto your SIM card. Sometimes you'll have to move them to storage on the SIM card one entry at a time, but that's still a lot faster than manually entering the numbers. This, as when putting contacts on an SD card, will be in menu or settings, under contacts. Look for a way to move them all at once, but if you can't find that, then open one contact at a time, and then the menu button should reveal the option to switch it to SIM storage.

If your phone charges via micro USB, so you can plug it into your computer, then your last option is to plug it in, "Open device to view files," and see if you can locate a folder with contacts in it. If so, copy that folder onto your desktop. Then disconnect that phone, and plug your Android into your computer. See if you can locate a contacts folder there, and then copy the old contacts folder contents into the new contacts folder, on your Android.

If you try all of these and have no luck, comment to tell me what's going on. You can also let me know if you run into some confusion going through any of these steps. If there's a way to do it, I'll help you get it figured out!

How do you Android -- Getting Started

Congratulations on choosing Android! You've made a wise choice; see diagram below:

Now what do you do to get this brilliant phone working for you? After activating the phone with your carrier, your first step is to get the phone charging. If you bought the phone used, then start with a master restore (navigate to Settings>About Phone>Factory Reset... or similar). At this point your phone should be asking you to go through the setup process, which is primarily signing into or creating your Google account (Google owns Android... fun fact of the day that you probably already knew). Now before you start entering contacts or setting ringtones, check that your software is updated. This is a first step because an update will remove all your information from the phone, so you might as well get the update done before you've entered your info, rather than backing the phone up to prepare for an updatae. (See post How do you find your Android version? and upcoming post about updating Android version).  If you have access to Wi-Fi, connect (touch Menu, then Settings) before updating, so that you don't eat into your data plan (even if it's unlimited, you'll get throttled if you use too much), and because Wi-Fi is faster for all these updates and installs that you need to start out with.
Your phone is as updated as it can be, and you've signed into your Google account now, which will pull in all your contacts if you've had an Android before. If your contacts are not yet stored through Google, see upcoming post about getting contacts from a non-Android phone to an Android smartphone. Next, open the Play Store (on some phones it will be called the Market, until you've opened it and it automatically updates to the newer Play Store). Touch the menu button, then My Apps. Here there should be a button for Update All. While the pre-loaded apps update, you can work on adding the Apps you want. The Bible, Starbucks, Flashlight, Amazon Kindle, eBay, and Pandora are among the first apps I install.
Now, as these apps continue to update and install, open the apps that require signing in, such as Facebook and Twitter. After you've signed in, you will have options to configure notifications (the icon that pops up on the bar at the top of your screen, when there is activity in an app), including when to notify and whether to make sound (adjust volume with the buttons on the side of your phone, if you're setting anything to make sounds). If you use Gmail, your original Google sign-in set Gmail up. If you use another email program, touch the Email app, and follow the instructions to sign into your email account and receive notifications. Lastly, I recommend installing the newest version of Swype (see post How do you use the Swype keyboard?)
At this point, you're getting your emails and social network notifications, you can make calls and text, and you've installed the most important apps. Your phone has become quite functional. There's a lot more to configure and discover, such as ringtones, contact icons, real-time weather... but this is enough of a start that you're making good use of your Android.