Just acquired a new Android smartphone for the vacations? If it’s your first one it may very well be a bit intimidating so, to get you began, listed below are a number of apps it is best to instantly set up or arrange on a new Android machine. Alternatively, if you happen to’re not already utilizing these apps, it is likely to be time to present them a shot!
Use a password supervisor!!
We all 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 normally work by encrypting your knowledge behind a “Master Password” or another means, whereas permitting you to arrange that knowledge by the positioning it really works with or in folders.
Getting a password supervisor is among the most essential, but additionally one of many best methods to boost your on-line safety.
One of our favourite password managers is 1Password, with inexpensive pricing, glorious safety that makes use of each a grasp password and a “Secret Key,” and an easy-to-use app.
DashLane works equally, but additionally has an choice to robotically change your passwords for you and a few free performance too. If you actually need a totally free choice, although, Bitwarden is a good choice. ProtonPass is a new choice that additionally integrates with ProtonMail, a safe electronic mail shopper. It additionally features a neat characteristic the place you possibly can create electronic mail deal with aliases to keep away from spam. The password supervisor itself is free, however a number of the options require a subscription.
The solely password supervisor we presently don’t actively suggest is LastGo. While it has a stable free tier, the corporate has had a number of notable safety breaches, together with one only recently the place password vaults from prospects have been stolen. It’s nonetheless higher than nothing, however the free tier shouldn’t be well worth the problem anymore.
Up your messaging recreation
Google Messages (RCS)
In the US at the least, messaging has historically been a sore level of Android smartphones. Thankfully, Google has been arduous at work attempting to repair that in latest months and now, the answer often known as RCS (Rich Communication Services) is on the market to each Android smartphone on the earth at this level.
How are you able to get RCS on your machine and, extra importantly, what’s the profit? The profit, firstly, is that RCS is rather more succesful than SMS/MMS. Pictures could be despatched in larger high quality, typing indicators, and extra all arrive with RCS. Group chats additionally get an enormous improve too. On prime of that, RCS chats at the moment are encrypted to supply higher safety.
Basically, RCS is like Apple’s iMessage, however for Android telephones. And, quickly, Apple can be bringing RCS to the iPhone, which can enhance media sharing, options, and doubtless group chats too. The inexperienced bubble gained’t be gone, but it surely’ll be means higher than it’s as we speak.
To get RCS on your Android telephone, all that you must do is obtain Google Messages.
The free app is an SMS app at coronary heart, however it could actually additionally allow RCS messaging on any service and any Android smartphone too. Simply obtain, set it as your default SMS app, and watch for the immediate to show on RCS. We’ve acquired a extra detailed tutorial on the method as effectively, and a few suggestions and methods on one of the best options it is best to flip on. RCS by way of Google Messages is end-to-end encrypted for each 1-on-1 messages and group chats.
Telegram, Signal, & different messaging apps
If you need an app for even higher messaging, you possibly can transcend the RCS and typical SMS, Telegram is certainly one of our favourite messaging apps and it really works so much just like the tremendous common WhatsApp. Unlike that app, although, Telegram works simply on a number of smartphones or tablets at one time and backs up all of your messages robotically. Plus, all the things 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 significantly alongside including a extra strong video name app too.
Discord is one other nice messaging various, providing personal messages in addition to “servers” to host a number of associates or a whole bunch, all with rooms and chat admins. It’s an awesome expertise, and one which’s particularly glorious for players.
Meanwhile, Signal is an much more privacy-focused messaging app that grew to become particularly common when Meta-owned WhatsApp was underneath fireplace for new privateness insurance policies. Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the recognition of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger each globally and within the US. While many are uncomfortable with Meta, these apps are nonetheless much better than the same old SMS you’d in any other case be utilizing. Facebook Messenger even now defaults to end-to-end encryption, which is an enormous deal!
Staying related
Google Meet
Video calling is a good way to maintain up with family and friends past simply texts and audio calls, and there are some nice companies to do it.
Google Duo was at all times among the finest video calling apps on Android, however in 2022, Google consolidated a few of its companies which noticed Google Duo fall underneath the Google Meet model. Previously aimed simply at enterprise issues, Google Meet has a free expertise that works so much like Duo did. The change has been comparatively seamless, but it surely’s value realizing that Meet is your new house for video calls on Android.
Using Google Meet for calling family and friends is totally free, and it really works throughout a ton of gadgets. Android telephones and tablets. Chromebooks. Windows and macOS. It even works on iOS!
Think of it as Apple’s Facetime, however not locked down to at least one ecosystem.
The app works with your electronic mail deal with and options enjoyable filters and even display screen sharing on some gadgets. Its greatest characteristic although, may simply be how effectively it really works on less-than-ideal connections.
Zoom and extra
One of the preferred video calling/conferencing instruments in the course of the pandemic thus far has been Zoom. By its reputation alone, that is an app it is best to have put in. The service affords conferences you can hook up with with only a hyperlink or a password, simply connecting with family members, associates, or utilizing it for enterprise conferences. Many faculties 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 acquired a free providing.
Other nice video calling apps embody:
Skype, one of many authentic video calling apps that also works nice particularly for family and friends.
Facebook Messenger, a service that plenty of folks within the US presently use and has a wonderful video calling choice alongside its messaging options.
Back up your photos and movies
Google Photos
One of the primary issues it is best to set up on a 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 on your machine, however you’ll nonetheless must get issues arrange.
To do this, merely open the app, sign up with your most popular Google account, and resolve on backup choices. Photos will robotically backup your photos and movies within the background, however you’ll want to inform it if you’d like that executed over Wi-Fi solely or on mobile knowledge as effectively.
From there, you’ll simply must resolve on high quality. Google affords full decision 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 totally different. Plus, there are some killer options obtainable with a Google One subscription, similar to Magic Eraser and a ton of useful modifying options.
In 2021, Google modified its storage coverage with Photos, taking away the “free ceaselessly” supply that was enticing to so many, and as a substitute pushing prospects to make use of solely the 15GB of free storage included with their account, or paid upgrades. You can nonetheless get absolutely limitless picture storage via a particular supply with T-Mobile, although.
Amazon Photos and extra
Outside of Google, there are another stable choices for storing your pictures. Amazon Photos has among the finest values, with limitless picture storage for Prime prospects, whereas OneDrive has inexpensive charges and a sturdy setup for each pictures and information alike.
Upgrade your keyboard
Gboard
The keyboards pre-installed on numerous as we speak’s hottest Android smartphones are, effectively, not nice. While a lot of it comes down to private choice, you may get extra options and, in lots of circumstances, higher performance out of a unique keyboard.
Our prime choose? Google’s personal Gboard. This keyboard has an awesome structure that’s snug for typers of all types and helps options similar 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 also can theme Gboard to your coronary heart’s want.
There’s additionally a helpful toolbar you can customise!
Put merely, it’s a wonderful keyboard that’s completely free and, if it wasn’t already on your telephone (it’s not put in by default on Samsung Galaxy gadgets, for instance), it is best to completely give it a attempt. Check it out on the Play Store.
SwiftKey and extra
If Gboard isn’t fairly your model, there’s one other nice choice on the Play Store is the Microsoft-owned SwiftKey. This keyboard has been one of the common Android apps because the platform’s app retailer existed. Recently acquired by Microsoft, the app affords glorious gesture typing and options the neat trick of studying and adapting to your typing model and your spelling errors too. SwiftKey helps over 400 languages and is free. It even helps syncing your clipboard with Windows PCs.
Some different common Android keyboards embody:
Grammarly was popularized as a Chrome extension, however works nice on Android too. The Grammarly keyboard for Android goes past primary spell verify to supply grammar fixes and alternate phrasing to enhance the way you ship texts and emails.
Fleksy is designed for pace typing with some glorious auto-correct. The keyboard can be including assist for “glide” typing and helps over 80 languages.
Don’t lose your telephone or your knowledge
Find My Device
Here’s one other app that ought to already be put in on any new Android smartphone. “Find my Device” is a Google app designed that can assist you maintain monitor of your smartphone ought to or not it’s misplaced. If the app isn’t put in on your machine for some cause, Find My Device obtainable by way of the Play Store.
When you open up Find My Device, you’ll be prompted to sign up with a Google account and enter your password as effectively. Once that’s executed, you’ll be capable to see your machine in addition to any others hooked up to your account. You can then ring, lock, or wipe any machine on your account. The identical applies for your new telephone as effectively from every other Android machine you personal, a buddy’s Android telephone, and even only a internet browser. As a facet word, the core performance of really discovering your telephone with this app is on by default in Google Play Services, however utilizing the app you’ll get a bit extra management in addition to with the ability to discover your different Android gadgets via the app in addition to serving to associates to search out their telephones.
And, quickly, the app may even be capable to use a community of tens of millions of Android telephones that can assist you find misplaced gadgets utilizing trackers from manufacturers similar to Chipolo and Pebblebee.
Google One
If you do lose or break your telephone, you don’t should 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 without spending a dime to your Google account, however the One app can again up SMS messages and MMS messages together with your pictures and movies.
Backup (and switch!) your SMS
If you’re nonetheless dealing with numerous your messaging via SMS, it’s good apply 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 could be helpful as you arrange a new telephone, or if you happen to’re planning to make the change later on.
Manage your cash
Google Wallet – Manage faucet to pay and extra
Mobile NFC funds are tremendous conveinent, and setting them up on Android is simpler than ever. Google Wallet is a free and fairly easy app that permits you to add credit score/debit playing cards to your telephone for NFC funds, in addition to holding your loyalty playing cards, reward playing cards, COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, airline passes, and a lot extra. It’s additionally working on including assist for driver’s licenses in choose US States.
Google Wallet is pre-installed on most Android gadgets, however you may need to manually obtain it on a Samsung machine, for instance.
Cash App, GPay, and extra
Sending cash has gotten a complete lot simpler with apps, and there are some glorious selections to take action. Here are a number of common choices.
Google Pay: Google’s money-sharing app “GPay” makes it simple to ship funds to associates or household with no added charges, and the app additionally holds a whole bunch of reductions, cashback choices, and might even show you how to with your finances.
PayPal: The basic, PayPal is a good 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: Both utilizing the identical primary mannequin, Venmo and Cash App are glorious apps for sending cash between family and friends with usernames for sharing and straightforward linking to your financial institution. Plus, since they’re extensively used, most folk are normally going to have at the least certainly one of these two.
Boost your financial savings and your safety
To show you how to hit new targets within the new yr, in addition to up your safety, there are two different money-related apps we’d suggest attempting out.
Privacy is a digital card service. After linking it to your checking account, the app can create digital card numbers which might be hooked up to a single on-line retailer, and even flip off after a single use. It’s a good way to make sure that some retailer’s safety breach doesn’t have an effect on your funds later on. It even integrates with 1Password.
Digit.co is a money-saving app. It hyperlinks to your checking account and robotically saves funds right here or there that can assist you set up some emergency financial savings or a rainy-day fund. You also can arrange guide targets that can assist you put away cash for a trip, particular occasion, or large buy.
The greatest note-taking Android apps
Google Keep Notes
Keeping monitor of reminders, lists, and extra could 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 totally free and allows you to retailer notes, lists, and even drawings within the app. Those notes are additionally synced to your Google account which implies you possibly can entry them on every other machine together with computer systems. With a fast setup, you possibly can even use Google Assistant audio system such because the Nest Mini to handle a buying listing!
Microsoft OneObserve
If you need one thing that’s not from Google and has a number of extra superior options, Microsoft OneObserve is a wonderful choice. The app is totally free, although works higher with different Microsoft apps utilizing a Microsoft 365 subscription. You can again up notes, drawings, and insert photos within the app and, like Google’s app, they’ll sync throughout gadgets with your Microsoft account.
Keep related to your laptop
Link to Windows
If you spend all day at a desk, it may be tremendous conveinent to maintain your Android telephone related to your PC. With the Link to Windows app, that’s tremendous simple.
After connecting, Link to Windows permits Android customers to take telephone calls on their PC, use messages, deliver their notifications to their laptop, and even entry of their pictures and movies with out hooking up any wires. You may even mirror Android apps from your telephone as much as your laptop.
How to arrange Chromebook Phone Hub
Alternatively, in case you have a Chromebook, you possibly can arrange “Phone Hub.” This affords many of the identical options as Link to Windows, however additional constructing on it with assist for organising a hotspot and likewise utilizing your telephone as a “key” to unlock your ChromeOS machine. You don’t should obtain something to arrange Phone Hub both, simply comply with the directions beneath.
A number of extra noteworthy apps:
Waze: While Google Maps will do the trick for a lot of, Waze affords crowdsourced dwell site visitors knowledge and studies for pace traps and extra.
Google News: Especially in these instances, maintaining with the newest information is essential, and utilizing customized knowledge, Google News will deliver you prime tales in a slick app that’s very easy to make use of.
Feedly: Want to maintain monitor of the information utilizing customized RSS feeds? Feedly is among the greatest apps for the job, and it’s free!
Google Home/Amazon Alexa: Got some sensible house audio system or shows? You’ll need to have the Google Home or Amazon Alexa apps put in relying on what gadgets you personal.
Get a Third-party launcher: Installing a new launcher is a good way to completely customise the homescreen on your new Android telephone. Nova Launcher and Action Launcher are nice choices for this.
Last replace: 12/25/2023
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