HTC Desire Tips, Tricks and Tweaks
Posts tagged getting started
HOW TO: Using QR Codes
53 years ago
Ever wondered what one of these is:
Well this is actually what is known as a QR Code or a 2D barcode. It’s a barcode which can contain a piece of information such as a weblink, chunk of text or even a business card.
On Android it’s commonly used to let you download apps, or visit websites that you’re viewing on your computer to your Android phone.
To use one is really easy, just go to the Market and search for “Barcode Scanner”. It’s a free app. Download and install. Then, whenever you see this code of you can run the app, scan the code and see what information the barcode has. If it’s an app, it will take you to the Market entry for that app or if it’s a weblink it’ll open in the browser and if it’s a piece of text then it’ll be displayed onscreen for you to read.
QR Codes are generally featured on app websites the likes of AndroLib or even single app websites like Replica Island
You’ll find them becoming popular on commercial products too. For example I recently bought a can of Pepsi which had one of these codes on. Scanning it took me to a webpage with a Pepsi competition on!
To test it out just try scanning the code above with your phone!
Getting Started with HTC Sense
13 years ago
by MrBrightside
in Tutorials
If you’re new to Android, or to smartphones then the Desire might seem a little overwhelming when you first get it. Here’s a few tips and tricks on what to do when you get your phone, and how to use the Sense interface properly:
- check that Internet and MMS are working. You might need to contact your network provider for the settings to use.
- Add my email accounts to the Mail app – remembering to turn the “Sent from Hero” signature off. You can leave that on to brag but I don’t think it looks good when I’m emailing clients!
- Setup your WiFi
- Press Menu on the Home Screen, from the scene’s option choose the blank one and then add the widgets that you actually want/need. Extras will only drain the battery faster though they might provide extra eye-candy when you’re showing off your phone.
- You can hold your finger down in any empty space on a homescreen to quickly add widgets.
- Long-pressing an application in the menu will let you add it as a shortcut to a homescreen
- Long-pressing the Home button will list your recently launched apps.
- Pinch a homescreen, (or press Home whilst already on a homescreen) to see an overview of all 7 homescreens.
- To use a part of an MP3 as a ringtone, open the track in the Music player, press Menu and select “Set as Ringtone”, then select “Trim the ringtone” and from there you can select and preview which part of the song you want!
Closing Applications
There’s no such thing as closing an app on an Android device because they’re multi-tasking phones. You simply press the home button to leave it and it should carry on where you left it next time you go on. When your device finds that it’s running out of RAM it’ll start closing the older apps itself.
