The charger/data USB cable
❯❯ The charger head, which is a wall adapter for the charger/data cable
❯❯ Other stuff, including the SIM card, SIM card removal tool, earbuds, carrying case, or other goodies
It’s rare, but the phone may feature a removable battery. If so, you’ll find the phone’s battery in the box, along with the phone’s rear cover. These items must be assembled. Look for instructions inside the box.
If anything is missing or appears to be damaged, immediately contact the folks who sold you the phone.
See the later section “Adding accessories” for a description of various goodies available for the typical Android phone.
When buying a phone, first look at a cellular provider, and then determine which phones are available and suit your purpose.
Finding a cellular provider is all about coverage: Can you get a signal everywhere you need one? Despite the boasts, not every cellular provider offers full data coverage. The true test is to ask people who frequent your same locations which services they use and whether they’re happy with the coverage.
All Android phones offer similar features and a vast array of apps. Start looking for a phone by finding ones that feel good in your hands. Some people like smaller, compact phones that fit easily in a pocket or purse. Others prefer the large-format (phablet) phones, which offer larger screens.
Check the phone’s display, not by reviewing the fancy technical jargon but by looking at it with your own eyes. View some photos on the phone to see how good they look.
Phones come with varying quantities of storage, from 8GB on up to 128GB and more. Some phones might still offer removable storage in the form of a microSD, though this feature is becoming rather rare.
Camera resolution isn’t vital, but if your Android phone is your only digital camera, getting a high-resolution rear camera is a plus.
Beyond these basic items, most Android phones are drearily similar. To work best with this book, ensure that your phone uses the Android operating system and can access and use Google Play, the online Android store, where you obtain apps, music, video, and books. Some low-price, bargain phones restrict your purchases to the manufacturer’s own app store. That’s not a good thing.
Most Android phones come fully assembled. If yours doesn’t, the folks at the Phone Store have most likely put everything together for you. When you’re on your own, some setup may be required. This process might involve installing the SIM card or microSD card and inserting the battery. Directions that come with the phone assist you.
Don’t worry about the assembly process being overly complex; if you’re good with Legos, you can put together an Android phone.
Removing the plastic sheeting
The phone ships with a clingy plastic sheeting over its screen, back, or sides. The sheeting might tell you where to find various features, so look it over before you peel it off. And, yes, you need to remove the sheeting; it’s for shipping protection, not for long-term phone protection.
❯❯ Remove all clingy plastic sheets.
❯❯
❯❯ Feel free to throw away the plastic sheeting.
Installing the SIM card
A SIM card identifies your phone on a digital cellular network. Before you can use the phone, the SIM card must be installed. The only time you as a mere mortal need to do this is when you purchase the phone independently of a cellular provider. Otherwise, the kind people at the Phone Store install the SIM card. They pretend like it’s a task that requires a PhD, but installing a SIM card is simple.
When you do need to install the SIM card yourself, follow these steps when the phone is turned off:
1. Pop the SIM card out of the credit-card-size holder.
Push the card with your thumb and it pops out. Don’t use scissors or you may damage the card.
2. Locate the SIM card cover on the phone’s outer edge.
The cover features a dimple or hole on one end.
3. Insert the SIM card removal tool into the hole on the SIM card cover; press it in firmly.
The SIM card cover pops up or the SIM card tray slides out.
4. Insert the SIM card into the SIM card slot, or place the SIM card into the SIM card tray and reinsert it into the phone.
The SIM card is shaped in such a way that it’s impossible to insert improperly. If the card doesn’t slide into the slot, reorient the card and try again.
5. Close the SIM card cover.
You’re done.
The good news is that you seldom, if ever, need to remove or replace a SIM card.
❯❯ On some phones, the SIM card is inserted internally. In that case, remove the phone’s back cover and, if necessary, remove the battery to access the SIM card slot.
❯❯
Installing a microSD card
A few Android phones offer removable storage in the form of a microSD card. If your phone sports this feature, go out and obtain a microSD card to take advantage of the extra storage.
No, your phone didn’t come with a microSD card – unless the Phone Store included it as a “bonus.” (You still paid for it.)
To insert a microSD card, heed these directions:
1. Locate the slot into which you stick the microSD card.
The slot is labeled as shown in Figure 1-1. It is not the same as the SIM card slot.
2. Flip open the teensy hatch on the microSD card slot.
Insert your thumbnail into the tiny slot on the hatch. Flip the hatch outward. It’s attached on one end, so it may not completely pop off.
3. Insert the microSD card into the slot.
The card goes in only one way. If you’re fortunate, a little outline of the card illustrates
