Android Voice Commands Fix Tip
Android Voice Commands can be a bit tricky – that’s why you may need this fix tip. In case you have tried using the Android Voice Commands and they are just not working for you, we have a fix that will hopefully make it all work out on your Droid phone. If you have not read our intro tip or tutorial article about Android Voice Commands, you may want to now.

But just because we have written about it a little, does not mean it is automatically going to work on your phone!

Android Voice Commands Fix Tip – The Problem
When Android Voice Commands are not working properly, you usually end up with a Google Search online for what you were hoping your phone would be doing. Instead of getting a Text Message ready to send, you see the Google Search results for “Send text to Bob…” – not what you were looking for!

Android Voice Commands Fix Tip – will it work?
This happens for a couple of reasons: 1) Your phone is not capable of doing the full set of Voice Commands or 2) Your phone’s software parts are not properly updated.

To determine if your phone can do this Android Voice Commands (technically called Android Voice Actions) thing at all, go to the Android Market, then search for an App called “Voice Search” by Google. If you can not see it, then I’m sorry, but the coolness factor of your phone just took a nose dive!

If you can’t download the “Voice Search” app from the Market, then you most likely will not be able to do all the Android Voice Commands on your phone. Check with your Service Provider for details on what you can do.

Android Voice Commands Fix Tip – Voice Search is visible in the Market, now what?
So assuming that you CAN see the FREE “Voice Search” app by Google in the Market, then we have a fix that should get things working for you. Leave the Market for now and follow the next few steps in order and hopefully you’ll be ready to go using the Android Voice Commands like we have discussed in other tips articles and tutorials here at www.UseMyDroid.com.

1. Choose “Menu” and then “Settings”
2. Choose “Applications” then “Manage Applications”
3. Find a way to “Show All” your Apps in this “Manage Applications area”
4. Scroll to find the App called “Voice Search” and Select it
5. Press the “Clear Data” button (yes, do it)
6. Go Home
7. Go to the Market and Search for the “Voice Search” App by Google
8. Select the Free “Voice Search” App and Download it or Update it to your phone
9. If asked, say “Yes”, you are OK letting Google watch your voice commands corrections

Android Voice Commands Fix Tip – Did it work?
Now that you have cleared the Voice Search data and re-installed the App by the same name onto your phone, your Android Voice Commands should be working. When you tell it things to do, it should start doing things instead of just taking you to a Google Search. We have noted on our other tips articles and tutorials that certain phones don’t like you using the “to” word, so you may want to keep that in mind when your say your commands.

Android Voice Commands Fix Tip – All better now?
This Android Voice Commands fix tip is usually what needs to be done to make the phone you have work with Android Voice Commands – assuming you can see the “Voice Search” app in the Market like we said above. Is it all better now for you? Let us know if this helped or not in the comments below. Have fun talking to your phone and making it do stuff for you!

Previous Tip

Watch the Android Voice Commands Basics Video Android Voice Commands Basics Video

Did you know that you can make your Droid Phone do things simply by talking to it?

We’re not talking about the normal way you talk ON your phone, but a special way you can talk TO your phone and it will obey your Commands!

Your Droid phone can utilize “Android Voice Commands”. The name “Android Voice Actions” is the Official name for this function, but most people call it Voice Commands. Just in case you need to find more details on it, you might look around using the official name of Android Voice Actions.

Android Voice Commands – aka Android Voice Actions
Using Android Voice Commands makes it so you don’t have to type as much on your phone. That is really nice as most of us have fingers that are larger than the phone’s keypad, and if we are trying to do many things at once slowing down to type on the phone can be a bit of a pain.

Utilizing Android Voice Commands is a great way to do stuff without typing. You can make your phone send a Text Message or an Email without having to type even one character. When you first start using this feature on your phone, you may have to type a bit, but as you get better at it, you’ll find ways to use these Android Voice Commands that gets it all done without any typing at all!

Android Voice Commands – An Introduction
This article is intended to get you started using these Commands or Actions. We’ll have follow-up articles that go into further detail on many of the specific Voice Actions or Voice Commands you will commonly use to help you can get the most out of each one.

Here is a quick list of what some of the Android Voice Commands let you do:

1. Make a Phone Call
2. View a Map of Places Around You
3. Start Navigation (voice guided) to a Location
4. Send a Text Message
5. Write & Send an Email
6. Play Some Music
7. Send a Written “Note to Self” Message
8. Find a Website Online
9. Look up a Definition

Watch a video on this topic: Android Voice Commands Basics Video.

Android Voice Commands – Voice Driven
Your Droid or Android Phone uses Voice Technology developed by Google to perform these functions. It seems very futuristic, but it is here now and it works! Tell it to “Beam Me Up Scotty” and you’ll find yourself looking at a website, so let’s focus on the commands that will really do something helpful for you.

The point of the Voice Commands is to let you direct your phone to do something by using your voice. At times you may need to interact further with your phone (like select–with your finger–the proper option from some choices given to you), but for most things, that interaction is limited. These Android Voice Commands really work quite well!

Android Voice Commands – How do you start?
To start all the Voice Commands you need to find your Google Search Widget on your phone. If it is not on one of your home screens, you’ll want to put it on one. In fact, once you try this stuff out and love it, you will want this Google Search Widget right at the top of your main home screen so you can access it easily at all times! (That’s what I did)

On the right side of the Google Search Widget you’ll find a Microphone icon.

That is key to getting the Android Voice Commands to start working. You press the Microphone in the Widget and in a second, start barking out commands to your phone.

Android Voice Commands – Are You Too Slow?
When you press the Mic Icon on the Widget, you will see a screen that says “Speak now”.

If you don’t speak fast enough, it shifts to a different screen that says, “No speech heard” or “No match found”. Bottom line is, just press the “Speak again” button and try again. It wants you to speak up right away so it knows you mean it!

You don’t have to speak quickly (as in fast speech), your Droid phone just wants you to start speaking right when it is ready. After a few tries you should get the hang of it.

Android Voice Commands – Uses Voice Search
Part of the technology here is powered by the App called “Voice Search”. This Voice Search App should be automatically installed on your phone. If your phone is having difficulties with the Voice Commands, you may need to reset the Voice Search App. This was the way to fix misbehaving Voice Commands in the past and is most likely already fixed on your phone.

Since we will go over the details for most of these common Android Voice Commands in other articles, we’ll just quickly go over the basics here.
Watch the video on this topic: Android Voice Commands Basics Video.

Android Voice Commands – Quick List
For all of the following,
you start out by pressing the
Microphone icon on the Google Search Widget. Then speak the following into your phone:

CALL [say a phone number or a name on your phone], i.e. “Call John Smith, mobile” – it will start dialing the number or present you with some choices if it is not sure.

MAP [say a place], i.e. “Map Parks” or “Map Gas Stations” – you should get a visual map of where these types of places are near you.

NAVIGATE TO [say a place or an address], i.e. “Navigate to Logan Airport” – The GPS-driven Navigation feature kicks in and gives you verbal turn by turn directions from where you are to where you said to go!

SEND TEXT TO [say a name or a phone number, then the message], i.e. “Send Text to Susie Sample, Did you walk the dog Question Mark” – The screen will show you the texting screen waiting for your approval of what it thinks you said. If all is good, press Send.

EMAIL [say a contact name, then the message], i.e. “Email Mark Smith, Hey Mark can your phone do this Question Mark” – there is more you can do with this Android Voice Command but we’ll have to leave that for the full article on Emails using Voice Actions.

PLAY [say the name of a group or a particular piece/song], i.e. “Play Revelation Song” – If you have the music and a music App on your phone that can deal with Voice Commands, it will start playing the music for you. This one can be tricky!

NOTE TO SELF [say what you want to remind yourself of], i.e. “Note to self, Remember to get dog food on the way home today” – The result of this one is you get a written email sent to you (“yourself”) with the text you dictated. It is not sending you an audio file, but the written text in an email.

GO TO [say a website name], i.e. “Go to Use My Droid dot com” – you should end up here! At www.UseMyDroid.com

DEFINE [say a word], i.e. “Define Palpable” – you may get a list of guesses as to the word you say if it is strange enough, but that is OK because you are trying to get the definition right? Choose the proper word choice from the list and it then takes you to the web with a definition for that word. Cool!

Android Voice Commands – That should do it
Well, that should be enough to get you going… Like we said, we should be adding some more detailed articles on many of these common Android Voice Commands soon. If you find that you need help making them work, leave a comment below. AND if you want us to give details on a particular one, leave a comment below as well, so we’ll be sure to cover it.

Don’t forget that we have videos on almost all of our main articles like this one, that help you get a better visual on what we are talking about, so feel free to check your understanding by watching the video now on Android Voice Commands Basics Video.

Read other Droid Tutorials or check out the Droid Tips area. How about watching some Droid Tutorial Videos?

Android Voice Commands – Android Voice Actions Basics Video

Watch Android Voice Commands – Android Voice Actions Basics Video on YouTube

Android Voice Commands – Android Voice Actions Basics
Video Transcript Below
(Read more details at the Android Voice Commands Article)

Android Voice Commands Android Voice Actions. Hey Droid phone owner, did you know that you can talk to your phone and the very fact that you are talking to it makes it do stuff?

We are not talking about your normal talking on the phone here but we are talking about using Android Voice Actions or what is commonly called Android Voice Commands.

Android Voice Commands – Make your phone obey your commands!
These Android Voice Commands allow you to tell your Droid phone to do stuff like Dial a Phone Number or make a call to someone in your phone’s contact list.

Or use Android Voice Actions to send a Text Message without doing any typing  – Real handy when you are driving.
(Read more details at the Android Voice Commands Article)

Android Voice Commands – Can display Maps or send Emails
Use Android Voice Commands to show you Maps like all the Gas Stations nearby or Pizza places.

Here is one of my favorites, using Android Voice Commands to write and then send an Email, all without typing a single character.

Android Voice Commands – Can start Voice Navigation
Use them to get Directions, or Navigate to an Address, Listen to Music, Send a written Note to Yourself via Email, Find Websites online and Lots more.

It is all done with Android Voice Actions and it is Free on your Droid Phone. So, how do you make it work?

Android Voice Commands – Here’s how it works…
Well, all Android Voice Commands or Android Voice Actions start the same way… Using the Google Search Widget.

Press the Microphone icon on the right side of the Google Search Widget. When you press on the microphone, up pops this “Speak Now” screen. If you do not speak soon enough, it changes to this screen, giving you the option to try again or cancel.

Go ahead and press the “Speak Again” side or just speak to the phone the first time. You can give it a command or tell it an action to perform.

We will be following up this video with a series of videos that show details on how to do many of the voice actions on your phone.
(You can Read more the expanded detailed article at Android Voice Commands Article)

Android Voice Commands – Overview of options
But for now, here is a quick overview of what you can try:

Try saying the Bold Text that you can see here, followed by things that makes sense for your phone. In this case, you will say “Send Text to” and then the name of a contact on your phone. You will end up with a text message ready to go, once you have approved it.

You can use Google’s Navigation feature to get turn-by-turn directions to wherever you want to go.

No need to look up phone numbers anymore, just say “Call” and then the name of a place.

This one is my favorite: You can send an Email, including the Subject Line, and the Message, and who it is going to, all without typing.

You can get a Map of things in the area like Gas Stations or Pizza.

You can go to website addresses by just saying “Go To” and then the name of the website.

And then, oh yeah, you have got to remember, your thing is a phone so you can actually have it make a phone call!

This one is cool, it is called “Note to Self”. What it does is it ends up sending you an Email.

Similar to the Navigate function, this one just gives you turn-by-turn directions on screen.

Or try using any other Google search – like if you need a Definition you can say “Define Palpable”.

Android Voice Commands – Android Actions can be great
So there you have it. There is our quick overview of Android Voice Commands or Android Voice Actions. So try them out. Talk to your phone and make it “do stuff”!

Like we said earlier, we will have some more follow up videos coming up soon.

Android Voice Commands – In case you have problems…
Now if it is just not working right for you – go ahead and leave a comment. We know of a fix that some of you may need, but perhaps all the phones are updated now.

Let us know if it is working for you or not in the comments below.

So do you like these Droid Phone Videos? Then find more on YouTube. Search in YouTube for UseMyDroid – all one word – or UseMyDroid Videos.

For more helpful tips, tricks and video tutorials on how to get the most out of your Droid Phone, visit our website at UseMyDroid.com – or search online for UseMyDroid.

(Learn more at the Android Voice Commands Expanded Article.)
What’s next? View more of our Droid Tutorial Videos.
Read more of our Text Droid Tutorials.
Learn how to Get the most out of this website.

Android Voice Commands Basics Video – Wall of Videos
Android Video Tutorials for your every need. Take a look around this “Wall of Android Tutorial Videos” below. Move left, to the right or Grab the center area and move from side to side!

You’ll find all the videos posted online that have something to do with Droid or Android Phones shown below. TIP: Try the search function on the bottom: Type in “Home Screen” and only Droid Home Screen Tutorials will be highlighted, etc.

• • • • Dive in to the WALL of Droid!!! • • • •

]]> http://www.usemydroid.com/android-voice-commands-video/feed/ 41 http://www.usemydroid.com/android-2-2-1-google-search-tip-6/ http://www.usemydroid.com/android-2-2-1-google-search-tip-6/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:11:31 +0000 UseMyDroid http://www.usemydroid.com/?p=1154 Previous Tip | Next Tip

Android 2.2.1 Google Search Tip
The Google search widget has been updated with this Android System update. It missed my attention until I noticed a new thing on the Google Search Widget’s display. When you press on the Google “g” – the blue “g” displayed on the Google Search widget, the pop-up that shows now has an extra “thingy” on the right side!

Android 2.2.1 Google Search Widget Adds Options
Once your phone has the Android 2.2.1 update, your Google Search Widget now has a “settings” icon added to its pop up display. It’s a round thing with a gear-like top. Click on it!! Go ahead, do it! What you end up with is an area where you can select the places Google Search can/will search.

Android 2.2.1 Google Search Brilliance
I could always choose if I wanted the Google Search to happen on the phone or online, but now I can specify which of my Apps in particular I would like the Google Search to look into. For example, I have a Note app (Note Everything) and this change will help me search throughout all my notes (and only my “Note Everything Notes” on my phone) for my search phrase without having to open the App first and perform a search inside the App. I like it!

Android 2.2.1 Google Search with Voice Search
Don’t forget Voice Search inside your Google Search! If you get to the place where you are ready to enter the search text, you can press on the Mic icon and speak your search term. Talk to your phone this way and it will find your results online, on your phone everywhere or only in a specific App if you tell it to look only there. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Your thoughts? If you have updated your Droid Phone to Android 2.2.1 – what have you discovered lately?… leave a comment below.

Previous Tip | Next Tip

Watch the Android 2.2.1 Update – Gmail and more video Android 2.2.1 Update Video – New Droid Gmail

The Android 2.2.1 Update recently came out for various Droid phones. If you haven’t received your update yet…it should be coming soon.

And if you absolutely positively must have the new Gmail features… well, we’ll tell you how to get that in our Power Tip below.

Google released a new Gmail update for Android phones on December 9, 2010. And the update to the Froyo Android operating system came out the next day as version 2.2.1.

Not only was Gmail updated, but there were changes to the Twitter widget, the Amazon widget and the News & Weather widget. Oh, and sync issues for Microsoft Exchange were fixed as well.

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Droid Gmail Features
The Android 2.2.1 updated items that have us the most excited are the improvements to Gmail. Items like Priority Inbox, Reply Inline, changing your From Address, and changing Reply to Reply All easily. Let’s take a look at all these features more closely.

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Android Gmail Priority Inbox
For those using “priority inbox” in Gmail on your desktop computer, the Android 2.2.1 update now makes it possible to use that filter on your Droid phone, too! Now, when you access your inbox, you see messages with white backgrounds (indicating unread messages) and messages with grey backgrounds (indicating read messages).

Priority messages will have a little yellow marker indicating they are important. You can now filter your email. The system now monitors your behavior to help determine what is more important vs. less important. You can also change your settings so that you only receive an alert for more important emails. To turn on Priority Inbox on your Droid phone:

1. Go to Gmail on your phone
2. Select Menu
3. Select More
4. Select Settings
5. Select Priority Inbox.

Watch this lesson on video: Android 2.2.1 Update Video – New Droid Gmail and more.

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Droid Gmail “From” Feature
The Android 2.2.1 Update now allows you to select a different email address to send messages from. Meaning if you have set up more than one email address for your Gmail account on your phone, you can select which “from” address you will use. To change which email address to send from:

1. While composing a message, press anywhere at the top in the “from” email address area.
2. A list of your Gmail account’s authorized email address will appear, select the one you want.

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Droid Gmail Enhanced Reply All
The enhanced Reply All feature in the Android 2.2.1 update is one of those simple changes that make a big difference. At any point in time when you are replying to a message, you can now change it to a “Reply All” or “Forward” or basic “Reply” request.

In the past, once you selected the type of reply, you were stuck with it. Now you can change your mind and Reply All if you want. To change a reply message to a Reply All (or other choices):

1. Begin by reading a message.
2. To Reply, Press the arrow next to the word “Reply”.
3. Select Reply All or Forward.
4. Continue with your message.

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Android Gmail Reply Inline
Ok, so I just made a big deal about the Reply All feature above, but this next Android 2.2.1 Update is really stellar. You can now Reply Inline. Meaning, you can type right in the middle of an email you received.

Let’s say someone asks you a couple of questions in an email and you want your answers right next to each question. You can now choose to Reply Inline and scroll down to the sender’s original questions and type your answers in the middle of their email. This is not a new concept for desktop software, but an awesome update for Droid Phones. To reply Inline:

1. Reply to a message (see above).
2. Scroll up to the top of your message.
3. Press Respond Inline.
4. Press the text area.
5. Add your text to the original message where you need to Inline with the original text.
   

Android 2.2.1 Update – New Droid Gmail Send And Draft Buttons
There are two new buttons in the Android 2.2.1 Update. This new Droid Gmail update now uses two Icon buttons to represent Send and Draft.

At the top of your message, on the right side you have two Icons. The left Icon is an envelope with an arrow. It’s the “send” button. The one on the right is a computer disk and clock. It’s the “draft” button. Select the Draft button to save your email to send at a later time.

Watch this lesson on video: Android 2.2.1 Update Video – New Droid Gmail and more.

Use My Droid “Power Tip”

Use My Droid “Power Tip”

For those who haven’t received their Android 2.2.1 Update, you can still get the New Android Gmail update! You must have Android 2.2 system or higher (sorry if you only have 2.1).

To see what version of the Android operating system you currently have on your phone:

1. Press Menu.
2. Press Settings.
3. Scroll to About Phone.
4. The phone info screen will have your “Android Version” number.

To install the Gmail App, scan this barcode or go to the Android Market.

In order for the barcode to work, you will want a barcode reader like NeoReader.

We have other great tutorials available, too. Check them out on our Droid Tutorial page.

Watch this lesson on video: Android 2.2.1 Update Video – New Droid Gmail and more.
Read other Droid Tutorials or check out the Droid Tips area.

Android 2.2.1 Update - New Android Gmail and more - Please Comment
Has this Android 2.2.1 Update – New Droid Gmail and more tutorial been helpful? Do you have other tips you would like to share with others? Please leave a comment below – Thanks.

Watch Android 2.2.1 UpdateVideo on YouTube

ANDROID 2.2.1 UPDATE VIDEO – NEW ANDROID GMAIL AND MORE Transcript Below
(Read more details at the Android 2.2.1 Update Article)

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - December 2010 Update

Hey, did you just get your update to your Droid phone? I just got mine and this video will tell you what just changed on your Android phone. And somewhere near the end we give you a great tip so you can get the best part of this update, even before it is released for your phone!

On December 9th, 2010 Google released a new release of Gmail for Android phones. Then the very next day, they released an update for Android Operating system 2.2.1 for certain Droid phones. This is still known as Froyo but this update has some very noticeable enhancements.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - Changes to Twitter, Amazon & Weather

They updated some widgets you might use like Twitter. It has new authentication support (I think that means it is more secure). They updated the Amazon widget as well as the News and Weather widget.

(Read more details at the Android 2.2.1 Update Article)

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - Improving Microsoft Exchange

Nerd alert (but don’t worry it only lasts 7 seconds) – Then they made some improvements to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. They fixed some inactivity timeouts, fixed some sync issues and added support for Exchange 2010 Connections. Man that got kind of nerdy, but it might be helpful for some of you.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Droid Gmail and more

These are all good and all BUT, to me the big change is what they did with Gmail. Before we go into the details of what changed there, let’s take a look at what you first saw when you started up with your new Gmail. Just in case you deleted it. Now you can go back and look at that again if you like but we are going to cover it in detail so hold on, here we go.

You can now prioritize your emails, like putting a filter on them to help you sort through them better.To do this Google added a thing called “Priority Inbox” which some of you may have already been using this on your desktop which is required.

On your Droid phone, this allows you to change your settings so that the email alerts you use only happen for the more important emails.

The next big category of change effects what is known as the “From Address”. If you have set up your Gmail to allow you to send from various email addresses, this makes it super easy to do that when emailing from your phone… more on that later.

Another handy change is the ability to Reply All or Forward from more places in the program – even while you are writing your email now.

The last big category of change deals with an enhanced ability to Reply In-Line with an existing message. This makes it easy to address questions and the like right in the midst of the original text.

OK, now that may be enough for some of you, but if you want to see these new changes in action, keep watching. And don’t forget the extra tip near the end. If you are done for now, go visit our website for other handy tutorials. It is called UseMyDroid.com.

(Read more details at the Android 2.2.1 Update Article)

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Android Gmail Priority Inbox

Now let’s get to it. Let’s see these changes in action… On to Gmail on your Droid phone. Launch Gmail like you normally do. Messages you have already read have a grey background, unread ones have a white background.

But here is something new. Little yellow markers. These messages are what Gmail has tagged as Important. With a new thing for your phone called “Priority Inbox”. The Priority Inbox helps you filter your email. This system learns by watching what you consider more important verses less important email.

To turn on the Priority Inbox setting, be sure that you are in Gmail, then select your menu button and up pops a menu. Select “More” then “Settings” and you should see a new choice called “Priority Inbox”. Go ahead and select it, and when you return to your normal Gmail view the upper left should say “Priority Inbox”.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Droid Gmail Reply All Options

Cool, Next we will take a look at the enhanced “Reply All” options.

If I go to read a message like I normally do, and I press the Arrow to Reply to that email, this is what I see. Notice the new options up top. We are going to come back to those in a moment.

So I start typing my reply and then I realize, “man”, I really wanted to “Reply All” to this message. Before I had to start over, now – check this out – By pressing on the arrow next to the word “Reply” I can still be composing my reply but now I can change my mind and “Reply All”, “Forward” or just keep on going.

That is a relief. So that was the “Reply All” improvement. Next comes the ability to select your “From” address.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Android Gmail Using Multiple Addresses

If you have set up your Gmail account to be able to send from multiple addresses, then you will love this new feature for Gmail on your Droid Phone.

Press anywhere on the “From” email address area up top, and up pops a list of addresses that you are authorized to choose as your “From Address”.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Droid Gmail Reply InLine

That was fun wasn’t it guys? OK, on to the next enhancement for the Gmail App on the Droid Phone, it is the ability to Reply In-Line.

There are times when you want to reply to an email and have your reply text right in the middle of the original message. This is what is called an “In-Line Reply”.

Scroll up a bit to get to the “Respond Inline” button. Press the button, then press in the text area and add your text inline within the original body of the message.

(Read more details at the Android 2.2.1 Update Article)

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Android Gmail Send and Draft

OK, that was replying In-Line. Now take a look up top – where the flashy thing is flashing. Stop stop, enough with the flashing. Gmail has replaced the words SEND and DRAFT with icons.

The one on the left is the envelope and arrow, it means SEND. The one on the right with the disk and clock, well that means DRAFT – I’ll work on it later.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video - New Droid Gmail Power Tip

Alright, it is time for the UseMyDroid Power Tip!

If you have not received your 2.2.1 update yet, but you want the new Gmail App update, here is how to get it. As long as your phone is running Android 2.2 system or higher, it will work.

As a real quick reminder here is how to check to see what system your phone is running. Go to Menu then Settings, then scroll to About Phone and on the Phone Info screen find Android version number.

Remember 2.2 or better is required, then scan this barcode to get the featured Gmail App onto your phone right now!

For more helpful tips, tricks and video tutorials on how to get the most out of your Droid Phone, visit our website at UseMyDroid.com – or search online for UseMyDroid.
(Learn more on the Android 2.2.1 Update - New Droid Gmail and more article.)
What’s next? Watch more of our Droid Tutorial Videos.
Read more of our Text Droid Tutorials.
Learn how to Get the most out of this website.

Android 2.2.1 Update Video – Wall of Videos
Droid Video Tutorials for all your needs. Browse around in this wall of Droid Tutorial Videos below. Scroll left, right or Grab the Middle and slide!

Watch and learn all you want right here! We’re just getting started with our own video sets and we know you need more, so here you go! Search: Try the search function on the bottom: Type in “Home Screen” and only Droid Home Screen Tutorials will be highlighted, etc.

• • • • Dive in to the WALL of Droid!!! • • • •

Android Voice Commands – aka Android Voice Actions
Android Voice Commands, also known as “Android Voice Actions” (that’s the official name) let you speak a command to your Droid phone and it Does Something that you told it to do… without any typing! (or without much typing).

For example you can tell your Android Phone to “Call” someone, “Navigate” to someplace, or “Map Parks”… and the dutiful droid phone does what you tell it.

In the first example, it will Dial the number for the person you told it to “Call”. Next, it would give you spoken voice directions to get to (Navigate to) that place you told it you wanted to go, and lastly, it would show you a Map of all the parks nearby on your smart phone’s display.

Android Voice Commands – How Do You Start?
If your phone has the proper software on it, this Android Voice Command thing works amazingly well! If it doesn’t, then you end up looking at a phone that simply “looks back at you” or is giving you strange results. Getting the wrong results is even more frustrating than getting nothing IMO.

“Google Voice Search” software must be on your Android phone. Not a problem because it comes with that pre-installed. If you are using Android 2.2 then these Voice Commands / Voice Actions are fully integrated with the Google Search Widget – which we cover in other tutorials on this site: search for Google Search Widget in the handy search box up top and you’ll find them.

Android Voice Commands – Let’s Get Started
You start all Android Voice Actions or Voice Commands by talking to the “Microphone Icon”. It is easy to find if you are looking at your Google Search Widget. If you don’t have that handy, you can also talk to the Mic you see when you launch “Voice Search”.

Once you get to your Microphone Icon, Tap it, wait for it to say “Speak Now” and let it start you down the glorious road of a different reason for talking to your phone. Hopefully it won’t talk back, but it will DO what you ask!

Android Voice Commands – Common Commands
Here are a few common Voice Commands you should try out to make Voice Actions work for you. I’ll cover the details on what they are supposed to do in another tutorial (or set of tutorials). You should be able to say the following words with usually something after them, and your Droid phone will Do It!

Try these out:

• Call (say a name), Call (say a number),
• Text, Send Text to (say a name, then your message)
• Map, Map of (say something, like “Parks”, “Pizza places”, etc.),
• Email (say a name, then say “subject”, then say “message” and go for it) – this one is fun, we’ll do another article on it for sure,
• Directions to, Navigate to (say an address or the name of a place),
• Listen to (say a musical group, or a song title),
• Note to Self (sends you an email),
• Go To (say a website address)

There’s much more, and each of the above has their own special options, we’ll look into it together if you like. Leave a comment asking what you want covered next.

ALERT: HTC Incredible users (and maybe others as well), Your Voice Commands seem to work better if you say them without the “to” word. i.e. “Send Text (say a name, then your message)” or “Email (say a name, etc. see above list)”

**Update** We now have started our full series on the Android Voice Commands. We also have a video: Android Voice Commands Basics Video.

And we also have a special Tip article for you if you find your Voice Commands are just not working right: Android Voice Commands Fix Tip.

Previous Tip |  Next Tip

Watch Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video

This Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix is needed now more than ever. If you thought you had battery drain problems before the update, it’s gotten much worse. Wouldn’t you agree? We’ve looked into this new development (with not much help from our service provider) and come up with one major culprit: the Apps on the phone.

It appears that many Apps are turning themselves on and running without us even knowing about it! We think that the long term solution for fixing Droid Phone battery drain is another operating system update or for the apps to be updated. But let’s face it, we don’t want to wait that long. We want to fix our battery issues right now! We’re about to get serious with our app killing and we’ll show you how, below.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix - Advanced Task Killer
We’ve mentioned it in other tutorials, but now we’re recommending you use more features on the Advanced Task Killer by Rechild (found in the Android Market). At one point we considered this an optional App.

1. Start Advanced Task Killer.
2. Press Menu.
3. Press Settings.
4. On the View setting, check “show notification”. (This will show Advanced Task Killer on your top notification bar allowing you to use it frequently and easily.)
5. Next, Scroll to the Auto Kill section.
6. Set Auto Kill to “crazy”.
7. Press Auto Kill Frequency.
8. Select “When Screen Off”.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix - Restart Advanced Task Killer

What we’ve just done is tell your phone to close all apps when your screen turns off. This will significantly improve your battery life. Because you selected “When Screen Off” for Advanced Task Killer, you will need to restart Advanced Task Killer. Here’s how:

1. Start Advanced Task Killer.
2. Check Advanced Task Killer to be one of the programs to be Killed.
3. Select KILL apps.
4. Start Advanced Task Killer again (you may need to find it in your App storage area).
5. Now, Uncheck Advanced Task Killer from the list of Apps to Kill so that it will not shut itself off any more.
6. Press KILL apps.

Now you can manually kill apps or let your Droid kill them for you every time your screen turns off.

Watch this lesson on video: Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video.

Use My Droid “Power Tip”

Use My Droid “Power Tip”

Power Tip #1

Some Apps have a mind of their own. Take Google’s “Voice Search” for instance. This App doesn’t take die for an answer. Let’s look at another way to kill this program and any other like it that like to turn themselves on and won’t go away properly.

1. Using the settings mentioned above, open up your notifications from the top.
2. Select Advanced Task Killer. You should see a list of running Apps.
3. Long press on Voice Search.
4. Press kill.

Power Tip #2

Advanced Task Killer will not kill the alarm clock. Want proof? Check this out:

1. Open Advanced Task Killer.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Press the Info button.
4. Scroll through the list. Version 1.9.3 has a note that says, “Ignore Alarm Clock for Security Level High”

This is good news. If you’ve taken the time to set an alarm, you definitely don’t want that alarm shut off. You could be late for a very important date!

These settings on Advanced Task Killer should drastically improve your battery life. Give it a try. Whether you find it good or bad, let us know how it’s working out for you. Or you can always get an extra battery!

We have other battery saving tutorials available, too. Check them out on our Droid Tutorial page.

Watch this lesson on video: Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video.
Read other Droid Tutorials or check out the Droid Tips area.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix – Please Comment

Has this Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix tutorial been helpful? Do you have other battery saving tips you would like to share with others? Please leave a comment below – Thanks.

Watch Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video on YouTube

ANDROID 2.2 BATTERY LIFE FIX VIDEO Transcript Below
(Read more details at the Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Article)

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video – The Problem

Have you noticed your battery life is not so good now that you are using the Android 2.2 operating system on your Droid phone?

I noticed a big bad change towards shorter battery life once my phone was updated to Droid 2.2.

( You may want to pick up an extra battery! Click here: )

Froyo, the name of the update, and my phone’s battery are not getting along.

I even killed all my apps, let the phone charge overnight and when I checked it out the next morning, this screen was showing me how many apps were started and running all by themselves.

I checked around and there are other Droid phone users experiencing the same problem.

The best I can tell, is until either the phone’s software changes again (like another update) or the Apps I’m using make a change — my phone’s battery life has gone to the “dark side”.

After I checked in with my service provider and they said that there were no reports of anything causing problems like I was experiencing…

I decided that I needed to get serious with my App killing program to make a difference with my Droid Phone’s Battery Life.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video – The Solution: Advanced Task Killer

My favorite FREE program to kill apps on my phone and thereby extend my phone’s battery life, is called “Advance Task Killer” made by Rechild.

I think it’s really needed now since many more of my Apps seem to be starting up on their own and staying running longer since I have upgraded to Android 2.2 on my Droid phone.

You can get Advanced Task Killer free from the Android Market.

Before, it was simply a handy App, now, I feel it’s a required App to run my Droid phone using Android 2.2.

However, there were some settings on this App that I was not using before that now I’ve changed and my Droid Phone’s Battery life has returned. Yea! (applause)

Advanced Task Killer:
Here are the settings I suggest you use to get the most battery life out of your Droid Phone (no matter what Android operating system you’re currently using).

Start the App called Advanced Task Killer. When it’s running, press your Menu key, then select “Setting”.

When I first saw this screen, I thought I was on my phone’s settings screen, but it’s really the settings for Advanced Task Killer.

There’s a lot here but we’ll focus on what it takes to get the best battery life out of your Droid phone!

For the “View” Setting I suggest you check the “Show Notification” option (if it’s not already checked) this shows the ATK program in your top notification bar.

Next:
Scroll down to the “Auto Kill” Settings. If you’re like I was, it will be set to be “Disabled”… we need to change that and I suggest you change it to be “Crazy”.

Then you can change the setting just below called “Auto Kill Frequency”. I suggest you set this one to be “When Screen Off”.

This means that when your screen turns off, most of your Apps will be killed and they will stop sucking the life out of your Droid phone’s battery.

If you choose this “When Screen Off” setting, it warns you that you will need to re-start the App itself in order for that setting to be applied. Kinda crazy, but here’s how you can do it.

Pull down the Advanced Task Killer from your top notification bar, select the program to get it running.

Then be sure that the program itself has a check mark on it.

Now, press the “KILL selected apps” menu up top.

Next, you should start up the Advanced Task Killer App. Since mine mainly stays in the Notification bar, this time, I’ll need to find it in my App Launcher.

Press the ATK icon to start it up, then uncheck “Advanced Task Killer” from the list of selected apps.

Now you can kill your Apps again, but it won’t kill itself from now on – which is what you want.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video – UseMyDroid Power Tip…

I’ve noticed that App “Voice Search” doesn’t usually die as it should, so long-press on it and you should see this screen.

I then choose to “Kill” from here and it goes away. Then I press the Home Key and I’m off and running getting better battery life on my Droid Phone.

Another power tip:
While Advanced Task Killer is still open, press your Menu key, then press the Info button and you’ll see the latest details about the program.

One important thing to note here, is that you can still have your Alarms on your phone work because the program is set to ignore the Alarm Clock by default.

Which is good, ’cause if you set an alarm to go off — you usually want it to work and not be killed by this or any other App killing program.

If you’re like me, you should see a noticeable increase in your battery life now that your ATK app is running this aggressively.

I’ve not noticed any down side to these settings, but if you have issues, you can go back and adjust the suggested settings to be less aggressive and see what works best for you.

We’ve made some other video tutorials with additional ideas on how to get the most out of your Droid Phone’s battery life, right here on our website — UseMyDroid.com — these video tutorials and text tips help you get the most out of your Droid phone.

Leave a comment below telling us how much extra battery life this helped you get on your Android phone. Enjoy!

(Learn more on the Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix article.)
What’s next? Watch more of our Droid Tutorial Videos.
Read more of our Text Droid Tutorials.
Learn how to Get the most out of this website.

Android 2.2 Battery Life Fix Video - Wall of Videos
Droid Video Tutorials for all your needs. Browse around in this wall of Droid Tutorial Videos below. Scroll left, right or Grab the Middle and slide!

Watch and learn all you want right here! We’re just getting started with our own video sets and we know you need more, so here you go! Search: Try the search function on the bottom: Type in “Home Screen” and only Droid Home Screen Tutorials will be highlighted, etc.

• • • • Dive in to the WALL of Droid!!! • • • •

1. Press "Messages"

Text messages (also known as texting) can be fun and easy on the Droid Phone. We’ll illustrate how to send a text message on the Android 2.2 HTC Incredible. Your Droid phone might look or act a little differently, but should be very similar to how the HTC Incredible sends text messages.

First, press “Messages” on your home screen. (See item highlighted with a green box on the image to the right.) If you don’t have the messaging icon on a home screen you can find it in your Application Launcher.

2. Press "New message"

The next screen you’ll see is a list of previous text messages you have already sent or received. At the top is a bar that says “New Message” with a plus sign to the left.

Press the “New Message” bar.

3. Enter phone number or select from your contact list.

Enter the phone number in the “To” box or click the button to the right (button of a person) in order to select from your list of contacts – some phones show a list of contacts for you to choose from when you start typing their name. Note: You may be able to select multiple contacts to send the text message to at one time. Now you are ready to type your message.

4. Type message and Send.

Press “Tap to compose” or “Type to compose”…again depends on your phone model.

Type your message. Or press the microphone icon and speak your text to the phone… your Droid will type it for you!

We have some helpful typing tips on our site that can make your typing even easier when you are texting on your Droid phone.

To send your text message, press the button that has a quote box and right pointing arrow. (Highlighted in green on the image to the left) – or press the “Send” key, depending on your phone. Now your message has been sent.

5. Sceen will display sent message.

It will then bring up a screen showing you previous texts with that contact.

You can now type another message to that contact or scroll through and browse old text messages you’ve sent back and forth with this contact.