Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Customizing Your Android Device
One of the great things about Android is that you can customize the user interface to work
the way you want. The default Launcher that comes with Android and manages the Home
screens is very flexible but you can gain even more control over the Home screens as well as
the Apps Tray by installing a different launcher, such as Nova Launcher, which I'll discuss
later in this chapter.
Of course, you have tens of thousands of Android apps to choose from, and that lets you
replace nearly any of the stock apps with ones that have the features you need. Many apps
come with their own widgets, and you can buy stand-alone widgets from the Google Play
Store. Want a Home screen with a full page Google Calendar? Or do you want to turn your
device into a beautiful nightstand alarm clock, so that you don't have to carry a separate
travel alarm? Want a full page of weather? Or a main home screen with date, time, and
weather? There are widgets to let you do all that and much, much more. I can only touch on
the many ways you can customize your phone or tablet. The best thing to do is experiment.
Nothing you do is irreversible.
That said, most Android phones and tablets have a user interface that is somewhat custom-
ized by the cellular provider or the tablet manufacturer, usually to simplify the interface or
highlight provider features. Probably the most famous example is the Amazon line of Fire
tablets. Amazon has customized the interface so much that they call it Fire OS. On Fire OS
you can't install widgets, though you can place app icons on the Home screen and use app
folders. At the other extreme, the Google Nexus line of tablets and phones run pure, stock
Android as designed by Google.
Lock Screen
As I mentioned earlier, you almost certainly want to secure your phone or tablet by using a
lock screen. See the chapter
Securing Your Device
for more information.
Widgets
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