Dan Gookin - Android For Dummies

Recent:Use the Recent gesture or tap this navigation icon to display the Overview, a list of recently opened or currently running apps. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen a short distance and stop, lifting your finger to perform the Recent gesture. See the later section “ Switching between running apps” for more information on the Overview.

The icons shown in the margin represent the current, stock Android navigation icons. Table 3-1lists other varieties, which may be used on your device.

TABLE 3-1Navigation Icon Varieties

Icon	Android 5.0 to 9.0	Earlier Releases	Samsung Var. 1	Samsung Var. 2
Home
Back
Recent

With gesture navigation active, the traditional navigation icons disappear from the bottom of the touchscreen. To restore them and disable gesture navigation, heed these directions:

1 Open the Settings app.It’s found on the apps drawer. If the Apps Drawer icon isn’t visible on the Home screen, swipe from the bottom upward to show the apps drawer.

2 Choose the System category.

3 Choose Gestures.If you don’t see this item, your device may not feature gesture navigation.

4 Choose System Navigation.

5 Select 3-Button Navigation.

On Samsung devices, obey these directions:

1 Open the Settings app.

2 Choose Display.

3 Choose Navigation Bar.

4 Choose Navigation Buttons.Optionally, you can set the navigation button order on your Samsung Galactic gizmo, though be aware that this book and other documentation assumes the order Recent, Home, and Back.

If you prefer gesture navigation, follow the preceding steps to enable it, but choose Gesture Navigation from Step 5 in the first set of instructions; on Samsung devices, choose Full Screen Gestures in Step 4 in the second set of steps.

The gestures for showing the Home screen, viewing the Overview, as well as accessing the apps drawer are all annoying similar. This is one reason I recommend using the traditional navigation icons first, before you try using gesture navigation — if you desire to use gesture navigation at all.

The Back navigation icon changes its orientation during some operations, but it’s still the same icon, performing the same purpose.

Some apps feature a left-pointing arrow in the upper left corner of the screen to represent Back navigation.

Navigation icons disappear during games and when using other full-screen apps. To see the icons again, tap the screen or swipe from the top of the screen downward.

Another common gesture or navigation technique is to view the apps drawer, where all your Android apps are listed. See the later section “ Finding an app in the apps drawer.”

Older Samsung devices feature a physical Home button or key, which performs the same duties as the Home navigation icon. The key may double as a fingerprint reader.

The volume key is located on the edge of your Android. Press the top part of the key to raise the volume. Press the bottom of the key to lower the volume. When the volume key is located on the top edge of an Android tablet, press the left side to increase volume and the right side to decrease volume.

As you press the volume key, a card appears on the touchscreen, shown in Figure 3-2. Continue pressing the volume key, or use your finger to adjust the onscreen slider, to set the volume.

FIGURE 3-2:Setting the volume

To view additional volume controls, tap the card as illustrated in the figure. On some devices, you tap a chevron (shown in the margin) to view controls for specific noise-generating items on your Android. Though not every volume card looks identical, they all feature slider controls.

The volume key controls whatever noise the device is making when you use it: If you’re on a call, the volume key sets the call level. When you’re listening to music or watching a video, the volume key adjusts those sounds.

When the volume is set all the way down, the speaker is muted.

The volume key works even when the touchscreen is locked. This feature means you don’t need to unlock the device if you’re playing music and need to adjust the volume.

Some Androids may enter Vibration mode when the volume is muted. All Android phones have Vibration mode, though not every tablet has this feature.

Refer to Chapter 21for more details on volume controls.

How many times have you heard the admonition “Please silence your cell phone”? The quick way to obey this command with an Android phone is to keep pressing the bottom part of the volume key until the phone vibrates. You’re good to go.

Some phones feature a Mute action on the Device Options card: Press and hold the Power/Lock key and then choose Mute or Vibrate.

When the phone is silenced or in Vibration mode, an appropriate status icon appears on the status bar. The stock Android status icon is shown in the margin.

You make the phone noisy again by reversing the directions in this section. Most commonly, press the “louder” end of the volume key to restore the phone’s sound.