10 Hidden Android Tips, Tricks

Many of today's devices run on the 4G network. Unfortunately, 4G coverage is often spotty, and using it can quickly drain your phone's battery and put you over your monthly data allowance. You might want to use the 4G network only in a well-covered area, or switch to 3G when you're running low on power. Android makes it easy to do this. To switch networks, simply go toSettings > Mobile networks > Network mode and set your phone to CDMA only (3G) or LTE/CDMA (4G). These settings might vary depending on your location and which network you're on.

If you have a long name that's difficult to spell or your job uses a lot of obscure terms, you've probably experienced the frustration that comes with typing long or complex words into your device. Next time you're in the middle of typing "Anastasia" or "NoSQL" into your text field, long-press on it. This will add it to the dictionary, so you'll no longer have to type more than the first few characters of the word.

If you have the misfortune of losing your phone, it's unlikely that you'll get it back. Even if someone wants to return it, password protection will keep them from accessing a number to reach you. With Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 (Jelly Bean), you can display your contact information on the lock screen to increase the chances of reuniting with a lost device. From Settings, go to Security > Screen security > Owner info. You can enter your name, email address, phone number or other information to appear on the lock screen.

With Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or any newer version, you can decline a phone call while sending the caller a custom text message. This is not a new feature, but the latest OS has different settings. To customize auto-response texts, go to Phone > Settings > Quick Responses. Tap one of the pre-written responses to change it. When your phone rings, you would normally slide the circle to the right to answer the call or to the left to send the caller to voice mail. To send a response text, slide the circle upward to the message icon and let go. From there, you can select a pre-written message or write a new one.

With Jelly Bean, you can quickly and easily review the photos on your device. From the camera app, you likely know to tap the lower right-hand corner to view your most-recent photograph, then swipe left and right to view pictures. For faster review, pinch inward to view pictures lined up in order, similar to a film strip. Swipe up to delete any unwanted photos.

Not all Android users have an unlimited data plan. Monitoring data use is a pain, but Android Jelly Bean makes it a little easier. Go to Settings > Data usage to see how much data each of your apps is using. You can program your phone to warn you when you're approaching a high amount of data use and stop you altogether when you reach a certain limit. Users of the Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb versions of Android (2.2 through 3.2) can download Onavo Count, a free app that serves the same purpose but also lets you set data restrictions on individual apps.

Taking a screenshot on an iPhone is simple; with an Android phone it's a bit trickier. To capture an image of your screen with Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich, press the Power button and Volume Down key at the same time and hold until the shutter clicks. An image should automatically be stored to your gallery.

Your spouse. Your pizza place. You have your favorites. Android lets you create icons for your most-dialed contacts and place them on your home screen for easy access. To do this, press and hold an empty space on your home screen until a menu pops up. Go to Shortcuts > Contact, and scroll through your contacts until you find the person you want to add.

Your smartphone can double as a portable hard drive. Activate Android's storage mode by plugging the phone into a computer with a USB cable. This lets you swap files between your phone and computer and take files with you as you go.