training for library staff about Android

1. All About
Android
Learn the basics!
November 2013
El Paso Public Library

2. Android:



Is a mobile operating system first developed
independently in 2003 and then sold to
Google in 2005.
Was originally developed as an alternative
to Apple.
Can run on almost any type of mobile
hardware.
 There
are over 400 major types of Android
devices in frequent use around the world! (1)

This is a big contrast to Apple, where an iPhone is an iPhone is an iPhone.

3. Android Versions
Android versions are numbered
and then named
alphabetically after desserts.
The latest is Kit-Kat which was
released in October 2013.
Most patrons are likely to have
Gingerbread or ICS.
http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

4. How to check Android Version



Find the “Settings” button
for the gadget.
Look at the “About” menu
under settings. (If it is a
phone, it will say “About
Phone” for example.)
The Android version will be
listed as a number.
Example: 4.3

5. What’s the difference?


Android versions
include updates in
speed, security and
occasional cosmetic
tweaks.
For developers, there
are many technical
changes, but we won’t
worry about those!
You only need to know the Android version if you’re in a troubleshooting situation!
So just remember that different versions exist and are, apparently, very tasty.

6. Using Android
 Users
interact with apps running on
Android through “direct manipulation.”


Direct manipulation of a device allows users to use
“normal actions” such as swiping, touching, tapping,
pinching, pulling and flipping the information around
the screen. (See video above!)
Android has several navigational tools including
an action bar (or navigation bar), home screen
button, back button, search button and recently
viewed page button.
These buttons may look like this… but there
are many variations on the theme! Some
gadgets only show 3 buttons at the bottom.

7. Keyboard
If you are doing something, like
searching, the keyboard will
automatically appear for you
to “type” a message, make a
note or search for something.

8. Unlock to use!
When an android is powered
on, it displays a boot-up
sequence and then a lock
screen.
Lock screens may be
configured and customized by
the user.
Ask your patron to unlock their
device before you help them!

9. This is screen 1 of 5 screens.
Sample Android Home screen
Widget
Using Android
•
Many Android devices are
“aware” of their
surroundings and their
locations.
•
•
GPS, gyroscopes, and other
sensors are often built in.
Android has a Home screen
like a PC Desktop.
•
Home screens vary, but they
usually contain app icons and/or
widgets.
App icon

10. Using Android

The Home screen is actually made up of several
screens (usually added by the user). They can be
paged through, like a book, in order to access
different content.
3
2
1
2
3

11. Different Home screens
These are example Home screens from our Petting zoo gadgets.
The Kindle and Nook are more “reader oriented.”
Asus Google Nexus
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Kindle Fire HD
Nook HD+

12. Apps
Apps are “applications” or
programs that run on mobile
devices in order to “do
something.”
Android apps are available
through various distribution
platforms or can be downloaded
from the web and manually
installed. Apps have the file
extension: .apk
Apps allow users to game, use
the internet, be social, learn,
search and read.
Our focus in using apps in the
library is on learning, searching
and reading.

13. Getting Apps
 To


Download Apps, most Androids use:
Google Play
Apps distributed by Google.
Amazon App Store
Apps distributed by
Amazon
Other… if the device is older or nonstandard they may be using something
completely different… even files direct from
the web.*
If the android is really non-standard, don’t worry,
troubleshooting help IS available!

14. Getting Apps
 These
are some common “Other sources”
apps you might encounter:

Flash Player for Android
 Not
available on Google Play, so it must be
downloaded from Adobe.

Legacy Apps
 (Older,
outdated versions that some patrons
may need to use.)
 These
topics have troubleshooting help on
the S:Drive in case you need to deal with
installation of these apps for a patron.
Flash player is sometimes needed for Zinio and Legacy Apps
for Overdrive are on our S:Drive.

15. Using a platform
Patrons must register (if they
already haven’t) and sign in to
download apps from an app
distribution platform.
Search for apps using the
magnifying glass or by browsing
categories.
Using the app store for Google
and Amazon is very easy and
simple to do. They have similar
interfaces.
In addition, apps can be installed
from Google Play or Amazon
over the web and synced to the
device remotely.

16. Where are my Apps?

After an app is installed, it
may…



Create a shortcut on the
home screen.
Show up alphabetically in
the installed apps list in the
Android App Drawer.
It may do both! This
depends on a user’s
settings.

17. Moving Apps & Shortcuts

To create a shortcut:



Touch and hold the app
you wish to use.
Drag app to the home
screen and place where
you want it.
To delete a shortcut:



Touch and hold the app to
remove.
Drag into “trash.”
Note, this can be used
sometimes to completely
remove an app from a
device. Be careful!

18. Android Overview
Android is diverse





Android can run on almost
any device.
Interface with the touchscreen by swiping,
pinching, pulling and
tapping the screen gently.
Patrons may come in with
very, very different Android
versions.
Different gadgets might
have different home
screens and buttons.
Patrons may need help in
figuring out what version
they are using!
Android Apps:





Are programs that “do
something.”
Are usually available on
Google Play or Amazon App
Store.
Are accessed by shortcuts or
through the App Drawer.
Older versions of Android
need Legacy Apps.
Android apps can be
manually downloaded and
installed.
And remember…