JR Raphael, Author at NetworkingNexus.net

JR Raphael

Author Archives: JR Raphael

Phone smarts: 6 essential tips for Android users

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years of covering Android, it’s that most people don’t know half the stuff their phones can do—even when it comes to the platform’s most basic features.For business users in particular, some of Android’s foundational options can enhance productivity and eliminate annoyances. So look over this how-to collection and see if there’s anything you’re missing or maybe forgot—then hang onto it as a reference for friends, family members, and colleagues who ask for advice in the future.[ Android is now ready for real usage in the enterprise. Read InfoWorld’s in-depth guide on how to make Android a serious part of your business. | Get the best office apps and the 38 best business-worthy apps for your Android device. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with the Mobile Tech Report newsletter. ] 1. How to find and manage files on your phone IDG Solid Explorer File Manager offers advanced features for managing your phone’s files.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

12 tips to curb data usage in Android

At a time when a great deal of business is conducted on the go using smartphones, it's become even more important to be conscious of how much data you're using. Whether you're using your own phone or one issued by your company, mobile data is money -- and if you don't optimize your phone to handle it intelligently, you're throwing dollars down the drain.After all, whether you have a plan with a monthly data cap or a setup where you're billed for the data you use, you're essentially paying for all the virtual info you transmit over your carrier's network. In the former case, reducing your data usage could let you move to a cheaper level of service. In the latter, every megabyte you save will directly lower your monthly bill.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Android gotchas: Fast fixes for 6 common problems

Smartphones have the power to make our lives more efficient. They also have the power to cause major migraines.Let’s face it: Technology wouldn’t be technology without the occasional facepalm-inducing failure—and mobile devices are no exception. But an annoying Android error doesn’t have to send you scrambling to the nearest clueless carrier store or online help forum. I’ve been covering and personally using Android since its infancy, and I’m here to help. (My certified-geek badge is on file in the main office if you need to see it.)[ Android is now ready for real usage in the enterprise. Read InfoWorld’s in-depth guide on how to make Android a serious part of your business. | Get the best office apps and the 38 best business-worthy apps for your Android device. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with the Mobile Tech Report newsletter. ] Check out the fixes below or save this story for a rainy day. With these troubleshooting tips in hand, you’ll be swatting away problems and getting back to business in no time—no aspirin required.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

The best office apps for Android

It's 2017. You shouldn't have to worry about whether that old budget spreadsheet will open on your tablet or whether the document in your inbox will look right on your phone. In this day and age, having office apps that work seamlessly and consistently across devices should be a given. Everything should, as the cool kids say, "just work."Yet here we are, in an era where mobile devices are as critical to productivity as desktop computers -- and our virtual office tools are still anything but universal. Features that function smoothly on one product or platform don't always work the same on another. For business users in particular, that can be a serious problem.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

30 tasty tips for Android Nougat

Mmm...Nougat. What better way to start a new year than with a fresh flavor for your favorite Android phone?Google's latest major Android release may have officially launched last fall, but if you're like most folks, you'll probably be getting your first taste of Nougat -- also known as Android 7 -- in 2017. If you want timely Android updates, Google's own Nexus and Pixel phones are the only way to go -- all other devices depend on third-party manufacturers to prepare and provide rollouts. And as we see time and time again, that tends to result in slow and uncertain progress.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

14 eyebrow-raising things Google knows about you

Google may know more about me than I know about myself.I'm not just saying that, either: I recently started poking around in Google's personal data repositories and realized that, between my wide-reaching use of the company's services and my own brain's inability to remember anything for more than seven seconds, Google may actually have the upper hand when it comes to knowledge about my life.From face-tagged photos of my past adventures (what year did I go to Nashville, again -- and who went with me to that Eddie Vedder show?) to the minute-by-minute play-by-play of my not-so-adventuresome days (wait, you mean I really only left the house once last Wednesday -- and just to get a freakin' sandwich?!), Google's got all sorts of goods on me. Heck, even my hopes and dreams (which may or may not involve sandwiches) are probably catalogued somewhere in its systems.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

14 eyebrow-raising things Google knows about you

OK, Google: 160 valuable voice commands for Android

Android has actually had a robust voice command system in place for ages -- and the number of things it can do for you is expanding all the time.In fact, Google may be preparing to unveil a newly rebranded and even more conversational version of its virtual assistant later this year, but you don't have to wait to start making the most of your mobile device's listening smarts.MORE ON NETWORK WORLD: How to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely Below, we've listed 160 commands that are fully functional and ready to be used right now. We've put words and phrases that are examples in [brackets]; additional explanations are in (parentheses). And when you see a command with two words separated by a slash (e.g., "Enable/disable battery saver mode"), you know to say just one or the other of the words, right? Thought so.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Hands on: What’s new and noteworthy with Android N

With Google's I/O developers' conference behind us, it's time to start looking forward to what's next in the world of Android.The most prominent thing is Google's rapidly approaching Android release, currently known only as Android "N." (The company has yet to reveal the full name or version number.) While the software itself isn't expected to arrive until sometime this summer, we're getting an increasingly clear picture of the fresh features and improvements it'll provide.I've been using the pre-release versions of Android N since Google's first developer preview back in March and all the way through the most recent update put out last week (which is available to anyone with an eligible device, though be warned that it isn't entirely stable). While the software is still in flux and its elements aren't guaranteed to remain unchanged, we've seen enough at this point to get a pretty good idea of what's in the works.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

11 ways to get the most out of Google Keep on Android

I really need to upgrade my brain's internal storage.I'm only partially kidding: Just like a hard drive, I'm pretty sure my mind reached maximum capacity at some point in the past decade. The only way I can remember anything these days is by making and maintaining a million notes, both physical and digital. (My wife can confirm this. "I told you that a week ago" is an all-too-common phrase around these parts.)I'm still waiting for Western Digital to start selling SSD implants for the noggin, but in the meantime, Google Keep has become my repository for notes of the non-sticky variety. I like it because it's simple to use and yet packed with features that make my life easier. Plus, it works as well on my desktop computer (via its Web interface or more fully featured Chrome app) as it does on my Android device -- where I tend to use it most frequently.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Android at work: 38 business-worthy apps

"Android" and "enterprise" are two words that traditionally haven't gone together. But with Google beefing up its Android for Work initiative -- and getting ready to launch more enterprise-friendly features with the upcoming Android "N" release -- the notion of companies considering Android for employees no longer seems far-fetched.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

7 Android tools that can help your personal security

This isn't your typical Android security story.Most articles about Android security tools focus on malware-scanning suites like Lookout, Norton and AVG. But with the layers of protection already built into the platform, those sorts of apps are arguably unnecessary and often counterproductive -- or even needlessly expensive.INSIDER: 5 ways to prepare for Internet of Things security threats For most Android users, the seven tools below should cover all the important bases of device and data security. Some are third-party apps, while others are native parts of the Android operating system. They all, however, will protect your personal info in meaningful ways -- and without compromising your phone's performance. Plus, all but two of them are free.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

9 ways to make the most of your Android device

When you stop and think about it, the word "smartphone" is starting to sound a little stale.Sure, these pocket-size gadgets we tote around are capable of making calls -- but for most of us, that's become a secondary feature compared to the range of data-centric functions the devices enable. In reality, we're carrying tiny, capable computers that also happen to work as phones.[ Get the best office productivity apps for your Android device, and explore 12 great Lollipop APIs every Android developer will love. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with the Mobile Computing newsletter. ] Android devices in particular offer advanced functionality when it comes to the computer-level task of managing and manipulating files. The Android operating system allows you to perform all sorts of PC-like tasks, from dragging and dropping files between your phone and computer to plugging a USB drive directly into your device and accessing its contents. Between what Android offers out of the box and the features that third-party apps add to the equation, that shiny little slab in your pocket packs serious productivity potential.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

21 tips for making Android a better personal assistant

Android devices can do all sorts of wizardry these days -- everything from taking your heartbeat to turning off the lights in your bedroom. But sometimes, it's the simple stuff that matters the most.For business users in particular, a top-notch experience is crucial in three core areas: email, for keeping up with correspondence on the go; calendar, for making sure you don't miss important appointments (like your weekly podiatrist session -- hey, I'm not here to judge); and contacts, for having easy access to the people you need to reach, podiatrist or otherwise. No matter how many impressive feats your phone can perform, it won't do you much good if it doesn't deliver in those domains.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Galaxy S6 Edge review: Innovative, impressive — and impractical

Let this serve as a lesson: Looks can be deceiving.Samsung has introduced two new phones in its Galaxy line, and it's interesting to compare the two. Samsung's Galaxy S6 is a gorgeous phone that's both beautiful and brimming with top-notch technology. It really is an impressive device. The Galaxy S6 Edge is essentially the same phone with an added curve to its display that makes it even more striking.On paper and in pictures, the Edge seems like the phone to own. But after using it alongside the regular S6 for the past several days, I'm not convinced it is.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

10 common Android annoyances, solved

When you stop and think about it, smartphones are a lot like cars: They're fun, they're functional, and we always feel lost without them. But no matter how much we love 'em, they all occasionally do things that drive us crazy.As a certified Guy Who Writes About Android, I hear all about people's most pesky phone-related annoyances. From insufficient storage and wonky auto-brightness to less-than-stellar stamina, certain problems seem to pop up often. And nine times out of 10, there's a pretty easy fix -- or at least some steps that can help make things a little bit better.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here