Google Nexus One: Top tips for your Google phone

Posted by T3 Magazine on Wed 3 Feb 2010

Become the master of your Google 'superphone'

Google's smartphone answer to toppling the iPhone once and for all has yet to launch in the UK, but if the latest Nexus One rumours are to be believed, we are not too far away from it.

- Google Nexus One official specs

- Google Nexus One review and video: The full story

- Google Nexus One heading to the UK on T-Mobile?

As you eagerly prepare for life with the Android 2.1 beauty, here's 10 Nexus One tips to help you enjoy the Google phone straight from the box.

Read below for our Google Nexus One: Top tips for your Google Phone

1/ Touch and hold text in messages: if it contains a number you can call it instantly, addresses open in Google Maps, or you can copy and paste.

2/ Search using your voice: click the mic on the search widget, say "Navigate to pizza and Google Maps shows your route top the nearest pizza place. Smart.

3/ The Power Control widget lets you turn battery-draining functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Sync and GPS on and off directly from your home screen.

4/ Touch and hold the home screen to choose from a selection of live wallpapers which include Smoke, Grass and Rain, which mimics rain falling on your screen.

5/ To use the Nexus One as an external hard drive, plug it into your computer via USB, open the notification bar and click USB Connected then Mount.

6/ To call upp recently used applications quickly and easily, hold down the Home button and you'll receive shortcuts to all your most-used apps.

7/ Press and hold any of the app icons in your applications list to instantly add a shortcut to the Nexus One's home screen for quick access.

8/ Slide the unlock bar on the left hand side of the handset to mute the phone. It's a quick and easy way to silence your phone in meetings or at the cinema.

9/ You can add important contacts to your home screen by holding down their icon in the phonebook, then selecting Shortcuts and Contact.

10/ Dictate your messages, emails or tweets by bringing up the virtual keyboard and selecting the mic icon to the left of the space bar.