Send Maps directions in Chrome to your Android phone
In a hurry to get somewhere but need directions? Now you can send the directions to your Android phone before you even leave home or the office.
Nicole Cozma/CNET
It's dangerous to look up directions while you're driving or biking. Voice input can help ease the burden of typing in an address to Google Maps, but it's not perfect and you may end up needing to type the address or business name anyway.
To help keep your eyes on the road, Google has added a feature to send directions from Chrome to your phone, before you leave. Here's how:
Step 1: Type send directions into the omnibox in Chrome, or the Google.com homepage.
Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Step 2:If you have more than one device on your account, make sure the directions are being sent to the correct one in the upper right-hand corner of the send directions card.
Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Step 3: Type in the destination address and click Send directions to my phone.
Your phone will automatically load the Google Maps app with the location you specified. Just tap the transportation icon and you'll be greeted with navigation to your destination.
How to change the icon grid size on the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge
Want to fit more icons on the various home screens of your shiny new Galaxy S6? Well, you're in luck.
The default home screen of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge offers a grid of four icons by four icons. For some users, myself included, the default grid is not enough. Sure, you can add more panels and place apps across the various screens, but that involves a lot of swiping and tapping.
Luckily, you can change the grid size used across your home screens. The process takes just a few seconds to complete, well, unless you count deciding which apps to add to your home screen. We all know that process can take a while.
Unlock your device, and long-press anywhere on your home screen. Be sure not to do this on an app icon, as that will result in moving the app instead of bringing up the menu we're looking for.
Screen grid setting on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
After a few seconds, your home screens will turn into thumbnails (more or less) and a row of buttons will appear at the bottom of your screen. Each button will allow you to change a different aspect of your home screen, but right now we're only concerned with the button labeled Screen grid; tap on it.
Examples of the various screen grid sizes on a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
You can then view a preview of each grid size, and get a feel for the size the app icons will be based off how many apps you want on the screen. When you find one you like, tap on Apply at the bottom and begin adding more apps to your home screens.
When you’re done removing junk from your Android storage, it’s time to do some organizing. Here are some tips to help you regain that new, uncluttered Android experience.
Nicole Cozma/CNET
Sometimes keeping your Android device clean is about more than deleting files to free up storage. Hiding apps you don't plan on using, putting the right ones at your fingertips, and adjusting the availability of shortcuts can all lead to a more gratifying experience using your device. Here are some tips for helping your Android experience feel fresh, without requiring any elbow grease.
Hide bloatware
The app info page gives you the option to disable apps you're not using.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Before you spend time organizing your apps to best suit your needs, take a few moments to hide the ones you're not using. Press the Menu button, choose Settings, and then navigate to the last tab labeled General. You should see an Application Manager option on that tab, which will allow you to view a list of all applications installed on your device. Please note that not all bloatware can be disabled. For each app you want to disable (meaning it will not run in the background, or show in your app drawer), select the app, then tap the Turn Off/Disable button. Now you won't waste time organizing stuff you won't be using.
Change app drawer view settings
Change the order of apps to make them easier to find.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Note: This tip applies to users that do not have Android 5.0 on their device yet.
When you add or remove apps, especially if it's a frequent practice, the app drawer can become a bit difficult to navigate. This can be further complicated by not displaying apps in alphabetical order. Open the app drawer, press the menu button, and then select View type. In the menu that appears, choose the setting that works best for you.
Create app folders for organization
App clutter on the home screen can be tucked away inside a folder.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
If you think the app drawer requires too much scrolling to be considered convenient, then its likely you have many app icons spread across your home screen(s). This can be just as messy as the drawer, if not worse. Instead, why not try using folders to group similar or often-used apps. Want to create your first folder? Long press on the Home screen, select Folder, and then give it a name. Now you can press, hold, and drag apps into the new folder. You may also be able to drag icons on top of one another to create a folder, depending on the version of Android you're using.
Customize docked icons
The quick access dock should contain the apps you use the most.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
While we're grouping apps up, why not adjust the icons docked along the bottom of your Android's screen? These are supposed to serve as shortcuts to apps you use most often -- but the default selection may not correspond to your favorite app choices, rendering the dock useless. Did you know you can just tap, hold, and drag an app to the dock? It's as simple as that to keep the apps you use the most available at all times.
Use widgets for favorite app features
Circle Battery Widget displays the battery percentage in an elegant fashion.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Perhaps you're looking to get away from relying on opening an app every time you want to use one of its features. That's where widgets come in. Whether you want to take a glance at the weather, or quickly share your thoughts, widgets have you covered. To try out the ones you already have installed, simply press and hold on your Home screen and then select Widgets. To add one of them to your home screen, press and hold on the widget and then drag it to where you'd like it to display. Keep in mind that some widgets are offered in different sizes; the numbers under each widget name detail how many spaces the widget will need, both vertically and horizontally.
Sort notification panel icons
Shortcuts for turning on Wi-Fi and GPS should always be at your fingertips.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
While not specifically app-related, speedy access to your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Silent settings are probably the best features to add to the notification shade. However, this is another area where you can customize which settings you need the most. To make it happen, head to Settings > Device > Notification panel. For older versions of Android you will find these options in Settings > My Device > Display > Notification panel.
Free Windows utility Kingo Android Root makes it a snap to take total control of just about any Android smartphone. Here's how to use it.
Tapping into Developer mode with Android 4.4.James Martin/CNET
Rooting is the Android equivalent of jailbreaking, a means of unlocking the operating system so you can install unapproved (by Google) apps, update the OS, replace the firmware, overclock (or underclock) the processor, customize just about anything, and so on.
Of course, for the average user, rooting sounds like -- and can be -- a scary process. After all, "rooting" around in your smartphone's core software might seem like a recipe for disaster. One wrong move and you could end up with bricked handset.
Thankfully, there's a new Windows utility that makes rooting a one-click affair: Kingo Android Root. It's free, and based on my initial tests with a Virgin Mobile Supreme and later ones with an Asus Nexus 7, it works like a charm. (Be sure to check the compatibility list before you proceed, keeping in mind that even if your device isn't on it, the utility may work with it.) Here's how to get started.
Step 1: Download and install Kingo Android Root.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Step 2: Enable USB debugging mode on your phone. If it's running Android 4.0 or 4.1, tap Settings, Developer Options, then tick the box for "USB debugging." (You may need to switch "Developer options" to On before you can do so.) On Android 4.2, tap Settings, About Phone, Developer Options, and then tick USB debugging." Then tap OK to approve the setting change.
On Android 4.3 and later (including 5.0, though this also applies to some versions of 4.2), tap Settings, About Phone, then scroll down to Build Number. Tap it seven times, at which point you should see the message, "You are now a developer!"
With that done, tap Settings, About Phone, Developer Options, and then tick USB debugging." Then tap OK to approve the setting change.
Step 3: Run Android Root on your PC, then connect your phone via its USB sync cable. After a moment, the former should show a connection to the latter. Your device screen may show an "Allow USB debugging?" pop-up. Tick "Always allow from this computer," then tap OK.
Screenshot by Kingo
Step 4: Click Root, then sit back and wait while the utility does its thing. The aforementioned Nexus 7 took all of about two minutes, including the automated reboot at the end.
And that's all there is to it. If you decide you want to reverse the process, just run Android Root again, connect your phone, then click Remove Root.
With that done, now you can take advantage of options like USB On-the-Go to make your unexpandable phone expandable. Hit the comments to share your favorite tricks for a rooted Android phone.
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