Android Smartphones For Dummies

Chapter 5

Tapping and Swiping Your Way around the Phone

IN THIS CHAPTER

Navigating around your device

Finding out the difference between a tap, a swipe, and a hold

Using advanced navigation techniques

Now that your smartphone has been set up, it is time to discover how to navigate around this technical marvel. While the smartphone interface may seem straightforward, there are some intricacies to navigating around the interface. In this chapter, you explore the standard navigation techniques of tapping, swiping, and holding, and then discover how to use the more advanced navigation techniques of gestures and waving.

Starting with Standard Navigation

The standard way to navigate around your Android smartphone’s interface is by using the touchscreen. And in order to master the Android interface, you need to know some basic functions.

The touch interface

When navigating your smartphone using the touch interface, remember the following:

• Every part of the screen is touchable and probably does something.
• Android knows the difference between a tap, a swipe, and a hold — and the difference is probably more subtle than you expect.
• The touch interface is not always going to work if you ...