How do you use chromecast

I'm thinking of buying a Chromecast, but how difficult is it to set up?

Google's Chromecast enables you to stream content from the web or your phone to your TV, giving you the flexibility of on-demand with a big screen. It only costs £30 so it's much cheaper than buying a smart TV purely for watching Netflix and HBO Go. It's very easy to set up as well, so even if you're not technically minded, this should be straightforward. Plug the device into the back of your TV and switch the TV on. If it doesn't automatically acknowledge it, head into the TV's settings to select HDMI input. The next step is to download the Chromecast app via the Google Play store. When you activate the app, it will try and find your Chromecast. When it does, just follow the instructions on the screen to configure it to your phone. Enter your home's Wi-Fi details and you should now be synced up and ready to go. Launch a supported video streaming app on your phone, select your video and hit the Chromecast icon. Press play and you'll be able to watch online content on your TV without the expense of buying a smart TV. It shouldn't take more than five minutesto set up.

How can I restart my phone quickly ?

I hate having to confi rm that I'm sure I want to restart my phone. Is there a way to bypass this at all ?

As we’re sure you can appreciate, the ‘Are you sure?’ button is there to avoid accidentally restarting your device when you’ve pressed the wrong button and then having to wait for it to boot up again. However, we understand that it can be frustrating to have to always tap a second time to confirm. you have able to bypass this, but you will need to have root access. if your phone is rooted and compatible, download Oneclick Restart from the play store. Grant it access to your phone and add the widget to your home screen. the instead of long-pressing power, selecting restrart and confirming, you can just open the app and it will instantly restart, saving you precious seconds. make sure you have everything saved though because it works instantly and there are no second chances

How do I send large files ?

“I often need to send pictures or fi les form my phone, but I always end up hitting the max-fi le limit. How can I send these more easily? ”

Phones and tablets are fast becoming essential workstations and entertainment centres. Otfice apps allow you to create presentations on your tablet while higher- resolution cameras let you shoot excellent quality photos and videos. However, both of these come at a price because the increased file size m akes it tricky to send folders, such as your holiday snaps, via email as most have quite a low file limit. Your best bet will beto download some kind of cloud storage app, such| as Dropbox. The main purpose of Dropbox is a file back-up system so if your phone is stolen, you won't lose all your photos and documents. It also lets you packagethem up and send them to a contact via email without getting close to the file limit by zipping them all up. This is enormously useful because you can send dozens of huge files to anyone and they can then download and unzip them at their convenience. For hassle-free storage of files that you can send in bulk, we would really recommend the Dropbox app or a similar file-storing app because it will take a lot of work out of sending big files.

What can I do to prevent battery loss

Locate the culprit
Often there will be one app in particular that is gobbling up all of your battery life. Head to Settings> Battery to view a breakdown of battery usage. Once you fi nd the offending app, close it or consider uninstalling it.

Blame the OS
If you can’t fi nd any issue with any particular app, it could even be the OS itself that’s causing the problem. Boot your phone in safe mode to avoid loading any third party apps. If you still experience the drain, then it’s your OS’s fault.

Lose the animations
Your swirling, swaying live wallpaper may look delightful, but all those moving pixels are gnawing constantly away at your battery. If you’re concerned about battery life, the best thing we can recommend for your homescreen is a dark coloured, stationary background

Keep it mid-range
Most people think that you should run your battery down to zero and then charge it fully, but this actually uses up charge cycles and ultimately drains your battery. Top up your phone throughout the day, trying to keep it between 50 and 80 per cent.

Keep it cool
Another reason for battery drain is your phone overheating. This shrinks the battery and reduces its capacity. Take the cover off while it’s charging or if you’re playing an intensive game. This should keep your phone cool and your battery happy.

How do I get Lollipop?

My phone still doesn’t have Lollipop. How do I get it ?

Ian Dare via Facebook We're glad someone still wants Lollipop! lt really is a good OS, but the rollout has been a bit of a shambles. Hrstly, you'll need to lnake sure your phone can get Lollipop as some older devices won't support it. Then, you just have to hold tight and wait for your carrier to pu sh through the u pdate. Otherwise, if your phone is rooted, you can download the Lollipop APK from the XDA Developers site.

Where has the volume control panel gone ?

Ever since I upgraded my Sony Xperia Z2 to Lollipop, I can’t pull down the notifi cation bar to change volume settings. Can I get it back ? 
Oh, the volume settings disappearance That was not a popular decision by Google and they know it. You’ll be pleased to know that a version of it will return in Android Marshmallow, but that’s no good to you now, especially as it's unlikely that the Xperia Z2 will get Marshmallow in 2015. Luckily, there’s an will do the job for you. Download it from Google Play, open it up and you will have the option to mute and adjust volume up or down in your Notification bar just as in the good old days

Can I changethe white Lollipop Ul ?

I hate L0llipop’s white Ul. ls there any way to change this?

The app drawer in Lollipop changed from dark to bright white because the launcher got bundled in with Google Search, which of course has a wh rte background. This uses more power and many users complain it's too bright at night. In the forthcoming Android M update, you will have a choice of light and dark themes, but until then your best bet is to download an alternative launcher.

How can I recover my battery life ?

The battery drain on my Samsung Galaxy S4 is terrible. Is there a way to stop it ?
This is an issue that has been reported by so many people since Android 5.0 rolled out. Not even Android 5.1 sorted it out, although we have been promised great things with Android M this autumn. Themain issue with Lollipop was system bugs, as is inevitable with newOS launches. However, apps that aren’t optimised for the new OS will also prove to be a massive drain, so try updating all your apps to the latest version. Check out our further tips to help save battery life down the side of this page, wait for Android Marshmallow’s arrival!

Why does my phone get so hot ?

Hot phones are caused by your processor having to work overtime to keep up with the tasks you've set it. This mostly occurs if you're playing a gam e that involves a lot of quickly moving graphics or if you're running several apps at once. This will result in your battery life dropping so if you can feel it getting hot, stop your game or close a few apps. Taking off the cover will help too.

Why does Lollipop keep crashing ?

Lollipop keeps crashing on my LG G3. Why is this?

Your apps are almost certainly crashing because they aren't optimised for Lollipop yet. This is leading tothem struggling to work with the new OS and just giving up. If you can revert to KitKat then that might be an option, or you may have to wait until the Android 5.1 or Android M update makes its way to your LG device. You can always stop using the apps that are causing you frequent problems.

Why does NFC sometimes stop ?

NFC works via a chip in the phone communicating with a chip in the receiving device, such as a speaker or payment terminal, to transfer data. It doesn’t usemuch power at all and works wirelessly so, when it works, it’s a great feature. However, lots of people report problems with NFC and that is generally due to the battery or phone case. If your phone says it supports NFC, but it has never worked, it could be because the chip is embedded in the back cover and that has been replaced at some point. This is the situation for phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. If it only works intermittently, are you swapping your batteries around? The Samsung Galaxy S3, for example, has the NFC chip in the battery, so if could lose NFC capability. The case could prove to be an issue if it ismade of a conductive material, such as metal. A standard plastic case shouldn’t affect the transmission at all. Check where the NFC chip in your phone is stored and make sure you aren’t occasionally removing it from the phone and losing the NFC capability.

How do I discover if my phone supports wireless charging?

Wireless charging has only really become widely supported in the last couple of years, so only the newer phones really have the capability. Most ofthe Samsung Galaxy ranges are supported, as are the Nexus 4,5 and 6. The LG G3 and G4 can both be charged by using induction coils, as can the Sony Xperia Z3. You can find a comprehensive list of all the phones that support Qi wireless charging at Qinside.biz.

How can I get rid of a virus?

“If I download an app with a virus, is there any way of deleting it?”

Although there is that frightening statistic that 97 per cent of mobile malware is on Android,the majority ofthat comes from dodgy third-party app stores. Google Play is actually remarkably safe with only one in a thousand apps having any kind of virus attached. However, if you do discover that you've got something malicious on your mobile, there are a feiw easy things you can doto remove the app and therefore the virus. Boot your phone in too Safe Mode to stop any downloaded app running. This can usually be achieved by pressing and holding Power Off. Oncein Safe Mode, locate any apps that may bethe cause ofthe virus. it may be one that you don't remember downloading or have downloaded recently. Uninstall the app and, in rnost cases, that should delete the virus as well. Always be suspicious about apps that you arent sure about

50 common Android smartphone and tablet problems solved

It doesn’t matter if you’re a rooting-wizard or you’ve just picked up your fi rst Android phone, problems with technology are pretty inevitable. It could be a phone-wrecking error or a simple battery life frustration, but somewhere, you will probably need to turn for help. Luckily, we have heard your cry for help and decided to do something about it. We’ve reached out to our readers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers to discover their bugs and gripes with their devices, and they have replied in their droves, with problems ranging from SD card woes to camera launch times. We’ve picked 50 of the most common problems that you’ve sent to us and created this handy guide that should ease your Android-related troubles. We’ve put together tutorials, tips and app lists that should make your Android-life that little bit smoother. Whether you need help with RAM management, Lollipop fi xes or loss of memory, the next seven pages should hopefully have you covered. If not, make sure you get in touch with us on Twitter (@lgrobot), Facebook (facebook.com/ littlegreenrobot) or email qa@littlegreenrobot. co.uk and we’ll do our very best to help you out. In the meantime, get stuck into this comprehensive list of the problems that most Android users have faced and hopefully it will sort out your current problems, and safeguard you against any future issues you may have

if my phone gets wet, is it ruined ?

Your phone won't be ruined forever if it gets wet, but you need to act pretty quickly to save it. The first step, is to whip out the battery, SIM card and SD card to make sure they don't suffer too much water damage. Dry your phone by burying it in uncooked rice or silica gel packets to absorb all the moisture. If you've done this, then there is a chance your phone might just survive.

How can I unlockmy phone ?

Phones that have been sold as part of a contract will often be locked to a particular network so that you're unable to switch to a new carrier at the end of your deal. However, most carriers will sell you an unlock code if you ask them. Tell them your phone's brand, model number and its IMEI code. This can be found by typing *#06# into your phone's dialler. Once you have your code, pop in your new SIM and type the code in when requested.

Why have Google Play services stopped ?

“Whenever I try and useGoogle Play store, it tellsmeGooglyPlayservices hasstopped.Canyouexplainwhy?”

lf the Google Play store is refusing to work, then that's a major problem as this is your gateway to app downloads and other services, such as your Google Play Music and Google Play Books. This has probably occurred soon after updates, possibly without you knowing if you've activated automatic updates. The best way to deal with this issue is to go into your phone's Settings, find Apps, find Google Play store or Google Play services and uninstall the updates. This will revert the settings to how they were before when it was working. This will give Google chance to work outthe bugs, then update next time they rollout patches. Hopefully, Google Play services will then be back to normal.

Galery of Music Must haves in Android

Vevo
This is the app to go to for offi cial HD music videos and live perfromances from your favourite bands and solo stars. Vevo has a huge catalogue, it is completely free and you can create your own playlists very easily or let the app choose the next tune for you

Musixmatch
If youwant to sing along to your favourite song, but are a little unsure on some of the lyrics,Musixmatch is great for you. The app runs alongside your other music playing apps, recognising the song that is playing and then displaying the lyrics on screen. Guess the Song This is a pretty fun game that doesn’t need a whole lot of explanation. There is a huge range of categories. However, it will really test the breadth of your musical knowledge as further categories are unlocked later on in the game.

Drum Solo HD
One of our favouritemusic making apps is Drum Solo HD. You’re set up with a full drumkit so you can Ringo away, with just your fingertips, to your heart’s content. There’s a range of backing beats to help keep your rhythm.

Equalizer Music Player Booster
If you’re searching for the perfect sound, try this free download. You can amplify the bass, adjust the highs and lows of any song you listen to, aswell as explore lots of other audio settings.

DJ Studio 5
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a DJ but don’t want to shell out for a set of decks, then DJ Studio 5 is the app for you. Play two track at once and mix them together. Using touch controls, you can even scratch them for that authentic club night experience.

Move over Google Glass

Vuzix has an eye on the future of smart glasses with the brand new M100

When the Google Glass Explorer progr shut down in January, commentators to say smart glasses were over before even began. However, while Google Gl demise was making headlines, Vuzix w selling their own M100 smart glasses t Fortune 100 companies, including big Hewlett-Packard. Vuzix has also launch Prosumer edition, which is available fo pre-order through Amazon now. This Android-powered wearable include head-up display that projects an image int corner of your eye. As well as working with apps, it has a HD camera built in for taking pictures and recording videos. Though it c connect with your phone and other device Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, it can store up to 32G microSD card. Impressively, it can do all of and the battery will still last eight hours.

10 Thing you need about Android Marshmallow

We called it!
The next version of Android has been officially confirmed as Android Marshmallow and the final beta version is available from the Android Studio now. Pat yourself on the back because this is the very name 40 per cent of you voted for in our reader poll in issue 53. Commiserations to those of you that were holding out for Android Milkshake or even Android Macaroon. Goog le have also confirmed it will be version number 6.0, rather Ithan Android 5.5 as some had expected.

You can now perso your permissions
The biggest improvement we can see in Marshmallow is control over app permissions. Youll no longer have to grant blanket permissions to apps, instead you will be able to pick and choose what data and sensors apps can access. For instance, messaging apps will only be able to access your microphone if you say and only when you use speech -to -text dictation. This should make people a lot more comfortable when downloading apps using Marshmallow as it keeps your confidential information secure.

Have a quick doze
A headline feature of Android 6.0 is Doze Mode, which will put your device into a deep sleep whenever it is left on standby, prolonging your battery life. The device knows when its not being used and shuts down all functions, only waking up when it registers that it's in use or a high priority notification comes through. Tests have shown that Doze can double the battery life of a Nexus 5 which could save you from having to recharge your phone or tablet on a daily basis. You can 

identify bloated apps that use up memory
Quite often your Android runs out of storage space and you haven’t got any idea which app is responsible for taking up a huge chunk of your memory. However, Marshmallow has introduced a feature where you can dive into the Memory menu of Settings and see exactly which app is using up most of your memory. You can then uninstall it to give you much more room to download the latest memorysapping apps and repeat the process all over again! New Fingerprint Fitures
Android Marshmallow lets you do so many more things with your fingerprint than just unlock your phone. You can also use the fingerprint scanner on your mobile, should it already have one, to sign into the Google Play store and make purchases. This will remove the need to constantly retype passwords in time -and -time again. There are many more applications for the fingerprint scanner, but downloading apps safely and quickly is probably the most useful one of the bunch. Multitask in 

Multi Windows
Samsung users will be well used to Multi -window Mode, having had it on their Galaxy phones for a number of iterations now, but Android Marshmallow will bring the service to all Android handsets. Users will be able to view up to four windows on the same screen, so that you can watch a YouTube video while messaging your mates, or playing a game. With so many manufacturers creating 5.5- or 6 -inch phablets, this could now become a very worthwhile addition to Android devices. Savety First
Should your phone crash while using Android Marshmallow, you won’t lose all your app data. Even if you haven’t manually backed up your apps, you will retain some data as your phone will automatically back up 25MB of information per app. Essential information will be uploaded on a regular basis to your Google Drive account, where you can there recover it once your phone is up and running again. The days of losing everything after a crash are over, thanks to the new Android Marshmallow.

Google NowonTap
Google Now on Tap has been exciting us ever since we saw what it was capable of at Google I/O. Your personal assistant has been made much smarter and more intuitive. With the Android 6.0 upgra Google Now is go to morph into a service that can g you useful answer you want, even before you ask the question! For instance, when it senses your reading an email inviting you to see a movie, it will instantly offer nearby showing times

Pay Your Way
Android Pay is still being prepared for the mass market, lagging behind Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, despite being discussed at Google I/O several months ago. However, we are looking forward to using the fingerprint scanner in order to authorise payments anywhere you could normally swipe a card to pay for goods. Android Marshmallow will be the first Android version that we will be able to use Android Pay on, when it finally rolls out to the general public.

Its not quite Ready
It's not quite ready As we mentioned earlier, only the final preview version is available now, so you're still going to have to download an API< if you want to enjoy the full features that Android Marshmallow offers before the consumer version gets an official rolbut. However, the OTA update is expected to arrive some time in the autumn, so fortunately you haven't got long to watt. But if you want to help Google iron out some more Marshmallow bugs, then get to the Android Studio right away.