Monday, September 9, 2013
Featuring Windows Phone 8, Nokia's Lumia line of devices are the flagship phones for Microsoft. If you’re invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, adding a Lumia or other Windows Phone 8 completes the circle quite nicely. If you’re moving from a feature phone, Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone to Windows Phone, here are some helpful tips to get you started.
Customize the lock screen and set a password
The first thing you'll want to do after setting up your service is secure your phone with a password. To do so, go to settings > lock screen then scroll down and turn the password switch on. You'll then be prompted to enter in a password twice. In settings you can also set up how much time passes before the screen locks itself and a password is required.
The first thing you'll want to do after setting up your service is secure your phone with a password. To do so, go to settings > lock screen then scroll down and turn the password switch on. You'll then be prompted to enter in a password twice. In settings you can also set up how much time passes before the screen locks itself and a password is required.
Customizing the lock screen is easy too. Launch settings and under system, tap lock screen. Here you have several different options you can combine to make a truly unique lock screen. You can set the background as a static photo, the Bing image of the day, or show the band or artist while music is playing. You can also select which apps you want to show quick status notifications for, such as the calendar, email, or weather.
Customize live tiles
Customizing the live tiles is a lot like customizing them in Windows 8.1. Tap and hold a tile until you see icons overlaid on the lower and upper right corners. Tap the arrow icon to change the size, or the tack icon to pin the tile to the main screen. You can change some tiles between small, medium, and large, and others only allow small or medium. While in this mode, you can move the tiles around on your phone too. Moving tiles to the top allows you to see the data that’s most important to you at a glance.
Customizing the live tiles is a lot like customizing them in Windows 8.1. Tap and hold a tile until you see icons overlaid on the lower and upper right corners. Tap the arrow icon to change the size, or the tack icon to pin the tile to the main screen. You can change some tiles between small, medium, and large, and others only allow small or medium. While in this mode, you can move the tiles around on your phone too. Moving tiles to the top allows you to see the data that’s most important to you at a glance.
Add a microSD Card for more storage
If you want to increase storage on your Windows phone, you'll need to install a microSD card. A 64 GB card should set you back around US$50. To install it, power off the phone and remove the back and the battery. Then insert the card into the appropriate slot.
If you want to increase storage on your Windows phone, you'll need to install a microSD card. A 64 GB card should set you back around US$50. To install it, power off the phone and remove the back and the battery. Then insert the card into the appropriate slot.
After inserting the card, put the battery back in and pop the back into place. When you turn on your Windows Phone you'll see the following message that a card has been found, tap "Yes." Then to monitor the card storage space go to settings > phone storage and see how much storage space is being used. Here you can also change where media is stored.
Remove useless carrier and manufacturer apps
It's great when you purchase a new Windows computer at a cheap price, but the savings come with a caveat – tons of junkware apps loaded on the system. That is the case with smartphones too. Luckily, getting rid of extra apps you don’t need or want on Windows Phone is easier than on a PC. From the list of installed apps, press and hold the app you want to get rid of. When the menu pops up, tap "Uninstall," then verify you want to get rid of it.
It's great when you purchase a new Windows computer at a cheap price, but the savings come with a caveat – tons of junkware apps loaded on the system. That is the case with smartphones too. Luckily, getting rid of extra apps you don’t need or want on Windows Phone is easier than on a PC. From the list of installed apps, press and hold the app you want to get rid of. When the menu pops up, tap "Uninstall," then verify you want to get rid of it.
Enable kid's corner
Getting back to phone security, Microsoft added a helpful feature for parents called kids corner. This lets you create a sandboxed profile for your kids with their own start screen, so they can only access child friendly games, and other items that you specify. Plus, no matter what they hit on the phone, it won’t screw up your important settings. To enable it, go to settings > kid's corner. Then go in to each category and check only the items you want them to use.
Getting back to phone security, Microsoft added a helpful feature for parents called kids corner. This lets you create a sandboxed profile for your kids with their own start screen, so they can only access child friendly games, and other items that you specify. Plus, no matter what they hit on the phone, it won’t screw up your important settings. To enable it, go to settings > kid's corner. Then go in to each category and check only the items you want them to use.
After setting it up, you can get to it by swiping left from your lock screen. Then to leave it, just press the power button.
