- Surround sound on Google Movies
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| Enjoy movies with 5.1 surround on Android |
Peace and quiet has descended. Work is done, the kids are in bed (or the parents!) and you’re ready to watch a movie on your Android Lollipop phone or tablet, streamed direct from the internet via the Play Movies & Videos app. You make your selection, hit play and… well, it looks good, but the sound could do with a lot of work. Movies play with surround sound at the cinema but despite your phone’s sound system, the same doesn’t seem to be true here. Or is it? Although it should be enabled by default, you can easily switch on Dolby 5.1 surround sound in the Play Movies & Videos app. Open the menu, then Settings, find Surround Sound and check the Enable Surround Sound box. You might even tap the Play Demo button to get an idea of the 5.1 soundtrack capabilities of Android.
- Change brightness depending on time
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| It is possible to manage brightness more effectively on your Nexus 5 |
Display brightness can be a big problem on the Nexus 5, especially for battery life. While the Adaptive Brightness setting can be useful, a slicker option is to have the brightness automatically change depending upon the time of day You’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled (you can do this from Settings>Security) before heading to XDA-Developers.com and searching for and then downloading the BrightTime app. Upon launching BrightTime you’ll find some timestamps already present. You can use these or delete them and set up your own using the ‘+’ button. Just tap on a time and adjust the slider to determine how bright the display should be at that time; you can also adjust the clock as necessary. For instance, you might have the brightness turned high during daylight hours and then turned lower during the night. With the BrightTime app active, your phone’s brightness will be adjusted when the corresponding time of day arrives.
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| Display a lock screen message, and help get your lost phone back! |
Your phone has been lost. Fortunately, though, it’s in the hands of someone trustworthy and who wants to return it. That’s the good news. The bad news is you didn’t save any contact information on your device, so your Good Samaritan doesn’t know how to get in touch to return your Android. This isn’t a situation you want to be in is it? So best avoid it, something that can be easily done via Security>Owner info. This is a space where you can add a message instructing a kindly discoverer of your Android phone or tablet in the steps they can take to return it to you; perhaps you might even mention a reward (but only if you’re prepared to pay it, of course!) For safety’s sake, however, please don’t include any personal data, beyond a secondary phone number or email address. When you’re finished, tap back to save.
- Cast your screen for productivity
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| The Cast screen button will send your Android home screen to a TV via Google Chromecast.. |
One of the most overlooked options in the Quick Settings screen on Android Lollipop has to be the Cast screen. Using this, you can send what is currently displayed on your device to any TV with a paired Google Chromecast attached.While this might be something as mundane as browsing the web or enjoying Facebook on your TV, you could also be sending far more important pictures from your Android device to any HDTV or other hardware with a HDMI input. For instance, Skype sessions can be sent from your phone to your TV, meaning the person you’re speaking to is presented in a more life-like size. Alternatively, you might send a presentation from Office 365’s PowerPoint or Google Slides. To enjoy this feature, run the app you want to use and then open Quick Settings and tap Cast screen.
- Hack the Lollipop Overview screen
The new Overview screen displays your open apps and, if the feature is active, enables you to pin an app or game, thereby cancelling the menu buttons. But the Overview itself can be tweaked, enabling you to specify various settings including how many running apps are listed. On a rooted Android device, head over to Google Play and search for the utility Recently by Chainfi re. Install it on your phone or tablet to proceed, and then launch. Grant super user access to proceed, then toggle the switch in the top-right corner of the display. You’ll see a number of options, such as Age Limit, which determines how long an app can stay in the Overview, and Entry limit, where you can cut down the number of apps that are listed in the Overview screen to just running apps. Many other options are available; use them to customize the screen.
