Get More from your Android Smartphone – Faster, Longer, Cheaper

I’m a long time fan of the Android line of smart phones. Everyone thought I was strange for waiting so very long to make the jump from dumb phones to the smart phone generation, but really, I was just waiting for the perfect kind of phone. Android was that reason. You can customize them like nobody’s business, making them significantly faster and with better battery life, at zero cost to yourself.

So today I’m going to share a few tips directed at getting the most from your Android smart phone in terms of both speed and power consumption, and a few general tips for saving money on smart phones in general. So let’s get right to it. 

The Basics

Here are a few basic tips that apply to buying and owning all smart phones, yes, even Iphones. If you use the latter, stick around and read the rest as well, as I may just have convinced you to cross over enemy lines and join the enemy: Android.

1) Avoid using major phone carriers if you can avoid it. Their rates are almost always higher – especially when it comes to data – and they’ll do everything they can to lock you into obscene contracts, at least here in North America. Instead, shop around… even consider pay as you go options (utilizing wifi when you’re on the go) and phone cards if they’re available in your neck of the woods. Do your research… there are numerous forums and places of discussion where you can find the best rates in your region.

2) Consider buying a used or last generation phone. Much like a lower end computer CPU that you can overclock to get more power, so too can phones be optimized and sped up for better performance, saving you a bundle of money. If you’re not comfortable with rooting your phone, then at the very least shop around… don’t buy directly from your carrier if you can avoid it, as they often charge a premium. Instead look at 3rd party vendors – either stores or individual sellers – and see if you can save yourself some money.

Got an Android? Good.

Okay, we’re just getting warmed up here, so get ready. Android tweaking is one of my most enjoyable and extensive obsessions. If you’re smart enough to own an Android, well… good for you, but you can do a whole lot better. Here’s how:

3) If you haven’t rooted your Android phone and installed custom rom like Cyanogenmod yet, then man… why even own an Android phone? They’re just begging to be spread open and have your slick, fast, rom and firmware inserted. With a little bit of work you can make your already awesome phone even better. Faster, longer battery life, and a slew of great features simply not found in the stock offerings. The moment you root it, a whole new world will open to you. Use Cyanogen as a starting point for the rom (main OS), and then you just need to pick a good kernel. More on that next…

Now, full disclosure… it does take a *little* bit of effort and research, and varies from phone to phone. I suggest taking a look at these forums and find your particular phone on there. And if you have any questions, feel free to leave them as a comment and I’ll do my best to help you out.

4) You’ve rooted your phone and installed Cyanogenmod, but there’s still that certain something missing. At this point I suggest researching what custom kernels are available for your phone. Kernels are the core system that run the phone, and they can make or break your battery life and speed. Look for one that automatically adjusts CPU speed based on usage, as well as something with custom voltages, and all the debugging code removed. Again, if you need suggestions, just ask. This is an expansive topic, so consider this nothing more than an introduction.

5) Wifi is both your friend, and your enemy. If you use a pay as you go plan like I suggested, then you can save a bundle of money on data by using wifi as often as possible while you’re on the move. I’ve been doing this for years now, and have rarely had trouble finding a wireless signal in the city. Chances are you spend most of your time either at home or at work, and both places often have wifi.

Having said that, there is a dark side to wifi: power consumption. Wifi will chew through your battery in no time, but thankfully there’s a simple solution to that as well. Use an app to regulate your wifi connection, completely turning it off when your screen is off. The moment you turn on the screen again, it will re-connect. This should roughly double your battery life, depending on the application you use. My favorites are Juice Defender and DS Battery Saver. Both can be found on the Android Market.

And then?

That’s all folks, or is it? No, far from it. Android phone customization and optimization is a huge topic, and one that I’ve just briefly touched upon. It varies from phone to phone, and community to community. At this point, it’s time to spread your wings and start browsing around for information pertaining to your specific phone. There’s so much you can do, you wouldn’t even believe me if I told you.

So with that in mind, have fun, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave me a message below. I love talking about this stuff.

(Photos by Johan Larsson, Paulo Ordoveza, and Floarian)