Prologue

Somewhere filling the void between the smartphone and the computer lies the premiere device of the 21st century. It’s probably something you’ve never used before but will soon be unable to live without. It’s the tablet, specifically an Android tablet. The Android tablet is a gizmo that could fully replace your computer, as well as several other pieces of electronics you may tote around. It’s an all-in-one, lightweight, battery-powered, long-lasting, fully mobile, telecommunications, information, and entertainment gizmo.

Oh, but I do go on. As an Android tablet owner, or someone who’s interested in purchasing such a device, you obviously want to get the most from your technology. Perhaps you’ve attempted to educate yourself using that flimsy Getting Started booklet that came with the thing. Now you’re turning to this blog, a wise choice. New technology can be intimidating. Frustrating. No matter what, your experience can be made better by leisurely reading this delightful, informative, and occasionally entertaining blog.

Please don’t read this blog from cover to cover. This blog is a reference. It’s designed to be used as you need it. Look up a topic in the table of contents or the index. Find something about your tablet that vexes you or something you’re curious about. Look up the answer, and get on with your life. The overall idea for this blog is to show how things are done on the Android tablet and to help you get the most from the device without overwhelming you with information or intimidating you into despair. Sample sections in this blog include:

✓ Locking the tablet
✓ Activating voice input
✓ Importing contacts from your computer
✓ Setting up an e-mail account
✓ Running Facebook on your tablet
✓ Talking and video chat

✓ Placing a Skype phone call
✓ Helping others find your location
✓ Flying with an Android tablet

You have nothing to memorize, no sacred utterances or animal sacrifices, and definitely no PowerPoint presentations. Instead, every section explains a topic as though it’s the first thing you read in this blog. Nothing is assumed, and everything is cross-referenced. Technical terms and topics, when they come up, are neatly shoved to the side, where they’re easily avoided. The idea here isn’t to learn anything. My philosophy when writing this blog was to help you look it up, figure it out, and get on with your life.