Android 4.2.2 on Your Tab 2, Part 2: New Apps and Widgets
Editor's Note: This is part 2 of a 3-part series. Be sure to read Part 1 as well as Part 3 if you're already caught up to here.
Like this article? We recommend
Like this article? We recommend
Like this article? We recommend
The arrival of Android 4.2.2 on the Galaxy Tab 2 has brought with it a number of new apps and widgets that you can access. You can add these apps and widgets just as you did in Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) covered in My Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. Here’s a list with a brief description of the apps and widgets you can find in Android 4.2.2.
New Apps
You need to be aware of four new apps:
- You can share documents, images, and music with others from your Galaxy Tab 2 easily and also get real-time feedback from other users with the Group Play app.
- Google Hangouts is the new app for sending and receiving instant messages, and was installed automatically when you upgraded your Tab 2 to Android 4.2.2.
- The Samsung Link app is only for Samsung devices and enables you to view files on all your devices and storage locations, such as your Dropbox account from within the app, so you can find what you need more quickly on your Galaxy Tab 2.
Using the Group Play App
Open the Group Play app by tapping the Apps icon on the Home screen and then tapping Group Play, as shown in Figure 1.
)
Figure 1 The Group Play icon in the Apps screen
Tap OK on the Welcome screen. You see a Notification screen that reminds you that if you use Group Play in an unsecured Wi-Fi network, your information could be viewed by users outside of your group that use the same network. Close the Notification screen by tapping OK.
Now you see the Group Play Home screen, as shown in Figure 2, with the Wi-Fi network name in the upper-left corner of the screen. You can change the Wi-Fi settings on your Tab 2 by tapping Wi-Fi Settings and then select, change, or add a Wi-Fi network in the Settings screen.
)
Figure 2 The Group Play Home screen
Start a Group Play session by tapping Start. You can share a picture, document, or music that’s on your Tab 2 by tapping one of the options, as shown in Figure 3. For this example, I’ll tap Share Picture to share a picture with others.
)
Figure 3 You can share a picture, document, or music file by tapping Share Picture, Share Document, or Share Music, respectively
The Gallery app opens, so you can select the folder that contains the photo(s) you want to share by tapping on the folder thumbnail image. After you open the folder, the folder screen appears, as shown in Figure 4. Select the photo(s) you want to share by tapping the check box in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail photo. After you tap the check box, a green check mark appears in the check box that tells you that you have selected the photo. When you finish, tap Done.
)
Figure 4 The Done option appears in the upper-right corner of the screen
In the Start window, you can create a personal identification number (PIN), as shown in Figure 5, so you can tell your group members to use the PIN to access the group. Tap the PIN in the keypad, and then tap Done when you finish. Note that the PIN must be no larger than six digits.
)
Figure 5 The PIN number is hidden in the PIN field
The photo appears on the screen, as shown in Figure 6. Any other user who has connected to your group can also view the photos. You can view all the photos by swiping to the left and right on the screen.
)
Figure 6 The photo appears within the Group Play app screen
Using the Google Hangouts App
You can access the Google Hangouts app by tapping the Hangouts icon on the Apps screen; you can see the Hangouts icon in Figure 1. On the Hangouts Home screen shown in Figure 7, tap the plus icon to select the circles or names in the Add People screen.
)
Figure 7 The plus icon appears at the right side of the menu bar that appears at the top of the screen
In the Add People screen, as shown in Figure 8, tap the recipient field and then type the name of the person with whom you want to chat. As you type, matches appear in the drop-down list underneath the field. Tap the name of the person with whom you want to chat.
)
Figure 8 The name of the person with whom I want to chat, James Nash, appears at the top of the list
Continue typing names of people you want to include in the conversation. You can also tap the Back menu button, scroll down the list of users or Google+ groups in the window, and then add the user or group to recipient field by tapping the user or group name. Send a message to the recipient(s) by tapping Message, as shown in Figure 9.
)
Figure 9 The Message button appears below the list of contact names
Type your message in the Send a Message box, as shown in Figure 10. You can also add an emoticon to better convey the meaning of your message by tapping the emoticon icon to the left of the Send a Message box. When you finish composing your message, tap the Enter key in the keyboard.
)
Figure 10 Type the message in the keyboard and then tap the Enter key when you finish
Samsung Link App
Launch the Samsung Link app by tapping Apps on the Home screen, swiping from right to left on the screen to access the second page of apps, and then tapping the Samsung Link icon. In the opening page, as shown in Figure 11, tap Start.
)
Figure 11 You can start the app by tapping Start or view an introductory video
In the Tutorial page that appears, tap OK. On the Samsung Link home page, you see the most recent content on the Tab 2 underneath the My Recent Content tab. View the Devices tab by swiping from left to right. You can then get instructions for registering a PC, or you can register an online storage service by tapping the plus icon, as shown in Figure 12.
)
Figure 12 Register an online storage service by tapping the plus icon in the Registered Storage section
Samsung Link supports the SugarSync, Dropbox, and Microsoft SkyDrive storage services. If you have one of these services, tap the Sign In button to the right of the storage name so you can sign in, register your storage service, and view files stored on that service within the Samsung Link app.