today official release date for several flagship Android smartphones, one of which is the new HTC One M9. And while this may not be the first time you’ve penned a new phone and you’re probably upgrading from an older HTC One (M7) or similar, below are a few steps all owners should take when they get their new phone.
On March 1, the HTC One M9 smartphone was finally announced, and it has emerged after months of leaks, rumors and speculation. It didn’t come as a surprise thanks to various leaks, but unfortunately it didn’t include many design changes compared to last year. It still has a lot to offer and is the latest and greatest phone to launch outside of the Galaxy S6 and is available nationwide starting today, April 10.
Of course, there are some things you should do when you buy a brand new smartphone. Open it and do all the installations. Log in and sync your Google account, Facebook and all the usual stuff, but below are a few more things new owners should know and possibly do with their new device.
All users are different, like every smartphone, but here are six or so things that all new HTC One M9s should probably do, or at least try, on their smartphones. You’ll want to add some screen security, try the theme engine, disable some bloatware, and more. So let’s get started.
Add a Lock Screen Password or Security
HTC’s new One M9 doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner like the iPhone or Samsung’s new Galaxy S6, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add some security and protect your device from prying eyes. One of the first things you’ll want to do is add a password, pin or pattern to the lock screen to keep things safe.
There may be a notification to do so during initial setup, but if not, you’ll want to go to settings > security > screen lock > and select one of the many different options for screen security.
We usually use a pin, as typing the entire password multiple (possibly hundreds) times a day can be very old.
Use the Charger in the Box
Smartphones these days are starting to come with some fancy features when it comes to turbo charging. HTC One M9 features Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology and can charge up to 60% faster than some older devices. It’s a general rule to use the out-of-the-box charger and cable, but sometimes users need to be reminded of this.
If you’re like me, there are tons of wall warts, usb charging cables and more around, but always try to use the stock charger that comes with the One M9. It is specially designed to charge the phone with fast charging technology and has the right output voltage for the best charging scenario. The fast charging feature works when the phone is below 10% charged and charges extra fast and gradually returns to normal (still higher) speeds. You may want to invest in a second Quick Charger from HTC store.
Disable Apps and Bloatware
After you’ve done all the setup of your One M9 and installed some of the apps you use on all your devices, it’s a good idea to browse through all the pre-installed apps. Some can be installed, but most of them you can simply disable. We’re talking about bloatware. That comes with more bloatware from HTC and its partners, followed by carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. Things like T-Mobile Caller ID, Visual Voicemail, T-Mobile TV, My Account and more. Everything adds up and bloats your device and app drawer with unnecessary stuff.
To do this, you’ll want to go to settings > apps > scroll to the “entire column” to get started. Most cannot be deleted to free up space, but you can disable them and remove them from your app tray.
Inserting a Micro SD Card
Fortunately, HTC, unlike Samsung, was smart enough to include a micro SD card slot in the new One M9, meaning owners can add as much additional storage as they want. I have a 64GB SD card in mine and you’ll want to do the same for any photos and videos you take with the 20 megapixel camera, not to mention all the apps, games, music and more you can save up on. your new phone.
There is a small tool (or any pin will do) and insert it into the small hole in the upper right corner of the device next to the volume keys. Add a micro SD card here and you’re ready. The other side is the SIM card for service from your carrier and you don’t have to bother.
Install a New Keyboard
With Android, you can always replace different aspects of the firmware with 3rd party apps. I am someone who always replaces the messaging app with something else. tissue. Another thing is the keyboard. Swype, SwiftKey, or the stock Google Keyboard are a few of the options that many people enjoy.
While the pre-installed HTC keyboard is decent and has some of the same swipe or swipe for typing, it’s not as complete or useful as some of the others available. Personally, I adhere to normal Google Keyboard.
Try Themes App
With HTC Sense 7 there is a brand new theme engine that is truly extremely powerful. With just a few taps, you can download and apply a range of themes out of the box, choose from many fan-made themes, and even easily create your own. All of them are beautiful and give a unique look to the phone. These change everything from wallpaper, icons, font, background colors and more. Extremely powerful and quite beautiful.
The icon simply titled “Themes” is where you start. Once you’re in here, you can change things as small as the wallpaper background image to more aggressive things like the whole look and feel of the OS with all the themes. There are many options, so take a good look at it and find what you like best.
You can even try making your own theme if you want. They let you choose from their own list, user-made themes, or create your own.
final thoughts
All owners will probably want to set everything up the way they want. Scroll through all the icons on the home screen, change the wallpaper, install 3rd party apps and more. There’s a new HTC widget that estimates your usage on the home screen and adds new icons for your favorite apps. It’s a nice idea, but it changes instantly, so I removed it right away.
Do the whole setup of your new phone, download some apps, do everything we mentioned above and then try that nifty new camera. An update is coming today (or soon) that fixes some of the camera issues we described in our review. After performing some of our steps above and accepting the latest update, you are ready to enjoy your new phone.
