X

Ten tips to get started with your Google Nexus 7 tablet

The more I use my Nexus 7 tablet the more I like it and find it goes with me even more than my iPad. I have long been a fan of the 7 inch form factor and enjoy the Google experience. We see the Nexus 7 selling well and I thought it would be helpful to share some key tips with you to get you setup and enjoying your Nexus 7 as well.
By Matthew Miller, Contributing Writer
nexus7tips01.jpg
1 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #1: Control rotation

Tip #1: I have seen some people complaining about rotation into landscape so make sure you use the rotation lock toggle in the top bar. Also check out 3rd party launchers.

The more I use my Nexus 7 tablet the more I like it and find it goes with me even more than my iPad. I have long been a fan of the 7 inch form factor and enjoy the Google experience. We see the Nexus 7 selling well and I thought it would be helpful to share some key tips with you to get you setup and enjoying your Nexus 7 as well. 

nexus7tips02.jpg
2 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #2: Customize Google Now Settings

Tip #2: Google Now is excellent, but can be made to function even better for you with a visit to the settings area.

nexus7tips03.jpg
3 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #3: Folders & resizing

Tip #3: You can organize your shortcuts into folders and also resize widgets on the home screen.

nexus7tips04.jpg
4 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #4: Get your free movie

Tip #4: Google includes Transformers: Dark of the Moon so go and download it onto your Nexus 7.

nexus7tips05.jpg
5 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #5: Free magazines too

Tip #5: Google also included a copy of free single issue of five magazines. You can download them from the Play Store and enjoy the magazine in full format or by quickly toggling to text only mode.

nexus7tips06.jpg
6 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #6: Get maps for offload use

Tip #6: Google Maps on Android Jelly Bean now lets you take maps on the go. Select an area to download, up to about 85 MB.

nexus7tips07.jpg
7 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #7: Read the Guidebook

Tip #7: Google included the Nexus 7 Guidebook on the device and I actually found several good tips and directions that were quite helpful. The key words for searching are very helpful.

nexus7tips08.jpg
8 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #8: Install Camera Launcher

Tip #8: There is a front facing camera on the Nexus 7, but no shortcut to launch the camera. Download the free Camera Launcher utility from the Play Store.

nexus7tips09.jpg
9 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #9: Place Widgets on the home screen

Tip #9: To get some widgets on your home screen, tap the App Launcher and then top on the upper left Widgets option to view the widgets you have installed.

nexus7tips10.jpg
10 of 10 Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Tip #10: Enable eye blink for more security

Tip #10: If you use the Face Unlock method to lock your Nexus 7 then I recommend you enable the eye blink "liveness" option so that a simple photo cannot fool the security system.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos