2. Setting Up the Galaxy Tab A
In this chapter, you discover more about your Galaxy Tab A and how to connect it with other computers and networks. This chapter covers the following topics:
Getting details about the Galaxy Tab A
You can easily find information about the Galaxy Tab A so you can make changes as needed. When you finish making general changes to the Galaxy Tab A, it’s time to set up the network so your Galaxy Tab A can connect with the Internet. Finally, you find out how to synchronize your Galaxy Tab A with other devices, such as your desktop or laptop PC.
Getting Details About the Galaxy Tab A
If you want to get information about the features in your Galaxy Tab A from one place, you can use the About Device section within the Settings app.
1. Open the Quick Settings and Notifications screen by tapping and holding your finger on the top edge of the screen and swiping your finger down.
2. Tap the Settings icon.
3. Swipe down in the settings list on the left side of the screen and then tap About Device.
4. See the model number for your Galaxy Tab A.
5. See the Android and Kernel versions.
6. Scroll down (if necessary) to see the build number for your Galaxy Tab A.
7. Scroll back up (if necessary) and tap Status.
8. View the status of your Galaxy Tab A, including battery status and battery charge level, IP address, your Wi-Fi MAC address, Bluetooth address, and the current up time (that is, how long your Galaxy Tab A has been on continuously).
9. Tap the Back touch button.
10. Tap Legal Information to view a menu that shows Galaxy Tab A legal information, privacy information, and license settings.
Setting Up Your Network
Now that you’re familiar with the details about your Galaxy Tab A and accessing the Settings app, you need to use the Settings app to do one very important setup task: Connect your Galaxy Tab A to the Internet. Depending on the phone carrier you use, you can link with the Internet through a Wi-Fi connection. You also can link to other devices and networks using a Bluetooth connection or through a virtual private network (VPN).
I Don’t Have a Wireless Network...What Do I Do?
If you don’t have a Wi-Fi network but you do have a high-speed Internet connection through a telephone (DSL) or cable (broadband) provider, you have several options. First, call your provider and ask for a new network modem that enables wireless connections. Second, ask how much the modem costs—some providers might give you a free upgrade.
Another option is to keep your current box and add a wireless base station of your own, such as the ones offered by Apple and Microsoft.
Set Up Wi-Fi
The Galaxy Tab A makes it easy for you to set up a Wi-Fi connection to access the Internet:
1. On the Home screen, swipe from right to left to view the second Home screen and then tap Settings.
2. Tap Wi-Fi if Wi-Fi is not selected already.
3. If Wi-Fi is turned off, you see a slider button within the Wi-Fi entry in the settings list. Turn Wi-Fi on by sliding the button to the right.
4. Tap More in the menu bar.
5. Tap Add Network in the menu.
6. Type the network name.
7. Tap the Security field to set the security level.
8. Select the security level; the default is None.
9. Tap Connect.
Set Up Bluetooth
If you connect to another device or a network using a Bluetooth connection, the Galaxy Tab A makes it easy to enable your Bluetooth connection and find Bluetooth-enabled devices.
1. On the Home screen, swipe from right to left to view the second Home screen and then tap Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Turn on Bluetooth by sliding the Bluetooth slider button to the right.
4. If the Galaxy Tab A doesn’t find an available device, turn on the Bluetooth device to which you want to connect and then tap Refresh in the Settings menu bar.
5. Tap a found device to connect with that device. You can rescan for devices by tapping Scan.
Set Up a VPN
A VPN enables users in a public network (such as the Internet) to transfer private data by making it appear to the users that they’re in a private network of their own. For example, you can set up a VPN between yourself and your boss at the office so you can securely send private company data.
1. On the Home screen, swipe from right to left to view the second Home screen and then tap Settings.
2. Tap More Connection Settings.
3. Tap VPN. If your Tab A is not protected by a password or similar encryption method, you see a dialog box that tells you to set a screen unlock pattern, PIN, or password. Open the Screen Unlock Settings screen and add a password, pattern, or PIN by tapping OK. Refer to Chapter 3, “Customizing Android to Your Liking,” for more information about how to add a password, pattern, and PIN.
4. Tap Add VPN in the Settings menu bar.
5. Enter the VPN information, including the VPN name, type, and server address.
6. Tap Save.
7. Tap the VPN name in the list.
8. Type the VPN username in the Username field and the password in the Password field.
9. Tap Connect.
How to Disconnect from Your VPN
You can begin the VPN disconnection process by opening the Quick Settings and Notifications screen that is covered earlier in this chapter. On the screen, a notification in the list informs you that you’re connected to the VPN. Disconnect from the VPN by tapping the notification in the list and then tapping Disconnect.
Syncing the Galaxy Tab A
Synchronizing your Galaxy Tab A with your desktop or laptop computer has a number of advantages.
The Galaxy Tab A stores a backup of its contents on your desktop or laptop every time you sync both devices; therefore, if you lose your data on the Galaxy Tab A—or lose the Galaxy Tab A itself—you can restore the data from the backed-up copies on your computer. What’s more, if you have music, photos, or video on your computer, you can copy a selection of those files onto your Galaxy Tab A.
Because Windows is the leading operating system for desktop PCs by far, this chapter describes how to sync music with the Galaxy Tab A in Windows. Later chapters cover how to sync other types of data, such as contacts.
Can I Sync Between the Galaxy Tab A and the Mac OS?
Syncing music from iTunes on the Mac OS to the Galaxy Tab A requires that you download additional software for your Mac. JRTStudio (www.jrtstudio.com) produces iSyncr, a utility that syncs what you have in iTunes with Android devices. As of this writing, the main app costs $4.99 in the Google Play Store, and that app enables you to sync your Tab A with iTunes on your Mac by connecting your Tab A to your Mac using the Tab A cable.
Sync Media Files
It’s easy to sync music or other media files in Windows Media Player, the default music and multimedia player in Windows, to any model of the Galaxy Tab A.
1. Connect the Galaxy Tab A to your computer with the USB cable that came with your Galaxy Tab A if you haven’t done so already. After a short while, your Windows PC informs you that it has installed the drivers to connect with your Galaxy Tab A.
2. Launch Windows Media Player on your Windows PC.
3. Tap the Sync tab; the Galaxy Tab A sync area appears on the right side of the window.
4. Click the folder in the tree that contains the files you want to sync with the Galaxy Tab A.
5. Select the files you want to move and then click and drag them to the sync area.
6. Click Start Sync.
7. After Windows Media Player syncs with your Galaxy Tab A, open the app associated with the type of files you synced on the Galaxy Tab A. For example, if you synced image files, open the Gallery app; the Pictures tile shows one of the images you synced. You find out how to use the Gallery app in Chapter 10, “Capturing and Managing Photos.”
Why Don’t I See the Galaxy Tab A Sync Area?
If you have another external device connected to your computer, such as a USB drive, then you might see that external device appear first in the sync area. You can view the next external device Windows Media Player has recognized by clicking Next Device below the device’s storage information within the sync area. Continue to click Next Device until you see the Galaxy Tab A in the sync area.