O.M.G Where is the begining?

Hi there, Hunsdale, and welcome aboard.

I must say your post made me chuckle. I totally hear what you're saying!

I'm probably not the best person to offer advice, because I have a long history of plunging in with reckless abandon and just DOING stuff. That's how I learned how to program and administer UNIX systems back in the '80s. :laugh:

You're definitely in the right place, i.e., Android Forums, as far as the best source for info, advice, help, and camaraderie with fellow Android users.

One thing to keep in mind is that you're not in a race with anyone to figure everything out RIGHT NOW. Take your time, read, decide what you want your device(s) to do, ask questions, explore options, etc.

A great place to start is with your device's specific forum. Let us know which device(s) you have and we'll point you to their boards, or just explore the site and look for them.

Finally, I can state with pretty good confidence that you don't need to know ANY of the complicated stuff in order to use your Android device. It's that intuitive. So if you're not highly motivated or in a hurry to customize it (as in rooting), just take your time and use its features via its icons and app drawer. Once you're comfortable with it, then move on to more complex stuff if you so desire.

 

Welcome to Android Forums.

The Android world is populated by hundreds of devices that are all different from many manufacturers and have over a million apps already available.

The key is to go slow.

If you have a device already ... what is it and who is your carrier?

The best advice is available from other users of your device and that is why Android Forums is structured the way it is.

We can move your thread to the forun that will best serve you if we know your device/carrier.

... Thom

 

Welcome Hunsdale

So, simply put, you would like a dictionary of sorts for Android, where it explains in simple terms what each Android term is, and how its used correct? A one-stop-shop for beginners so-to-speak

I totally understand (if that is what you are inquiring about) ??

 

go google it. Just kidding.

But hey, I totally understand where you are coming from!!
It can be overwhelming for sure. I will never know all the terminology and some times I feel so dumb when I don't know something.
However, I found this site a few years back and just started asking questions and all the members were friendly and helpful.

What I can tell you is, there is so much out there, and all you need to do is ask here. We can help, and first link I would like to give you is this:

FAQs - Android Forums

Check out all the Stickies..they are full of info. And trust me, if you are confused about something, just ask.
Yeah, you'll probably have alot of posts about different things, but that's o.k...that's how we all learn.

If I don't know an answer for you, We'll find it.
Someone will know the answer.
Someone here can help.



TLR....just ask here for any Android terminology you need help on.

If it's device specific, I see you have found where to post here

 

You are exactly the way I was
Remember. Just ask

 

Maybe start with Linux for a base. Something like Linux Mint. How root works and why it's probably a good thing most people don't have it. Learn how to use the terminal. Like change directories, move files, copy/paste, etc. Also, how permissions work. There's a write up on this site somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. By learning this stuff you won't completely wtf when you need it in Android.

 

Yes, android is based on Linux, and runs a modified Linux kernel.

The different directories you see in a root explorer are the different portions of the OS. I wouldn't play with any of that if you aren't familiar with them


Simplified:

/boot contains your kernel

/system contains your ROM

/data contains the apps you install and your user data.

/storage is going to contain your files, pictures, ext

 

Kinda. Linux is really the kernel. Because an operating system is the sum of its parts, a Linux distro is really a Gnu/Linux OS. Linux would only be the OS if it was the only thing installed. There are tons of Linux distros to choose. Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch, and Mint are some of the more popular ones.

 

If you'd like a post moved/deleted/ect theres a little report /!\ button in the bottom left that will draw a mods attention to it and we can do whatever you'd like.

I have went ahead and merged the two posts in order to not disrupt the flow

 

I strongly recommend that you start with a device that is somewhat popular ... find its user area ... and pick the brains of the other users.

For me it was The Motorola Droid X. I still remember the two biggest confusions I had ... SD cards and volume controls.

The problem with the dictionary idea is that multiple manufacturers and multiple carriers have come up with multiple definitions for the same words ... like ...

-- SD card vs, internal memory vs, SD-Ext card vs. USB memory.
-- The difference in what SD card meant depending on what Android system version you were talking about.
-- Volume controls ... for starters there are five.
-- Hard Reset vs. soft reset

... Thom

 

An older main stream phone might serve your purpose. The only point is to be using something that has some other users you can talk with. The "highly discounted clones" fail to have these communities.

The last time I counted there were over 600 different phones in Android Forums. You can spend an awful lot of time on working out the subtle differences when talking to someone who is not using your particular phone.

If they have exactly the same phone that you do and they tell you their's is root-ed you should assume it is not the same as yours. So that 600 number just went to 1,200. The reason is that there are solutions (and problems) available to them that are not available to you.

... Thom

 

The thing about learning is to allow yourself the time to absorb it all. As Mike stated I'm still learning. Just remember there are no dumb questions and the only thing stupid is keeping it to yourself

The best advice I can give is to get active with the forums. Learning others problems and how to solve them has taught me so much about my own devices that the benefits are indescribable. One always said the best way to learn is to teach.

PM, Start threads, Read threads, and most of all have FUN. Enjoy learning your device.

Remember what a wise man said once. "Be the ball"

 

Learning is why I'm here.

If it's about Android ... Android Forums is the place to be.

... Thom