Android 2.3 User Manual
Android basics
22
AUG-2.3-103
Android User’s Guide
Using the touchscreen
The main way to control Android features is by using your finger to manipulate icons,
buttons, menu items, the onscreen keyboard, and other items on the touchscreen. You
can also change the screen’s orientation.
buttons, menu items, the onscreen keyboard, and other items on the touchscreen. You
can also change the screen’s orientation.
Touch
To act on items on the screen, such as application and settings icons, to type
letters and symbols using the onscreen keyboard, or to press onscreen buttons, you
simply touch them with your finger.
simply touch them with your finger.
Touch & hold
Touch & hold an item on the screen by touching it and not lifting
your finger until an action occurs. For example, to open a menu for customizing the
Home screen, you touch an empty area on the Home screen until the menu opens.
Home screen, you touch an empty area on the Home screen until the menu opens.
Drag
Touch & hold an item for a moment and then, without lifting your finger, move
your finger on the screen until you reach the target position. You drag items on the
Home screen to reposition them, as described in “Customizing the Home screen” on
page 43, and you drag to open the Notifications panel, as described in “Managing
notifications” on page 29.
Home screen to reposition them, as described in “Customizing the Home screen” on
page 43, and you drag to open the Notifications panel, as described in “Managing
notifications” on page 29.
Swipe or slide
To swipe or slide, you quickly move your finger across the surface
of the screen, without pausing when you first touch it (so you don’t drag an item
instead). For example, you slide the screen up or down to scroll a list, and in some
Calendar views you swipe quickly across the screen to change the range of time
visible.
instead). For example, you slide the screen up or down to scroll a list, and in some
Calendar views you swipe quickly across the screen to change the range of time
visible.
Double-tap
Tap quickly twice on a webpage, map, or other screen to zoom. For
example, you double-tap a section of a webpage in Browser to zoom that section to fit
the width of the screen. Double-tapping after pinching to zoom in some applications,
such as Browser, reflows a column of text to fit the width of the screen.
the width of the screen. Double-tapping after pinching to zoom in some applications,
such as Browser, reflows a column of text to fit the width of the screen.
Pinch
In some applications (such as Maps, Browser, and Gallery), you can zoom in
and out by placing two fingers on the screen at once and pinching them together (to
zoom out) or spreading them apart (to zoom in).
zoom out) or spreading them apart (to zoom in).
Rotate the screen
On most screens, the orientation of the screen rotates with the
phone as you turn it from upright to its side and back again. You can turn this feature
on and off, as described in “Display settings” on page 364.
on and off, as described in “Display settings” on page 364.