The Google Nexus 5 is one of the best smartphones you can currently get right out of the box. With its new and completely improved Android 4.4 KitKat os its already snappy and clean from the start. There are however a few things to consider to give you the best experience and better performance.
While every user of any smartphone uses them in different ways there are a few essential items to consider when getting started with your new Nexus 5. With its new version of KitKat and Google Now being integrated more than before, its a smarter more information rich device. So without any more procrastination here it is.
Instructions to Setup your new Nexus 5
- Device Security – One area that is missed by the initial setup on the device is security. Most users want some sort of lock screen passcode or pattern lock to keep random people from accessing your device. Navigate to your devices settings -> security -> screen lock and then select the method you would like to use for security from either Pattern, PIN or face unlock. The Nexus 5 will walk you through from here and allow you to lock down your device.
- Google Play PIN Setup – Second item that falls into the security section but is more or less just to help you control who installs what on your device is adding a Google Play PIN. This way your kids or anyone else on your device can’t just start downloading paid apps all willy nilly. Open the Play app and select settings -> user controls -> require password for purchases, choose a password setting and then type your password in.
- Set Mobile Data Limits – While very few of us have unlimited data plans these days you will want to set a data limit so that you know when your close or over your limits. Playing games or watching Netflix can eat through data quickly and you don’t want that bill coming your way. You can setup mobile data limits by navigating to settings -> data usage -> enable mobile data -> set data limit. From here you can slide the vertical bars to the dates of your plan start and finish as well as the horizontal bar to the data limit required. Take note that this may not be exactly what your carrier shows as data usage but should be very close.
- Install Lookout Mobile Security – Lookout Mobile will not only help you out by scanning apps as they are installed for malicious injections but also find your lost or stolen Nexus 5 from any other tablet or computer. This is a requirement on all of my devices so that I protect my investment.
- Battery Improvements – There are many settings to improve the battery life on your Nexus 5. Please refer to the following article on Improving Nexus 5 Battery Life for many ways to improve the battery.
The items above may mostly look like security although you will notice that some of the items will greatly improve your Nexus 5 experience. Peace of mind is almost as important as battery life when it comes to phones these days since they are no longer $20 flip phones :).