Little-Known Google Nexus 5 Tips and Tricks

google-nexus-5-01

White Google Nexus 5: photo by janitors.

On October 31st, 2013, Google raised the bar for other smartphone manufacturers with the release of their flagship phone, the Nexus 5. Being the successor to the already popular Nexus 4, it had some serious shoes to fill. After being on the market for less than four months, however, I think it’s safe to say the Google Nexus 5 has lived up to its expectations. This week, we’re going to share some tips and tricks on how to get the most from your Google Nexus 5 smartphone.

Improve Photo Quality With HDR+ Setting

One feature that most users seem to overlook with their Google Nexus 5 is the HDR+ photo setting. The Nexus 5 sports a powerful 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, which is capable of taking some phenomenal pictures to say the least. However, you can improve the quality of your photos by enabling the HDR+ setting.

To enable HDR+ photos, tap the button to the right of the shutter icon and select HDR+ under the list of available options.

Disable Google Now

Don’t get wrong, I think Google Now is pretty cool and even useful in some instances, but there’s really no point in using it when you’re walking down the street to a neighbors. The Nexus 5 automatically comes with Google Now enabled by default, leaving some users to question whether or not they can turn off. The good news is that you can disable Google Now on your Nexus 5.

To disable Google Now on the Nexus 5, go into the ‘Settings’ menu and tap the button labeled ‘Search.’ Next, tap on the slider button next to ‘Google Now.’ Voila, you have successfully turned Google Now off your device! If you wish to enable it again in the future, simply go back into the Settings menu and tap the Google Now button again.

Enable Widgets

Want to customize the look and feel of your Google Nexus 5 beyond the default settings? If so, you should enable widgets on your device, as this will open up a whole new world of customization options.

Enable widgets on your Nexus 5 by performing a long press on the home screen. You can go one step further, however, by enabling widgets on your lock screen as well. Lock screen widgets are found under ‘Settings’ > ‘Security’ > ‘Enable Widgets.’

Did these tricks work for you? Let us know in the comments section below!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

15 + thirteen =