Live wallpapers, app shortcuts and widgets

Continuing the Ting Optimus S start-up video series, today we're looking at customizing your Optimus S with your favorite apps, widgets and wallpapers.

As you browse the Android Market, you'll find your phone quickly loads up with indispensable apps. Rather than sorting through your app tray to find and launch an application you can add your favorites to one of your homescreens.

In your app list, tap and hold on the app you'd like to add to your homescreen. Drag the app to a blank spot on your homescreen. To move an app shortcut on the homescreen, tap and hold. Now, you can drag the shortcut to the left or right to change homescreens. When you're satisfied, release to drop it. Likewise, you can delete an app shortcut from a homescreen by tapping and holding. The app tray icon turns into a trash can. Drag the shortcut over the trash can until it turns red then let go. This won't delete the application from your Optimus S; you're just getting rid of the shortcut.

The Android operating system also lets you add Widgets. These are handy windows into your applications that present information at a glance. To add a widget, tap and hold on a blank space on the homescreen. In the menu that appears, choose Widgets. Scroll through the list of available Widgets. When you find one you want to add, just tap. You'll be dropped back to your homescreen where your new Widget now resides.

Move Widgets just like you move app shortcuts; tap and hold then drag to reposition and release. You can also trash a widget in much the same way.

Some applications available in the Android Market come with Widgets so check you list of available Widgets from time to time.

Finally, let's have a look at the wallpaper options available in Android running on your Optimus S.

As we scroll through our homescreens, you can see that Android handles wallpaper a little differently than other mobile operating systems. Rather than putting a static image on each of your phone's homescreens, Android offers a slightly different view on the picture on different homescreens.

To change the wallpaper, tap and hold on a blank spot on your homescreen. Choose Wallpapers.

To set wallpaper from a picture you've taken, tap to enter the Gallery. Tap on an album. Scroll through your pictures and tap to select one. Next, we have to position the on-screen cropping box. Tap and hold on one of the lines and then drag to resize the box. You can also tap in the center of the cropping box to reposition it. When you're satisfied with your selection, tap Save. You'll be dropped back to your homescreen with your new wallpaper applied.

You can also select a stock image wallpaper by choosing the Wallpapers menu item. Scroll through the available options. Check out the preview and when you've found one you like, tap Set wallpaper.

Again, you'll be dropped back to your homescreen with your new wallpaper applied.

Finally, you have the option to use what's called Live Wallpaper. This is unique to Android and offers a more dynamic background. However, remember that live wallpapers will have a small impact on your phone's battery life.

Scroll through the available Live Wallpapers and tap one to get a preview. When you've found one you like, tap Set wallpaper. Now, you'll see your new Live Wallpaper applied.

Some Live Wallpapers respond to actions. For example, the Nexus live wallpaper we've chosen responds to on-screen touches. Others, like Spectrum will respond to sound in the environment or from music you're playing in the Music application.