Preparing to leave

Unless you’re being unexpectedly abducted, you should prepare several things before leaving on a trip with your Android tablet.

First and most important, of course, is to charge the thing. I plug in my Android tablet overnight before I leave the next day. The tablet’s battery is nice and robust, so power should last until well after you reach your destination.

Second, consider loading up on some reading material, music, and a few new apps before you go.

For example, consider getting some eBooks for the road. I prefer to sit and stew over the Play Store’s online library before I leave, as opposed to wandering aimlessly in some airport sundry store, trying hard to focus on the good books rather than on the salty snacks. Chapter 14 covers reading eBooks on your Android tablet.

Picking up some music might be a good idea as well. Visit Chapter 13.

I usually reward myself with a new game before I go on a trip with my tablet. Visit the Play Store and see what’s hot or recommended. A good puzzle game can make a nice, long international flight go by a lot quicker.

See Chapter 15 for information on obtaining games from the Google Play Store. Also refer to that chapter for information on keeping eBooks, music, and videos on your tablet when an Internet connection isn’t available. You’ll want to download that material before you leave.

Finally, don’t forget your tickets! Many airlines offer apps. The apps may make traveling easy because they generate notifications for your schedule and provide timely gate changes or flight delays — plus, you can use the Tab as your e-ticket. Search the Play Store to see whether your preferred airline offers an app.

Going to the airport

I’m not a frequent flier, but I am a nerd. The most amount of junk I’ve carried with me on a flight is two laptop computers and three cell phones. I know that’s not a record, but it’s enough to warrant the following list of travel tips, all of which apply to taking an Android tablet with you on an extended journey:

• Take the Android tablet’s AC adapter and USB cable with you. Put them in your carry-on luggage.
• Most airports feature USB chargers, so you can charge the tablet in an airport, if you need to. Even though you need only the cable to charge, bring along the AC adapter, anyway.
• At the security checkpoint, place your Android tablet in a bin by itself or with other electronics. The exceptions are when you’ve been approved for pre-check or you’re using a preapproved tablet carrying pouch.

• Use the Calendar app to keep track of your flights. The event title serves as the airline and flight number. For the event time, use the take-off and landing schedules. For the location, list the origin and destination airport codes. And, in the Description field, put the flight reservation number. If you’re using separate calendars (categories), specify the Travel calendar for your flight. See Chapter 14 for more information on the Calendar app.

• Scan for the airport’s Wi-Fi service. Most airports don’t charge for the service, although you may have to agree to terms by using the tablet’s web browser app to visit the airport’s website.

Flying with an Android tablet

It truly is the trendiest of things to be aloft with the latest mobile gizmo. Like taking a cell phone on a plane, however, you have to follow some rules.

The good news is that because your Android tablet isn't a smartphone, you can leave it on for the duration of the flight. All you need to do is place the tablet into Airplane mode. Follow these steps just before take-off:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap the More item in the Wireless & Networks area.

   On a Samsung tablet, tap the Connections tab.

3. Slide the master control by the Airplane Mode item to the On position.

   The tablet turns off its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.

When the Android tablet is in Airplane mode, a special icon appears in the status area, similar to the one shown in the margin.

To exit Airplane mode, repeat the steps mentioned in this section.

• An Airplane Mode Quick Settings button is also available: Summon the Quick Settings and tap the Airplane Mode icon. See Chapter 3 for more information on the Quick Settings.
• Some tablets feature an Airplane Mode action on the Device Options menu: Press and hold down the Power button and choose Airplane Mode.
• Airplane mode might be called Flight mode on some tablets.

• If the airline features onboard wireless networking, and you’re not skittish about overpaying for dreadfully slow Internet access, you can reactivate the tablet’s Wi-Fi radio after you place the device into Airplane mode. After doing so, use the web browser app to display any web page. What you see instead is the inflight Wi-Fi access screen. Heed the directions and you’re online.

Getting to your destination

After you arrive at your destination, the tablet may update the date and time according to your new location. One additional step you may want to take is to set the tablet’s time zone. By doing so, you ensure that your schedule adapts properly to your new location.

To change the tablet’s time zone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Choose Date and Time.

   On some Samsung tablets, tap the General tab to locate the Date and Time item.

3. If you find an Automatic Time Zone setting, ensure that a check mark appears by that option.

   If so, you’re done; the tablet automatically updates its time references. Otherwise, continue with Step 4.

4. Choose Select Time Zone.
5. Pluck the current time zone from the list.

If you’ve set appointments for your new location, visit the Calendar app to ensure that their start and end times have been properly adjusted. If you’re prompted to update appointment times based on the new zone, do so.

When you’re done traveling or you change your time zone again, make sure that the tablet is updated as well. When the Automatic Time Zone setting isn’t available, follow the steps in this section to reset the tablet’s time zone.

Using overseas power

You can easily attach a foreign AC power adapter to your tablet’s AC power plug. You don’t need a voltage converter — just an adapter. After it’s attached, you can plug your tablet into those weirdo overseas power sockets without the risk of blowing up anything. I charged my Android tablet nightly while I spent time in France, and it worked like a charm.

Accessing Wi-Fi in foreign lands

Wi-Fi is pretty universal. The same protocols and standards are used everywhere, so if the tablet can access Wi-Fi at your local Starbucks, it can access Wi-Fi at the Malted Yak Blood Café in Wamboolistan. As long as Wi-Fi is available, your Android tablet can use it.

• See Chapter 16 for details on using Wi-Fi with your Android tablet.
• Internet cafés are more popular overseas than in the United States. They are the best locations for connecting your tablet and catching up on life back home.
• Many overseas hotels offer free Wi-Fi service, although the signal may not reach into every room. Don’t be surprised if you can use the Wi-Fi network only while you’re in the lobby.

• Use your Android tablet to make phone calls overseas by getting some Skype Credit. Skype’s international rates are quite reasonable. The calls are made over the Internet, so when the tablet has Wi-Fi access, you’re good to go. See Chapter 8 for more information on making Skype calls.

Disabling data roaming

The word roam takes on an entirely new meaning when it’s applied to an LTE tablet (which features a cellular modem). Whenever you venture outside of your carrier’s service area, the tablet may end up latching onto another mobile data network. When that happens, the tablet is roaming.

Roaming sounds handy, but there’s a catch: It almost always involves a surcharge for using another mobile data network — an unpleasant surcharge.

Relax: Your cellular tablet alerts you whenever you’re roaming. The Roaming icon appears in the status area, similar to the one shown in the margin. You may even see the word Roaming on the Lock screen and witness the name of the foreign cellular provider where the local provider’s name normally appears.

If you’d like to eschew using the alien mobile network and, potentially, avoid any unpleasant charges, disable the tablet’s Data Roaming option. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. In the Wireless & Networks section, tap the More item.

   On Samsung tablets, tap the Connections tab in the Settings app. The More item may be titled More Networks.

3. Choose Mobile Networks or Cellular Networks.

4. Ensure that the Data Roaming option isn’t selected.

   On some tablets, the option is titled Global Data Roaming Access. Choose it and then choose the option Deny Data Roaming Access.

Your tablet can still access the Internet over the Wi-Fi connection while it’s roaming. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network doesn’t make you incur extra charges on your cellular bill.

• Before you travel abroad, contact your cellular provider and ask about overseas data roaming. A subscription service or other options may be available, especially when you plan to stay overseas for an extended length of time.

• If roaming concerns you, simply place the tablet into Airplane mode, as covered earlier in this chapter. In Airplane mode, your tablet can access Wi-Fi networks, but its cellular modem is definitely disabled.