If
you have recently purchased a Sony
Xperia Z3
or
an XperiaZ3 Compact,
chances are you are eager to get to know your device and find out all
that it can do. Here is our list of Xperia Z3 tips (which of course
could apply to the Z3 compact since its mostly the same) that will
get you on your way.
1. Get the best sound with Sound Equalizer
Smartphones
are starting to become more like mp3 players and iPods because not
only can you stream music over the internet, but they offer so many
more possibilities for tweaking your music. The Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3
Compact both offer a sound equalizer platform, which you can adjust
manually, or choose a default setting such as jazz, soul or bass
boost. You’ll find it under the Settings menu, then Sound settings,
Audio settings, Sound effects and finally, Equaliser.
2. Change the default home screen
Every
time you press the home button on either Xperia phone, it brings you
back to a default home screen. You can, however, change the home
screen and choose any of the ones that you have already created. To
do this, simply long press on an empty space on the home screen,
which will zoom out of all of the screen giving you a bit of an
overview, as well as offering some settings options. Press the button
on the upper left corner which looks like a house and select the
screen you want to have as a default home screen. Now you won’t
have to swipe to it anymore.
3. Ditch tapping to type and learn to swipe
Amaze
your newbie friends with this next feature which is more than just a
gimmick: instead of doing the old fashion letter by letter typing
which can be quite tedious (especially after you have found it out
about our tip), and also often requires both hands if your fingers
can’t reach all the keys, swipe typing is where it’s at. Now you
will just need to drag your finger across the screen from letter to
letter, and even if you aren’t precise, the system will pick up
what you are trying to type. Plus you can also revert back to letter
by letter since both ways will be supported. The cool thing is that
this is set as a default on your Xperia device.
4. Testing the hardware and software functions of your phone
Did
you know that you can test the various software and hardware
components of your device to see if anything is faulty? This is a
good way of checking for any issues yourself so you know what needs
to be fixed. It’s easy: open the phone app and dial * # * # 7378423
# * # * . This will bring you to a new menu where you select Service
tests. Here you can do many things, like check to see if the LED
flash is working, for example.
5. Customize icons from the notification bar
It
may sound silly to want to remove elements from the notification bar,
like the battery or Wi-Fi icon or even the time, but there are some
who enjoy a clean slate. If you want to customize the notification
bar, this is also a job that can be done in the settings menu. Head
into Personalization, then Status bar icons. Once there, choose what
you want to have appear and what gets the boot.
6. Double tap to activate screen
LG’s
Knock On was the envy of all other companies, who soon started to
copy the features, Sony included. Head into the the settings and then
select Display. Choose ‘’Tap to activate’’ so that every time
your screen is off, you just need to double tap on it to activate and
unlock it. This way you no longer need to press on the power button.
7. Operate the screen with gloves
It’s
getting chilly outdoors and chances are you don’t want to have to
take off your gloves to operate your handy. With today’s technology
in phones, you don’t have to. Most high end phones now include a
glove mode where you can operate your phone while keeping your digits
warm from the cold. Again, head into the settings, then select
Display. Activate Glove mode. This will make the screen much more
sensitive, so that softer touch is detected much easier.
8. Magnification gestures
If
you have vision problems or need any additional assistance with your
phone, manufacturers include accessibility features which will help
you in many ways. One of the things that you can do is enable Gesture
extension, by going to settings then accessibility. What this does is
allow you to zoom into any screen. When you switch it on, it will
prepare you for what to expect with a 15px explanation.
9. White Balance
You
might feel the need to toy around with the white balance of your
screen, and though the current default setting is usually optimal, it
may not fit your preferences. Head into the settings, then find
Display, and White Balance. Now you can tweak the bars and select the
white balance that suits your fancy.
10. Microphone Sensitivity
Chances
are you are not a hermit and using your phone in the middle of
nowhere with no other living soul to be heard. Every day life is made
up of ambient noise, which makes using the microphone on your
smartphone a bit difficult. Thankfully, you can adjust the microphone
sensitivity on the Xperia Z3 and Z3 compact, making it less
sensitive, which makes it better for the person to hear you. If you
are in a very quiet area, upping the sensitivity would help. To find
this feature, go into the settings menu again, then find Sound,
followed by Audio Settings, and finally Microphone sensitivity. Once
there, just choose what suits your current situation.
