You know that in recent years the dimensions of our smartphones have grown quite significantly. Their large sizes may conflict with the ergonomics and accessibility of the features offered. Here are some tips to improve this.

Every day, we have to use our Android smartphone with one hand, whether it's when we carry things, when we hang on to what we can in public transport,... the scenarios are multiple. and yet the manufacturers continue to produce imposing devices.

Some, however, offer features aimed at helping users forced into these acrobatic moments, such as Xiaomi, which in its MIUI 6 ROM offered to reduce the interface to better match the span of your hand.

If the ideal size of smartphone depends mainly on its user, other manufacturers have been able to design ergonomic improvements but it is also possible that you do not have any at all. What alternatives are then open to you if you don't feel like using an Xposed module? Check out these tips for better using your smartphone with one hand.

How to better use your phablet with one hand

Omni Swipe

Formerly known as Lazy Swipe, this application is one of the must-haves if you have difficulty handling your Android terminal. It will provide you with many shortcuts that are easy to access just by swiping your thumb from the bottom corner of your screen. This way, a circular, rotating menu will give you access to recent, frequent apps or features, and your Android tools (torchlight, WiFi, etc.)

All in one Gestures

One of the most used keys on your Android smartphone or tablet is the so-called "Back". The paradox with this one is that the developers insist on making it appear at the bottom of the screen, a place in itself not quite logical and not very accessible.

Thanks to the All in one Gestures application, you should be able to solve your problems by creating gesture controls for your terminal. In other words, you can make a swipe left (or right) activate the "Back" key. By combining this application with Omni Swipe, you should reach a much more pleasant level of ergonomics than before.

Notifications pane from the center of the screen

When you hold your giant smartphone with one hand and try to complete your activity while being careful not to drop it. A notification that you missed is incorporated into your dedicated pane. You want to consult it only here, the top of the screen is clearly not accessible for your thumb.

By installing the Nova Launcher launcher, you will be able to activate a feature that allows you to open this pane by performing the same gesture usually performed at the top of your screen. Here, you can do it from a non-cluttered area of ​​your screen (in the center for example).

Tribe – Magical Messaging

Reported a few days ago by a Twitter subscriber, a new application called Tribe will allow you to make your messages in the most practical way possible, a long press will record what you have to say and you will only have to release for the application to send. In fact, Tribe aims to be a whole new form of messaging like Snapchat.

Compose your messages with one hand, they will be deleted automatically after a set time. Highlighting the forms of audio and video communication, all you have to do is hold down the image of your contact to start recording your audio-visual message. By releasing your finger from the screen, the sending will be done.

The interface is very pleasant, clear and colorful, many other features are to be discovered in this application

Keyboard

Even if you use the native Android keyboard, digging through the settings, you should find a function allowing you to cycle through the letters one by one with a simple long press of your thumb on the keys of the keyboard. You will thus have access to the accents, punctuations and other signs necessary for spelling and syntax.

If your native keyboard does not allow it, there are of course third-party applications like TouchPal that will take care of bringing you this functionality. Swipe continuously on each key to enter your message.

Organize your icons

This in itself is obvious but as so often with these, we do not see them at first sight. Thus, one of the solutions to improve the accessibility of your giant smartphone when you only have one hand is to create folders of icons and store them as efficiently as possible.

Preferably grouped by theme, these packs appearing on your home screen can then be moved as you see fit, in the area of ​​the screen that you think is the easiest to access for your one-handed use.

Conclusion

Do you know of any other alternative tricks to Xposed modules that can improve accessibility to a giant smartphone when we only have one hand free? Do not hesitate to send us your suggestions!

through Phonandroid