How to make the most of Android’s ‘Share’ function

Want to get the most out of your Android phone or tablet? Then it’s absolutely vital that you learn how to master the ‘Share’ feature.

Android Share icon

You’ll be wondering why all applications on all platforms don’t have a share function

This is a special function that’s unique to Android. It appears in most apps available in Google Play and allows them to send data from one to the other.

At its most simple, it’s a bit like cut and paste on the Windows desktop, but if you can master sharing it can be a much more productive workflow and make working on a tablet faster than using a traditional PC.

The sharing icon appears as three dots joined by two lines, so it looks like an arrowhead pointing backwards (see right).

Here are a couple of examples of how it’s used…

Sharing online content

Say you’re reading a really interesting story using the Guardian app and you want to share this with friends using Twitter, normally you’d have to find the web address of the original story, copy it, open up your Twitter app and then paste it into a new post.

With Android, though, you simply tap the sharing icon and a list of installed apps will appear that can accept data. Tap your Twitter app (it could be Tweetdeck, Seesmic, etc) and you’ll immediately be taken to the new update dialogue with the shortened web address in place.

If the sharing icon doesn’t appear, you can always reach the same feature by tapping on the Menu icon and select ‘Share as…’ or ‘Share with…’.

Sharing between apps

If you have a notetaking app, like Evernote, installed you can share information into it from almost any other app you happen to be using, whether it’s email, calendar, browser or a news reader. You can create a note that will be remembered forever.

Likewise, it’s great for sharing documents or pictures you’re looking at as emails to send to other people.

Play around with the Share feature for long enough, in fact, and you’ll wonder why all applications on all platforms don’t have it. Get too used to it, and it’s hard to go back.

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