Do you have a question about the Alba 4 and is the answer not in the manual?
Guide for inserting a 3G or 2G SIM card.
Procedure for powering on the device and initial setup.
Connecting to the internet using a 3G SIM card.
Guide to connecting to available WiFi networks.
Steps to add a Google account for app access.
Guide to setting a PIN or password for security.
How to encrypt phone memory for data protection.
Securely removing personal data before selling or discarding.
Steps to resolve issues with a frozen or unresponsive phone.
Troubleshooting network connectivity and signal loss.
Steps to resolve issues with making outgoing calls.
This document serves as an instruction manual for the Alba 4" Android smartphone, covering its components, basic operation, connectivity, Google account integration, and troubleshooting.
The Alba 4" Android is a mobile smartphone designed for communication, internet access, and various applications. It operates on the Android platform, providing a user-friendly interface for managing calls, messages, and digital content. The device supports 3G and WiFi connectivity, allowing for internet browsing, email, and access to online services. It features a touchscreen for interactive navigation and physical buttons for essential functions like power and volume control. The phone is equipped with a camera and flash for capturing photos and videos, a loudspeaker for audio output, and a microphone for voice input. It also includes a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer, and a headset jack for private audio listening. The device is designed to be a versatile personal communication and entertainment tool.
The Alba 4" Android offers a range of features to enhance user experience.
To begin using the phone, the back cover must be removed by using the designated notch. Care should be taken not to bend or twist the cover excessively to avoid damage. The battery is then inserted, followed by the SIM card. The device supports a 3G SIM card in slot 1 for optimal network performance, while slot 2 is for 2G only. A memory card can also be inserted into the micro SD slot (3) with gold contacts facing down. After inserting all components, the battery's contact points are aligned, and the battery is gently pressed into place. Finally, the back cover is reattached by clicking it into position. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before the first use.
To turn on the device, press and hold the ON/OFF button. If a PIN code is requested, enter the code supplied with the SIM card and select 'OK'. The first time the Alba is started, an installation wizard guides the user through initial setup, including language selection, date and time settings, WiFi connection, and location service options. To turn off the device, press and hold the ON/OFF button, then select 'Power off' and 'OK'.
The touchscreen supports various gestures for navigation and interaction:
When the device is on, pressing and holding the ON/OFF button allows the user to select between Silent, Vibrate, or Sound profiles for notifications.
The device automatically enters standby mode after a specified period of inactivity. To wake it up, press the ON/OFF button. The duration of inactivity before standby can be adjusted in Settings > Display > Sleep.
The Alba 4" automatically connects to the internet via the SIM card's 3G network if available. The 3G icon in the status bar indicates a connection. To activate mobile data, touch and hold the time & battery icons to reveal the status bar, pull down the white line to display the status dashboard, touch the status dashboard icon, and then touch the mobile data icon to activate it.
For WiFi connection, ensure the device is in a WiFi zone. Access WiFi settings by touching and holding the time & battery icons, pulling down the blue line, touching the status dashboard icon, and then touching the "Settings" icon. In the "Wireless & networks" section, slide the WiFi switch to "ON". The Alba will then scan for available WiFi networks. Touch "WiFi" to display networks, and select the desired network. Private networks require a password.
Adding a Google account allows full access to Google apps and services like Play Store, Gmail, Hangouts, and Maps. To add an account, go to Settings > Accounts > Add account, select "Google," and follow the on-screen instructions.
To save and back up data on Google servers, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, and select the account. The list of information that can be synced is displayed. Automatic sync should be activated. To manually sync, press the Menu button and select "Sync now." This ensures contacts and other data can be recovered if the device or SIM card is lost.
To save contacts to a Google account, first install the SIM card with contacts in the phone. From the Home or All Apps screen, select the People app. Touch the Menu button, then "Import/Export." In "Import/export contacts," select "Import from SIM card." Choose the Google account, check contacts to be imported, and validate. After importing, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, select the Google account, press the Menu button, and select "Sync now." This saves contacts to the Google account, making them accessible on the web and other Android devices.
Navigate between different home screen panels by swiping left and right.
A short press of the Home button returns to the main screen. A double press displays all open apps, which can be closed by swiping left or right.
Touch and hold an icon, then slide it to the desired location and release.
Touch and hold an item, slide it towards the top of the screen, and drop it over the "Remove" icon.
From the "All apps" screens, touch and hold an item, slide it towards the top of the screen, and drop it over the "Uninstall" bin.
Drop one app icon over another on a home screen to combine them into a folder.
Access widgets by touching the "All Apps" icon on the home screen, then "Widgets" at the top. Widgets can be moved around like app icons.
Hold a finger on an empty location on the home screen, then choose from the list of wallpapers.
From the quick settings dashboard in the status bar, touch "Settings." Scroll down to "Security," then "Screen lock." Choose the desired lock type (pattern, PIN, or password). Once set, the lock screen will appear when the screen wakes up, requiring the chosen key.
To protect against online threats, it is recommended to install and keep antivirus and security software updated. For physical theft, encrypting the phone's memory is advised.
A PIN code (4-8 digits) or a password (4-17 digits) can be set. Longer and more complex passwords using a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters (%, #, *) are recommended. To set, go to 'Settings', select 'Security', then 'screen lock', and choose PIN or Password.
Encrypting the phone's memory makes data unreadable if the phone is lost or stolen, even if the password is breached. Encryption may slightly affect performance but is generally unnoticeable for most tasks. For memory-intensive tasks like video playback, some buffering might occur. Before encrypting, a PIN or password must be set, and the phone must be charged to at least 80% battery capacity. With the phone still on charge, go to 'Settings', select 'Security', then 'Encrypt phone'. Enter the password and press 'Encrypt phone'. The process can take up to 90 minutes and should not be interrupted, as failure to follow the routine may render the phone unusable.
The phone cannot be decrypted by the same process. To decrypt, the phone must be returned to factory settings, which will securely erase all files and downloaded apps. To reset to factory defaults, go to 'Settings', select 'Backup and Reset', then 'Factory data reset'.
Before selling or discarding the phone, personal data in memory should be securely erased using a file eraser program that writes to every record. Simply returning the phone to factory settings is not sufficient unless the data was first encrypted. File eraser programs, such as Remo File Eraser, can be downloaded from the Google Play store. Open the app and follow instructions to securely erase data.
The manual provides solutions for common issues:
The manual recommends consulting government-led initiatives like Get Safe Online (https://www.getsafeonline.org/) for advice on avoiding security threats.
For detailed advice or any other issues, users can contact the technical support helpline at 0207 744 0346.
| RAM | 1GB |
|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 16GB |
| Processor | Quad-Core |
| Expandable Storage | Yes, via microSD card |
| Operating System | Android |