Topic: Android tablet question

[EV607797]

I just treated myself to a tablet.  I wanted to get an iPad since I'm familiar with the operation of iPhones, but the cost was prohibitive.  I just got a cheap Android version instead.  It is using Android version 10, which I believe is the most current version.  I have figured most of it out, but I have one question that I can't resolve:

I know that you can download apps via their Google Play Store, and that works for most of what I need, but I'd like to add desktop icons for some of Google's apps, plus others that are just websites (like this one) without an app.  Is there a way to do something like that as with Windows where you can add a desktop icon for pretty much anything?

Since this tablet does not have cellular abilities, I would like to use my Google Voice account to be able to make phone calls.  I can go through the link to Chrome, then pick Google, then Google Voice from there and log in with my e-mail and password, but  that's a PITA.  Same for YouTube.  I'd like to have these icons right there on the front page.

Am I asking for too much from a $100.00 tablet?

[MacGyver]

From the Firefox browser, I hit the three dots, and there is an option to "Add to Home Screen" for website shortcuts. 

Google Play is the primary.  You can also get apps from the Amazon app store.  As for making calls, just add the Google Voice app.  On the Youtube icon, just tap and hold.  You'll seen option come up to Add to Home Screen.

[EV607797]

Thanks, Trace.  I'm not getting anything even close to that, even after downloading and installing the Firefox browser.  About the closest-sounding options when hitting the three dots are "add to top sites" or "copy link location".  Oh well, I was just looking for a shortcut, no biggie.

[MacGyver]

In Chrome, when pull down the menu I get, New Tab, New incognito tab, History, Downloads, Bookmarks, Recent tabs, Share, Find in page, Translate, Add to Home screen, Desktop site, Settings, & Help.  It will be a little different from version to version.I can look on a tablet later.  That's my phone.

[EV607797]

Oddly, I was able to download the app for Google Voice, which was more important to me than anything via Google.  It wasn't offered in the Play Store, but from the web, an app link was available.  Odd...  Still no luck with YouTube, but if I go to Chrome and select it from the list of sites, and *POOF*, it pops up as if I had an app for it.  I guess that will suffice, but now I'm more curious than anything.

The biggest Google-related issue is that somehow, my account has gotten crossed with my sister's.  I can't sign in using my account; I have to use hers now to reach MY Google apps.  That's been going on for a while now, in fact even my smart TVs must use her Google login credentials in order to work.  That one has me baffled big-time, but I hold out little hope of fixing something that complicated.  I wish it would let me access mine so that my phone contacts would carry over, but I suppose that it wasn't meant to be.  At least my GV number comes over.  I'm still further ahead than I was a few days ago.

I was able to download the YouTube and Google Voice apps on my iPhones via the iTunes store without incident.  That said, I'm going to chalk this up to being just another Google issue.

[MacGyver]

Very strange.  I'm pretty sure I downloaded it all out of the Play Store.  I grabbed a tablet earlier, but it's dead so I put it on the charger.  All of my tablets around here are going to be Samsung so they may be different, but I'll look.  I think we have one old Kindle Fire tablet around here somewhere.  I'll see if I can find that as well.

[MacGyver]

I just checked our tablets and it works there too.  We're using Galaxy Tabs.  I did find where others have had the issue and there is a lot on Google about it.  Here is one thread:  https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/77435477/no-add-to-home-screen-in-menu-on-chrome-mobile?hl=en