Step 1: download and install the Ingress app from the Google Play store:

At the moment it’s Android only, but iPhone is meant to be coming in 2014 some time. 

Step 2: open it up, pick a username and then select “Enlightened” when you’re given the faction option.

The Enlightened – green, we think using tech to improve the world is A Good Thing. 

The Resistance – blue, want to keep things the same and don’t like tech. *cough* Tories *cough*. 

Step 3: complete the training missions in the app, shouldn’t take you too long.

Step 4: it gets complicated (again)…

Now’s the point where we get to general hints and tips. A lot of stuff you’ll figure out as you play, and this will probably be out of date before long when Niantic change things.

• Hack everything – if you’re new and need AP, this will be great for you. If you’ve been playing for a while, you never know when you’ll get a virus/very rare mod/etc.
• Stand as far away from the portal as possible when deploying resonators – this makes it harder for opposition players to destroy them
• Submit new portals – it means you’ll have more to hack, it’ll get you AP, it’ll get you more keys to link stuff.