Scary Smartphones

The only think I ll add is a an android and an iPhone are different and can be confusing if you’re used to one and use another I use an iPhone myself and at work I need to look up stuff or do eBay on an android and it’s like chalk and cheese and I really have to use the grey matter
I have an iPhone and an iPad and love them both

I do everything on my iPhone, if I haven’t got the iPad on me, but you need to learn how. Google is your friend,👍

I'm pretty old but do love my smartphone and can do lots on it.
However this is only because I have two sons who guide me, teach me and keep an eye on me. So I hope you also have this kind of support, even though they don't live nearby. Good luck. Once you've mastered it you will love it.

I have a smartphone, the first thing I did was remove all the apps I didn't want, you can either disable them or delete them altogether. Then you won't be bombarded with a lot of stuff you don't need or want.

I tend to go with Tesco Mobile, I have found they are very reliable and if you go into one of their stores they will help and explain everything you need to know. Their customer service is great too. In fact when I have bought a new phone I just give them the old phone and they will do it all for you.

Good Luck.

One thing I would recommend is to forget about the "very pretty" case and get one that really protects your phone if you drop it. I've got one that protects both the screen and the back, and has reinforced corners, and although I have only dropped it once onto a hard floor, i'm sure it was the case that saved it. It looks quite good too.

If you use a laptop already, it’s just a smaller version of that, So as your grandchildren said it should be instinctive. It’s also a good call to get the same user system as you’re using already as others have said already

My brother was very into techy stuff so I learnt from him which phone and tablet to get. I was exactly the same as you, confused and scared, please don’t be as I wouldn’t like to be without my IPhone now. He’s always recommended Apple because it updates itself regularly with anti virus software which is free and I don’t have to worry about it. I did have a Samsung phone before but just couldn’t get on with it. Apple do classes anytime for anyone so do most libraries and my brother always said either google it or look on YouTube re your problem. It’s easy and I don’t say that lightly being a technophobe! Also Apple have an App of their own on the phone and that always help if your stuck.

i bought my first smart phone from O2 and haven't looked back!
i'm now using my 4th or maybe 5th and they've been samsung.
i bought a samsung tablet too and, apart from not making calls on my tablet, they're interchangeable.
i use my phone to shop online - amazon is mt favourite - and i also bank online using my bank's app.
i email using gmail and i can check the weather and temperature using apps. i've lost count of how many apps i've got but i've got apps for shops, games, news (bbc) and even checking to see what planes are flying over my house (i live near an airport).
don't be scared - it's a tool and it's actually like a handheld computer. as long as you've got antivirus installed i wouldn't worry too much about security - i don't.
good luck - i hope you find what you want.

Why do they no loger run courses to teach you how to use thing? Not everyone has accessible grandchildren and even they do not know everything.

I have always preferred to learn things in a structured way, buikding my knowledge of a subject - or device brick by brick as I build the edifice. When I was at work we automatically got sent on a course when new devics and softwar were introduced.

In my case the whole thing is complicated by neural diversity, which makes, for example, a mobile phone very difficult to use.

I have seen mobiles for 'seniors that have large buttons icons etc. ideal for someone with dyspraxia, but they all have limited funtionality, no satnav, google or email.

This is an example of how useful Gransnet can be! I've had an iphone for many years but never thought to look for a user guide on line (sounds stupid I know) and never thought that I could connect it to the printer - should keep me occupied for a good while!

MOnica
I assume that there are no longer classes because they assume that most people progressed on what was called a dumb phone to a smart phone about 20 years ago.
Everyone born at that time would ( imo) be already wired to use a smart phone.

I found my iPhone easy to get used to. I only got it because my son recommended it when my old phone broke, but I didn’t need much teaching on how to use it. It’s pretty intuitive.

The customer service in the Apple shops is unusually good – they would definitely show you anything you needed to know. They run learning sessions for beginners.

There is a book called iPhone for Seniors Made Simple that you could buy.
amzn.eu/d/0te9rg4

OP: ask your local library, s citizen's advice and senior citizens' clubs if any or all of them gave a group of volunteers who help those of us who are a bit lost with modern tecnology.
If there aren't any groups, try and find a teenager or young adult who can help you get started.

You will be fine. I rarely use my Chromebook now as I can do everything on my phone as it's just a mini computer. I understand where you're coming from though.. Is there anyone that's savvy can go with you to get one? I always take my eldest daughter as she's very tech savvy wheas my youngest??!😅 Good luck nothing to be scared of but I do understand...neew and unfamiliar is daunting and scary..

My son talked me into getting an iphone & I will never willingly go back to android! I am lucky my son sets new mobiles up for me & solves any problems I have. My ipad is getting old & will not install upgrades as not enough space. Only came with basic so will save the pennies till I can afford a new one!

If you can use a laptop or ipad than you can use a smart phone.

You don't have to have local youngsters if your peer group have users as they can help you.

An extremely powerful computer in your pocket and you will only use a tiny fraction of it's capabilities. Get one, play with it, use it but above do not be scared of it.

Buy an Apple phone and register for one or more of their free learning sessions in store.

Back this up with a copy of 'I phones for Dummies' books. In fact buy it in advance so that you can remind yourself as soon as you get back from a learning session.

Start with the things that you know you will use the most and work from there.

Take your time and eventually most things will become intuitive.

I've had a smartphone (android for the first 3 years) for about 10 years and am still learning!

Do you have to pay line rental for Apple iPhones. I have to pay a few pounds a month for the phone I have.

Not sure what you mean Maybee smartphones work over wifi?

We get our mobile signal via the Internet.

Our bit of our village has poor reception and our house has granite walls so the only place we get a reasonable phone signal is in the corner of one of the spare rooms or the middle of the road.

We were advised to use VPN (I think) which allows the Internet to carry the mobile signal to our phones.

Maybe not a technically precise description.

I don’t know why I pay every month for my phone ( which I only use to make the odd call)! I’ve got such a lot to learn. I showed my iPad to my grandson yesterday and he did I had no end of stuff on it that needs deleting!

I am in my mid seventies and I reckon I am now pretty tech savvy. But when I first got an iPhone and was struggling the best piece of advice I was given was ‘ if you’re stuck just google what you want to do or whatever problem you’re having and there will always be advice on how to proceed.’ And there is -often on YouTube with a real person to talk you through it and show you precisely what to do.
Go for it - you’ll be more than competent in no time!

I am well-versed using my computer and tablet and online banking. But . . . my bank has now issued credit cards that can only be used with a smart phone, basically forcing me to use that. The world is turning to everything digital, soon we will not be using cash as a method of payment anymore. I am still a staunch supporter of the old fashioned land line. Both hubby and I have (second hand) Fairphones. The advantage is that one can replace every part, should it be needed, instead of being forced to buy a new one, like a samsung.

I can suggest a couple of ideas. You could look around at the library or local college where they may run a variety of short courses on different levels , so you could just start with a basic course on use, and then they sometimes do a more advanced course to do more complicated things.

But the best idea I think is as I used to call it "sit along a Nellie" When I had new staff joining my department, whilst they would be given written and spoken instructions for their work, the best thing I would do is to put them next to the most efficient and knowledgeable worker. If you knew that they were the best workers and understood the system well enough to also do shortcuts , then the newcomer learnt the best ideas from the best. That way they become competent very quickly, and whilst you may be obliged to follow the precise rules of a job, "Nellie" will have sussed out all the best ways to do things, how to avoid tedious ways and how to do a job quickly and efficiently. So you then usually end up with the new staff being quickly brought up to speed. So I suggest you look about your friends and see who seems to be very up to date and uses their phone easily and confidently and then ask for their help. Also see where most people have bought their phones locally. Here, our local Tesco has a good selection and a member of staff who is not at all pushy and listens to what you want from your phone and directs you accordingly. I was pleased with the help I got and of course, as I said , nicely of course, I lived locally so could easily come back if there were any problems!! Also you might ask friends to show you on their phone how to do various things and see if it is easy for you to use. I am a touch typist and bought a keyboard for my laptop as both the phone and laptop used to annoy me so much as I could type faster and without hitting wrong keys with the annoying littlescreen. Good luck

Tesco phone shop has always been brilliant and helpful, wherever you are in the country. I was quite happy to take out a contract with them - except it is with 02, whose reception here is diabolical to non-existent.

I can't use my smartphone. I don't know how to. I am not spectacularly dim but the problem is that I am not actually interested. It is rather like being at school - if you weren't interested in a subject, you would never succeed at it. Half the time I don't know what anyone is talking about! Android? Megabyte? (Don't know one from a dog bite).

I must get to grips, as Openreach has removed my landline.

Housebound, so can't get to classes - if there are any around here.