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Help ! ive just got an I phone and im lost

(33 Posts)
Silverfish Fri 23-May-14 20:11:32

I had to replace my old basic phone last week and I got an I phone, ive had a pretty basic model but Ive had to move into the 21st century so I got a Samsung galaxy. Oh dear. I rang the company who is also my landline provider and was passed from one to another, I was simply asking how to work the wretched thing. You don't get a little instruction book now with Samsung phones-this is a disgrace. I was passed from tech support to handset set up dept. No-one could help. I could not even send a text I found it so complicated. they told me you don't have an inbox anymore, which is useless as I like to see what ive received and sent in a sent box. They finally told me it was not their job to set up phones just to do the contract and sent me to their high street shop who promptly told me they have nothing to do with the company I rented the phone from. I was shown a quick flick of the wrist and the girl jabbed her finger a few times over the keypad and rolled her eyes to the ceiling so I just pretended I understood and came out. The company now has told me to go on u tube as I will find someone there who will show me on a film. Im not ashamed to admit I couldn't find the texts or struggled with the layout of the phone. I finally found out how to set it up for the internet by trial and error today but my next thing is 'apps' first I don't know what they are and second I want some simply because everyone else uses them lol. Any advice anyone

rosequartz Sun 25-May-14 23:21:52

I have a Samsung something or other phone, DH bought it as it is the same as his and he thought we could sort them out together.

After struggling for a while he phoned them up and asked them to send him an instruction book, which they did. I haven't looked at it yet, but I will at some point hmm

What intrigues me is how anyone can do such things as book flights etc on a phone - I can hardly see what is on it and hit all the wrong keys when I try to text. I am impressed!

annodomini Sun 25-May-14 21:29:02

There are masses of free apps for Android phones. I don't think I have ever paid for one and I have dozens!

suzied Sun 25-May-14 21:25:15

Sounds like you have got a few things sorted!
Persevere it can only get better. You soon won't need your old one!

Silverfish Sun 25-May-14 21:11:04

No you replies have been useful, I went on u tube as someone suggested and I watched as the guy set it up, as I said above I can now text and make a call and soon when I can remember the correct button I will not cut off incoming calls. Oh and I have also set up my e mail thingy, so the phone rings like a bike bell when I have e mails, it whistles like a bird when I have a text and plays a silly tune for a call. I will need to play around for ringtunes so I will not go demented. Thank you all for your advice, im getting there slowly but just for spare will get that PAYG sim tomorrow for my trusty little old nokia

Ana Sun 25-May-14 21:04:57

Well, I'm sorry that none of our replies seem to have been of any help, Silverfish. hmm

You can still get plain and simple phones - perhaps write this one off to experience and go back to basics?

Silverfish Sun 25-May-14 21:02:41

also been on u tube to see how I go about downloading an app, but I think you have to pay for them im not sure, can anyone tell me if u get an app how do you pay, is it by debit card/credit card or will it just go on my monthly bill. I would hesitate to ask the provider from hell that im with.

Silverfish Sun 25-May-14 21:00:26

soo confused now, I have made some calls, taken 2 and I cut them off by pressing wrong button. I can do txts, I hate not having an in box. Im on a 2 year contract, the cheapest there was and I just want to go back to my pay as u go old nokia, it has a smashed screen due to GD kicking me in the ribs when it was in my pocket but I love it too bits boo hoo, it still works though and im gonna buy a PAYG simcard tomorrow to use it for emergencies.

Ana Sun 25-May-14 20:12:28

(Hers is an iPhone, of course!)

Ana Sun 25-May-14 20:11:54

My phone only needs charging about every 10 days (it's a Nokia android), but I know DD puts hers on charge every night.

NfkDumpling Sun 25-May-14 20:04:15

I have a Samsung Galaxy. It was the cheapest deal at the time and like you I had expected an instruction manual of some sort, or that it would be obvious like this iPad is. How wrong!

I've now got used to having a conversation rather than an in box and can now answer a call at the first attempt and hang up (end call) with aplomb! And I've only had it a year! I occasionally like to take a photo but find it very cumbersome.

I found the screen too small to be able to use the Internet and I only wanted to be able to phone and text, so I've turned off the Internet option and all the other gizmos. Don't ask me how - I just kept pressing things! This saves sooo much battery. It's nearly, almost as good as my old Nokia! But next time I'm just getting a phone.

Silverfish Sun 25-May-14 19:51:45

Is it normal for a new phone to need charging every day. my old one lasted a week

Ana Sat 24-May-14 11:58:31

If you read Silverfish's second post, she says her phone's an android, not an iPhone.

MiniMouse Sat 24-May-14 11:55:29

Silverfish Don't give up or lose heart! I have my son's old iPhone and I went into complete panic mode trying to work it all out. I think our generation has an inherent fear of doing it wrong and 'losing' everything - same on a pc or laptop!

Once you've got the hang of it you'll be so pleased to have done it and they really are great. I would never have gone for one, but my son was going to sell his old one on eBay and so I said I'd buy it off him. So pleased I did!

Good luck wink

whenim64 Sat 24-May-14 11:38:32

I've got my head round WhatsApp now so I can forward photos for free. There's another WhatsApp App that lets you put text bubbles on the photo, too.

Ariadne Sat 24-May-14 11:22:56

Oh yes, anno! And I love the way you can edit the photos so quickly.

annodomini Sat 24-May-14 10:48:33

I've only just discovered the range of functions on the camera. Just wondering if I really needed to buy a separate camera with 12mp when a 5mp camera on the phone manages to take really good shots!

henetha Sat 24-May-14 10:30:18

Oh, I do sympathise! I bought a smart-phone last year, and it's only
because I have two sons who are techo-geeks that I am now able to use it,
more or less! Perservere though, because when you get used to them they are wonderful.

whenim64 Sat 24-May-14 10:17:34

Oh dear, this thread has made me giggle because it's like reading the story of me finding out how to use my iPhone grin I felt so helpless. Seriously, any child that can now speak will find his/her way round your phone and tell you what to do. YouTube is great for tutorials, and if you Google any particular problem, you'll find lots of help. For example....'what on earth is an App?' will get you lots of help. Good luck - they're great when you've got the hang of them. I felt proud of myself when I did my flights and boarding cards on the iPhone last year, then sailed through the airport with phone ready to scan whilst others were juggling bags and fiddling with bits of paper.

annodomini Sat 24-May-14 09:57:36

My new phone is a Motorola smart phone which did come with a set of basic instructions. I keep finding out new things which are not necessarily useful! The sim card from the old phone (Samsung) was bigger than the one that came for this one but Virgin supplied the right size with my old number and information on it.

Soupy Sat 24-May-14 09:34:15

Oh dear, I know what you mean though!

Did they transfer the sim card over so that you still have the same phone number and your contacts are in the new phone?

I bought a Samsung Ace Galaxy 2 a couple of years ago and, although it was a bit of a culture shock at first, I wouldn't be without it now.

Grannyknot Sat 24-May-14 09:24:13

The staff members in our Virgin high street store are also great. Go find a bright young thing in person! smile

I was a bit daunted when my Kindle Fire arrived without an instruction booklet, but I soon discovered the use guide on the actual Kindle, Sat myself down and read and played till I got the hang of it. I only recently discovered it's keyboard "swipe" function!

suzied Sat 24-May-14 07:22:55

I have to say I was lost when I first got my iPhone and Apple know what they are doing with simplifying things for idiots. They run free workshops at apple store , really good tech support on the phone . I even asked stupid questions like " where do I put the SIM card?" And " how do I put it on silent" and the guy on the other end of the phone was really patient and talked me through it. the mail and the App Store are really straightforward as well. I am so glad I didn't give up as I love it now. I am still finding things I didn't know how to use like the calendar and putting mine and OHs appointments in and our calendars synchronise like magic.

kittylester Sat 24-May-14 07:09:51

Your downloaded file might be in a folder labelled 'Downloads'. Obvious, I know, but it took me ages to realise. grin

lefthanded Fri 23-May-14 23:34:18

Silverfish Setting up and using a smartphone isn't difficult, but is best explained face-to-face. Do you have a U3A group close to you? Maybe they could help

Ana Fri 23-May-14 20:49:05

Is the file in your 'documents'? I have this problem sometimes when the internet automatically transfers stuff I've downloaded to a file instead of just letting me see it.