Android Smartphones For Seniors For Dummies
Description
Take command of your Android smartphone.
Android Smartphones For Seniors For Dummies is the best no-nonsense guide for members of the older-and-better crowd who want to use their smartphone's features without making a support call. This fluff-free guide shows you the essentials of a smartphone running the Android operating system. Thanks to larger-print type and full-color images, it's easy to learn how to turn your phone into a communications, photography, security, and media streaming powerhouse-without wasting time on the features you may never use. You'll definitely pick up a few tricks to show off to friends and family.
- Stay organized and keep track of appointments with your smartphone
- Sharpen your messaging skills and connect with the newest media apps
- Take photos and videos and share them with friends and family everywhere you go
- Understand the privacy and security apps in your phone for a safe experience
- Stream music, movies, radio, and podcasts using apps on your phone
This is the perfect Dummies guide for Android smartphone users who want to feel confident handling the basics of apps and functions that they'll use every day.
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Marsha Collier is one of the top-selling For Dummies authors of all time. Her books on eBay, social selling, and social media platforms add up to over a million copies sold. Marsha is a recognized social influencer as well, regularly named to 'top influencer' lists in the business and tech categories.
Content
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Your Phone in the Android Universe 5
Chapter 1: Why Android? What's the Deal? 7
A Little Android History 8
The Many Flavors (Versions) of Android 9
Reasons That People Choose Android 10
Why You Need a Google Account 12
Accessing your Google account 12
Bequeathing your Google account 15
So Many Choices! 16
Flagship versus mid-range versus feature phones 17
Tech support options 18
5G? LTE? 4G? VoLTE? Whaaat? 19
A Word about Privacy and Security 20
Free usually isn't 21
The terms of service can be tricky 21
Making the AI decision - what is it really? 22
Marsha's sage advice about privacy 23
Chapter 2: Buying Your Android Smartphone and Accessories 25
Investigate First - Then Make a Buying Decision 26
Recognizing types and styles of phones 26
Looking at a phone's physical features 28
Reviewing before making a decision 32
What is the brand's update policy? 33
Considering an older model 34
Choosing where to buy your phone 35
Consider Your Carrier Choice 37
Checking out the carrier's coverage area 37
Finding senior discounts on carrier service 37
You Need a Few Accessories, Too 39
Power charging or wireless - volts and watts matter 39
MicroSD card 41
Phone cases 41
Phone sanitizer 43
Earbuds, wired or wireless? 44
Chapter 3: Activating and Connecting Your Phone 45
Unbox Your New Phone 46
Insert a SIM Card or Use an eSIM 48
Hardware Buttons and What They Do 49
Power buttons and your power-down options 51
Volume buttons and how they work 55
Turn On Your Phone for the First Time 57
Connecting to a network 58
Setting up a Google account 59
Setting up a secure lock 59
Restoring data from an older phone 60
Learn about Google One and Google Drive 61
Learn Android Smartphone Symbols and Gestures 62
Swipe, tap, pinch, and more 63
Recognizing common Android icons 63
Meeting the top status bar 65
Exploiting screen navigation and gestures 66
Part 2: Getting Started with Your Android Smartphone 69
Chapter 4: Safety First: Making Your New Phone Private 71
Set Up a Screen Lock 72
Checking out the screen locking options 72
Following the Lock screen setup process 75
Establish Data Backup 76
Place Owner Information on the Lock Screen 78
Add Emergency Info 81
Designating emergency or ICE contacts 81
Providing medical information 82
Chapter 5: Personalizing Your Handset 85
Find and Sort Your Apps 86
Move App Shortcuts to the Home Screen 88
Group Apps into Folders 89
Creating your own apps folders 90
Enlarge folders for easy viewing 91
Deal with Preinstalled Applications (or Bloatware) 92
Get the News (and Other Media) You Can Use 94
Customize the Home Screen's Look and Feel 95
Finding handy widgets 95
Looking for particularly handy widgets 97
Show your creative side with wallpaper and styles 99
Try Out the Android Accessibility Suite 100
Chapter 6: Android Typing Tricks with Google's Gboard 103
Make the Keyboard Decision 104
Selecting a keyboard to use 104
Noting keyboard features 106
Exploring keyboards you have (or can have) 110
Check Out Keyboard Contenders 112
Gboard, the official Google keyboard 112
Samsung Keyboard 115
Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard 115
Dictate with Voice Typing 117
Extended Keyboard and Special Characters 118
Learn the Emoji Language 119
Delete, Copy, and Paste Text 120
Chapter 7: Handling Notifications and Google Assistant 123
Meet the Android Notifications Drawer 124
Recognizing notification types and settings 124
Disabling notifications (or not) 125
Controlling notifications via app settings 129
Having fun with notifications (or not) 129
Taming Google Discover news feed 131
Manage Your Phone with Quick Settings 133
The first-up Quick Settings 134
The full cast of Quick Settings 135
Customizing the Quick Settings 136
Get the 411 from Google Assistant 138
Knowing what you can do with Google Assistant 139
Google Gemini versus Assistant 141
Part 3: Let's Start Communicating 143
Chapter 8: Setting Up and Maintaining Contacts 145
Establish Your Phone's Contacts 146
Starting out right with Google Contacts 147
Importing old address books 147
Save Contacts from Email 150
Add a Contact in Other Ways 151
Importing contacts from texts 152
Adding a contact from the call log 152
Type a Full Contact in the Contacts App 153
Merge Duplicate Contacts and Other Fixes 156
Customize, Delete, and Update Contacts 158
Chapter 9: Chatting via Voice or Video 161
Make a Voice Call 162
Making international calls from your phone 164
Calling internationally or locally with no contract 165
Check Voicemail 167
Get Voicemail Transcriptions 168
Reply to an Incoming Call by Sending a Text 170
Busy? Have Google Assistant Handle Your Calls 173
Using Audio Emoji 176
Set a Built-in Ringtone 178
Spend Face Time with Google Meet 178
Chapter 10: Texting with Poise and Character 181
Compare Types of Text Messaging 182
Turning on RCS chat features 185
Using third-party chat apps 187
There may be bubbles? 188
Dress Up Texts in Google Messages 189
The Text Message Bar and Emoji in Gboard 192
Find Even More Texting Options 194
Share Multimedia in Texts 195
Voice-Type (Dictate) 199
Manipulate the Text in Your Message 200
Act on Text Messages You Receive 201
Chapter 11: Managing Email with the Gmail App 203
Discover Gmail Features 204
Revealing the Gmail app's main menu 204
Tending to mailbox organization 205
Scoping out the main mailbox 206
Send a Gmail Email 207
Adding an email signature. 210
Scheduling an email delivery 211
Perform Basic Gmail Tasks 212
A table of common email tasks 212
Printing an email from Gmail 214
Print Other Messages, Documents, and Web Pages 215
Link to Other Apps and Gmail Settings 218
Part 4: Exploring Your Phone's Handy Apps 219
Chapter 12: Choosing and Using a Smartphone Camera 221
Examine Smartphone Cameras and Brands 222
Paying the right amount of attention to reviews 222
Phones with camera brand collaborations 223
Take a Camera-Spec Safari 224
Enough megapixel, but not too much 224
Home in on subjects with zoom 225
Exercise Your Android Camera's Capabilities 227
Just point-and-shoot either stills or video 227
Add interest with your camera's tools 229
Expand your reach with Google Lens visual search 229
Access camera features on the scrolling menu 235
Go Pro with Pro Mode 236
Discovering the Pro settings 236
Applying the Pro settings 237
Chapter 13: Organizing and Editing Photos 239
Find and Organize Photos on Your Phone 240
Using the in-phone Gallery 242
Using the Albums feature 242
Sharing photos in texts, emails, and more 243
Backing up your photos 244
Edit Your Photos in the Gallery 246
Finding editing options 247
Applying your phone's photo editing tools 248
Playing with filters, colors, and more 250
Getting into the Google Photos App 251
Organizing Google Photos 252
Organize and select a Top Pick with Stacks 254
Editing images in Google Photos 255
Chapter 14: Google Mobile Services and Apps for Android 257
Find Popular Google Apps 258
Google Photos 259
Storing and retrieving photos 261
Syncing and deleting photos 261
Sharing with friends 262
Searching for photos 262
Adding info to help with photo searching 264
Google Maps 266
Finding your way to an appointment 267
Employing the Directions screen options 268
Sharing your location 269
Google Find My Device Network 271
Take Note(s) with Google Keep 275
Chapter 15: Useful Apps in Google Play Store 277
Frequent the Google Play Store 278
Establish App Privacy Permissions 278
Connect to Radio (Yes, Radio), Podcasts, and Music 281
Configuring your speakers' volume 281
Making a wired connection 282
Using a Bluetooth connection 283
Find Favorite and Fun Apps - a Consensus 284
Radio, podcasts, and music 284
Video apps 286
Travel 286
Games 289
News 290
Books 291
Engaging Social Media 291
Chapter 16: Marsha's MUST-DO Things for Your Phone 293
Make the Orientation Decision 294
Take a Screenshot 295
Configure Do Not Disturb 296
Use Your Home Wi-Fi for Calls and Browsing 297
Practice Safety When Using Public Connections 299
Use a VPN to secure public Wi-Fi connections 299
Beware of charging a phone from a public port 301
Protect the Heart of Your Phone 302
Wireless charging overnight 303
Secure your power cables 304
Set Up Emergency Call and SOS 304
Establishing SOS messaging 305
Activating Emergency mode 306
Managing Emergency mode 307
Adding on the Pixel Personal Safety app 308
Dealing with unknown trackers 308
Index 311
Chapter 1
Why Android? What's the Deal?
IN THIS CHAPTER
Knowing the origins and scope of Android
Seeing why you need a Google account
Understanding the many choices
Practicing privacy going forward
The smartphone is undoubtedly the most common yet powerful personal technology in your life. Living in the United States, you have this main choice: an Apple iPhone (iOS) or an Android-based phone.
The smartphone platform you choose is a matter of preference. Some people use both Apple and Android products, but in the end usually tend to favor one operating system (OS, the software that supports your smartphone's basic functions) platform over the other.
Because the iPhone lives in a walled garden (a space seen as closed to outsiders), Apple makes the decisions and takes the profits on the phone, accessories, services, and apps. Apple products and software work in sync; you have few choices to make.
Conversely, no matter the brand, all Android phones have similar genetics and are the same at their core. But you will find a wide variety of options for accessories, phone brands, services, apps, and (most of all) prices.
The competition for dollars in the Android marketplace begets innovation, and I believe that opting to spend your dollars in that marketplace is a good choice. In this chapter, I offer some foundational information to help make the Android experience even better.
A Little Android History
Android is the operating system on the majority of the world's smartphones. It's an open-source operating system led by Google developers (according to https://source.android.com/):
As an open-source project, Android's goal is to avoid any central point of failure in which one industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other player. Translation: If you come up with a new device - smartphone or tablet, for example - you, too, can use the Android operating system to power it for free. (I'm not that smart.)
I believe that much of the magic of Android lies with Google Mobile Services (GMS) - the collection of apps and functionalities that make the Android ecosystem a useful environment.
As an Android user, you may wonder why you feel more comfortable using the operating system. The answer is a surprise to many: the Android mobile operating system is based on Linux (another open-source operating system) and many Microsoft patents. The influence of these two giants in the software world accounts for the familiarity, and thus the comfort, you may feel when using an Android device. The nearby sidebar "The scope of Microsoft involvement" gives a quick look at the Android-Microsoft connection.
Note that many Android phones come with Microsoft Office preinstalled. Also, did you know that you can send text messages on your phone from your Windows desktop PC? Android phone owners can just go to messages.google.com/web to connect the devices.
THE SCOPE OF MICROSOFT INVOLVEMENT
It is rumored that Microsoft can make as much as $24 per Android device sold, as payment for its patents used in the Android operating system. Even smartphone manufacturers cross-license Microsoft intellectual property (IP). Based on these patents, in the past few years Samsung paid Microsoft more than a billion dollars in royalty payments for patent usage. In 2014, it was estimated that Microsoft made $2 billion.
Microsoft has never revealed the depth of its patent licensing, but in 2014 the Chinese Ministry of Commerce completed an antitrust investigation. The regulators published their results on the internet, stating that Microsoft owned 310 Android-implementing patents.
Note: The numbers in this sidebar may not be independently verified but have shown up in court documents over the years.
The Many Flavors (Versions) of Android
Throughout this book, I offer stories about the beginnings of, and evolution of, the Android platform. For now, you should know that the latest version of Android I'm using for this book is Android 14. Android 15 is scheduled to release around the time this book publishes. I got hold of a beta (not-ready-for-prime-time) version so that I can see the similarities and show the differences in the new upgrade.
The Android mascot (Bugdroid) is a small, green robot, shown on the left in Figure 1-1. Bugdroid, who gets dressed up with each new version of Android, was designed in 2008 to be an internationally understood symbol - like airport signs - because Android was designed for everyone. Since the platform's inception, Bugdroid appears in advertising and has undergone minor changes over the years. Today, the mascot's green color is updated, and just the top of the head shows (on the right in Figure 1-1).
"The Android robot is reproduced from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License." https://source.android.com/setup/start/brands#robot-android
The initial versions of Android, except for A and B, had nicknames based on sweet treats. The nicknames gave a friendly, homey feeling to each update and personalized it to its users. Android 1.5 (Android C) was Cupcake, which was apparently when the naming system began. From there on, the charming version nicknames followed the alphabet, and even though Google publicly discontinued the cute code nicknames, they're still embraced by fans. After 2021, Android 12 is Snow Cone; Android 13, Tiramisu; Android 14, Upside Down Cake, and Android 15 is Vanilla Ice Cream. Yum!
Reasons That People Choose Android
Not all smartphones are iPhones.
The most excellent aspect of Android is that it's highly customizable. If you don't like one way of doing (or seeing) things, you can switch to another mode. Android is as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
Here are several features I love about owning an Android smartphone:
- Keyboards and default apps: I love having the option to try out different keyboards and browsers. You can download many apps for free from the Google Play Store and try them out. If you come to realize that an app isn't your cup of tea, (or you don't use it), just uninstall it.
- Sharing: Whenever you want to share a photo, a web page, an email - you name it - tapping the Share icon (shown at the left) brings up a simple sheet with app icons. Just tap the one you want to share to, and you're on the way. You can find more about sharing in Chapter 13.
- Navigating screens: As many times as I've used iOS devices (iPhone, iPad), my productivity always freezes when it comes to going back a page or a screen. On Android, you can use hand gestures or the bottom-of-screen back arrow to navigate simply. When you set up your phone, you can make a choice about this navigation.
- Notifications: They're easy to control. You can control how you see these notices - from your email, social media apps (such as Facebook), news feeds, and so on - organized on the Home or Lock screen, app by app.
These are just a few features, but the truth is, Android is about choice and creativity. You're not forced to use any specific brand, and your phone can link to many different devices in your home (such as the thermostat, electric outlets, or lights) with the Google Home app.
Why You Need a Google Account
If you've ever purchased an Apple product (iPhone, iPod, or iPad), you know that you had to sign up for an Apple ID. Apple asked me to input my credit card information, even though I had no desire to purchase anything in the App Store. I couldn't register the phone without it.
To use the Google apps, you also need an ID and password, which is officially your Gmail account. But you don't have to supply any credit card information until you reach the point where you actually want to purchase something.
Technically speaking, you don't need a Google account, but I believe that it makes your Android experience better. You do need a Google account to identify you over Android Mobile Services. And having the account gets you full value from the many native Android apps, such as Gmail, Calendar, Photos, Play Store, or Maps.
Accessing your Google account
The native apps are free to use, but accessing everything from your account, all in one place, is handy. And all the apps are personalized just for you, based on how you use each app on the platform.
You can access your Google account on your devices in a few ways.
From the App Drawer on your phone:
- Swipe your finger up from the bottom of your screen to the top. This action brings you to your App Drawer, which appears on your screen to replace the Home screen.
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Scroll through the alphabetical icons (you can swipe with your finger side-to-side to view all the apps), find the Settings app icon (which looks like a gear and is shown on the left), and tap it.
You can also find the Settings app...
