Android Smartphones For Seniors For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

**The quickest and easiest way to outsmart your Android smartphone** Android smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models, offer great ways to simplify and enhance your life. From easy ways to stay in touch with your friends and family to helpful reminders for everyday tasks, Android phones can keep you connected and current at all times. Sometimes, though, the learning curve can seem a little steep. But it doesn’t have to! __Android Phones For Seniors For Dummies__ is your one-stop guide to discovering the essentials on how to take charge of your Android-powered phone. It skips the techspeak and confusing jargon to deliver key information in a straightforward and reader-friendly way. With this book, you’ll learn to: * Navigate your way around your smartphone so you can easily open and close apps, access info, and see photos * Read your email and messages so you can stay in touch with the important people in your life * Secure your phone so you can be assured that you, and only you, can access the sensitive data on it Printed using larger-print type and accompanied by full-color pictures that show you how to apply the step-by-step instructions, this easy handbook is the only resource you’ll need to make the most of your Android phone. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Your Phone in the Android Universe Chapter 1 Why Android? What’s the Deal? A Little Android History The Many Flavors (Versions) of Android Reasons That People Choose Android Why You Need a Google Account Accessing apps and settings Bequeathing your account So Many Choices! Tech support options 5G? LTE? 4G? VoLTE? Whaaat? A Word about Privacy and Security Free usually isn’t The terms of service can be tricky Marsha’s sage advice about privacy Chapter 2 Buying Your Android Smartphone and Accessories Investigate First — Then Make a Buying Decision Looking at a phone’s physical features Reviewing before making a decision Considering an older model Choosing where to buy your phone Consider Your Carrier Choice Checking out the carrier’s coverage area Finding senior discounts on carrier service You Need a Few Accessories, Too Power charging blocks — volts and watts matter MicroSD card Phone case Phone Sanitizer Chapter 3 Activating and Connecting Your Phone Unbox Your New Phone Insert a SIM Card Turn On Your Phone for the First Time Connecting to a network Setting up a Google account Setting up a secure lock Restoring data from an older phone Learn Android Smartphone Symbols and Gestures Recognizing common Android icons Meeting the top status bar Exploiting screen navigation and gestures Part 2 Getting Started with Your Android Smartphone Chapter 4 Safety First: Making Your New Phone Private Set Up a Screen Lock Checking out the screen locking options Following the lock screen setup process Establish Data Backup Place Owner Information On the Lock Screen Add Emergency Info Designating Emergency or ICE contacts Providing medical information Chapter 5 Personalizing Your Handset Hardware Buttons and What They Do Power buttons Volume buttons Find and Sort Your Apps Move App Shortcuts to the Home Screen Group Apps into Folders Deal with Preinstalled Applications (or Bloatware) Get the News (and Other Media) You Can Use Customize the Home Screen with Widgets Chapter 6 Android Typing Tricks with Google’s Gboard Make the Keyboard Decision Selecting a keyboard to use Noting keyboard features Exploring keyboards you have (or can have) Check Out Keyboard Contenders Gboard, the official Google keyboard Samsung Keyboard Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard Speak Words with Voice Typing Spell-Check as You Type Extended Keyboard and Special Characters Learn the Emoji Language Delete, Copy, and Paste Text Print Messages, Documents, and Web Pages Chapter 7 Handling Notifications and Google Assistant Meet the Android Notifications Window Shade Recognizing notification types and settings Disabling notifications (or not) Controlling notifications via settings Having fun with notifications, or not Taming Google Discover news feed Manage Your Phone with the Window Shade Quick Settings The first-up Quick Settings The full cast of Quick Settings Get the 411 from Google Assistant Knowing what you can do with Google Assistant Installing or deactivating Google Assistant Part 3 Let’s Start Communicating Chapter 8 Chatting via Voice or Video Make a Voice Call Making international calls from your phone Calling internationally with no contract Check Voicemail Get Voicemail Transcriptions Reply to an Incoming Call by Sending a Text Set a New Ringtone Using a built-in ringtone Downloading a custom ringtone Activating a downloaded ringtone Spend Face Time with Family and Friends Google Duo Google Meet Chapter 9 Keeping Track of Friends and Appointments Establish Your Phone’s Contacts Starting out right with Google Contacts Importing old address books Save Contacts from Email Add a Contact in Other Ways Importing contacts from texts Adding a contact from the call log Type In a Full Contact in the Contacts App Merge Duplicate Contacts Customize, Delete, and Update Contacts Energize Your Calendar App Add Calendar Events from Gmail Chapter 10 Texting with Poise and Character Compare Types of Text Messaging Turning on RCS chat features Using third-party chat apps Dress Up Texts in Google Messages The Text Message Bar and Emoji Find Even More Texting Options Share Photos and Videos in Texts Voice-Type (Dictate) Manipulate the Text in Your Message Schedule a Text Message for Later Delivery Act on Text Messages You Receive Share and Print Documents, Email Messages, and Web Pages Printing from Gmail Printing from a web page Chapter 11 Managing Email with the Gmail App Discover Gmail Features Revealing the Gmail app’s main menu Tending to mailbox organization Scoping out the main mailbox Send a Gmail Email Adding an email signature Creating a Vacation Responder email Perform Basic Gmail tasks A table of common email tasks Printing an email from Gmail Link to Other Apps and Gmail Settings Chapter 12 Choosing and Using a Smartphone Camera Examine Smartphone Cameras and Brands Paying the right amount of attention to reviews Phones with camera brand collaborations Take a Camera-Spec Safari Enough megapixel, but not too much Home in on subjects with zoom Exercise Your Android Camera’s Capabilities Just point-and-shoot either stills or video Add interest with your camera’s tools Expand your reach with Google Lens Access camera features on the scrolling menu Go Pro with Pro Mode Discovering the Pro settings Applying the Pro settings Edit Your Photos Finding editing options Applying the photo editor’s tools Playing with filters, colors, and more Part 4 Exploring Android Apps Chapter 13 Preinstalled Tools You Want to Use Take a Shortcut to Features with Android Quick Settings Customizing the Quick Settings Meeting popular Quick Settings Quick Settings That Offer Valuable Options Opting for Dark mode Maximizing eye comfort Avoiding interruptions Sharing with “close” friends Phone-Resident Android Apps Recording your voice Taking a screen shot Staying on task with Google Calendar Frequenting the Google Play Store Chapter 14 Google Mobile Services Apps for Android Find Popular Google Apps Google Photos Storing and retrieving Syncing and deleting Sharing Searching Google Maps Finding your way to an appointment Employing the Directions screen options Find My Device Take Note(s) with Google Keep Chapter 15 Apps You Might Like in Google Play Store Establish App Privacy Permissions Connect to Radio (Yes, Radio), Podcasts, and Music Configuring your speakers’ volume Making a wired connection Using a Bluetooth connection Find Favorite and Fun Apps — a Consensus Radio, podcasts, and music Video apps Travel Games News Books Engage Social Media Try Out the Android Accessibility Suite Part 5 Android Today and Tomorrow Chapter 16 Marsha’s MUST-DO Things for Your Phone Make the Orientation Decision Configure Do Not Disturb Use Your Home Wi-Fi for Calls and Browsing Practice Safety When Using Public Connections Use a VPN to secure public Wi-Fi connections Beware of charging a phone from a public port Secure Your Power Cables Set Up Emergency Call and SOS Establishing SOS messaging Activating Emergency mode Managing Emergency mode Manage Home Screen App Shortcuts Make Folders of Apps Chapter 17 Android 12 and Beyond: The OS Evolution Find Helpful New Features in Android 12 Make purchasing faster with GPay Poke around in Android 12 Meet the Soothing Android 12 User Experience Be Ready for the Future Index EULA Explore your phone without exploring the whole galaxy There are a ton of features on an Android smartphone - probably more than you have the time (or desire) to learn. This book is perfect for anyone looking for the essentials to operating a phone running the Android operating system. With larger-print type and full-color images, this book walks you through the steps of turning your phone into a communications, photography, and media streaming powerhouse without wasting your time on the features you may never use. You'll even pick up a few tricks to show off to friends and family. Inside ... Navigate your smartphone's controls Get acquainted with the Android software Fill up your phone with your frequent contacts Zip off email and text messages Shoot pro-quality photos and videos Stream music and video Android smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models, offer great ways to simplify and enhance your life. From easy ways to stay in touch with your friends and family to helpful reminders for everyday tasks, Android phones can keep you connected and current at all times. Sometimes, though, the learning curve can seem a little steep.-- Amazon.com