Android Smartphones For Seniors For Dummies

Book description

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. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  5. Part 1: Your Phone in the Android Universe
    1. Chapter 1: Why Android? What’s the Deal?
      1. A Little Android History
      2. The Many Flavors (Versions) of Android
      3. Reasons That People Choose Android
      4. Why You Need a Google Account
      5. So Many Choices!
      6. A Word about Privacy and Security
    2. Chapter 2: Buying Your Android Smartphone and Accessories
      1. Investigate First — Then Make a Buying Decision
      2. Consider Your Carrier Choice
      3. You Need a Few Accessories, Too
    3. Chapter 3: Activating and Connecting Your Phone
      1. Unbox Your New Phone
      2. Insert a SIM Card
      3. Turn On Your Phone for the First Time
      4. Learn Android Smartphone Symbols and Gestures
  6. Part 2: Getting Started with Your Android Smartphone
    1. Chapter 4: Safety First: Making Your New Phone Private
      1. Set Up a Screen Lock
      2. Establish Data Backup
      3. Place Owner Information On the Lock Screen
      4. Add Emergency Info
    2. Chapter 5: Personalizing Your Handset
      1. Hardware Buttons and What They Do
      2. Find and Sort Your Apps
      3. Move App Shortcuts to the Home Screen
      4. Group Apps into Folders
      5. Deal with Preinstalled Applications (or Bloatware)
      6. Get the News (and Other Media) You Can Use
      7. Customize the Home Screen with Widgets
    3. Chapter 6: Android Typing Tricks with Google’s Gboard
      1. Make the Keyboard Decision
      2. Check Out Keyboard Contenders
      3. Speak Words with Voice Typing
      4. Spell-Check as You Type
      5. Extended Keyboard and Special Characters
      6. Learn the Emoji Language
      7. Delete, Copy, and Paste Text
      8. Print Messages, Documents, and Web Pages
    4. Chapter 7: Handling Notifications and Google Assistant
      1. Meet the Android Notifications Window Shade
      2. Manage Your Phone with the Window Shade Quick Settings
      3. Get the 411 from Google Assistant
  7. Part 3: Let’s Start Communicating
    1. Chapter 8: Chatting via Voice or Video
      1. Make a Voice Call
      2. Check Voicemail
      3. Get Voicemail Transcriptions
      4. Reply to an Incoming Call by Sending a Text
      5. Set a New Ringtone
      6. Spend Face Time with Family and Friends
    2. Chapter 9: Keeping Track of Friends and Appointments
      1. Establish Your Phone’s Contacts
      2. Save Contacts from Email
      3. Add a Contact in Other Ways
      4. Type In a Full Contact in the Contacts App
      5. Merge Duplicate Contacts
      6. Customize, Delete, and Update Contacts
      7. Energize Your Calendar App
      8. Add Calendar Events from Gmail
    3. Chapter 10: Texting with Poise and Character
      1. Compare Types of Text Messaging
      2. Dress Up Texts in Google Messages
      3. The Text Message Bar and Emoji
      4. Find Even More Texting Options
      5. Share Photos and Videos in Texts
      6. Voice-Type (Dictate)
      7. Manipulate the Text in Your Message
      8. Schedule a Text Message for Later Delivery
      9. Act on Text Messages You Receive
      10. Share and Print Documents, Email Messages, and Web Pages
    4. Chapter 11: Managing Email with the Gmail App
      1. Discover Gmail Features
      2. Send a Gmail Email
      3. Perform Basic Gmail tasks
      4. Link to Other Apps and Gmail Settings
    5. Chapter 12: Choosing and Using a Smartphone Camera
      1. Examine Smartphone Cameras and Brands
      2. Take a Camera-Spec Safari
      3. Exercise Your Android Camera’s Capabilities
      4. Go Pro with Pro Mode
      5. Edit Your Photos
  8. Part 4: Exploring Android Apps
    1. Chapter 13: Preinstalled Tools You Want to Use
      1. Take a Shortcut to Features with Android Quick Settings
      2. Quick Settings That Offer Valuable Options
      3. Phone-Resident Android Apps
    2. Chapter 14: Google Mobile Services Apps for Android
      1. Find Popular Google Apps
      2. Google Photos
      3. Google Maps
      4. Find My Device
      5. Take Note(s) with Google Keep
    3. Chapter 15: Apps You Might Like in Google Play Store
      1. Establish App Privacy Permissions
      2. Connect to Radio (Yes, Radio), Podcasts, and Music
      3. Find Favorite and Fun Apps — a Consensus
      4. Engage Social Media
      5. Try Out the Android Accessibility Suite
  9. Part 5: Android Today and Tomorrow
    1. Chapter 16: Marsha’s MUST-DO Things for Your Phone
      1. Make the Orientation Decision
      2. Configure Do Not Disturb
      3. Use Your Home Wi-Fi for Calls and Browsing
      4. Practice Safety When Using Public Connections
      5. Secure Your Power Cables
      6. Set Up Emergency Call and SOS
      7. Manage Home Screen App Shortcuts
      8. Make Folders of Apps
    2. Chapter 17: Android 12 and Beyond: The OS Evolution
      1. Find Helpful New Features in Android 12
      2. Meet the Soothing Android 12 User Experience
      3. Be Ready for the Future
  10. Index
  11. About the Author
  12. Connect with Dummies
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Android Smartphones For Seniors For Dummies
  • Author(s): Marsha Collier
  • Release date: November 2021
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119828488