Question:
How can I help my wife adapt to a new smartphone after using an old-fashioned phone for a long time?
She is going to use a second-hand galaxy S7, which is a modern device with many features and functions. What are some tips and tricks to customize the phone settings and optimize the app usage, so that she can enjoy the benefits of a smart phone without feeling overwhelmed or confused?
Answer:
Smartphones are amazing devices that can do many things, from taking photos and videos, to browsing the internet, to playing games and listening to music. However, for someone who is used to an old-fashioned phone with a sliding keyboard, switching to a smartphone can be a daunting and frustrating experience. How can you help your wife make the transition as smooth as possible, and enjoy the benefits of a smartphone without feeling overwhelmed or confused?
Here are some tips and tricks to customize the phone settings and optimize the app usage, so that she can adapt to her new galaxy S7, which is a second-hand but still modern device with many features and functions.
Start with the basics
: Before diving into the advanced settings and features, make sure your wife knows how to do the basic tasks on her smartphone, such as making and receiving calls, sending and reading messages, checking the battery level, adjusting the volume and brightness, locking and unlocking the screen, and turning the phone on and off. You can show her how to do these things, or use the built-in tutorials and guides that are available on the phone. You can also download some simple and user-friendly apps that can help her with these tasks, such as [True Phone Dialer & Contacts](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hb.dialer.free) or [Messages](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging).
Customize the home screen
: The home screen is the first thing your wife will see when she unlocks her phone, so it is important to make it comfortable and convenient for her. You can help her customize the home screen by adding or removing icons, widgets, and shortcuts, and changing the wallpaper, theme, and layout. You can also create folders to organize the apps by category, such as social media, entertainment, productivity, etc. You can use the default launcher that comes with the phone, or download a different one that suits her preferences, such as [Nova Launcher](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher) or [Microsoft Launcher](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.launcher).
Enable the accessibility features
: If your wife has any vision, hearing, or motor impairments, or just wants to make the phone easier to use, you can enable the accessibility features that are available on the phone. These features can help her adjust the font size, contrast, and color, magnify the screen, use voice commands, read aloud the text, flash the camera light for notifications, and more. You can find these features in the settings menu, under accessibility, or download some additional apps that can enhance the accessibility, such as [Google TalkBack](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback) or [Live Transcribe](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.audio.hearing.visualization.accessibility.scribe).
Limit the notifications and permissions
: One of the most annoying and distracting things about smartphones is the constant barrage of notifications and requests for permissions from various apps. These can interrupt your wife’s attention, drain her battery, and compromise her privacy. You can help her limit the notifications and permissions by going to the settings menu, under apps, and choosing which apps can send notifications, and what type of notifications they can send. You can also choose which apps can access the phone’s camera, microphone, location, contacts, and other data, and revoke the permissions that are not necessary or trustworthy. You can also download some apps that can help you manage the notifications and permissions, such as [Notification Blocker](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zenjoy.notificationblocker) or [Bouncer](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samruston.permission).
Teach her some shortcuts and gestures
: Smartphones have many shortcuts and gestures that can make the phone usage faster and easier. For example, you can double-tap the home button to launch the camera, swipe down from the top to access the notification panel, swipe up from the bottom to access the app drawer, pinch the screen to zoom in or out, and more. You can show your wife some of these shortcuts and gestures, or use the tips and tricks app that comes with the phone, or download some apps that can teach her more, such as [Smartphone Tips and Tricks](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartphone.tips.tricks) or [Gestures](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.conena.gestures).
These are some of the tips and tricks that can help your wife adapt to her new smartphone after using an old-fashioned phone for a long time. Of course, the best way to learn is by practice and experimentation, so encourage her to explore the phone and discover its features and functions. You can also support her by answering her questions, solving her problems, and sharing your own experiences and recommendations. With some patience and guidance, she will soon become a smartphone pro and enjoy the benefits of a smart phone without feeling overwhelmed or confused. 😊
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