Smartphone for Seniors/Dummies

So thisLAZY OLD GEEK (LOG) decided to get a smartphone. So being who I am, this involved some decision making and this Instructable explains some of my decisions, so maybe this could be called:
Smartphone for dummies, OLD, cheap, frugal, Lazy, aging, seniors.
But who would read it with a title like that.
So I am OLD, I remember using the rotary phones. (See picture) Simple to use and reliable. Almost everyone could use them.
Then there’s the wireless phone and cellphone (See picture). For making calls, still pretty simply. You just might have to push a button to make a call or hang up and you had to stay in range.
Then there’s the smartphone! Yikes, millions of manufactures, versions, features, options. So what is a smartphone? Wikipedia has a definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone
 
To me a smartphone is any cellphone that can do a lot more than just make calls.
NOTE: There are very few physical buttons. Significant later.
 
Okay, your first decision, should you wish to take this assignment is do you really want a smartphone. Here’s a good guide that may help you decide.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/5-tips-for-picking-the-right-smartphone.htm#page=0
 
So, I’m a GEEK, I like tech so this was pretty easy decision. Yes, I wanted a smartphone.
 

IMHO, the second decision is do you want Apple (iphone) or Android.
Now this is a major decision that will affect the rest of your life. And like that illusive butterfly, it may change the future of the world. (Just kidding).
 
For those of you not in the know, this refers to the OS(operating system) of the smartphone. All Apple products use iOS (iphone operating system). Most other smartphones use Android which was basically originated by Google.
TECHNOBABBLE: Yes, I realize there are other OSs such as Blackberry and Microsoft. But not my problem.
 
Thoughts according to LOG(me)
Apple iOS is a proprietary OS owned and developed by Apple and available only on Apple mobile devices.
PROs:
Well designed
User friendly
Apps(Applications) are vetted by Apple so likely to work
Devices are Apple so OS upgrades will have few problems
 
CONs:
Expensive
Limited hardware choices
 
Android is an open source OS originally developed by Google but can be used by anyone and is available on many devices from many manufacturers.
PROs:
More hardware choices
Wider price range
 
CONs:
OS upgrades controlled by smartphone manufacturer and possibly service provider so may be delayed or not available.
Apps(Applications) are not vetted, so inconsistent quality and may not work.
 
For myself, I did a cost-benefit analysis and decided an Android device was best for my needs.

Okay, ready to select a smartphone? Not yet.
The next decision is a soft one. You can usually change it later.
Most of the smarts in smartphone is connecting to the Internet.
 
So most smartphone users connect to a cellphone provider with a data plan. What that means is that the smartphone can connect to the Internet anytime it is in range of a (specified) cellphone tower. Of course you have to pay for this data plan monthly and it’s often part of a two year contract. And there may be a limit to the amount of data you can use per month.
 
Now most smartphones can also connect to the Internet with WiFi. You may already have WiFi in your home and WiFi is often available at workplaces. Free WiFi hotspots are often available in cafes, coffee houses, libraries. . .
 
Connecting to the Internet with WiFi doesn’t cost you extra.
 
Since I spend 95% of my time at home, I’ve elected to go with WiFi only for smartphone Internet and use my cell service for phone service only.
The advantage is I don’t have to pay for a data plan and possible contract.
Disadvantages: Some apps will not work well without a data plan.
I am thinking there’s a lot of store apps where you can scan a barcode or QR code and get more information.(See picture)
Some apps such as Google Maps can work offline but require the user to download maps before usage.
Public WiFi hotspots are often slow, most likely a lot slower than a cellphone 3G or 4G data connection.
Public WiFi hotspots aren’t very secure.
 
WARNING: I’ve heard that when you hook up a smartphone to certain providers, they automatically change you over to a data plan. Don’t know if this is true.
I am on a PayAsYouGo from T-Mobile and had no problem.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57555091-94/can-you-ditch-your-smartphone-data-plan-for-wi-fi/
 

So now it’s time to select a smartphone? Wrong!
The next decision is selecting a cellphone provider. These are the big four.
 
The first reason is that you need a cellphone provider that has service where you live/work. Check the provider’s coverage map to see if service is available and how good it is.
 
The second reason is that a specific smartphone may not work with a specific provider. Here’s a good resource.
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-cell-phone-carriers/
Once you select a provider, you need to know if they support GSM or CDMA.
HINT: Many/most smartphones will support either.
HINT: If you’re planning on travelling out of the USA, GSM is much more widely used than CDMA.
 
The third reason is to find a plan. Unfortunately, there are a plethora of options available that are different from each provider. It used to be the typical user would by a smartphone from a specific cellphone provider at a discounted price or free with a two year contract.
Most plans included unlimited talk and text.
 
But you usually have to determine how much data you will need each month. Many providers have calculators to estimate your data needs.
So if you go over your plan, some providers will charge you at a much higher rate. Some will just throttle back your speed.
 
You will often have the option of adding more devices, phones, tablets, etc.
You may have the option of no contract.
You may have the option of upgrading your smartphone before contract is up.
 
Decisions, decisions. I can't help you much with this one.

I selected a T-Mobile PayAsYouGo plan. I pay only for talk minutes as I need them. I'm sure I pay more per minute than heavier users but I'm not on the phone a lot and also don't pay for a data plan.

Okay, all set to select your smartphone? Hold on one second.
 
What is an unlocked cellphone? Most cellphones sold by cell providers are ‘locked’ to their own cell service. If you buy a smartphone from AT&T, it will only work with AT&T.
So an unlocked cellphone will work with any cell provider as long as it has supports the correct GSM or CDMA bands. (Most of the better smartphones support both GSM and CDMA).
This is usually not a big deal as most people will stick with one carrier. And you can usually find a procedure to unlock a phone.
WARNING: Though you may be able to unlock a phone and get it to work on a different cell provider, most cell providers have customized their software with specific features that aren’t compatible with a different cell provider. I know this from personal experience.

You might want an unlocked smartphone. These are available from websites like Amazon, ebay and in the case of the Nexus smartphones, Google.
'Locked' smartphones can be purchased from cell providers but also from Amazon, WalMart, etc, often at better prices.

There's a lot of Internet about Smartphones for seniors.

I was really intrigued with the Jitterbug Touch 2 smartphone.
http://www.greatcall.com/Jitterbug/Jitterbug-Touch-Easy-To-Use-Smartphone/
 
PROS:
Simple interface with a list of applications instead of icons.
Lots of medical support if needed.
Customizable plans
  Basic: you can select talk minutes, text and data are also selectable
  GoPlans: Similar options more medical support.
 
CONS: Several reviews give the smartphone poor rating due to sometimes slow response and crashes.
 
Another is the Pantech Flex
http://www.pantechusa.com/phones/flex#features
 
This one also has a simplified interface but it can also be switched to a more traditional icon interface.
PROS:
Good reviews
Cheap/free with contract
CONS:
Contract
Poorly rated camera
Limited to AT&T
 
Both of these smartphones might be worth a look even for non-seniors.
 

Okay, you probably gave up but it’s time to select your smartphone.
Must have features:
WiFi (imho)
Correct cell provider support (GSM, CDMA or both)
GPS (imho)
 
Some features you have to decide:
Price
CPU/speed
Screen size/resolution
Bluetooth
RAM/Memory size
Battery life
Weight
 
NOTE: Like cell providers, most smartphone manufacturers modify the Android OS to add specific features. One disadvantage is that when Google releases a new version, the user has to wait for their manufacturer to release their own update.
 
I selected the Nexus 4 for the following reasons:
Price: It already had a good price for its features but was even better just before the release of Nexus 5.
Android: The Nexus 4 is sold by Google (though manufactured by LG) so it is basically a native Android OS with no special features. So updates are available sooner. I got Android 4.4 within a couple of days of its release.
Good reviews.
Features: WiFi 802.11n, quad core cpu, good 4.7” screen
 
I didn’t like that it doesn’t have 4G support but I’m only using WiFi and not using 4G anyway.
 
I purchased directly from Google.
Now there is an advantage of buying a phone through a service provider. Apparently, the service provider gets a subsidy on the phone so you’re overall cost may be less. I’m not sure if this is true.

OPERATION: Most smartphones have three buttons, a power button, a volume up and a volume down button. Everything else is done on the touchscreen. Read the manual.
 
The first problem I had was that I needed a micro-SIM card and only had a regular SIM card.  Some flavor of SIM cards are required for GSM phones and typically provided by the cell provider. Generally you can transfer a SIM card from one phone to another.
There’s a lot of information on cutting a SIM card to make it a micro-SIM. I tried it, it worked in one cellphone but wouldn’t work with my Nexus 4.
Well, I called my local T-Mobile store. They wanted $35 for a micro-SIM.
So I went on the T-Mobile website and found one for $10 but on sale for $0.99. So I bought it. (I just looked today and it was free for the Holidays).
 
The second problem was trying to answer the phone. The first time I got a call, I was out walking with my dog and I tried to answer it but couldn’t figure out how to do it. Most smartphones are hard to see in sunlight and you only have a short time before it goes to Voice mail. Anyway, I had to look it up in the manual when I got home. Also I had to figure out how to call voice mail.
 
The third problem, I have an LG Bluetooth headset(see picture). This worked fine with Android 4.3 but when I installed 4.4, the minimum volume was too loud.
So I searched on the Internet and found many other people with the same problem. One had the same problem with a Nexus 5. Anyway, one user came up with a workaround by adding an equalizer and cranking everything way down.
Anyway, it was fixed a couple of days later when Google released 4.4.2.
 
 
General Problem Solving:
Your best solution may be using the manual that came with your smartphone. Some may be very limited or even non-existent.
You might be able to find a better manual on the manufacturers website or the cell providers website.
More problems can arise when your OS is upgraded. You can usually find a generic users guide for specific versions of you OS, e.g., Android 4.4.2 but, alas, those don’t cover manufacturer specific or cell provider specific modifications.
Specific Internet searches may be your best option.
Good Luck!
 
Then there are application problems. Application support varies but some apps have their own website. And specific Internet searches may be your best option.
 
 
Pre Nexus 4: I bought a Huawei smartphone (See picture) on ebay. It got some good reviews and I found a good price. Unfortunately, it was in Chinese. Well, I was finally able to change Android to English and was able to read a lot of the screens. But most of the apps were still Chinese and I couldn’t even access Google Play to download applications.
Well, I was finally able to ‘root’ the phone. This is like unlocking the Smartphone from a specific cellphone provider except this is getting to the root of Android so that you can modify the basics. So I started deleting Chinese stuff and made it totally unusable.
WARNING: Don’t try to root a smartphone unless you know what you are doing.
 

I am happy with my Nexus 4 smartphone. Yes, I will always have problems. But I’ve also added some apps that I like and use.
I added a Flashlight app.
I added Runkeeper to keep track of walks with my dog.
I added WinAmp to listen to my music.
I added WheresMyDroid to find a misplaced/stolen phone.