The Smartphone Buyer's Guide 2015 (2015)
Taps, Clicks, Troubleshooting, and Phone Tricks
This chapter is all about what hidden features your phone can perform, and some of the basic troubleshooting that you can do when your phone is not working the best for you. However, your best resource will be your phone manual.
Mobile Phone Signal
The strength of your phone signal has a major influence on the functionality of your phone. Failed text messages, poor call quality, or slow running applications usually indicate that there is a problem with your phone service. If you run into this problem, review the information below to assist you with troubleshooting.
Full Reception/Full Bars
If the reception bars on the phone are high, this indicates a very strong signal. If you are having difficulties placing calls, sending messages, or using other applications, but your phone indicates a strong signal, follow these steps to troubleshoot:
Restart your phone - Most problems like this can be resolved by simply restarting your phone. There are two ways that you can restart your phone:
Remove the Battery
You may restart your phone by removing the battery and then immediately putting the battery back into the phone. Once you have put the battery back into the phone, you will then power the phone back on. Once the phone is powered on, confirm a signal and attempt to send the text message again. For the best result, wait about 5 minutes before powering the phone back on.
Power Off/Power On
You may also restart your phone simply powering the phone off, and then immediately powering the phone back on. Once the phone is powered on, confirm a signal and attempt to send the text message again. For the best result, wait about 5 minutes before powering the phone back on.
If the problem persists, you will need to check with your mobile carrier to have the problem fixed immediately.
Weak Signal/Low Bars
If the reception bars on the phone are low, this indicates a weak signal. If you are having difficulties placing calls, sending messages, or using other applications, and your phone indicates a strong signal, follow these steps to troubleshoot:
Clear Obstructions - If your phone signal has weakened, you will need to check for possible obstructions (location, trees, tall buildings, etc.) in the area. It’s possible that you are not in close enough range to a cell phone tower, or there may an object blocking the signal. These are the most common causes of a failed text message and weakened signal. Once you have determined and solved the problem, and the signal is restored, you should and be able to send the text message.
Restart your phone - Most problems with low reception by restarting your phone. There are two ways that you can restart your phone:
Remove the Battery
Click here to be redirected to the instructions above.
Power Off/Power On
Click here to be redirected to the instructions above.
If the problem persists, you will need to check with your mobile carrier to have the problem fixed immediately.
No Service/No Signal
If the reception bars are replaced with the prompt, ‘NO SERVICE’ (indicates no signal), you may need to restart your phone or even remove the battery. Once the phone has powered back on, check to see if the signal has been restored. If there is still no signal, you will need to check with your mobile carrier to have the problem fixed immediately.
Check (IMEI) - Sometimes consumers will be sold a phone that has a bad IMEI. This usually means that your phone has been blacklisted in order to prevent use of the phone due to the chance of it being a stolen phone. Even though your phone is not stolen, this could still happen in error. You can check the IMEI of your phone and unlock it through the internet. There are many websites that offer this service available online. If you are still experiencing issue with your phone, you will need to talk to the phone carrier and the store that you purchased the phone from.
Clear Obstructions - Click here to be redirected to the instructions above.
Restart your phone - Most problems with low reception by restarting your phone. There are two ways that you can restart your phone:
Remove the Battery
Click here to be redirected to the instructions above.
Power Off/Power On
Click here to be redirected to the instructions above.
If the problem persists, you will need to check with your mobile carrier to have the problem fixed immediately.
Cool Features
Your phone has some very cool feature many people are not keen to. This chapter will put you up to date on some of the hidden features of your phone. Most people only become aware of these features after they’ve had their phone for a while. If only they would just read the phone manual. But who really reads those anyway? Luckily, this book is here to give you a speed pass through the essentials of what your phone can do, and some of the cool things that make your phone
Take a screenshot
A screenshot is an image captured by your phone to record the items displayed on the monitor, the LCD of your touchscreen phone. Normally, this image can be taken using a mobile application that you can download on your phone. However, there is no need to do that because your phone already has the capability to capture a screenshot. Take a look below at how to take a screenshot with the most prevalent phones in the industry.
Iphone
To Take a Screenshot with the iPhone:
Press and hold down the ‘HOME’ button simultaneously with the ‘SLEEP/WAKE’ button. Once you hear the camera shutter, you have successfully taken a screenshot with your mobile phone. The phone will automatically save to your photo gallery/photos.
Android
To Take a Screenshot with the Android:
Press and hold down the ‘POWER’ and ‘VOLUME DOWN’ buttons simultaneously. Once you hear the camera shutter, you have successfully taken a screenshot with your mobile phone. The phone will automatically save to your photo gallery/photos.
Windows Phone
To Take a Screenshot with the Android:
Press and hold down the ‘HOME’ and ‘POWER’ buttons simultaneously. Once you hear the camera shutter, you have successfully taken a screenshot with your mobile phone. The phone will automatically save to your photo gallery/photos.
Your Phone Can Read!
Find yourself multitasking a lot, this feature will help you manage your multitasking efficiently. The Voice over application allows your phone to read what is available on the screen of your phone at the time. Really comes in handy when you are using your navigation application, or when you receive a text message while driving. This feature will help you keep your eyes on the road.
iPhone
Go to the ‘SETTINGS’ menu, and select ‘GENERAL’. Then select ‘ACCESSIBILITY’. Next, enable the ‘Voice Over’ option.
Note: This may take some time for you to get used to. So, feel free to practice before you actually begin using this feature regularly.
Android
Go to the ‘SETTINGS’ menu. Then select ‘ACCESSIBILITY’. Next, enable the ‘TALK BACK’ option.
Note: You can adjust your Talk Back settings by selecting the Text-to-Speech application through the accessibility menu. Here you can control the speed and volume of your phone’s speech.
Conclusion
Hopefully my book, The Smartphone Buyer's Guide 2015, has provided you with all the information you need to help you purchase the perfect phone for YOU! There is an endless number of ways that you can use technology to communicate with others. However, your mobile phone trumps them all. It can do everything those other devices just can’t do, and even everything that they can. The advancements of wireless technology will allow you get the most out of your new mobile device, no matter how new or how old the phone is.
The information contained in this book is detailed and extensive, but it has been developed to give you the easiest shopping experience possible. There are some very important things to keep in mind. You must know what your phone is capable of as well as know what you will need your phone to do for you. The knowledge you gain from reading this book will help you get the MOST out of your mobile phone. Always keep your budget in mind when purchasing anything, and more importantly your phone.