OK, so you finally broke down and got a new smartphone to replace the old device that you’ve been using for the last few years. Whether you are a first time user of a smartphone or you are an expert, changing to a new device can be overwhelming and frustrating. If you’ve found yourself on overwhelmed and frustrated street, here are some directions to make it back to satisfaction ave.
The first thing to do is to keep in mind why you made such a change in the first place. For those coming from a plain cell phone, the attraction of the smartphone’s power and flexibility brought about the need to change. For others moving from one smartphone platform to another, it was the limitation of the old platform that forced change. At this point you should then realize that it is not the smartphone that has you overwhelmed, it is the change from the old to the new that does. As with anything that has routine familiarity in our lives, change in that routine can cause havoc – if we allow it to.
The second thing to realize with a new smartphone is that you are in a “go back to go” situation. Essentially, you are in a state where you have to educate yourself about your smartphone and then go about the process of integration of the device into your daily routine. This “go back to go” situation applies to every smartphone user, novice to pro.
Going back to go means also learning how to do things in the following order – simple to complex. Simple would be a familiarization process with the basic controls of the phone. Or in other words finding out what every button does on the smartphone by reading the user manual. Simple also means familiarizing yourself with the basic functions of the phone – like being able to make a call. If anything, make sure that your smartphone can make and receive calls properly. Also make sure that other call functions such as voice mail work correctly. Although it may seem like a hassle to do this, these are essential first steps. Even though most carriers set up their phones at the point of sale, things can still go wrong when it comes to making a call. You can avoid a lot of initial frustration by first familiarizing yourself with your new smartphone’s controls and then ensuring that it can indeed make calls.
Once you have the basics under control, then it is time to move on to the more complex functions of the smartphone. Whether you are a novice or a pro, when it comes to the more complex features of a new smartphone, your best bet is the new user tutorials. Even if they seem lame, new user tutorials can be very useful in explaining how to browse the web or to set up email on your new device. Once you’ve gone through the tutorials, then start using the features of your new smartphone. Again, this process should be done in the simple to complex order. Start off with a simple task like browsing the web. Then methodically move on to more complex operations like email setup, installing social networking apps and so forth. The new user tutorials can be found either on the smartphone itself or in the user manual. If you find that there are no tutorials for your device, then consult the user manual for the info you need.
The final step is the integration of the new smartphone device into your daily life. For novice smartphone users this may mean adapting to texting as apposed to calling as the primary means of communication. For pros this could mean for instance, adapting to the way Android works with Microsoft Exchange as opposed to Windows Mobile. In either case the integration process is in itself a learning process that could take a up to few weeks to accomplish.
Throughout this learning process with your new device, keep in mind that it’s going to take time. To put things in another way, you and your new smartphone are now in a relationship. As with human relationships, there is always the infatuation phase and then the long haul love phase. Learning about your new smartphone in the infatuation phase will make the long haul love phase go much better.
Written by kingbirdfivezero
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