11/27 Your cellular phone

In this class, we will take a long look at your cellular phones.  We will discuss four topics:

• From last week:  Photos on the cloud (see last week's webpage)

• Wi-Fi vs Cellular including hotspots

• Android vs Apple

• Settings on your smartphone

• Replacing your smartphone

What is Wi-Fi and Cellular?

Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity technology uses multiple bands of radiofrequency waves to provide high-speed internet access to mobile devices and allows wireless communication between the connected devices.

Here are some details about both technologies:

Wi-Fi:

Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that allows your devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets to connect to the internet without any physical cables.  It uses radio waves to transmit information between your device and a router. The router is connected to the internet, and it sends and receives data to and from your device wirelessly.  

Wi-Fi usually works over short distances. It's most effective in your home, office, or places like cafes or libraries where a Wi-Fi network is set up.  Your device needs to be in Bluetooth range of the router.

Wi-Fi can be very fast, especially if you're close to the router. The speed can vary depending on how far you are from the router and how many other people are using the same Wi-Fi.

Generally, once you have a Wi-Fi setup at home, you can use it as much as you want without extra charges.  There may be limits on the home Internet used to connect to the Wi-Fi, but it is usually a large amount (1 TB  or more) and should  not have an impact on your connections.  

Cellular Networks:

Cellular networks are what your mobile phone uses to make calls, send texts, and use the internet when you're not connected to Wi-Fi.  These networks use radio waves too, but they are transmitted through a network of cell towers. Your phone connects to these towers to access the network.

Cellular networks cover much larger areas than Wi-Fi. They work in most places, even when you're moving, like in a car or train.  The speed of cellular networks can vary. Newer technologies like 4G and 5G offer fast internet speeds, but it can depend on your location and network traffic.

Using cellular networks for calls, texts, and internet often comes with a monthly fee, and there might be limits on how much data you can use.  Some plans offer unlimited cellular, but may slow down your connection if you are using too much of it.

Hot spots:

Our mobile devices offer  you to automatically connect to hot spots.  There are different types of hotspots:  

• Personal:  This hotspot uses a smartphone's cellular data to connect with other devices.  It essentially turns your phone into a mini router.  These are generally very secure, especially if you use a strong password.  Only those devices that have the password can access your hotspot and use your data.

• Public:  These hotspots are those provided by public areas, such as airports, cafes or shopping malls.  The security may vary, but caution is recommended in using these hotspots.  You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to make sure that your data is encrypted and secure.

• Provider specific hotspots:  These are hotspots which you can access as part of your cellular plan.  They are generally safer than public hotspots, but not as safe as your personal one.  

 The Auto-Join feature:

This setting on your phone is related to how your device connects to Wi-Fi networks.  There are two types of settings:  hotspot and network.

Auto-join hotspot:  When enabled, your phone will automatically connect to personal hotspots of Wi-Fi networks previously used and saved.  This includes home Wi-Fi or a friend's hotspot.  It is convenient because it saves you from manually selecting and connecting to familiar networks.  Since you have at one time chosen to use this network, it is most likely a trusted source.

Ask to join networks:  This setting, when enabled, will alert you when Wi-Fi networks are available in your vicinity, but does not automatically connect to them.  Instead, it will ask if you wish to join the network.  It is useful fore discovering new Wi-Fi networks in public areas, or in areas that you are not familiar.  It gives you the choice to join a network, and ensures that you have control over the networks you join.

There are key differences between these two settings:

• Automation: Auto-join automatically connects to known networks while Ask to join requires your approval each time

• Convenience over control:  Auto-join is more convenient, while ask to join provides more control and awareness of available networks.

• Security:  Auto-join is generally secure as it connects to known networks, but make sure that you have already connected to secure networks.  Ask to join allows you to access the security of a network before continuing.  

Example:  If you connect to the airport Wi-Fi and have auto-join enabled, you might find that you are connected each time.  The airport is not necessarily a secure network.  If you have enabled Auto-Join, double check when in a public place to see if a network has been selected, and make sure that you recognize the network before using it.  You can always disconnect from a network at any time.

How to stop connecting to a Wi-Fi connection:

iPhone:  Go to Settings>Wi-Fi.  Select "edit".  You will see a list of all networks that you have automatically joined.  You can click on the "i" next to a network and "forget this network".  Next time, you can join, but you will have to input the password.  While there, scroll down to Managed networks and take a look at them.  Click on the "i" next to them, and review settings for auto-join, low-data mode, IP address and more.  Low Data mode is a way to limit the data on networks that you have limitations on.  For example, in the Private Mobile Wi_Fi, you may choose to enable low data mode (so you can do more while connected to this device) or disable low data mode (so you will not use as much data).  You can do the same with the Internet Service Provider's networks.  

Android: Go to settings>connections.  You may have some different settings on this spot, depending on your device.

One of the biggest decisions you will make is whether to go with an Android or an iPhone. Here are some of the things to consider when purchasing a new smartphone which may help to decide between Android and iPhone

How alike are the Android and iPhone?

For the most part, they are similar.  They both can call, text and message.  They offer a variety of apps, most available in both stores.  They have cameras, and simple ways of sharing photos and other documents.  They both allow games, streaming music and entertainment, etc.  At the end of the day, smartphones can be pretty similar.

What makes an Android different than an iPhone

Although there are other differences, a key difference is the operating system.  Android is the most common operating system for mobile devices, with the most recent statistics (June 2018) showing that 54.1% of smartphones were Android.  Apple accounts for 44.3%, with a very small minority of phones using other operating systems (Blackberry, Microsoft).

The operating system is in charge of how your phone looks and responds.  It uses mini programs, or apps, to place phone calls, send text messages, play games, browse the web and more.  The operating system determines which default programs to use, and the default programs of the Android are different than those of the iPhone. 

Which phone is easier to learn?

This would depend on your background with phones and computers.   If you are a long time Apple user (you have a Mac and/or an iPad), you will find the iPhone more intuitive to use.  You will see some familiar apps and programs.  You will use the same Apple ID on all devices.

The Android is a little less structured.   Your Android phone may look very different from your friend’s Android, depending on their manufacturer and version of Android software.  So, in that respect, the Android may be a little more challenging to learn. 

Which is less expensive?

As a rule, the Androids are less expensive than the iPhones, just as a Windows computer may be less expensive than a Mac.  But there are expensive Androids (the Samsung Gallery 9 is $1250) and inexpensive iPhones (such as the iPhone 7 for $450). You will just find a better variety with Android phones.

Sharing things

What else will you be doing with your phone?  Probably, one of the things will be sharing.  Most of us enjoy sharing photos with others.  You can share with the phone by texting or attaching to an email.  Both phones offer an easy way to share with others.  However, you may have a large selection of photos.  And you may have discovered your favorite type of cloud storage, so that photos will all be grouped in one place.  Your cloud storage can be iCloud, Google Photos or another (such as Dropbox).  If your friends and family all swear by Apple products, chances are they have iCloud.  It is easy to share photos from iCloud with other users.  On the other hand, if they are Google users, they probably use Google Photos to store all of their photos.  It is easy to share from Google Photos as well.  With each of them, though, you can find a folder called “shared album”.  If a Google user shares an album with you through Google photos, it will be stored on your Google account.  If an Apple user shares an album with you through iCloud, it will be stored in your iCloud account.  If you don’t have a Google or iCloud account, you will have to set one up in order to exchange photos. 

But keep in mind that iCloud pictures will only be on the iCloud account, and Google pictures will only be on the Google account.  Will you find that confusing???

Native apps

A native app is one that comes with the device.  With an iPhone, these are Apple’s apps such as Apple mail, Apple Calendar, Apple contacts.  With the Android, you will be using Google apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google contacts.  When you set up the iPhone, you will determine your “Apple ID”, and when you set up the Android you will set up a Google account. 

Other apps

You will get your Google apps from the Google Play store and the Apple Apps from the Apple store.  Most popular apps are available in both stores.  So, you can have the Google Calendar and Facebook on both devices.  However, there are some apps only available to one device (such as the GarageBand app, only available on Apple).

Video calling

You may not take advantage of video calling, but if you do, one platform stands above the other (at this point).

Between Apple devices, you can use the Facetime app.  This is a very intuitive video calling app which connects devices.  It can be used between Apple devices or a Mac, or on audio calls using an Apple watch.  The calls do not count against your cellular minutes. 

Without Apple, you can use a number of different apps, such as Duo (by Google), Skype (by Microsoft) or Zoom (free through website zoom.us).  With most of these, the user needs an account as well.  With Zoom, it is a downloadable app.  These do require that extra step but will work fine with video calling.

Updates

Both phones offer frequent security updates.  You should have this set as automatic and accept all operating system updates.  However, operating systems will often move from one level to another.  With iPhone, it is in whole numbers (14, 15 and now 16).  With Android, it used to be referred to as words (Lollipop 5, Marshmallow 6, Nougat 7, Oreo 8 and Pie 9). Since Pie (9), it has been numbers.  The most recent is Android 13.  

In most cases, updates to the iPhone (and iPad) are automatic and at no cost, until the device has finished its lifespan.  For example, the iPad 2 can no longer update past the 9 version, although Apple does provide security updates).  Otherwise, when Apple releases a new version, you can use it for most of your devices.

Android is different.  For the most part, the operating system that you get when you purchase the device is the same you will have for the life of the device.  You will receive the security updates, but if you bought a Nougat 7, you will probably always have the Nougat 7.  There are a few exceptions to this rule, primarily by Android phones made by Google (such as the Pixel).  These guys get the full update when available.

Final note:  Deciding what phone to use also depends on your carrier.  If you have a particular carrier that you use (Verizon/AT&T), you may have to choose a phone based on their availability.

Description of settings:

Accessibility (both):  Assortment of ways to improve use if eyesight, hearing, or touch is challenged

Wallpaper (both):  Add background

Apple only Siri:  Customize with language, voice, feedback, suggestions, etc.

Android only Google: Manage your Google account

Emergencies

• Apple: Emergency SOS,

• Android: Connections>More connections > Wireless emergency alerts

Battery: 

• Apple: battery

• Android: Device care>battery, storage and memory

Privacy: 

• Apple: Privacy

• Android:   Biometrics and security

App permissions:

• Apple:  Privacy

• Android:  Biometrics and security>app permissions

Apps (both):  View apps, see information on how they are used

Notifications (both):  See apps with notifications.  Turn on and off

Mobile pay:

• Apple:  Wallet and Apple pay: 

• Android: Google Pay

Save Passwords:

• Apple: View by clicking passwords

• Android: Google account>settings>offer to save passwords

Add Accounts:

• Apple: Settings>Mail>Accounts

• Android:  Settings>Accounts and backup>Accounts

Apple only:  Messages: Control messages, choose SMS (will use when iMessage is not available), etc.

Camera: 

• Apple settings:  Set things like QR codes, auto HDR, formats, grid, etc.

• NONE on Android (settings within the app)

Steps to do when replacing your smartphone

1. Backup your phone

2. Prepare your new phone

3. Restore from backup

4. Set up old phone for trade-in or to give it away

Back up your device

•      Backup your Android

•      Using Google:  settings>accounts & backup>backup > Choose backup option and “back up now” (Photos should be synching on Google photos)

•      You can also connect to your PC and manually move files

•      Backup your Apple

•      Settings>Apple ID>iCloud>iCloud backup>choose “back up now”

•      Photos may already be backing up on iCloud.  If you are using Google Photos, make sure that they continue to back up.

Prepare your new phone

• You may have to charge it first

• Turn on the phone

• If it is an Android, sign into Google.  If it is an iPhone, sign in with your existing apple ID

• NOTE:  Do not set up  new accounts, unless you do not want to use your existing data

Restore from backup

•         For iPhone: 

•         Turn on the new phone and follow instructions

•         When you reach “Apps & Data”, select “restore from iCloud Backup”

•         Sign in with your Apple ID and choose the backup

•         Wait for the process (it may take some time)

•         Finish setup using instructions on screen

•         For Android:

•         Turn on the new phone and follow setup process

•         Sign into your Google account from the previous phone

•         Choose the backup to restore (choose the most recent backup)

•         Wait for the process (it may take time)

•         Finish setup using instructions on screen

Steps to set up your phone to trade in or give away

• Remove SIM and SD cards

• Sign out of personal accounts (Google and Apple ID):  Open account, sign out of account on device.  Do not delete accounts.

• Disable security locks (PINs, passwords, biometric locks)

• Perform a factory reset (Android:  settings>system>reset options>erase all data)(Apple:  settings>general>reset>erase all content and settings)

• Clean the phone, package with accessories, and check with your carrier or trade-in program for additional steps