Are you as confused with your Smart-Phone (SP) as we are? When our old cell-phone contract expired, Hubby and I bought into the latest technology. A complicated love-hate relationship with our GPS and computer made us wary of another piece of leading edge equipment, but everyone has one. Right?
Our savvy sales rep said, “I can transfer your phone and email contacts to the new SP and here’s the tutorial website for everything you need to know.”
We exited the store assured we could master this. After all, how difficult could it be? Our grandchildren at ages eight and ten unceasingly demonstrated how easy it was to play games and their parents’ cameras captured each and every grandchild event ASAP.
“You’ll love receiving texts or emailing friends,” advised our daughter. Although, when we searched for someone our age to text, we came up with – zero.
Our rapture at being “with it” lasted about one day. The on-line tutorial negligently advised us to click on an icon only to discover that without a picture, we didn’t know what icon they were referring to.
“Why don’t you answer my calls?” asked a friend after repeatedly attempting to phone us while we were unaware the ringer volume had again chosen to switch to “low.”
While driving with our previous cell-phone and it rang, we flipped it open and there the caller was – loud and clear. “I’m driving, call you back.” The new one demanded six clicks or swipes on something (while weaving through traffic) before we saw a silhouette and a red bar.
“Red” means stop! Do we swipe the red bar or does that disconnect the call? We punched everything in sight and generally disconnected the caller. Our solution was to let it ring and attempt to locate a voice-mail later.
We exchanged $60 for a six month on-going-living-phone tutor to walk us through anything we couldn’t figure out. We developed personal reltionships with them chatting for hours. We nibbled at lunches together while hanging out.
And we did quite well with one-on-one directions, until we fizzled out with Harley, the new whiz kid. He attempted to tutor us on the QR feature (the little box with squiggles in every magazine ad). Harley, and several elves spent over one hour before he gave up and advised us to visit the store.
So, here’s where we currently stand. The second our two-year contract is fulfilled, we’ll trade it for a compact old fashioned flip phone (might have to check the black-market) that will fit in my purse and hubby’s pocket and cost significantly less.
Our New Year’s resolution is to jot down the simplest of SP procedures for quick retrieval. But, we’re positive friends, family and we will continue to be frustrated with our awe-inspiring, user-unfriendly Smart-Phone and we’ll probably continue threatening to throw it out the car window.
Anyone out there relating?