# shopping for a smart phone

Category: Cell Phone Talk

## Post 1 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 03-Jun-2015 13:09:16

So I'm a senior citizen just wondering about getting a smart phone. Looked at some at the AT and T store but got worried about clearing the phone itself if I made a mistake. That doesn't look easy with no sighted help around. I suppose it depends on the phone, but what phone would be the most talkative for me. Quite honestly, I have this computer; all I want the phone for is texting, making calls, and taking calls. any suggestions appreciated.

## Post 2 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 03-Jun-2015 15:10:10

iPhones easy. You can handle it.
No sighted help required.

## Post 3 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 04-Jun-2015 9:09:57

Thanks. Saw a tech from AT and T not able to turn a new phone off; he really had to look around to get it turned off. No button on the phone for that.

## Post 4 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 04-Jun-2015 15:18:58

I explained to you about that, so you're good to go. Smile.
Let me know what you decide.
I avocate for iPhone, but will tell you, you have a choice.
The Galaxy S6 works nicely as well, but I like iPghone better.
I like the voice, and such.
But, I'll be fair.

## Post 5 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 05-Jun-2015 9:02:10

Ahh! real! you beat me to it. I myself am also an iphone user but The S6 is a nice phone and Samsung has shamed Google rather nicely. The things google should be doing they've done and have made it a much more accessible phone. The jestures make more sense and it seems like more is accessible. I believe even triple click home works. So, be sure to look at both, android deserves a look.

## Post 6 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 05-Jun-2015 12:10:55

It's really a nice item.
I've not spent any major time with it, but it looks good.

## Post 7 by rat (star trek rules!) on Friday, 05-Jun-2015 13:26:49

I now own a Galaxy s6, and it really is an easy phone to pick up and use. Samsung did a great job with adapting some of the google elements to make them more useable.

## Post 8 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 06-Jun-2015 18:51:26

If all you want is texting, taking and making calls, don't get a smart phone. Why
waste a few hundred dollars on a phone capable of so much, when you're only
going to use a tiny little fraction of those capabilities. Its like buying a jet to go
to the supermarket.

## Post 9 by starfly (99956) on Saturday, 06-Jun-2015 21:45:28

Lastly, I am a long time android user, currently own the nexus6 and not $. Both devices are great but fore a new user I would say samsung all the way. Note 4 is a great phone as well. It two has the direct access or IOS language "tripple click home". Talkback has killed off there circle menus after listening to a few servays put out via the eyes-free devs. Lstly, someone would say my post is byest and you would be correct. Lastly just because set person wants to text now maybe later they would see how a smart phone would benifit them in the long run. Oh, people are leaving out another core component in regards to touch wiz "samsungn" devices, the ability to answer a phone call via the home button. Another core part of android not touch wiz related the ability to end a call via the power button.

## Post 10 by wrm2012 (Zone BBS Addict) on Sunday, 14-Jun-2015 7:52:51

My Iphone ends calls with the power button, if it is not on speaker phone. I'll admit the Iphone can be a real pain to answer calls at times though. What are some accessible non smart phones?

## Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 14-Jun-2015 11:51:14

Phones are generally going smart now.
Maybe the companies should drop that term soon.
Samsung and LG make a couple, but they are still pretty smart, because a sighted person can assess the internet.
It is my opinion a blind person does better with one of the better phones, IE S6 or iPhone, due to the accessibility factors not only for regular task, but for trouble shooting, and setup.
You're not going to really save a ton of money, because both of these models can be had easy, and with good monthly price plans.

## Post 12 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 15-Jun-2015 15:15:10

Does the Galaxy S6 run a voice program similar to Voice over, or will I need to download an app for that. Also, does anyone use an accessible phone with the Straight Talk program? I'm looking into going with a cheaper carrier than Verizon. I just reduced my data plan, so maybe that'll help my bill along with my discount at work.

## Post 13 by rat (star trek rules!) on Monday, 15-Jun-2015 16:32:51

The S6 has what's called galaxy talkback installed by default which works a lot like voiceover does.

## Post 14 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 15-Jun-2015 19:40:00

You can get iPhone or S6 on Straight Talk I believe.
Might cost you.
I understand Cricket is now offering payment plans, just like all the big providers too.

## Post 15 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 15-Jun-2015 19:41:51

Also, if you are use to Verizon, you may not exactly like the service of the cheaper company's.
I'd use the 14 day to see if I did.

## Post 16 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 17-Jun-2015 1:16:02

MVNO's can be hit or miss, it also depends on where you live.
if you honestly know you will not use the phone for anything else ever, stear clear of the smart ones and go with a basic Samsung convoy.

## Post 17 by starfly (99956) on Sunday, 02-Aug-2015 1:11:09

I'll toss the note 4 in here as well for a phone to look at. What people are dancing around here is the new features found in google's talkback. Yes Galaxy TalkBack is sorta like Voiceover but if you want to talor the jesters to your liking "game over" your screwed. This is not true with Google's TalkBack, have a look at it when possible. Its gone a lot of changes sense some have tried. Circle menus can be killed off in replacement for standard android menus. Dim screen is now present in Google TalkBack and Its Keyboard support has been improved. There is a lot google has done with its talkback that is not being said here. Oh, for a footnote: I have local and Global context menus set for swipe up and swipe down. Just with one finger. For those who do not know "Global context menu is where read from top, read from next, talkback settings and a few other features can be found. Local Context menu is used for edting, reading and if the dev has add links list into set app you will find a links list in the local context menus.

## Post 18 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 29-Dec-2015 20:03:55

Are there any tqctile screen protectors for galaxy phones? has anyone eve used an older
version of the galaxy, s4 or 5.

## Post 19 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 29-Dec-2015 20:04:21

Are there any tqctile screen protectors for galaxy phones? has anyone eve used an older
version of the galaxy, s4 or 5.

## Post 20 by starfly (99956) on Thursday, 31-Dec-2015 21:05:31

no dot based screen protecters do to the nature of android. My advice, stay away from S4 and S5, both have been chopped from the android update train. The S 6 devices have not and note 4 and 5 are getting android 6.0.

## Post 21 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Friday, 01-Jan-2016 15:09:46

I currently have the iphone 5c. my contract ends in a few weeks.I want a new phone but
can't spend $650 for the new iphone. Should i stay with the 5c or switch to the s6? I'm
worried about uture software updates and 5c. I wonder if they won't kill my battery life.
Any advice?

## Post 22 by rat (star trek rules!) on Friday, 01-Jan-2016 16:29:52

you don't have to pay full retail for a phone, unless you are one of those providers you need to buy the phone out right.

## Post 23 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 01-Jan-2016 23:59:39

Most providers now are asking us to buy our phones.
They all offer payment plans.
Upgrading to the newest device is always best as to operating system updates.
If your phones working for you, keep it. You don't have to get a new phone because your contracts up.
Also updating on iDevices is a gamble as they get older.

## Post 24 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 02-Jan-2016 12:50:54

I do hope we keep some kind of feature phones on the market, for those who
can't afford the smart phone. All the extremely low-end smartphones running
Android don't have accessibility.
Starfly, remember that Be a is a senior citizen. I read your posts imagining what
my mother or mother-in-law would do with that information.
My mother-in-law, for instance, does use an iPhone but doesn't use any apps.
The population as a whole is aging, and it's really high time we in technology
fields understand this, especially on an "elder folk" board where someone is
clear about their demographic and their desire for a phone. Ideology / fandom
kills, man. Think of the humans. In this case, the elder humans.

## Post 25 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 02-Jan-2016 16:37:59

Companies are still keeping basic phones.
Not only older people, but even my daughter didn't really want an iPhone for a while.
What moved her was the ability to do her Facebook.
She didn't like touchscreens. I don't think she really cares for them now, and she's sighted.

## Post 26 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Sunday, 03-Jan-2016 23:44:23

Oh, my Wife was a very late adopter of touch screens.
Many business people who were using Blackberry devices in the mid 2000s are
still cranky about touch screens slowing down their productivity. lol

## Post 27 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 13-Jan-2016 19:28:07

what is wrong with my post, I simply stated to stay away from the galaxy s5 and s4. Both are chopped from the updating train of android. This is not IOS, where your going to get updates regardless of what IPhone you have. Keep in mind, once a phone has lost its flagship status updates are held up until the last minute. So when buying a android device stay current on what phones are out there.

## Post 28 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 14-Jan-2016 8:14:08

I strongly agree. Android users need to stick with brands that are supportive of the blind, such as Samsung, or Google's line.
Stay as updated on your model as you can, about each 24 months for best results.