iPhone For Seniors For Dummies covers going online using either a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, browsing the web (Chapter 12), and checking email (Chapter 13). I also assume that you’ll want to use the Apple Books e-reader app, so I cover its features in Chapter 17. I tackle all kinds of neat things you can do with your iPhone, such as monitoring the use of your iPhone and its apps (Chapter 5), discovering new apps (Chapter 14), taking and sharing photos and videos (Chapters 19 and 20, respectively), and tracking your health (Chapter 24)!
Icons Used in This Book
Icons are tiny pictures in the margin that call your attention to special advice or information.
This brief piece of advice helps you take a skill further or provides an alternate way to do something.
Heads up! This is something that might wreak havoc on your iPhone or that could be difficult or expensive to undo.
This information is so useful, it's worth keeping in your head — not just on your bookshelf.
This information isn't essential, but it's neat to know.
Beyond the Book
There's even more iPhone information on www.dummies.com
. This book’s cheat sheet offers tips on using Siri and suggests all kinds of apps that you can use to make the most of your iPhone. To get to the cheat sheet, go to www.dummies.com
, and then type iPhone For Seniors For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the search box.
Where to Go from Here
You can work through this book from beginning to end or simply open a chapter to solve a problem or acquire a specific new skill. The steps in each task quickly get you where you want to go, without a lot of technical explanation.
When I wrote this book, all the information was accurate for the iPhone SE (1st and 2nd generations), 6s and 6s Plus, 7 and 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus, X (the Roman numeral for ten), XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max, along with version 15 of iOS (the operating system used by the iPhone).
Apple is likely to introduce new iPhone models and versions of iOS between book editions. If you’ve bought a new iPhone and found that its hardware, user interface, or iPhone-related software on your computer (such as iTunes or Music) looks a little different than what is presented here, check out what Apple has to say at www.apple.com/iphone
and www.apple.com/ios
. You’ll find updates on those sites regarding the company’s latest releases.
Part 1
Getting to Know Your iPhone
IN THIS PART …
Meeting your new iPhone
Navigating your iPhone
Discovering installed apps
Activating special features
Monitoring how your iPhone is being used
Chapter 1
Buying Your iPhone
IN THIS CHAPTER
Discover what’s new in iPhones and iOS 15
Choose the right iPhone for you and find where to buy it
Understand what you need to use your iPhone
Explore what’s in the box
Take a look at the gadget
You’ve read about it. You’ve seen the lines at Apple Stores on the day a new version of the iPhone is released. You’re so intrigued that you’ve decided to get your own iPhone so you can have a smartphone that can do much more than make and receive calls. Perhaps you’re not new to smartphones but are ready to make the switch to the ultimate in such devices. With your iPhone, you can have fun with apps such as games and exercise trackers; explore the online world; read e-books, magazines, and other periodicals; take and organize photos and videos; listen to music and watch movies; and a lot more.
Trust me: You’ve made a good decision, because the iPhone redefines the mobile phone experience in an exciting way. It’s also a perfect fit for seniors.
In this chapter, you learn about the advantages of the iPhone, as well as where to buy this little gem and associated data plans. After you have one in your hands, I help you explore what’s in the box and get an overview of the little buttons and slots you’ll encounter — luckily, the iPhone has very few of them.
Discover the Newest iPhones and iOS 15
Apple’s iPhone gets its features from a combination of hardware and its software operating system, which is called iOS (short for iPhone operating system). The most current version of the operating system is iOS 15. It’s helpful to understand which new features the latest models and iOS 15 bring to the table (all of which are covered in more detail in this book).
Apple’s latest additions to the iPhone family are the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. Like their predecessors, they're highly advanced smartphones that leave competitors in the dust. Here are some of the key features of the latest iPhone models:
An A15 Bionic chip: Each of the four new iPhone models includes the new A15 chip. The truly innovative tech in these models demands a processor that can handle some heavy lifting while still being able to answer calls and retrieve email.
5G: The latest iPhones support 5G, which is the latest — and by far the fastest — cellular wireless technology. 5G promises to expand the connectivity of not only our smartphones but just about any