iPhone For Seniors For Dummies. Dwight Spivey

taking and sharing your photos and videos (Chapters 19 and 20, respectively), tracking your health (Chapter 24), and much more!

Icons Used in This Book

      Icons are tiny pictures in the margin of pages that call your attention to special advice or information, such as:

      

These brief pieces of advice help you to take a skill further or provide alternate ways of getting things done.

      

Heads up! This may be difficult or expensive to undo.

      

This is information that's so useful, it's worth keeping in your head, not just on your bookshelf.

      

Maybe this isn't essential information, 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, 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 whenever you need it. The steps in every task quickly get you to where you want to go, without a lot of technical explanation.

      At the time I wrote this book, all the information it contained 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, and 12 Pro Max along with version 14 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 other software on your computer mentioned in this book looks a little different, be sure to check out what Apple has to say at www.apple.com/iphone. You’ll no doubt find updates there on the company’s latest releases.

Part 1

      Getting to Know Your iPhone

IN THIS PART …

      Meeting your new iPhone

      Navigating iPhone’s interface

      Customizing your settings

      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 14

      

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 to have a smartphone that offers much more than the ability to make and receive calls. Perhaps you’re not new to smartphones but are ready to make the switch to the ultimate in such devices. iPhone also offers lots of fun apps, such as games and exercise trackers; allows you to explore the online world; lets you read e-books, magazines, and other periodicals; allows you to take and organize photos and videos; plays music and 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 an absolutely 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 from providers. 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 14

      Apple’s iPhone gets its features from a combination of hardware and its software operating system (called iOS, which is short for iPhone operating system). The most current version of the operating system is iOS 14. It’s helpful to understand which new features the latest models and iOS 14 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 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max. Like their predecessors, they are highly advanced smartphones that leave competitors in the dust. Here are some of the key features of the latest iPhone models:

       An A14 Bionic chip: Each of the four new iPhone models includes the new A14 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 are the first to support 5G. 5G is the latest — and by far, the fastest — cellular wireless technology. 5G promises to expand the connectivity of not just our smartphones, but just about any device that supports the technology, including computers, cars, smart home devices, and so much more. 5G has the potential to change global communication, providing ridiculously fast and reliable connectivity.

       Splash, water, and dust resistance: Your new iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max is resistant to damage caused by water splashing onto it or from dust collecting within it. You might consider acquiring AppleCare+, which is Apple’s extended warranty, currently priced at $149 for iPhone 12 and 12 mini, or $199 for iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. AppleCare+ does cover up to two incidents of accidental damage, which could more than cover the cost of repairing your iPhone without it. You can also get AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage for $50 more for iPhone 12 and 12 mini, and $70 more for 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.Now, you don’t want to take your iPhone 12 model deep-sea diving, but it’s likely to survive submersion in about six meters of water for up to 30 minutes. Mind you, these numbers have been tested in labs and aren't based on real-world conditions. In other words, if your iPhone