How can I dumb down my Android smartphone so its just a phone?

[ghostman]

I have a galaxy s3 that will go to my parents. It's way too complicated for them. Even the easy mode has too many options, but that's my best option so far. They just want the phone component. No email, no web browser, no text messaging. At most, an address book, but they will never add entries to it. They still write down all their phone numbers. Are there any apps that do this?

I already have a dumb phone, but oddly enough, due to how the phone plans work out, their plan has 10gb 4g data. And I can turn their phone into a hotspot when I visit.

 

[golem]

I have a galaxy s3 that will go to my parents. It's way too complicated for them. Even the easy mode has too many options, but that's my best option so far. They just want the phone component. No email, no web browser, no text messaging. At most, an address book, but they will never add entries to it. They still write down all their phone numbers. Are there any apps that do this?

I already have a dumb phone, but oddly enough, due to how the phone plans work out, their plan has 10gb 4g data. And I can turn their phone into a hotspot when I visit.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/simplified-smartphone-opt_b_6791776.html

I put fontrillo on my dads phone and it seems to work well.

 

[zerogear]

Why not just get a $15 dumbphone from BestBuy or something and be done?

 

[Red Storm]

Why not just get a $15 dumbphone from BestBuy or something and be done?

This. If your parents just want a phone, then just give them a phone. Don't be that guy who pushes technology down their throats and tries to make it be something it isn't. A dump phone is cheap, durable, lasts a heck of a lot longer on a single charge, all of which are better for your described scenario.

 

[core2slow]

Hide all the icons...except for phone and messaging. There are countless of apps out there to let you do that.

 

[ghostman]

This. If your parents just want a phone, then just give them a phone. Don't be that guy who pushes technology down their throats and tries to make it be something it isn't. A dump phone is cheap, durable, lasts a heck of a lot longer on a single charge, all of which are better for your described scenario.

I agree and I'm the last person to try to force them to use a smartphone. They don't even care for a mobile phone at all, but due to a T-mobile promo, it turned out to be a better value to get one extra line on the family plan. Rather than let it go to waste, I'd like family members to be able to utilize its data plan via mobile hotspot while simultaneously giving my parents an extra phone line. A dumb phone will accomplish the extra phone line part, but not the mobile hot spot component of the plan.

 

[weeber]

It's possible, I got my mom to successfully use a windows smartphone.

The contract cards for people she calls the most are on the home screen. I use pictures of the persons face too if possible. To call, all she has to do is tap on the picture.

On a secondary screen, install a good weather widget. I like AccuWeather or weather underground.

I also recommend a widget that gives a preview of their email. My mom doesn't email from her phone, but she uses it to check when emails come in and goes to a computer to respond.

Main thing is to take the time to explain the basics: how to check notifications, how to check texts, pair with Bluetooth vehicles they may have and show how it works. Don't forget to explain voice recognition, my dad does all his calling on Android by voice dialing. Get them into the mindset that if they're not sure about something, just tap on the screen and see what happens, if they get lost there's always the home key. My folks have taken to it pretty well, now I wish they would stop texting me.

 

[Dannar26]

Time to get a jitterbug.


https://m.jitterbugdirect.com

 

[notposting]

I think my dad has a smartphone now. All on his own. My mom took the old Nook (Color? HD?) that I gave her and put a mSD card with Android on it. Then she bought a Samsung tablet, and she's running a Lumia 928 I set her up with on a no-data GoPhone plan. She's remarkably tech savvy for an old goat.



Just tell them to suck it up, and call you if they have any problems. If they can figure out how. /rimshot