Keyboard Tips
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Phone Watch for Me?
Dear Ms. Smartphone: I have never worn a phone watch, and am old enough to remember when Dick Tracy, the comic strip detective did have one. I see lots of folks my age wearing these watches and I am wondering if there are useful things to do with them or it just for style? My…
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Dear Smartphone and Readers…
“To Wish You a Happy New Decade…” First there were Car Phones. Big bulky boxes carried in the trunk of a car for making an occasional call from the side of the road. Mobile phones with antennas succeeded them and gave rise to Phablets and Blackberries. During the past decade, many of us replaced our…
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Last Minute Shoppers & Phone
There are more people on phones this now…and less people in stores.
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Phones, Fire, and Landlines
Dear Smartphone interrupts this column to provide an announcement from the Emergency Preparedness System…. In Northern California, many households keep two phones: there is the regular cell-phone, and then a separate landline for emergencies. The landline is expected to be the backup when cell towers go down. It is the lifeline to receive an call…
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Flashlight, App & Halloween
Should we carry a flashlight when the smartphone can light things up for us? Sometimes a redundant ‘Yes.’
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Older Phones Work
Dear Ms. Smartphone: In the last post, you and the reader (Zack) seemed to yearn for the newest, latest phone. I have the opposite case. My husband has had the same phone for four years. He refuses to upgrade when I get a new one, even though the store is offering me a 2 for…
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Need New Phone.. Really?
My current smartphone works…why do I feel ‘pain to attain’ a new one?!
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Safe Walk to School or Phone?
Mom worries about using phones and earbuds when kids walk to school.
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A Contest or a Con?
It’s ironical that we are using our phones to read about a contest that challenges us to give up our phones. If you win, it sounds like you can use a flip-phone during the one year hiatus, so you will not be in total abstinence. Here’s the “why” we are running this contest from Vitaminwater.…
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Dear Smartphone: Family Plan Matter
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: YOU HAD A POST ABOUT ALL THE NEW PHONES ON THE MARKET THIS FALL AND WHETHER WE NEED ONE. MY PROBLEM IS A BIT DIFFERENT: I HAVE PICKED OUT A PARTICULAR PHONE TO GET, BUT MY WIFE AND EXTENDED FAMILY USE A PHONE WITH A DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEM. THEY ARE TRYING TO…
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Dear Smartphone: Tab Browsing
DEAR SMARTPHONE: I LIKED YOUR RESPONSE ABOUT WHY OLDER PEOPLE BLAME KIDS WHEN THEY FORGET TO TURN ON THE RINGER. I HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION. WHY DO OLDER PEOPLE RESIST USING TABS WHEN THEY DO A SEARCH? WHY DO THEY INSIST ON CLOSING ONE TAB AND THEN OPENING ANOTHER? Wilco, Mill Valley Dear Wilco: Perhaps…
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Dear Smartphone: Dead Ringer For Cell Phone Senior
DEAR MS SMARTPHONE: MY MOTHER INSISTS THAT NO ONE CALLS HER ANYMORE. I DO CALL HER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SHE HAS THE RINGER TURNED OFF OR THE MUTE BUTTON TURNED ON. I DON’T LIVE THAT CLOSE BY, SO IT’S HARD TO CHANGE THESE SETTINGS ON HER PHONE. C.K., …
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Dear Smartphone: Is Map Skill Overkill?
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: MY SISTER AND I DISAGREE ON THIS ISSUE. WE WERE BOTH TAUGHT TO READ MAPS WHEN WE TOOK A FAMILY CAR TRIP. MY SISTER SAYS TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND WE CAN RELY ON THE MAPS ON OUR PHONES. I THINK THAT MAP READING SKILLS ARE VALUABLE AND SCHOOLS SHOULD CONTINUE TO TEACH…
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Dear Smartphone: Rideshare Rusty Wazes?
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: YOU MENTIONED A FEW WEEKS BACK THAT YOU WOULD FOLLOW UP ON USING SMARTPHONES TO GET TO WORK… WHAT GIVES? Rusty, Palo Alto Dear Rusty: Glad that you keep me on my toes, and I elevated your earlier post (see below). Totally get that you want to use pooled rideshare, but it…
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Dear Smartphone: Emergency + Smartphones
DEAR READERS: WE INTERRUPT OUR USUAL FORMAT TO BRING YOU THIS EMERGENCY MESSAGE! Last week the Federal Government did an Emergency Test sending a push notification to the nation’s cell phones. The message was the butt of jokes, but at the core is a recognition of how our communication systems have changed. If you can’t…
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Dear Smartphone: Should Voice Command?
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT USING THE VOICE COMMANDS ON THE SMARTPHONE(LIKE SIRI)INSTEAD OF THE KEYBOARD? I HAVE A FRIEND WHO USES THE VOICE COMMANDS ALL THE TIME AND I FIND THIS UNUSUAL. Fran, Albany Dear Fran: This is one of those questions that deserves an up or down vote from fellow readers.…
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Dear Smartphone: Needing Newest
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: THERE ARE LOTS OF NEW PHONES COMING OUT THIS FALL AND I REALLY WANT TO GET ONE. BUT MY FAMILY SAYS THAT I DON”T NEED ONE AND I AM JUST SHOWING OFF. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Jeff, San Jose Dear Jeff: I concur-This season brings a lot of phone upgrades. In marketing…
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Dear Smartphone: Older People Do Rideshare?
DEAR MS SMARTPHONE: I AM POSTING FOR MY GRANDMA, ROSAE. SHE IS 81 AND QUITE HEALTHY. SHE LIVES ALONE IN A BIG SUBURB WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I TELL HER THAT SHE NEEDS TO GET A NEW PHONE AND USE RIDESHARE TO TRAVEL AROUND. SHE IS RESISTANT TO THE IDEA.…
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Dear Smartphone: Phone is Confusing
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: I DON’T GET THOSE LITTLE SQUIGGLY ICONS ON THE TOP OF THE PHONE SCREEN. I AM TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK WHAT THOSE IMAGES ARE SUPPOSED TO MEAN. Rory, Fontana Dear Rory: You should not feel shy or embarrassed. What you describe is more common than you think. For example, what is a…
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Dear Smartphone: Travel Apps
DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH PHONES- APPLE OR ANDROID- ARE BETTER FOR USERS WHO WANT TO USE TRANSIT APPS? Nick, Omaha NE. Dear Nick: It is the policy of Dear Ms. Smartphone to not endorse particular brands or recommend operating systems. Whichever phone you pick, the key is to become knowledgeable and informed…
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Dear Smartphone: Older People Phone
DEAR MS SMARTPHONE: MY GRANDPARENTS COMPLAIN THAT I DON’T PHONE THEM ENOUGH. I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH. BUT IT IS HARD FOR ME TO PICK UP THE PHONE TO CALL. Dan, San Diego. Dear Dan: You are describing a generational difference. You probably use chat and text more. But, you said you love them. Show…