IPhone: The Missing Manual

I received the iPhone as a Christmas gift from my wife. Her comment was that i had to learn it, so I could teach her how to use it. I'm still on step 1 of that process. I'm very comfortable with entry from a keyboard and using devices in the Microsoft world. I didn't know anything at all about Apple, except that my grandchildren all have iPods and are eager to show me all of the things they can do with them.I knew I needed help, and in a format i could handle - a good, old-fashioned book! Ir has worked for me. The title is correct - I had no idea what could be done with an iPhone, and am still learning more every day. The book is a clear, simple and direct way to learn this new device. It walks you through the device, explaining how to access information and use what is supplied. I'm a little amazed at all of the stuff that comes "standard" on the device.I worked my way through the book, picking topics I wanted to learn about. I skipped the part about texting - i've only texted once in my life. However, when we were visiting relatives in North Carolina, we had a link with directions to a family party texted to the iPhone. (So now I've texted TWICE in my lifetime!)We used the maps function on our trip and found out the hard way that you need to have the device plugged into a power source for a long trip. Going back, we did better. At home,we were able to have a FaceTime conversation with our infant granddaughter. I'm still learning how to us Siri - but it works well when I have to call my wife while driving.I certainly recommend this book to everyone. For Apple people, you'll learn more about linking your other Apple devices and using them together. For non-Apple people, you'll get step-by-step directions with no jargon.This is a "Win-win" purchase for anyone.I'm continuing to learn and find myself coming back again and again.(You've probably figured out that I am an "old guy".) I wear hearing aids and in the next couple of years I expect to upgrade them to a Bluetooth version. In the meantime, I've ordered a Bluetooth headset and mike I can wear in the car so I can talk with both hands on the wheel.Old Scholar

This is my very first iPhone (5S) so I needed plenty of help to teach me how to navigate through it. Happy to say The Missing Manual is my perfect choice. I had tried two different authors including the Dummy one, from my local library and they left me confused more than help me. Next, I went through all the Amazon reviews and I liked what people thought of this one. To me it was worth trying it since I really needed to have something to teach me the ropes of a beginner. After a couple of months I was confident enough and able to manage Apps, mail and photos as well as texting. Now I feel like all the material in simple language in this book is really doing the trick. It has opened a new world for me considering I am in my senior years. If you need to learn from the beginning this is the book for you.

The iPhone has so many options, settings, apps etc. that it is quite dizzying. This manual helps a great deal. However, like the iPhone itself, you have to get into the same thinking mode as its author. I find I can only learn one or two things at a time and prefer to learn them when I find a real need for them, so I can repeat the process several times to memorize it. So, for example, I found I needed to learn how to delete messages from spammers. The index at the back of the book was almost incomprehensible, at least in the kindle version; I had to wade through sections in the body of the work before I found the simple answer. Of course, without the manual or a call to Apple I would still be collecting unwanted messages.

I bought this specifically because of favorable comments relating to its benefit to the first-time smartphone user - not just someone upgrading from previous model. I had watched U-Tube videos, Apple discussions and other help sources but found the language seemed to assume some prior smartphone and/or Apple knowledge. Some of the Help didn't start at the beginning for me.If you're a complete smartphone/iphone beginner I believe you'll find this a smart purchase.And if you are from the land of books you'll find it so nice to prop the book open and view while holding your phone. Trying to watch videos while holding the phone and practicing!?!? Forgeddabout it .... anymore.Only suggestion I have is to make it in form that lies flat, possibly 3-6 ring style.iPhone 4S user. I did not want to pay for texting so I love the free iMssg feature available between iPhone users. In the Contact List I make sure to add tell #'s as an iPhone and not just Cell or Mobile and that way I can iMssg them in lieu of text.