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Buying my first smart phone tomorrow (GS3) where do I start?

C

Camelot023

Newbie
I've been using a LG Rumor Touch for the past 3 years and am happy with the phone but it is time to get a smart phone. I have never had an android device or any other smart phone. I plan on buying the S3 tomorrow. What should I do first?

Is it like buying a new computer where you can go through and remove all the bloatwear? Are there any default settings that everyone just turns off right away?

I'm sure I will be posting tons of questions in the future. I have read through some threads already, which is part of the reason I went with the S3. Sounds like a great phone.

Any advise is welcome.
Thanks:)
 
Camelot023 said:
I've been using a LG Rumor Touch for the past 3 years and am happy with the phone but it is time to get a smart phone. I have never had an android device or any other smart phone. I plan on buying the S3 tomorrow. What should I do first?

Is it like buying a new computer where you can go through and remove all the bloatwear? Are there any default settings that everyone just turns off right away?

I'm sure I will be posting tons of questions in the future. I have read through some threads already, which is part of the reason I went with the S3. Sounds like a great phone.

Any advise is welcome.
Thanks:)
Click to expand...

you need to root it to remove bloatware

i would use youtube and search things like samsung galaxy s3 tips and tricks

that helped me learn a lot coming from a iphone to the galaxy
 
First thing I'd do is get all the adware crap off the home screens. Just hold your finger down on them and drag them to the trash can at the bottom of each screen. I like to start with a clean slate and then add the apps and widgets that I want to each screen.
 
Musky said:
First thing I'd do is get all the adware crap off the home screens. Just hold your finger down on them and drag them to the trash can at the bottom of each screen. I like to start with a clean slate and then add the apps and widgets that I want to each screen.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a good starting point. If I can restrain myself I would like to try and learn the "phone" and all of its basic functions before I start adding apps and widgets or whatever else there is.
 
First do some research and get an idea of how Android works. Look up how basic functions work - phone, camera, texting, menus & settings, etc. Then you can decide how you want to use your phone and read into what apps would be best for what it is you want to do.
Once you have the phone, play with it and get a feel for it. I agree with Musky about clearing the screens - it makes exploring the phone easier and less overwhelming. Poke around menus and what not.
As for bloatware, you can't remove it without rooting the phone. I've never been bothered enough by it to actually do this. There are other benefits to rooting, but like I said, I've never done it so I'm not one to ask about it. It allows you to have a lot more control over your phone, apparently. But if you're happy with the phone as is, or have no interest in fiddling around with the inner workings, you may as well not root. The biggest downside is that it voids the warranty.
(Note that there are a few pre-installed apps that can be removed, depending on your carrier. My Verizon phones have always come with pre-installed games and I've always gotten rid of those right off the bat.)

After you explore the phone a bit and get a few apps, start looking into features that are exclusive to the SGS3. There are a lot of good ones and also a lot of things that are pure form over function. There are a lot of tips and tricks guides for this phone and you will learn a lot.

The best thing to do is just fiddle around with it a lot! Good luck. :)
 
If you visit Droid-Life, they have tips almost daily for beginners to Android. You will have to page back a few days to find them.

It is intimidating at first, but give yourself some time and it will be second nature before too long.

I would NOT root right away. There will be plenty to do and learn without worrying about that for quite awhile. I've been on Android since '09 and still haven't rooted a single phone (4 of them).

As always, this forum is a great resource for any questions you may have.
 
First thing I did with the S3 is remove the bloatware by means of "disabling" it. Technically it's not removed, but it will never run, and it'll remove any existence of the app elsewhere on the phone. No rooting required which is why I did it.

I used this list from XDA (very much trusted) to decide what apps I wanted to disable to ensure it was safe for me to do so.

I wasn't new to Smartphones, but new to Android. It's the one downside of Android in my opinion. iOS is so clean and simple, but Android allows for so much more when you put some time in.

Edit: To disable go to Settings > Application Manager > All (top tab) > Choose app and hit disable. You can't do it to every app, but most.
 
Choose your carrier wisely. Don't fall into Sprint 's unlimited trap, unless you live in the (one of twenty) areas their LTE actually works.

I made that mistake and probably won't have LTE on my S3 before a new phone comes out or my contract ends and I can jump ship.

Paying a little extra a month for being able to use the phones full potential will totally be worth it.

If you live in the States, Verizon or AT&T will be your best bets.
 
I dont have lte yet on sprint and get by just fine. I'll take slow and unlimited over fast, limited, and falling into verizons share everything plan.

Now THATS a trap...
 
Enjoy the S3...I have one and although I'm rooted, it is an amazing phone without rooting. Play with everything stock first. Then when something you want to do didn't happen, find an app to fix it. That's the best way to deal with android.

Have fun with your S3
 
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