Using your smart tablet

Smartphones are used to make phone calls and send text messages but they can also be used for accessing the internet and check your emails, search the internet and much more.

You can use your fingers to control the touch screen of your phone or you can also use a pencil like device called a stylus which makes it easier to use.  You may also see the word 'App' a lot. This is short for the word application. It is a shortcut that allows you to go directly to the programme or website you wish to access. It is represented by a picture or symbol. You will see lots of apps on your phone.

Please be aware that different brands of smartphones will have slightly different symbols and keys.

A smartphone comes with a number of pre‐installed apps which allow you to do different things on the phone. In order to access these you will need to tap on the app you want to use. For example to set an alarm you look for the clock app and tap on it.  Alternatively, to take a picture look for the camera app, tap on it, the camera will appear and there will be a circular button on screen for you to tap to take a picture.

There will be too many apps to fit on just one screen, so you will need to scroll across to the next page of apps to see all of the apps on the phone. Don’t forget you can press the home button at any time to get back to the home screen.

You can view a guide to using your Samsung Galaxy Tab A here.

A quick guide

Using Apps

Apps (applications) are shortcuts that allow you to get straight into the website you are looking for. Lots of different organisations and companies have their own apps

In order to download an App you need to search for it in the Play Store. You need to log into the Play Store with your Gmail address, if you do not have a Gmail address you need to create one.

There are hundreds of different Apps, some you need to pay for, but the majority of the most popular ones are for free.

Using WiFi

Wi‐Fi or wireless internet allows you to access the internet without using your mobile data. If you have broadband at home you can also connect your smartphone to this  internet signal. 

Check that the Wi‐Fi option is turned on then select the Wi‐Fi network you want to connect to and enter the password. If the word connected appears under the network name then you are connected to the Wi‐Fi.

For some of the Wi‐Fi networks you will need a password. At home your wireless network name (SSID) is normally the name of your internet provider followed by some numbers for example: eircom409781. Once you click on the wireless network name you may be asked to enter a password. The name of the wireless network and password is written underneath your router (the black internet box) and is the password is normally called: WEP Key or Wireless Key.

For Wi‐Fi public places like libraries, hotels and cafés some may require a password and some may not. 

Using Email

You can send and receive email directly to your smartphone.   If you have Hotmail, or another email service you can tap on the email app and follow the instructions on screen. 

If you have a Gmail account you can use go to the App Store and download the Gmail app on your phone.  

When the app is opened you will see the inbox on the left hand side. Click on inbox to open your emails. You can read an email simply by tapping on the email.

You can reply to the email by tapping reply, some phones may have a reply symbol instead. Once you tap reply the keyboard will appear on screen. To write a new email tap on the word compose or the envelope symbol with the + sign. You will need to type the email address in the to: bar and the email in the main body of the email, tap send.