Android Granny Mode

A lot of us got into Android handsets about 2 years ago. (Android became the best selling mobile phone platform in Q4 2010) For those of us on a 2 year contract that means it is almost time to upgrade. There are some great new handsets out there, but what to do with a 2 year old phone? 

You can't sell it online - you won't get much for it.

Your friends don't want it - they all have the iPhone 4S already.

Your wife doesn't want your hand-me-downs, she wants a new phone.

Can't give it to your parents or grandparents, it's way too complex for them; they wouldn't be able to use it.

Or would they?

A few problems to solve:

Keys too small.

Font too small.

Too complex.

Can't be easily used in an emergency.

Keys too small

Check out: Big Buttons for $2.77 on the app market.

Install this and you will make the best possible use of the screen space. Nice big keys and predictive text.

Font too Small

On most handsets you can manually change the font size to 'large'. Use this application and you will be able to change it to 'ridiculously large'.

Use this function with caution - if the font is too large it will mess up some functions, some buttons and boxes will only display the top half of the text.

Too Complex & Can't be easily used in an emergency

For $1.39, download Big Launcher.

This application replaces the interface that you usually use with an extremely simple interface with just six buttons: Call, text, camera, photos, SOS and 'more'.

Each button takes you either straight to a simplified version of that function, or to the usual application.

The 'more' button will take you to a second customisable screen where you can choose five applications that the user will need on a regular basis. The sixth button on that screen will take you to the applications drawer - so everything is still accessible, just nicely hidden away from the user to avoid confusion.

But what does that SOS button do?

It starts a customisable timer. Unless cancelled, the SOS function will count down to zero and then send a custom SOS text message to a number of your choice, and make a call to a number of your choice.

So don't leave your smart phone in the drawer collecting dust while granny uses a cranky old Nokia.

For $4.16 set your old phone to granny-mode. (Save $144.84 compared to purchasing the 'Dorro' phone.)