Samsung Galaxy S21 For Dummies

Bill Hughes

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781119814375
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Informatica
• Subtopic: Hardware

Feeling hamstrung by your new Samsung?Figure out how to navigate your new phone in no time

YourSamsung Galaxycomespacked with featuresyou'll use every day, and Samsung Galaxy S21 For Dummies is your guide toexploringthem.What do you want to do first?Sendatextor email? Take photos and videos? Make a basic call?Play games? Shop?This handy guide can help you do all that and so much more.

• Get an overview of the buttons, screens, andapps that are essential to operating your new phone
• Manage your contacts so you can stayconnected withcalls, emails, or texts
• Surf the webandfind newgames andapps in the Google Play Store
• Customize your phone withringtones, wallpaper, and awesome accessories
• Watchvideos and movies, shootyour own videos, andtakephotos
• Boost your productivity withcalendar, GPS, andproductivity apps
• Secureyour Samsung Galaxywith your face ID, thumbprint, and Screen Lock

Not only does Samsung Galaxy S21 For Dummies describe features and walk you through steps to useyour new phone, italsoshows youwhat the screens look like and where to tapto make things happen. It's like having a Samsung expert at your elbow.So pick up your copy today tomake the most ofyourSamsungsmartphone.

Part 1

Getting Started with the Samsung Galaxy S21

IN THIS PART …

Review the capabilities of cellphones and what sets smartphones apart.

Turn off your phone and manage sleep mode.

Chapter 1

Exploring What You Can Do with Your Phone

IN THIS CHAPTER

Reviewing the basic capabilities of just about any mobile phone

Understanding what sets smartphones apart

Mapping out what makes Samsung Galaxy S21 phones so cool

Getting you prepared to enjoy your phone

Whether you want just the basics from a mobile phone (make and take phone calls, customize your ringtone, take some pictures, maybe use a Bluetooth headset) or you want your phone to be always by your side (a tool for multiple uses throughout your day), you can make that happen. In this chapter, I outline all the things your Samsung Galaxy S21 can do — from the basics to what makes Galaxy S21 phones different from the rest.

Discovering the Basics of Your Phone

All mobile phones on the market today include basic functions, and even some entry-level phones are a little more sophisticated. Of course, Samsung includes all basic functions on the Galaxy S21 model. In addition to making and taking calls (see Chapter 3) and sending and receiving texts (see Chapter 4), the Galaxy S21 sports the following basic features:

• 64MP digital camera: This resolution is for the S21 and S21+. The S21 Ultra has a mind-boggling 108MP. The mere 64MP is far more than is needed for posting good-quality images on the Internet. It is about right for making 24-x-36 posters that are photo quality. There is also a front-facing camera with 10MP that is useful for videoconference calls and selfies along with some combination of specialty lenses, depending upon the model. Your phone has some amazing capabilities (see Chapter 9 for more information on cameras and photographs and Chapter 10 on videos).
• Ringtones: You can replace the standard ringtone with custom ringtones that you download to your phone. You also can specify different rings for different numbers.
• Bluetooth: The Galaxy S21 phone supports stereo and standard Bluetooth devices. (See Chapter 3 for more on Bluetooth.)
• High-resolution screen: The Galaxy S21 and the S21+ have screen resolutions of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels. The S21 Ultra offers the highest-resolution touchscreen on the market (3,200 x 1,440 pixels).
• Capacitive touchscreen: The Galaxy S21 phone offers a very slick touchscreen that’s sensitive enough to allow you to interact with the screen accurately, but not so sensitive that it’s hard to manage. In addition, it has an optional setting that adjusts the sensitivity for special circumstances, like when you want to use one hand or add a screen protector!

Taking Your Phone to the Next Level: The Smartphone Features

In addition to the basic capabilities of any entry-level phone, the Galaxy S21, which is based on the popular Android platform for mobile devices, has capabilities associated with other smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone:

• Internet access: Access websites through a web browser on your phone.
• Wireless email: Send and receive email from your phone.
• Multimedia: Play music and videos on your phone.
• Contact Manager: The Galaxy S21 lets you take shortcuts that save you from having to enter someone’s ten-digit number each time you want to call or text a friend. In fact, the Contact Manager can track all the numbers that an individual might have, store an email address and photo for the person, and synchronize with the program you use for managing contacts on both your personal and work PCs!
• Digital camcorder: The Galaxy S21 comes with a built-in digital camcorder that records live video at a resolution that you can set, including 4K/UHD (ultra-high definition, which is the resolution that is available on the newest televisions). If you want to future-proof your videos, you can even select 8K for when you obtain a TV that operates at this resolution.
• Mapping and directions: The Galaxy S21 uses GPS (Global Positioning System) along with other complementary positioning systems to tell you where you are, find local services that you need, and give you directions to where you want to go.
• Fitness information: The Galaxy S21 automatically tracks important health information within the phone and with external sensors.
• Business applications: The Galaxy S21 can keep you productive while you’re away from the office.

I go into each of these capabilities in greater detail in the following sections.

Internet access

Until a few years ago, the only way to access the Internet when you were away from a desk was with a laptop. Smartphones are a great alternative to laptops because they’re small, convenient, and ready to launch their web browsers right away. Even more important, when you have a smartphone, you can access the Internet wherever you are — whether Wi-Fi is available or not.

The drawback to smartphones, however, is that their screen size is smaller than that of even the most basic laptop. On the Galaxy S21 phone, you can use the standard version of a website if you want. You can pinch and stretch your way to get the information you want. (See Chapter 2 for more information on pinching and stretching. For more information on accessing the Internet from your Galaxy S21 phone, turn to Chapter 7.)

To make things a bit easier, most popular websites offer an easier-to-use app that you can download and install on your phone. This is discussed in detail in Chapter 8. Essentially, the website reformats the information from the site so that it’s easier to read and navigate in the mobile environment. Figure 1-1 compares a regular website with the app version of that website.

FIGURE 1-1: A website and the app version of the main site.

Photos

The image application on your phone helps you use the digital camera on your Galaxy S21 phone to its full potential. It would almost make sense to call the Samsung Galaxy S21 a smart camera with a built-in phone! There are all kinds of smarts in these applications that automatically figure out what you’re trying to do and make it so that you’re suddenly the next Ansel Adams.

Studies have found that cellphone users tend to snap a bunch of pictures within the first month of phone usage. After that, the photos sit on the phone (instead of being downloaded to a computer), and the picture-taking rate drops dramatically.

The Galaxy S21 image management application is different. You can integrate your camera images into your home photo library, as well as photo-sharing sites such as Google Photos and Instagram, with minimal effort.

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