Smart phone aggravation. Please help. Technophobe alert.

[MrEzraGoldberg]

I'm having to change to a new phone as my current windows one is almost obsolete. I've loved it and it's been easy to use. Chose a Galaxy S7 as it had good reviews and people I know seem to like it. So today I started to use it. I'm annoyed and stressed already. When I started up the phone (a few weeks ago actually but didn't put SIM in until today) it seemed to insist I logged in with my Google account. I didn't want to but didn't seem to have a choice and I was so stressed (new technology!) that I just did what seemed necessary to start up the phone.

My last phone wasn't linked with any of my accounts, and I don't particularly want this one to be either. Don't ask me why, I just don't like having everything linked up like it now seems to be.

I can't seem to work out how to message people via Whatsapp either. Every time I try I get a prompt asking me to allow the phone to access god knows what - I hate this! It feels so invasive. How do I just message someone on Whatsapp by entering their phone number??

Also - I fucking hate this phone already. Can anyone recommend a smartphone that doesn't require you to log in with your bra size, hair length and date of last fucking eye test.

Please be kind - I'm a technophobe and I know it. I realise everything is linked now, everyone is on facebonk, instabollocks and christ knows what else but it's even come up with my full name on the profile! I don't my full fucking name of my profile! Just my first name! It's got this from my sodding Google account that I felt I had to log in with!!

It's going through the fucking window soon.

Return it and get an iPhone. I've never had an android phone but it sounds like much more work than an iPhone.

Thanks, appreciate your reply. Don't want an ipone though did look into it. I though androids were straightforward! In fact, I'm sure some are.

Factory reset your phone, create a new Google account with minimal details, sign into phone with that. Google how to set up WhatsApp, not sure what's happening, it is v simple so long as the person you want to message has WhatsApp too. You might have to manually add your contacts.

Hello there! Firstly, you have an excellent phone in the S7. They are fab.I had one a couple of years ago before upgrading.

Your phone runs on the Android platform, created by Google, so it needs you to sign in to your Google account to be able to sync contacts, use Google Play to download apps, etc. An iPhone would also require you to sign in with your Apple ID to activate your phone, it's not just 'Droids that do this. Its standard fare for a smartphone.

Unfortunately, if you want to use apps, you have to play the game and create accounts/sign in. If you dont want to do this, a basic, non-smart phone may be more up your street. Some of these may be to your liking.

Thanks, keeoe - what you say makes sense, of course. Guess it's something I'm just going to have to suck up. A friend sent some photos via Whatsapp last night and I couldn't view them unless I gave whatsapp access to all my images, media and god knows what. I mean, just SEE the pics. It just seems so intrusive. Hey ho.

MeVersionThree - I may try that later...

I don't think you can have a smartphone without either a google account (Android) or the Apple equivalent.

When using Whatsapp, it's simply wanting to access your contact list, so you can just decide to message 'Bob' rather than to remember and type in Bob's number. Almost no-one would want to do it like that.

Your contacts are all stored in one place, to allow you to contact Bob or any other contact via Whatsapp, text or even call and speak to him.

Another advantage of a Google account with your apps is that it remembers all your settings and passwords, without you having to remember much at all.