My new mobile phone, yikes. help!

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I hope you'll all forgive me for starting a new thread here, rather than posting in an existing one, but I thought more people might notice it this way and offer advice. Bearing in mind I've never owned or even used a "smart" phone before.

Today was going to be a day gardening but it's rained and drizzled non stop from about an hour after I got up this morning so that plan bit the dust - No plan survives contact with the enemy etc! So then, as Mrs J was going to spend the day out up town, I decided to make a start on one of my old lawnmower projects. However I got involved with some very interesting conversations here on the forum and, before I knew it, Mrs J had returned looking very wet and bedraggled, having visited only one of the shops she intended, and it was time to make some lunch for us both while she dried out. I very briefly then looked into the workshop, dragged my workmate out and perched the mower on it. But it's quite cold and damp and dingy and I just thought, "stuff this, wonder if there's a decent film on the TV" closed the door and went back in. Problem is though, now Mrs J has control of the remote and it's Wimbledon all the way, which is not really my cup of tea.

So I found myself sitting on the sofa and the letter box flap makes it's unique jangly sound. Hoping it's not another bill I thought? but no, it's an Amazon package. That's weird, we've not ordered anything? It turns out it's phone case for my new, as yet still in it's box, Google Pixel8 phone. Then the phone rings and it's my daughter. "have you had a wee package yet Dad?" Well, I've been meaning to order a Spigen tough armor case for it, as recommended by Steven in Newcastle, but just hadn't got round to it yet. This is a Spigen case but it's a "Thin Fit", so not quite so robust, but for free? Oh thank you very much. I just took the new phone out of it's box and the case fits perfectly and hides all the pink case colour (bought the pink one because I have no shame and it was half price, slightly less than half price actually, and I love a bargain!

Well, now I'm sitting here and thinking:

I've got the phone. It was bought sim free. It's now looking great in it's matt black and much more tactile case - the phone itself seems super slippy, like it's made of smooth glass, and slips through my very dry old skin much too easily.

The sim came a couple of days ago - Lebara cheap offer.
I've not yet done the request for a PAC code though.

About time I "woke" the new phone up isn't it? Trouble is I'm literally terrified I do something wrong during the awakening process and scupper the whole thing!

The sim seems to be all in one piece but I have to press out the size that fits the phone. Can I crack it or damage it in some other way when I try to do this? Actually putting it in the phone looks simple enough. You release the tray with the wee pin like tool that came with the phone - Lebara also provided one with the sim - put the sim, right way round, in the tray and push it back in.

Should the sim be in the phone first time I switch it on or do you do that after first start up?

I'm pretty sure Mrs J's iphone charger, a generic ugreen charger, will also charge the pixel so I probably should charge it before I try to do anything. Do I just plug the charger in and switch it on at the wall, or do I need to turn the phone on, or maybe do something else? bearing in mind this phone is straight out the box and never been switched on.

Do I need to do the PAC request before I turn the new phone on. Is the new phone going to ask for the PAC code as it "wakes up"

I'm guessing when I do actually press the "on" button on the side of the phone it's going to guide me through a basic "wake up"? Is there anything I need to be prepared for? can I do anything which will scupper the whole thing?

My old phone is a very very "dumb" phone and there's little I want to save from it except about half a dozen phone numbers which could be easily done manually. Maybe that makes things easier as the two phones don't really have to talk to each other?

I've never done this before, I think it's going to lead me by the nose but I just don't know. I'm feeling very nervous that I may do somegthing which either ruins it or backs me into a situation I don't have the knowledge to get out of.

Any and all advice and guidance much appreciated. thank you folks
Jock

 

[StevenRB45]

In terms of waking the phone up the PAC code is unimportant. Your new SIM will have the number it was created with your PAC code needs to be given to your new provider (Lebara??) so they can transfer your old number to it. But the phone literally does not care...you can set it up without a SIM at all.

Charging it, just plug it in, it'll come with a USB cable but you may need a 3 pin block to add onto the end. If Mrs J has the latest iPhone believe the EU forced them into a standard USB-C which will charge either phone. If it powers on you can start it, though don't leave it unplugged during set up as you'd not want it powering down while updating.

You'll be using the smallest SIM size so it's very hard to break the card as it's 90% chip. It's more of an issue on the bigger sizes where you might accidentally break it out too small.

Number transfer...in theory you can send Bluetooth contact cards between phones (even very old ones) as android still supports this. But I think rather than explaining this it's probably easier to type them in if it's only a few to do. Probably the less stressful option, it's actually a 10 second thing but you need to know where to go and look on both phones.

Believe all you'll need is your Gmail password and email address. It will suggest some apps at the start...maybe install all of them you can uninstall things you don't use later by pressing and holding on them and then sliding it to uninstall.

You'll not break it...and it's very easy to factory reset as well (literally open settings type in factory reset, press factory reset, and press ok).

The only thing I would absolutely recommend is not turning on gesture control, that way you get a home, back and program button permanently at the bottom of the screen. Which makes things easier to understand....and as starter it's easier to get your head around. You get back arrow, home circle and programs square which if pressed shows open programs you can pick from or close.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

In terms of waking the phone up the PAC code is unimportant. Your new SIM will have the number it was created with your PAC code needs to be given to your new provider (Lebara??) so they can transfer your old number to it. But the phone literally does not care...you can set it up without a SIM at all.

Charging it, just plug it in, it'll come with a USB cable but you may need a 3 pin block to add onto the end. If Mrs J has the latest iPhone believe the EU forced them into a standard USB-C which will charge either phone. If it powers on you can start it, though don't leave it unplugged during set up as you'd not want it powering down while updating.

You'll be using the smallest SIM size so it's very hard to break the card as it's 90% chip. It's more of an issue on the bigger sizes where you might accidentally break it out too small.

Number transfer...in theory you can send Bluetooth contact cards between phones (even very old ones) as android still supports this. But I think rather than explaining this it's probably easier to type them in if it's only a few to do. Probably the less stressful option, it's actually a 10 second thing but you need to know where to go and look on both phones.

Believe all you'll need is your Gmail password and email address. It will suggest some apps at the start...maybe install all of them you can uninstall things you don't use later by pressing and holding on them and then sliding it to uninstall.

You'll not break it...and it's very easy to factory reset as well (literally open settings type in factory reset, press factory reset, and press ok).

The only thing I would absolutely recommend is not turning on gesture control, that way you get a home, back and program button permanently at the bottom of the screen. Which makes things easier to understand....and as starter it's easier to get your head around. You get back arrow, home circle and programs square which if pressed shows open programs you can pick from or close.

Thanks Steven. I should just give it a go and see how it pans out.

 

[StevenRB45]

Re. The PAC code it seems you need to turn the phone on and register it on the network under it's starting number then inform Lebara.

Oh and don't forget to have you WiFi password to hand...

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Re. The PAC code it seems you need to turn the phone on and register it on the network under it's starting number then inform Lebara.

View attachment 469700

Oh and don't forget to have you WiFi password to hand...

Thanks again. Some of that I understand but some of it I don't. Don't know what activating the sim involves. or does it do it automatically when I pop it into the phone?

Ah, that's better. I've just been on the Lebara website and found a lot of "stuff" about this at the bottom of the page. I think I'll get there in the end. Probably wouldn't have got there without you pointing the way though - thanks again

 

[StevenRB45]

SIM will self activate on being inserted into the phone and the phone powered on yeah.

 

[The Panda Nut]

You cant do anything wrong. We did get a faulty SIM from Lebara recently it just wouldnt play ball, but a new one was sent without question. Follow the instructions and all will fall into place. As with most computers you need to be unlucky to muck anything up.. worst case is you have to start again loading things.

 

[StevenRB45]

The suspense is currently killing me..

 

[The Panda Nut]

Clearly it was an AI phone and it got him. The stories (probably false) of ai getting self protective suggest if it didnt like incompetence it could have done for him!!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Clearly it was an AI phone and it got him. The stories (probably false) of ai getting self protective suggest if it didnt like incompetence it could have done for him!!

Ah ha, Im glad to see you are still alive. This proves you are smarter than a smart phone too.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The suspense is currently killing me..

Clearly it was an AI phone and it got him. The stories (probably false) of ai getting self protective suggest if it didnt like incompetence it could have done for him!!

Sorry guys. I pinched Mrs J's phone charger mid morning yesterday intending to plug it in so the phone wouldn't pack in while I was string it up for the first time. Just as I plugged it in daughter in law and the kids came in the front door - The kids are due at the dentist in 20 minutes so they leave the car here and walk up to the dentist which is in a yellow lined no parking zone (why they don't go to a dentist where they live but choose to still use our local dentist, which means a 3/4 hour journey either way for them, I have no idea! Also they live quite rurally so parking really isn't a problem) Anyway, 12 year old granddaughter saw I'd plugged the phone into the charger lead but hadn't yet plugged the charger into the wall socket. Hey Grandad, are you going to start up your new phone? let me do it, go on, let me do it! so she plugged it in and turned on the plug. Nothing happened. You've not switched the phone on yet she said, took the phone from me and held in the button on the side. A few seconds later the blank screen came alive with Google displayed on it and then it defaulted to a screen inviting me to "get started" but wouldn't do anything displaying instead that it was below a 20% charge so needed to charge up first. So I put it aside on the charger and they went off to the dentist. Half an hour later they were back so, as it was lunchtime we gave them lunch - ham sandwiches and a mini ice cream on a stick - bugger, I was gong to have that ham for my lunch! Then daughter in law and Mrs J got to chatting so I played with the kids. They stayed into the mid afternoon - kids are on holiday up here now.

When they left we made a cup of tea and I booted up the laptop and found the video about first start with the phone, got my passwords for google etc ready, picked up the phone and, as I was actually pressing the button on the side to wake it up, the landline rang. It's my sister ringing from the US. There's another problem with my brother's estate involving bailiffs chasing a large utility bill and my youngest brother's (also, unfortunately, deceased but some years ago) wife is trying to make the solicitor pay it from the wrong account, can I help? Took a good hour and considerably emotional expenditure, but I think I've got a resolution. Bailiffs are not great to deal with! By now it's knocking on time for evening meal - confusingly we call it "tea" up here - and I just wasn't feeling up to dealing with the "great unknown" so I unplugged the new phone and put it back in it's box.

Today's another day though and I'm sitting here thinking "I need more compost for the tubs so I can plant the geraniums out" and, I have to say, the idea of a visit to the garden centre is much more appealing than the prospect of sitting fiddling with the phone!

Don't worry though - more on this later maybe just not today?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Well, I weeded the front kerbside in the hope it would calm me right down. The council hasn't been round with the weedkilling machine yet this year and I'm worried I won't be able to see the tigers in the undergrowth. It worked. Took me best part of an hour with my hoe, brush and bucket and it's looking very trim!

Thought about nipping up for the compost and realised I was just looking for excuses to put off powering up the phone. So went back in, made a cup of tea and got down to it. Watched the video first and it all looked quite sensible stuff so started up the phone itself by pressing the side button and got the "get started" screen. touched the "get started" icon - a new experience for me, don't do touch on my laptop. and went through a couple of setup screens including getting it to talk with the router. Then it wanted me to sign into Google and that's where it all unravelled. I got as far as entering my google password but the next screen wants to create (I think) two stage verification and wanted me to input the phone number. What number though? the new one that came with the sim (which is still in it's envelope) my old mobile number and if so are they going to ring me so should I get my old phone out and switch it on? or is something else going to happen. I don't know what I'm doing now, so I've switched it off and put it back in it's box. I'll just have to wait

------------- Break in transmission because Mrs J came back with the food shopping and I'm needed to carry the bags from the car - Becky of course - to the kitchen and then help with putting stuff away.

Anyway, I'm back now. So was thinking about this while unloading the shopping and if it wants a number then my old "dumb" mobile number would be the most logical because I'm going to shift it to the new phone eventually. I was also wondering if I should have put the new sim in before starting this whole process - the video didn't say anything about it, but maybe it was assuming the sim would have already been installed? The covering letter with the sim also tells me the new number of the sim, do they mean I should use that one? Oh dear lord, I feel so stupid.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Sorry guys. I pinched Mrs J's phone charger mid morning yesterday intending to plug it in so the phone wouldn't pack in while I was string it up for the first time. Just as I plugged it in daughter in law and the kids came in the front door - The kids are due at the dentist in 20 minutes so they leave the car here and walk up to the dentist which is in a yellow lined no parking zone (why they don't go to a dentist where they live but choose to still use our local dentist, which means a 3/4 hour journey either way for them, I have no idea! Also they live quite rurally so parking really isn't a problem) Anyway, 12 year old granddaughter saw I'd plugged the phone into the charger lead but hadn't yet plugged the charger into the wall socket. Hey Grandad, are you going to start up your new phone? let me do it, go on, let me do it! so she plugged it in and turned on the plug. Nothing happened. You've not switched the phone on yet she said, took the phone from me and held in the button on the side. A few seconds later the blank screen came alive with Google displayed on it and then it defaulted to a screen inviting me to "get started" but wouldn't do anything displaying instead that it was below a 20% charge so needed to charge up first. So I put it aside on the charger and they went off to the dentist. Half an hour later they were back so, as it was lunchtime we gave them lunch - ham sandwiches and a mini ice cream on a stick - bugger, I was gong to have that ham for my lunch! Then daughter in law and Mrs J got to chatting so I played with the kids. They stayed into the mid afternoon - kids are on holiday up here now.

When they left we made a cup of tea and I booted up the laptop and found the video about first start with the phone, got my passwords for google etc ready, picked up the phone and, as I was actually pressing the button on the side to wake it up, the landline rang. It's my sister ringing from the US. There's another problem with my brother's estate involving bailiffs chasing a large utility bill and my youngest brother's (also, unfortunately, deceased but some years ago) wife is trying to make the solicitor pay it from the wrong account, can I help? Took a good hour and considerably emotional expenditure, but I think I've got a resolution. Bailiffs are not great to deal with! By now it's knocking on time for evening meal - confusingly we call it "tea" up here - and I just wasn't feeling up to dealing with the "great unknown" so I unplugged the new phone and put it back in it's box.

Today's another day though and I'm sitting here thinking "I need more compost for the tubs so I can plant the geraniums out" and, I have to say, the idea of a visit to the garden centre is much more appealing than the prospect of sitting fiddling with the phone!

Don't worry though - more on this later maybe just not today?

Stop dithering man. Its just a phone. Your grandaughter would have it all running by now. Its easy. I know this becuase Im on my 3rd one and my daughter has set them all up so I know its easy.

 

[JAMLAX]

Jock
This two part question that needs an answer ...and the twelve-year-old will have the answers...!!
Is the pac code firstly to be sorted out before responding to the request for your phone number?
Is there some way to 'move/transfer' your 'old' phone number to your new phone?

I'm chipping in on the basis that if I have got the wrong end of things with such questions (no such thing as a stupid question - right ) then most likely I'll have provoked someone 'in the know' to spring into action soon enough!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Normally you request a PAC code from your provider. They then send this and you or they pass it to the new provider who allocates it to your phone on their network. The transferred number just takes over with no further action needed on your part and any existing sim telephone number ceases.

 

[StevenRB45]

Phone won't care if you turned it on without a SIM.

By all means put the SIM in before turning it on again. If it's not there it'll only work on your WiFi until you insert the SIM.

Until you enter register the new one with Lebara by turning it on, then send the PAC code and pass the arranged transfer date your old phone will have your old number, your new phone will have your new number.

After the transfer the old sim will stop working and the number will be transferred to your new one.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Wow Historic moment everyone! First message sent from my new phone!

There's lots for me still to get to grips with, but at least I'm finding the keyboard not too hard to use. I thought it might be hard because it's so small.

Going to do more exploring now and learn how to use the camera.

 

[StevenRB45]

Wow Historic moment everyone! First message sent from my new phone!

There's lots for me still to get to grips with, but at least I'm finding the keyboard not too hard to use. I thought it might be hard because it's so small.

Going to do more exploring now and learn how to use the camera.

Top tip jock if you need a bigger keyboard, turn it 90 degrees..

Also easiest way to get the camera, quick press the power button twice.

Edit @Pugglt Auld Jock just realised set the two factor authentication to your old phone number. A text with a code will arrive on it when you log in.

Once you've transferred the number that text will arrive on your new phone from now on if you set it to the new number you'll need to change it once it's out of existence.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

quick press the camera button works fine.

turning the camera on it's side - landscape - does nothing, The screen stays in portrait so picture is on it's side.

I used the old phone's number at login and will be getting on with doing the PAC thing tomorrow. I've got a message saying my two part authentication has changed (or some message like that) Just hoping I haven't done something which is going to lock me out some time in the future.

I'm back on my laptop now as I can't use the phone so confidently yet - I like it's convenience though so will persevere.

 

[StevenRB45]

turning the camera on it's side - landscape - does nothing, The screen stays in portrait so picture is on it's side.

If you sweep your thumb up from the bottom of the home screen you should get something like this... obviously I've got quite a bit installed.

On the search bar at the top type in Auto.

If auto rotate is not enabled press to enable it, it might be the app you're in is locked in portrait as some are.