PREFACE:
To preface ALL of what I'm about to say, I admit that I am NOT a "hi-techie" person... so if I'm explaining way too much here, it's my layperson's way of attempting to make sure that I give as much valuable information as possible, in order to try to receive the best/most accurate information I need in return). I DO apologize for my lengthiness! ;-)
SUMMARY:
I am legally blind and a couple years ago I researched (as best I could) which "smart" phone would be the most accommodating to my disability. I ended up purchasing a used, unlocked AT&T, Samsung Galaxy S4 phone, upon which I use the cell company Straight Talk with.
Over all, the phone worked pretty well. It was sometimes a little glitchy (for example, the unlock swipe motion sometimes set off a virtual fireworks display of flickering light across the screen for a few moments. I would usually just turn it off and then on again, clearing it up), but it suited my needs for the most part.
I believe that when I received the phone in the mail, it came with either Jelly Bean 4.2 or 4.3, or one of the Kitkat versions... (I wish I had known/thought to look at the time!!!)
Anyway, my system forced me to do yet ANOTHER upgrade last week to Lollipop 5.0.1, and this is by FAR the WORST upgrade yet!!!
I have SO MUCH trouble now seeing almost everything on it!!!! A lot of the icons got smaller and most of my menus, etc are now blue writing on white background which is like the HARDEST contrast for my eyes! I could go on and on with how many things just SUCK on my phone now, but I will spare you the rest of my ********!
I will say that the "Negative Contrast" option for visually impaired people is a f-ing JOKE! I wonder who, exactly, this "handy" little feature is helping...?
QUERY:
1) How do I go BACK to one of those earlier OS versions for my S4, which worked much better for my personal accessibility, and 2) how do I BLOCK any further updates/upgrades from getting into/onto my phone (whether they be Samsung updates OR AT&T updates)???
*I barely use any apps/widgets on my phone regularly... Here is a list of what I will want back on my phone, which worked pretty well for me before (and hopefully should work again, once I'm back to my original set-up... right?):
-clock
-alarm clock
-weather
-calender
-calculator
-call
-text
-contacts
-Galaxy (or "Galax-Siri" as I call her), with a more human-sounding voice again
-internet browser (where I can download all the online apps I've used/will use again)
CONCLUSION:
I've been reading a bit online, but I don't really understand what terms like "flash" and "root/ed" mean...?
Is there anyone <who has taken the time to read all this> who can help me... PLEASE?!?!
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCCCHHHHH, to whomever is willing to take on the challenge of helping a poor sap like me, and who'll aid me on my quest for knowledge!!!!!!! ;-D
To preface ALL of what I'm about to say, I admit that I am NOT a "hi-techie" person... so if I'm explaining way too much here, it's my layperson's way of attempting to make sure that I give as much valuable information as possible, in order to try to receive the best/most accurate information I need in return). I DO apologize for my lengthiness! ;-)
SUMMARY:
I am legally blind and a couple years ago I researched (as best I could) which "smart" phone would be the most accommodating to my disability. I ended up purchasing a used, unlocked AT&T, Samsung Galaxy S4 phone, upon which I use the cell company Straight Talk with.
Over all, the phone worked pretty well. It was sometimes a little glitchy (for example, the unlock swipe motion sometimes set off a virtual fireworks display of flickering light across the screen for a few moments. I would usually just turn it off and then on again, clearing it up), but it suited my needs for the most part.
I believe that when I received the phone in the mail, it came with either Jelly Bean 4.2 or 4.3, or one of the Kitkat versions... (I wish I had known/thought to look at the time!!!)
Anyway, my system forced me to do yet ANOTHER upgrade last week to Lollipop 5.0.1, and this is by FAR the WORST upgrade yet!!!
I have SO MUCH trouble now seeing almost everything on it!!!! A lot of the icons got smaller and most of my menus, etc are now blue writing on white background which is like the HARDEST contrast for my eyes! I could go on and on with how many things just SUCK on my phone now, but I will spare you the rest of my ********!
I will say that the "Negative Contrast" option for visually impaired people is a f-ing JOKE! I wonder who, exactly, this "handy" little feature is helping...?
QUERY:
1) How do I go BACK to one of those earlier OS versions for my S4, which worked much better for my personal accessibility, and 2) how do I BLOCK any further updates/upgrades from getting into/onto my phone (whether they be Samsung updates OR AT&T updates)???
*I barely use any apps/widgets on my phone regularly... Here is a list of what I will want back on my phone, which worked pretty well for me before (and hopefully should work again, once I'm back to my original set-up... right?):
-clock
-alarm clock
-weather
-calender
-calculator
-call
-text
-contacts
-Galaxy (or "Galax-Siri" as I call her), with a more human-sounding voice again
-internet browser (where I can download all the online apps I've used/will use again)
CONCLUSION:
I've been reading a bit online, but I don't really understand what terms like "flash" and "root/ed" mean...?
Is there anyone <who has taken the time to read all this> who can help me... PLEASE?!?!
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCCCHHHHH, to whomever is willing to take on the challenge of helping a poor sap like me, and who'll aid me on my quest for knowledge!!!!!!! ;-D
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