New User - Questions

[GarryJones611]

I had an Iphone 2009-2011. Then a Samsung Galaxy S3.

Now I have moved on to a Sony Xperia Z1 which I have had for two weeks

I have a few newbie questions about this phone.

In Contacts - Groups I can create "local groups". But when I then tap the contact I can not add to the Local Groups I have created. They are all empty. I can add to the other groups that are listed but not the Local Groups - How do I do this?

I have turned off all spelling suggestions as I want to type for myself without any help. However in the Google App that was pre-installed on the phone by Sony it gives me spelling suggestions anyway whilst I am typing. How do I turn this off?

When I use that Google search box it takes me to a popup (about one start out of five) trying to get me to sign up for Google Plus which I don't want. How can I tell this pre-installed App to "stop bugging me".

When typing emails and texts I find I keep hitting the fullstop instead of a space bar. I did not do this ever on the Samsung or Iphone so i would like a bigger space bar. Is there a keyboard skin that can do this?

One of the things I most disliked about the Iphone was that someone had decided that if I wanted to enter numbers that I want to revert to letters if I space the numbers out. This was not the case on the Samsung. I see that Sony have copied Apple and I wonder if I can turn this off. What I mean is if I want to enter the following in an email or text message,

21 56 24 284 384 284 5 3 1

Every time I tap the space bar after turning on numbers it reverts to the letter keyboard. As I type fast and have grown used to the Samsung I have often already tapped the next few keys expecting numbers to be there but find I have now typed leters which I have to backspace delete to continue with my number series. Is there a "num-lock" on the Sony Xperia Z1?

One of the things I disliked about the Samsung was there was no "undo" (ctrl+z). On the Iphone you just shook it and it came up "Undo Typing" and you got back the unsaved text you had just deleted in error. How do I use "undo" on the Sony?

The camera is good but I can't find a setting to use the Flash. I don't want "torch" but a "Flash On" so that the camera uses the Flash for effect even it does not think it needs it.

Another issue. I often go away for long periods where there is no electric. With the iphone I could not change the battery. On the Samsung it was easy to take the back off and I could take four spare fully charged batteries with me on my trips. I have tried to take the back off the Sony Xperia Z1 but it wont come off. The "3" salesman told me it does come off but I am begining to wonder. Was he mistaken or can I rip the back off by holding or pressing in certain places?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me. 

Garry Jones
UK, just now in Sweden

[ron_xperia_z1]

Select Fill flash if you want to take pics with flash everytime in any condition.
As for batteries, I'd suggest powerbanks, so as not to void warranties nor compromise water and dust proof capabilities.

[Rickard]

Hi and welcome to the community! Since you're new please be sure that you have checked out our Discussion guidelines.

What contacts you can add to a group depends on where the contacts are saved. Only local phone contacts can be added to a local group. If you for example have your contacts on Google you need to create groups under the Google account instead and add them there.

When you use Google search you get search suggestions from Google as you type. It's not the phone giving these suggestions.

I haven't tried turning off Google+ myself but the app can be disabled from Settings -> Apps -> All -> Google+ -> Disable.

For another layout of the keyboard and regarding going back to letters when you tap space you could try installing another keyboard. I think Swiftkey stays on numbers even when you press space.

I'm now aware of any general undo app but there might be 3:rd party apps for it.

As ron_xperia_z1 says, the phone does not have a removable battery and you should not try to remove the back cover.