Does the iPhone 6Plus Have A Mind Of Its Own?

Since my last post, I have re-installed from factory default, and added apps slowly after a day or two wait. I haven't installed most apps, just those I use on a regular basis. I have continued to have similar problems, and am beginning to believe my own body heat may be causing me problems. In other words, I have noticed a few situations when, by merely brushing the side of the phone with my hand, not even touching the keyboard, music has been launched, I have been booted out of apps, which I guess constitutes a crash, or the phone has locked even as I have been working in an app. This latest started when, on the advice of the Apple Accessibility representative, I set Screen Lock to "Never". The rep believes I need to ahve someone work with me on VoiceOver. Though I never had problems before, perhaps someone who knows VO well can help determine whether my finger pressure or movements, or just nearness of my hand to the screen, may be causing these problems. I truly wonder if the fact the 6Plus is so much thinner means I need to adjust my hand pressure. Just Sunday I lingered a bit too long on the keyboard while trying to enter an item in my bank app, and an unwanted selection was triggered, forcing me to go back and repeat a series of strokes. I think I'll ask Apple reps if they have any further ideas; but if I am given yet another phone I'll try to make the very best of it. Unless anyone has any other ideas, I will keep the Thursday afternoon appointment, and see what, if anything, I can accomplish.

The subject pretty much says it all. I had not been backing up the phone, on the possibility that the backups on both my computer and iCloud were corrupted. Now that I think we can safely say the backups weren't at fault, I'm wondering if I should restore the data. Unfortunately, I do have files and notes I can replace with effort, but would like to get them back from the backups if at all possible.

Is it possible to restore a phone with a backup not made on it? I have the 4, which isn't being used for data storage at the moment. I'm interested in the notes and memos contained in the backups, not the format of the data. I'd be willing to listen to the recorded notes and memos, or read the text from the restored older phone if this would work even temporarily.

I have often wondered if there is any way to capture individual files from an iPhone, most especially audio recordings I may want to transfer to another computer. Now is as good a time as any to ask that question alongside the backup issue.

I admit I haven't gone to standard typing. That seems piteously slow to me, so I have avoided it. I never had to do it with the 4S.

In the meantime, however, I went to the Apple Store and got yet another phone, after they detected and fixed a problem with the camera.

Unfortunately, this area has few blind people, so I was referred to a technician who had little idea of accessibility. However, the lady I've been working with at Apple Accessibility, though she has tried her hardest, hasn't had much luck helping me.

I probably should have asked them to return the repaired phone to me. I forgot that the default screen lock was one minute, so when it happened I told the rep. I said I'd change the timeout time and try the phone again, but she said she'd rather give me another. I didn't know about the camera problems, so don't know, nor have I checked, to see if this current one is affected.

I have also tried slowing my typing, though this is difficult and doesn't seem to have brought much relief.

A couple of months have passed; and I have talked with Mehgap, who suggested I try practice mode. I could see no problem, nor did a sighted friend see any difficulty.

At the recent California Council Of The Blind convention I showed my phone to Louie Hererra, Chair of the CCB Technology Committee. He made some changes, including returning the lock to the five-minute setting, and a few other settings I don't recall.

It has been two weeks since I showed the phone to Louie. I have to say that nothing much has happened.

The phone still locks unexpectedly. The two fingerprints worked for about a week, but now the right index finger has failed me almost totally, and the left thumb has failed, though not as poften. It works about 99% of the time, but I've almost given up on the right index finger

Music doesn't launch as often as it did, but it still happens. Try as I may, I still register the occasional keystroke when I'm merely bumping the phone with the side of my hand.

I have hesitated to install yet another glass screen protector or dots, after losing two glass protectors.

I have not installed some of my apps, and have become weary of restoring the phone. I'm even weary of backing up, because I never know if a restore from a backup might cause more problems.

Unfortunately, I'm becoming more convinced that the problem is in my finger technique itself. After four phones, I can't help think it's my pressure on this thin phone.

I have also been wondering if the upgrade to IOS9, which I have dreaded because of my ongoing problems and publicly reported issues, might be good because of haptic touch. I dreaded that; but could it be that I could control my hand and finger movements in this way?

Having said all this, I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to have a serious consultation with Apple to see if, especially if I upgrade and find continuing problems, I should try to negotiate some type of trade to one of the newer phones. My phone was purchased unlocked from Apple, so there is no contract to buy out.

I've even thought of selling this phone to one of these resale companies or someone sighted, but Apple have been very helpful, and I'm still under the original warranty, or so I think. If not, I did purchase Apple Care.

I've heard from Allison Hartley on a Tech Doctor podcast that the newer 6Plus is heavier and the sides are stronger. Maybe this is what I need; and of course haptic touch would be part of the package.

I'd appreciate any thoughts. This is getting a bit old, and I will either have to tolerate what's going on, which I've been trying to do, or make a change.

thanks again to all for listening to this ongoing saga, and thanks in advance for any thoughts.