I Joined a Cult - or - Adventures in Telecommunications

What my new iPhone 7 was supposed to be like.

In reality . . . not so much.

So, last Friday (3/31) my Samsung phone continued some ominous behavior. The battery wasn't lasting even 4 hours now, and worse yet it was heating up to where I could feel it in my pocket. Since I had to leave Monday on an out of town trip, I did the sensible thing. I got rid of it. I was overdue for a new phone anyhow. That's my story. I like new tech.

I researched and was torn between a Samsung 8 and an iPhone 7. I was used to Samsung, but I'm a bit leery of the exploding batteries fiasco and the fact my old Samsung heated up so alarmingly. Plus I had several friends offering me cookies to come to the Apple cult . . . err, iPhone side.

I do like cookies.

So here I am, with a shiny new iPhone 7. Drop proof case and screen protector? Check. Holster so I can wear it and not fish around for it? Check. Gmail and Duolingo downloaded? Check, check. I even downloaded the United and Super Shuttle apps for my trip. Ready to fly.

But— how do I turn it to silent? Finally found the little switch hiding under part of the case. How do I delete text messages? Emails? Finally figured that out after archiving emails I meant to delete. How do I get it to lock the home screen so I have to enter a password to open it? I added fingerprints, does that override the lock screen? How do I get it to quit waking up every time I pick it up? Where do you get ringtones? (Other than the lame riffs that come with the phone.)

Downloaded Instagram, where it promptly told me my password was wrong. Even though I knew it was right. So I created a new account. Then 5 days later figured out how to switch accounts. And now my password works. So you can find me on Instagram under constancegbrewer or constanceabrewer now. I have lots of middle names. It's an Italian thing.

So, people, hit me with your best apps, or features that I need to know about and are currently hiding on my phone. I have Twitter and Facebook, a German-English dictionary, a tip calculator, and that's about it. Are there any good photo apps? I love the camera on this thing, so far.  My crappy Instagram photos should improve immensely. Anything that sucks the battery down that I should disable?

Help a newbie fall in love, what can't I live without?