There's more to a smartphone than you think: Beneath the simple, user-friendly interface are all kinds of hidden features and shortcuts that you can use to do more with the mobile phone of your choice.
It's okay, though - maybe your friends won't be
impressed if you don't blow up your phone.
But these are all handy tips you can use to get the
most out of your phone, and maybe raise an eyebrow or two in the process.
1.
SCAN
YOUR DOCUMENTS
Thanks to the increasing quality of
smartphone cameras, you no longer need a scanner to transfer all your files
to the cloud. Evernote (opens in a new tab), Google Drive, and CamScanner are
three of the many apps that can do the job.
2.
GET TO KNOW THE SONGS IN AN INSTANT
You can use apps like Shazam or SoundHound to know what you're listening to, but you don't have to: Google Now, Siri, and Cortana can all respond to the voice command, what song is this?
3.
PROTECT
YOUR DATA IN YOUR BACKUP
If someone else finds your phone, will they give it back to you? Make sure to check the details on the lock screen: The option is in Settings on Android, Health on iOS and you need to change the wallpaper on Windows Phone.
4.
GET
AUTOMATIC WEATHER with IFTTT alerts (Android and IOS)
Plug in IFTTT (or the associated mobile app (opens
in a new tab)) and you can get notifications straight to your phone when the
weather is bad - handy if rain or snow means you'll have to go to work earlier.
5.
TURN
ON WI-FI with your voice
The future is here: Siri, Google Now, and Cortana
turn off Wi-Fi with your voice. Launch the app of your choice and say
"Turn off Wi-Fi" to get the desired result. It also works with
Bluetooth).
6.
Send
HUGE Files from iPhone (iOS)
iOS 9.2 added Casting letters to iPhones. So if you
are sending a large file from your phone, you will have to use it. Instead of
attaching the file, Mail transports it to iCloud, with a download link valid
for 30 days.
7.
CONTROL
YOUR COMPUTER WITH THE HELP OF PHONE
A variety of apps, from Spotify to YouTube, have
some sort of remote functionality built-in. If you want global control of your
laptop or desktop, check out Unified Remote and Alfredo.
8.
TURNOVER
Keyboard (Android and IOS)
Android and iOS now support the use of third-party
keyboards, which can do everything from adding extra emoji to applying the
power of neural network processing to automatically correct your phone.
9.
HARDWARE
KEY TO CAPTCHER PICTURES
Sometimes you can't feel the physical connection
with the photos - well, hit the good news, because on Android, iOS and Windows
Phone you can use the photo buttons in the camera app.
10. RECORD SCREENCASTS TO YOUR PHONE
(ANDROID AND IOS)
You can easily record phone screencasts: either via
the YouTube Gaming app on Android or via iOS by connecting your device to a Mac
computer and selecting it as the input source for recording in QuickTime.
11. SEARCH TO NEW SETTING (ANDROID AND
IOS)
If you need to access your phone's settings but
don't know where it is, just search - the Settings apps on Android and iOS have
search options at the top so you can find obscure options.
12. UNLOCK SYSTEM UI TUNER (ANDROID)
Android Marshmallow includes a hidden UI tuner
program to play with the Quick Settings pane (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). To turn
on the icon, press and hold the gear icon at the top of the quick settings,
find it in the Settings app.
13. TURN ON THE TRACKPAD KEYBOARD (IOS)
If you're using iOS 9 or later on an iPad, iPhone
6S, or iPhone 6S, press and hold two fingers on the keyboard to turn the
trackpad on. Unfortunately, the function does not work on older iPhones.
14. Home PAGE IN ONE BUTTON (ANDROID)
Google Maps for Android features a single icon that
directs you instantly to the address you want. That way you can create a
shortcut on the home screen that will take you home from anywhere with one tap.
Finger
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