Top Smartphone tips

Unleash the power of your smartphone

Introduction

Your smartphone is no longer a telephone – Modern smartphones have more computing power than all of NASA in 1969. Here are a few tips to unleash the power of your smartphone.

Battery/Data saving

Disable background data for non-essential apps. By all means keep your social media, and email running so you can get those essential notifications, but do you really need your games and music players updating and using resources when you’re not on WiFi?

Disable app notifications you don’t need

Not only are they annoying, they are also chewing up your battery and data.

Buy premium version of your favorite apps

I know this sounds nuts – but often buying the premium versions turns off ads which are using your data to sent you commercials.

 Don’t use your handset whilst its charging

There’s a good reason manufacturers make such short charging cables. Using your handset whilst it’s charging can reduce battery life.

 Low Power mode

Very useful when you’re out and about and running low – simply ask Siri. Going into low power mode disables non-essential tasks and can give you up to four hours’ additional life.

Capture something important and entertaining

Friend sent a funny typo and you want to share it? Found a recipe you want to shop on the way home? Capture it as an image with a screen shot.

IOS Press and hold the home button along with the sleep/wake and you’ll hear a click. The screenshot will appear in your camera roll.

Android hold the power and volume down buttons at the same time. The image is saved to the captured images folder in your gallery app.

 Remind me later

Get IOS to remind you to call back later – simple click the remind me icon above the slider and your handset will remind you to call back later.

 Send a message response

Another clever IOS trick – when you phone is ringing, hit the message icon and send a quick text to the caller.

 Back up your data

Use one of the many cloud services to back up your important photos and media. Google drive is one of our favorites for backing up and sharing, but there are many others including iCloud and Verizon.

 Make use of the camera

It’s not just for selfies – take a snap of your new car license plate, or your fridge/cupboards before going to the supermarket. Take snaps of your medicine bottle or prescription. Need to quick share a document, take a photo and air drop it to the recipient.