Smartphones are ubiquitous devices carried by almost everyone these days. As something that you have with you all the time, it is the perfect device to use for a variety of purposes. Beyond simply calling and messaging, smartphones have countless additional functions, thanks to the range of apps for every purpose.
Some tasks need to be accomplished using a smartphone with the help of some connected device, while others only require an app to be downloaded to your phone. Read on to learn 8 cool uses for your smartphone that you probably didn’t know!
- Check Your TV Remote Batteries
When your TV remote is not working but you want to watch your favourite show, you’ll want to confirm if it’s because your remote batteries are dead or there’s a problem with your TV. Open the selfie camera of your smartphone and point the remote at it. Now press any button on the remote, and if you see a light on the smartphone screen, the remote is working fine. The remote LED emits infrared light when you press its buttons – though this light is invisible to the naked eye, your smartphone camera can pick it up.
- Accept Card Payments
If you have a business you can use your smartphone to accept payments from customers on the move. Various card reader devices are available which you can connect to your smartphone. Once you connect a card reader, your smartphone is transformed into an appliance that can accept payments from your customer, much like any of the standard mobile card payment units provided dedicated for the purpose. This gives both you and your customer a high degree of convenience.
- Start Your Car
There are a range of smartphone apps that you can use to control your car, such as the Viper Smartstart app. This app not only allows you to start your car, but also lock and unlock your car remotely using your smartphone. This is useful in a variety of situations, such as extreme winter or summer weather. The app can also open the trunk of your vehicle from a distance.
- Airplane Mode for Speedy Charging
Sometimes you don’t have the time or patience to wait for your smartphone to fully charge. In this case, go to the settings and put your phone on ‘Airplane mode’. This will cut off all signals associated with your phone, which helps the battery save significantly on power, allowing your phone to charge faster. You should also make sure that the screen is not on while charging because the screen light consumes a lot of the battery, which is counter-productive.
- Use it as a Breathalyser
Today, many compact breath analyser units are available that can be attached to your smartphone, such as BACtrack. All you need to do is attach the compact device to your phone and test your breath just like a normal breathalyser. This is a handy way to help you decide whether you should drive or catch a cab home!
- Use It as a TV Remote
You can also use your smartphone as a remote control for your TV. Nowadays, many TV models have wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and all you need to do is download the TV remote app based on your TV’s brand. Once installed, simply press the simulated remote buttons on your phone screen to control your TV and enjoy your favourite programmes.
- Measure your Heart Rate with your Phone Camera
Health apps are not news anymore. However, many health apps that measure your body’s vital statistics require additional equipment to be connected to your smartphone. So it’s handy to know that you can measure your heart rate with just your phone. All you have to do is download a heart rate apps, start it, press your fingertip over the camera for a few seconds and see the result displayed on the screen.
- Use It as a Spirit Level
When you have your smartphone with you, you will never need a spirit level to check the level or straightness of something, as there are a range of apps for this purpose. Download one of these spirit level or bubble level apps and install it on your phone. Now you can use the graphics of the moving bubble to check your work. This comes in handy when you are busy with your craft or wood work, or want to know if the picture putting up you are fitting is nice and straight.
A smartphone is a great device with many functions and purposes. The plethora or apps available today mean you can use your phone for a variety of different functions. These functions go far beyond watching videos, gaming, or taking photos and include some you’ve probably never even heard of, but make life easier and better!