What smart phone features have you discovered on your phone, or what features do you think most of us aren't even aware are on there? I'm really accomplished at many of them, but sometimes I think I'm a million years behind the times because there's stuff on there I don't even know about.
For example, I think having a flashlight on there is great. I should probably use GPS more, but I like the GPS unit in my car and am used to it.
My son (adult, temporarily living at home in between apartments) has stuff I think are sort of unnecessary, like tying all his room lights to his phone. I shut them off with the light switch and he just about had a heart attack! I had to learn to swipe down from the top of my screen to the notifications page, go to today's calendar and hit the "All Off" button! It wouldn't be so bad, but when he drives within a half mile of the house, even if he's not coming here, the lights go on. Say WHAT???
How many of your use your phones for things like the grocery list? I've always thought that the supermarkets dismiss women, expecting us to clip coupons all the time and then remember to take them and redeem them. Does your phone (and your market) allow you to load coupons you want (and not the ones that are useless) and sync with your market account and your grocery list? Is it handy? My husband and I are still putting a paper list on the fridge, adding things as we go along, and then whoever heads to the market grabs it. And usually, the other one texts the shopping spouse to "add yogurt to the list." Often the same things are on the list week to week - do you keep a master list on your phone? How do you manage it with multiple family members?
I'm getting rid of my regular checking account and scanning/depositing checks by phone. My husband and I think that one of the secrets to our successful marriage is that we keep separate checking accounts, but we still want to be able to shift money from one account to the other. Our son has set all this up for us and I'm excited to have this flexibility and to be able to do it on my phone.
What else do you have on your phone that you can't do without? What are the hidden gems that you think we should all know about?
TIA!
Great answers, everyone. I'm so happy to know that so many of you feel overwhelmed by the choices! Thanks for the OurGroceries idea - I'm going to do that one right away, and look into some of the other ideas suggested. Keep the ideas coming!
Probably well known but I use tv station apps to watch TV while doing housework etc. All the networks have an app and when I have wifi service, so even if not at home, I can watch a show or use Netflix to stream and it's all so portable. I watch while making beds, brushing my teeth, doing dishes and general house stuff. Makes it all less boring.
I'm going to follow this because I only know the phone, text, facebook and emails on my phone. I have NO idea what else it can or can't do. lol
Ha! I'm still trying to learn how to find Siri on my phone! Finding my messages, voice mails and contacts still catches me sometimes. Recording took a little bit of doing and putting pictures on facebook is quite the accomplishment for me!
Doing banking on the phone for me sounds like The Jetsons cartoon show! :)
I primarily use Google Keep for storing all kinds of notes, including grocery lists. I share the list with my husband and he puts things on the list he wants me to pick up while I'm there and it shows up real time. I like that the little check off boxes, and also that I can stand in the pantry and speak off my list instead of typing it in.
One app I really love is the Amazon app. We are prime members, so if I am out shopping, see something I really like, I can use my camera to scan the product and it tells me what it's selling the same product for through prime. All I have to do his view the actual product through the camera, and the app has sensing technology that can detect what the product is. It's really cool and I have saved big money by using it.
We love the app for our shopping list. It's called OurGroceries. DH and l both downloaded it (free) and synced them so anything either of us adds goes on the same list. We both always have the complete list. And you can set up multiple lists. We have a Target list, a grocery store list, etc. but beyond that we set up other lists for packing. For example right now we have a Buffett list that we are both adding to so we don't forget anything for our concert tailgate.
Target's CartWheel app often has good coupons. And I use Coupon Sherpa for other stores that I go to less frequently like Dicks Sporting Goods and JC Penny. I don't want to download a separate app for every store and Sherpa has all the deals for many major retailers.
I have a very small data plan so I don't use the gps or any apps like Waze because they eat through data fast.
Other things your phone does - iPhones have auto brightness feature that adjusts the brightness of the screen depending on the brightness of the room. Sounds good but eats a ton of battery. My battery lasts almost twice as long if I turn that option off and keep the brightness slider at or below the 50%.
i've only just learned how to use the calendar feature. no more carrying a paper calendar in my purse! yay!
and to swipe up to find the flashlight, calculator and stopwatch.
the shopping list still has to be paper. not that anyone else ever adds to it (grrrrrrrrrr.)
what i DON'T know about my smartphone would fill volumes. the worst is when it just does things i never asked it to do, like plug all of my FB friends' birthdays in, or decide for me that i love U2 (barf.)
:/ khairete
S.
We haven't found a good way to keep grocery lists on our phones. What we do, though, is we have a wipe board in the kitchen and you write down what you need (milk, eggs, etc) throughout the week. When someone goes to the store, they take a picture of the wipe board with their phone and voila! the list is in their phone :) Ok, not a app, but still phone friendly!
I will be curious what other folks have/do with their phones. I have an app that works as our TV remote - totally useless. BUT they do alert me to what shows are currently playing saving me the time to look through all the channels to see what is on.
My daughter has the "who sings this song" app - she loves it!
This will be a fun thread to follow! Thanks for posting!
I 2nd Gas Buddy. There can be a 10¢ per gallon (or more) difference on any given day of the week at stations close enough to choose either one, but far enough apart that you can't see both signs to see the prices. I just press the button and see where's cheaper. Or if traveling, where the nearest gas station is (and which ones are cheaper).
I do use Waze, and really like it when I am traveling. We live rurally, but get on a 6 lane interstate to go mostly anywhere (including the kids' school) so if there is a traffic accident closes lanes, it's helpful to know exactly where the accident is so I know where to try to exit or go around.
I use CardStar for my store cards. Not credit cards, but all those store issued member cards so that you get discounts. Most stores can swipe the UPC code directly from your phone screen using that app, or if not, they can read the numbers off of it, without me having to carry a stack of 50 of those plastic cards (or key chain tags) around. That's nice. I've had a lot of people ask me what it is when I whip out my phone at stores for that reason.
I do like Applepay, too. I just wish there were more retailers who supported it right now. It makes payment easier (and actually more secure as well).
I do use digital coupons at my regular stores (Publix, Target, etc) and those are nice. You do all that at home and then just enter your phone number at the time of payment. But, if I haven't updated in a few days (searched for coupons) I can do it right from my phone when I'm at the store as well.
I do use the Notes app (iphone) to keep lists and random bits of information. Gate codes for private entrances that I don't memorize. Dimensions for furniture or windows or whatever when I am shopping for the home. Photos for paint swatches and their brand/color codes, so I can match. Grocery lists, yes. I even put in carry out orders for deli sandwiches... when my husband wants x,y,z on his salad, but if they don't have that he wants a,b,c and my son wants ---- unless they have XXx and then he'd rather have that without the mayo, and daughter wants .... It gets confusing quickly... so I just make a note and delete it after the order is made/picked up.
I hook it up to bluetooth in my car and will use Siri to voice text my kids if I am driving (I'm about to pull into the neighborhood, be ready out front). Or call my mom. Or the pizza place to place a carry out order, so it will be ready.
I don't really use/play any games on my phone. But I do like to check the health app and see if I've been overly sedentary. I use a couple of different running apps to track my actual runs (speed/distance/pace/calories burned, etc).
And I do my fare share of checking FB when I'm wasting time at an appt in the waiting room or whatever.
But overall:
Yahoo Weather
GasBuddy
Waze
GoogleMaps
Waterminder (reminds you to drink water up to an amount you specify)
Passbook (apple pay)
Cardstar
Cartwheel (Target's app)
WalkTrackerPro and Runtastic (my running tracking apps)
Facebook
Those are my main ones.
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ETA:
You'll also want to brush up on your social media apps if you have tweens or teens. I have a few apps that I only have b/c my teens do, and I like to be able to log in and see what they are up to.
If you are relatively new to this age group, you might know what they are. And it probably varies widely depending upon where you live (what apps are popular among the local kids). Here, they like Instagram, snapchat, and Kik is another one. They don't use FB much at all. It's been taken over by the parental set. LOL
Have you tried the SkyView app? It's great. Every name of stars, constellations, planets, etc.
I have so much on my phone that I use all the time. I sync my calendar, contacts and notes to Outlook on my laptop almost daily so it's all up to date. I have an app called "Docs to Go" that syncs with MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I also have a couple to scan in books (Book Crawler) and movies (My Movies) we own.
My city has an emergency app that I have on my phone to alert me of fires or other emergencies. There is also an app from the city where you can report non-emergencies like burned out street lights, graffiti and the like.
Love Star Walk! It's worth the little bit of extra to pay and get all the extras shown. I think it's like satellites and something else, I can't remember but it was worth it!
I have an app that works with my printer at home so I can print anything I want or need to off my phone and it'll be there when I get home.
I have an app for Disneyland, the zoo, and a couple other places like that that we go to often that have information like hours, wait times, maps, entertainment schedule and what not.
Yelp is a must on my phone! I use it to find things in the area, find out hours, get directions, see menus, see reviews etc and so on.
Spotify is great if you love music. Any music you hear, even on commercials you have a high chance of being able to identify. Hold up your phone's microphone while it plays and hit the button to identify and you can buy it right there from itunes it you want.
I have apps for knitting, I have apps for the kids to both play and learn. Can you tell I love my phone? LOL
Most D. I just really want to throw my phone out the window :-) I hate what it has (helped) turn people into (myself included). Sure there are apps that are helpful & useful (weather app, bookscouter, my bank, calendar, ibotta, retailmenot) but I could live without every single one & go back to a normal phone that I just use for texting & calling.
Maybe I'm just in a grumpy mood right now and should leave off hating on technology! :-/
I love, love, love my iPhone camera. It's light, always with me, and takes super pictures.
Right now we are clearing out our attic of the "kids" things. Before I donate or toss, I snap a picture and send it to my adult children and ask what they might like me to keep. The answers have been so much fun to read!
If you like to walk or run, Endomondo will track your distance, speed and duration.
I once again want to endorse Google Maps. It has gotten me wherever I've needed to go locally and while out of town.
I recently upgraded from the iPhone 4 to a 6 plus, big differences.
I like having my bank app, its so easy to deposit checks and transfer money. I haven't used suri yet, but i did notice that this phone will tell me the directions so I don't need to hold it while driving, the old one didn't do that.
I do have the Disney app since we visit often (resident passes) and store apps (Michaels craft store) so that I always have coupons.
I like the big screen the most since I usually have to access the website where I list my short term rental and my email. I like to reply to potential guests within an hour or less.
Not sure about any hidden gems other then I noticed that I can make my phone a wifi hot spot.
Android user....I use my sticky notes widget daily. It's on my main screen. My son was tired of seeing me with multiple written notes on what to do and where to go during the week and suggested it. I also use google keep for my shopping list and ideas for Christmas presents and other notes. Dirty Dozen app helps me remember what fruit and veggies are "clean vs. dirty". Google calendar app syncs with laptop. I use it all the time. Also, calculator plus because I stink at math, just saying..oh, one more, Super Bright LED Flashlight app has come in handy more than once.
I'm no phone whiz, I've only had a smart phone for about two years (gasp! I know!) but I do love my ipohone. The GPS/maps has been AWESOME. And I keep lots of "notes" - I have a list of songs I want to play at our wedding, I have a list of potential baby names. Which I like because then when the time comes I know I won't be able to remember all the really great ones we thought of. I've mastered the calendar so I was pretty proud of that as I have never been super-organized before. I also love my bank app. One that I just recently discovered is the Kindle Ebooks app - if you download the app you can go to amazon.com (you have to do this on something besides your smartphone, it might require a pc I'm not sure, a tablet might do) and you can get free books on it all day long. I could buy them too if I wanted to but I haven't had to spend a dime yet. THAT one I really love.
I use "Gas Buddy" all the time to see what station has best price in close location and great when travelling when you don't know the areas. Since I live near border of Kansas and MO, it's great as MO runs about 10 cents per gallon cheaper. The town I work in, is often 20 cents less than the town I live in, so I am always watching. It will let you know how long the price has been in effect, so you can gauge when the price is changing. Can often get to next station before price goes up.
Gas Buddy, my bank's app, GPS.
Love Cozi. Hubby & I both have it. We use the calendar feature, so we can see each other's schedules, etc. There is a grocery list, but I've only used it once.
Like Waze. It's a driving app to let you know about accidents, construction, cops, disabled vehicles, etc.
Pandora. Always have my music!
