The possibilities of smartphones are seemingly endless — but people’s use of the device is often limited to areas they already know. A smartphone can do more than just surf the web, make video calls, play music, stream videos and send messages.
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One big problem is that nowadays there are so many features built into a smartphone that finding, remembering and using them is a real challenge. Some hidden smartphone features can help improve your productivity and make everyday tasks easier. If there’s something you need to get done, chances are your smartphone can help you with it.
To take your smartphone usage to the next level, we’ve rounded up some smartphone features you might not know about, but are sure to make everyday tasks easier. easier.
1. Scan documents
If you’ve ever had to sign a document physically and then send it digitally, you know how complicated it can be to print, scan, and then email it. The good news is that you no longer have to switch to your bulky scanner. With both iPhones and Android devices, you can use your smartphone to scan a document and export it.
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On iPhone, all you have to do is open your Notes app, click the camera icon, then hit the “scan document” button and you’re done. On Android devices, the process is even more seamless. All you have to do is open the camera app, hover over the document, and tap “scan document” for Pixel phones, or the yellow “T” icon for Samsung devices.
2. Start your car
Before you get your hopes up, your ability to use your phone as a key or a car starter will depend entirely on your car’s model, make, and year.
Thankfully, a lot of cars have this kind of functionality. Two reasons why you might want to take advantage of this feature include the ability to remotely start your car from the comfort of your own home, or set your car’s temperature the way you want before you get in.
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If you’re interested in this feature, look up your car on the web and see if there’s an app that can help. For example, Ford has an app called FordPass, which allows Ford owners to unlock and lock their cars, start their cars remotely, and even schedule a remote start from the app. Android devices have a feature called digital key on certain smartphones, works in tandem with your car manufacturer’s app or manufacturer’s email to turn your phone into a digital key.
3. Help you switch channels
There are few things more frustrating than getting ready to watch a show, sitting on the couch, settling into your blankets and snacks, and then realizing that you can’t find the remote. When you realize this, you have to dig around to find the remote, only to find out that the battery is dead. To avoid this hassle for you, many TVs have the ability to sync with your smartphone to turn your device into a remote control.
If you have an iPhone, you can use it to control compatible TVs including Roku or Fire TVor one Apple TV 4K. It’s easy when you’re signed in to the same network as the TV, go to screen sharing options, then tap the remote icon. If you want Use your iPhone as a remote controlWe have a helpful guide.
Android smartphones with similar capabilities Android TV. All you have to do is open the Google TV app, tap the remote control icon at the bottom right, then scan the device and select your device to complete the pairing, according to Android. Also, Android has TV control apps for Roku And Fire TV, and even third-party remote apps for Apple TV.
4. Measurement
Don’t have a tape measure? Nothing. You can take measurements of anything you need on your phone using your smartphone’s camera and AR technology. All you have to do is drop a point at the top of the object you are measuring and pin another point at the end to get an accurate measurement.
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iPhone comes with the Apple Measure app pre-loaded, but if you’re an Android user, don’t worry. You can just use MeasureGoogle’s tool lets you do what the Apple Measure app does, but in your phone’s browser instead of through an app.
5. Take a picture for you
Have you ever wanted to take a picture, but no one took it for you? The scenery is beautiful and your outfit is perfect, but you can’t spot anyone around — so your photo opportunities are ruined. There is certainly a timer on your phone, but that can be nearly useless since you have to set everything up just to take a picture. Fortunately, Lens buddy is an app made to solve that problem.
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With Lens Buddy, you can completely customize the timer, including the shutter speed and interval, so you get the perfect shot. Instead of having to set up your phone’s ten-second timer just to take a single photo, you can set the timer to take multiple photos at a custom interval (e.g. every three seconds) for as long as you like. prefer. With Lens Buddy, you have multiple options to choose from a session instead of just one. The app is only available on iOS. However, there are camera timer alternatives in the Google Play Store such as selfiewhich does the same thing.
6. Monitor your heart rate
Although there are many smart watch And fitness tracker In the market, you can monitor your heart rate using just your smartphone. Heart rate monitoring apps use your rear camera and flash to determine how much blood is pumping through your skin and measure your heart rate through a method called volumetric imaging. To get results within seconds, all you have to do is place your finger on the camera and turn on the flash.
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These mobile heart rate monitoring apps don’t come with your phone as standard, but can be downloaded in your smartphone’s app store. To know which apps to download, I recommend going to the app store and downloading the free apps with the most positive reviews. There are many perks to regularly monitoring your heart rate, including being more in tune with your body. I personally used one of these apps to monitor my irregular heart rhythm and, ultimately, diagnose my heart condition.
7. Keep your health insurance card
If you own a smartphone, you may already be familiar with the concept of a digital wallet. With a digital wallet, you can add your cards, boarding passes, tickets, etc. to your smartphone for easy access when paying or attending certain events.
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But did you know that you can also add your health insurance card? I love this feature because my annoying health insurance card is always stuck with other cards in my wallet just when you need it.
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For your convenience, many insurance providers, including Cigna and Aetna, offer mobile access to your insurance card. All you have to do is download the app for your insurance provider and sign in. There, both iPhone and Android users will find your mobile health insurance card, which you can then show at any healthcare provider. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll get the additional benefit of adding it to your Apple Wallet.
Bonus feature
A reminder for those of you who may have forgotten: in addition to the compass, flashlight, TV remote, and thousands of other functions that you can download as apps, your smartphone can. .. make a call. Yes really!
