You are so used to your smartphone and the general use that it gives you, but there are some features that are perhaps overlooked. Some of these features can be very helpful. Let’s have a look at seven features that may be of use.
1. Calculator
Most smartphones have a built-in calculator where you can perform basic tasks when holding the phone vertically. However, if the phone is rotated horizontally, it opens more features. The first of these is a scientific calculator, and on some phones, it opens a unit converter. The unit converter can be set to area, length, temperature, volume, speed and time, depending on the manufacturer and operating system of the phone. Look for the icon in the top right-hand corner to make these changes.
2. Torch
Sometimes we just need an extra bit of light to see something, whether it’s the food on the braai, something fallen under a couch, or just to see where you are walking when it is dark. The smartphone torch comes in handy as we do not often carry a real torch, but most of the time we have our phones in our pockets or bags. You can either use the torch app on the phone or swipe down on the right side of the screen and tap the torch icon to switch it on or off.
3. Document scanner
On recent phones, a document scanner is available as part of the camera function or app ecosystem. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, you will see a yellow “T” show up in the bottom right-hand corner when pointing the camera at a document or book. Tap the “T” to scan the document. The Apple iPhone has a “Scan Document” function built into its Notes app. Look for this feature in the app by selecting the “Attachment” button and then “Scan Document”. This will automatically store the document as part of your notes on the iPhone.
4. Kitchen timer
Sometimes we love to cook from a recipe which requires a specific time to bake a cake, bread or a Sunday roast. The clock app on the smartphone has several features, which include a timer. The usual default of the app is set to the alarm clock, but a world clock, stopwatch and timer are also part of the clock features. Select the timer, set the time required, and make sure you also select a sound, which you will find in the clock settings.
5. Magnifying glass
Have you ever been to a shop where the fine print on an item is so small that you just can’t see what it says? Or perhaps there is a bug in your garden that you want to take a closer look at. Open the camera app on the phone, use two fingers and “un-pinch” the screen by moving your fingers apart. This will effectively use the camera to zoom in and take a closer look.
6. Step counter
Not all of us have smartwatches, but most of us have a smartphone. Smartphones are equipped with an accelerometer (a tool that measures the speed of movement) and a pedometer (a tool to measure vertical hip movement to count steps). These can be linked to the health apps on your phone, which will give an estimated step count based on your movement while carrying the phone. So, if you are going for a walk and want to see how many steps you have taken, make sure this feature is activated on the health app provided on your phone.
7. QR code reader
Nearly every shop, restaurant or event has some sort of QR code offering specials, payment options or additional information. QR codes are everywhere. Both Android and Apple use the camera on their newer phones to scan a QR code using the rear camera. Alternatives for this are QR apps in the respective app stores, which will need camera permissions to function. When QR codes are scanned, they will either take you to payment options or websites. Some phones will do this automatically, while others will provide a link which you need to tap before opening.