In this part of our world, Smart phones are here to stay. Virtually every major brand is represented, From the luxury brand, iPhone by Apple (which literally has an apple on their products) to the Stylishly crafted Samsung, they all have different features, unique selling points that draws the user in so Whether you use an iPhone, an Android phone or a Windows phone, some tips are universal. Follow this advice, and you’ll save a lot of time, money and heartache in exchange for just a little extra effort. Here’s what you need to know to get more out of your smartphone, regardless of who made it
Back Up Your Photos
Don’t leave the fate of your photos to chance with manual backups. Instead, set your phone to automatically back up photos online so you’ll never lose any memories if your phone is lost or stolen. You’ve got plenty of options for doing this, many of which allow you to just set it and forget it.
Some popular and cheap apps u can use for backup include Microsoft's One drive app which can automatically back up photos to cloud storage, though you’re limited to a free storage of around 7 GB. (Windows Phone users can download the unofficial
CloudSix for Dropbox app, or use their phones’ built-in OneDrive camera backup function .) You can also use the Google+ app for iOS or
Android , which backs up unlimited photos if you go into settings and limit resolution to 2048 pixels. Or use Flickr, which gives you 1 TB of storage for high-resolution photos and videos.
Here’s the really important part: Bugs happen, and data gets lost even when you think you’re backing it up. Use more than one of these services at the same time–and keep manually backing up photos to your computer–to drastically lower the odds of losing anything.
Check Out Alternative Browsers and Email Apps
It’s easy to stick to the defaults for core functions, but if you take some time to try alternatives, you might find one that’s better for your needs.
Mailbox is a great email alternative for iOS and Android, letting you dismiss emails with a swipe, attach files directly from Dropbox and set reminders for messages that you want to answer later. Gmail users should also check out Google’s own Gmail app for iOS , as it’s better than the iPhone’s default Mail app for searching and for viewing long conversation threads.
For web browsers, Chrome and
Firefox both let you view any tabs you have open on another device, though Firefox is Android-only. Dolphin Browser gives you a desktop-style tab view and includes frilly features such as gesture controls and add-ons.
Use Some Logic to Sort Your Home Screens
Has your home screen turned into a chaotic mass of unorganized apps and folders? Take a few minutes to sort things out, and you’ll save yourself some headaches later.
Take your absolute favorite apps (not counting the ones on the bottom tray), and place them directly on the bottom two or three rows of your main screen, with no folders. That way, you can easily reach them without stretching your fingers. Above those rows, use folders for your favorite app categories, or add a widget or two on an Android phone. (I like to have a “Utilities” folder for random things like the calculator, voice memos and reminders.)
For subsequent screens, try organizing them by use case, so you have a page for games, a page for reading and so on. Ideally, you won’t fill every page, and your phone will have a logical way to grow as you acquire more apps.
Use Your Phone as a Wireless Hotspot
You wireless carrier might prefer if you signed up for a tablet data plan, but you don’t have to. In most cases, it’s cheaper to use your phone as a wireless hotspot, which can provide Wi-Fi to any tablet or laptop. This service is already included in most by most service providers in Nigeria. (id be talking about how to use your smartphone as a wireless hotspot for other devices especially laptops etc), and while it’s not quite as convenient because most phones that are affordable don't come having 4G built into them, it’s a lot cheaper in the long run.
Get to Know Your Shortcuts
Like i always say, There’s almost always a faster way to do things, it’s just a matter of memorizing the necessary swipes, pinches or long-presses for your particular phone. On the iPhone, for example, you can swipe up from the bottom edge to bring up quick settings, or double tap the home button to bring up a recent apps list. You can then close an app (say, if it’s misbehaving) by swiping upward on it. (iMore has a good list of other hidden iOS gestures.)
And here’s a cool trick for Android: When viewing notifications, you can either pinch outward or long press and drag down to expand a notification, showing a larger overview of your emails or messages. In general, Android shortcuts are a bit trickier, because each phone has its own button layout and software tweaks, but if you play around with long-pressing or double-tapping on each of the main navigation buttons, you may discover some hidden functions. (The Samsung Galaxy S5-8, for instance, is filled with these shortcuts .)
Don’t Buy Insurance (Unless You’re Careless)
Next time a phone salesman tries to scare you into buying an extended warranty or insurance, keep this old trick in mind: Instead of buying the insurance, just set aside the money you would have paid, putting it into a piggy bank, savings account or whatever. Do this for all the electronics you buy where a warranty or insurance plan is offered, and chances are you’ll save enough of your own money for a repair or replacement if something does go wrong. And you won’t even have to pay an outrageous deductible. (One exception: If you have a history of losing track of your phone, maybe insurance is a good idea.)
So let's quickly run through the list
1.Back Up Your Photos
2.Check Out Alternative Browsers and Email Apps
3.Use Some Logic to Sort Your Home Screens
4.Use Your Phone as a Wireless Hotspot
5.Get to Know Your Shortcuts
6.Don’t Buy Insurance (Unless You’re Careless)
Use this tips and you're sure to become a responsible smart phone user.
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