7 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with a Smartphone

I remember when I first switched from my outdated flip phone to a smart phone.  Up until then, I had no idea how many things these phones could really do . . . and I felt that I needed an education to bring my smarts up to speed, so that I could actually use my smart phone.  Well, one phone and a two years later, I’m still learning.  It always tickles me when someone can show me yet another neat thing I can use my personal sidekick for, and now I’d like to share some things I’ve learned with you.  Here are seven things you didn’t know you could do with a smartphone:

Bar code scanning.  Use apps like Red Laser to scan bar codes.  Then use the same app to find the lowest prices for that product around, as well as get directions to the nearest location where you can find it.

Heart Fitness.  The name of this app speaks directly for what it measures.  Simply hold your finger to your touchpad and this app will tell you what your heart rate is.  Use the app’s handy chart to identify your whereabouts on a fitness chart.

E-Reader.  You don’t need to purchase an e-reader to have a gadget that works exactly like one.  Simply download an e-reader app and convert your smart phone (for the time being) into a reading device.

Trapster.  Use this app to alert you of when you are approaching speed traps and known police radar sites in order to avoid speeding tickets.

Measuring tape.  You never know when you might need to measure something, and (most likely) you’re not always carrying around a measuring tape – that is, unless you have a smart phone with the right app.  Try the Aim app, which measures height, width, distance and more, all with a few screen taps.

Air Cam.  Configure your laptop or personal computer’s webcam with this smart phone app in order to view live webcam footage from your phone.  Imagine being able to drop in on a babysitter (or with the teenagers you left home for the night) just by opening a screen on your phone.

Business card storage.  Get rid of that space-monger business card holder you have and replace it with the CardMunch app, which scans your business cards and keeps them organized for easy access.

Did you know that today’s smartphone has more computer processing power than the spaceship that took men to the moon for the first time?  Are you using all of that power to your advantage?  If not, then what are you paying for?  It doesn’t have to be as difficult as it may seem to keep up with your gadgetry.  Start here, with this list, and see where it takes you.  The possibilities are endless.

About the Author: Kristofer Mondelli loves his Blackberry Bold but is seriously consider switching to a Droid in the next few months. When he’s not messing with technology, he can often be found reading, hiking, and spending time with his beloved yellow lab.