What Can U Control With My Smartphone

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Desire to create a video for all the world — or but your friends — to see? Newer smartphones allow you to take loftier-quality video that used to mean buying a beefy photographic camera.

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Smartphones have get the Swiss Army knives of technology, going fashion beyond making and receiving calls while you lot're on the go.

Yes, they're often described equally a minicomputer in your pocket. But you also have a radio, a flashlight — even a level for when yous're doing handiwork around the business firm.

As smartphones added features through the years, people began relying on them to accept pictures, exist their address book, wake them upwards in the morning and manage their appointments. More than 8 in ten people historic period fifty and older own and use a smartphone, including seven in 10 who are lxx and older, according to an AARP enquiry report released this twelvemonth.

But your smartphone can practice much more. Here are 19 additional means to apply your iPhone or Android device and how to tap into those capabilities. All of the features are either broiled into your phone already or available equally gratuitous downloads from Apple tree's App Store or the Google Play store for Android.

Tip: Sick of fumbling with your telephone? Some of the functions here can be launched just by talking to it. For iPhones, say "Hey, Siri," then state your command. For Android phones, say "Hey, Google," then your control.

1. Bombardment tester for remote controls

Both: Run across if the batteries in your Television set remote controls have enough power to do their jobs. Launch the Camera app and switch to the forepart-facing selfie photographic camera, though in some cases the rear photographic camera besides works. Point your remote control at the camera and so press and concur any button on the remote. If all is well, you'll run across a pinkish-purplish light flickering from the tip of the remote control, the infrared beam that sends signals to your Television receiver and other tech gear. Replace the remote control batteries if the flickering low-cal is specially dim or you don't see any calorie-free at all.

2. Calculator

Both:Open the Calculator app. You tin perform bones math functions when holding the phone vertically. Rotate the phone on its side to summon a scientific calculator that tin can requite y'all square roots, sines and other more avant-garde actions.

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3. Document scanner

iPhone: Open up the Notes app. Tap the icon in the lower right corner. Tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen and selectScan Documents. Identify the document in view of the photographic camera. If your device is in Auto way, your document will automatically browse. To manually capture a scan, tap the shutter push button or one of the volume buttons. To adjust the edges of the browse, drag the corners to fit your document, then tap Keep Scan orWashed.

Android:On contempo Samsung Galaxy smartphones, open the Camera app and position the document you desire to scan in the center of the viewfinder. A yellow border volition appear around the certificate, and aTap to Scan push button will appear. After borer that button yous can drag the corners to adapt your scanning area. If satisfied, tapSave, if not, tapRetake.

four. Emergency Circulate System

iPhone: You can receive Amber Alerts, farthermost weather condition alerts or public safety alerts from your local government without listening to Tv. These are turned on past default when you become your device. To turn them off, tapSettings | Notifications, and so scroll to the very bottom of the screen to see toggle switches for various government alerts.

Android: OpenSettings | Notifications | Wireless Emergency Alerts. Y'all tin can cull which type of alerts, from farthermost threats to public rubber messages that y'all would like to receive.

Larn more alive and online

AARP's complimentary online classes tin can help you learn more most your smartphone, its capabilities and its apps.

• Senior Planet from AARP has alive courses that can help y'all choose and employ the best telephone for y'all.

• AARP'south Virtual Customs Eye has a Tech Aid area with interactive events that include smartphone apply.

five. Flashlight

iPhone:Tap theFlashlight icon found in the Control Center — on newer phones, admission by swiping down from the upper-correct corner of your home screen; on older phones, swipe upward from the bottom edge. Tap once again and hold to bring up its effulgence controls.

Android:On Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones, elevate your finger down from the top of the display and tap the on-screen Flashlight button.

six. Foreign language translator

iPhone: You can interpret text, voice or a chat through Apple's Translate app. To interpret text or your voice, tapTranslation and select one of a dozen languages to interpret between. Tap Enter text, type the words you lot want to interpret, then tapGo. Tap the microphone icon instead to speak a phrase you want translated out loud. Tap the button with the arrow to play the audio translation. To interpret a conversation between ii people, tapChat, tap the microphone icon and speak in one of the two languages. You can likewise tapAuto Translate to initiate a chat in which the phone automatically detects when y'all first and finish speaking.

Android: Download Google Translate from the Google Play store, if not already on your telephone, and launch the app. Tap the button showing the language you are using and then the i in which you wish a translation. It tin can translate more than 100 languages. Enter text or tap the microphone button to speak the phrase. If you tapConversation | Auto, the app tin mind for both languages. Tap the Camera push inside Translate to enable the app to interpret what information technology sees.

a person using a smartphone g p s in their car to map out a route

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vii. GPS navigation organization

Both:Google-owned Waze, Google Maps and the Apple Maps apps — all free — are leaders in this category, but you tin download more than 50 alternatives to aid y'all become where you are going. Some are specialized, including AllTrails, Maps.me, Organic Maps Offline Hike&Bike, and OsmAnd+. AllTrails and Organic Maps include trails yous can utilise while biking off road.

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8. Kitchen timer

Both: Open the Clock app. TapTimer. Also in the app (may vary on Android phones): Prepare an alarm, run a stopwatch or check the time in cities around the globe.

9. Library

Both:Hoopla, Libby and OverDrive are iii pop free apps that let you lot to borrow e-books with your library card. Y'all also can download gratis books from Project Gutenberg that you can read with a Kindle or other eastward-reader app.

10. Magnifying glass

iPhone:Open the Magnifier app — it's automatically loaded on phones with up-to-date operating software. If you lot don't see it on one of your domicile screens, go to your App Library at the end of your ready of habitation screens and look in the Utilities binder. You tin zoom in on small type and adjust the brightness and contrast to make it more than legible. Swipe up to observe other controls.

Android: Open up the Photographic camera app. Use your fingers to "unpinch" — move your fingers apart rather than closer together — to magnify fine impress.

xi. Metal detector

Both: You are unlikely to uncover a cached treasure. But yous can visit the App Store or Google Play to fetch any number of metal detector apps, some that play sounds or vibrate when your telephone approaches needles, pins or other metallic objects you may have inadvertently dropped, including precious rings or earrings. The apps leverage the magnetometer congenital into most modern smartphones. While many are costless, they also typically accept ads. In our tests, quality and usability were mixed.

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12. Pedometer

iPhone: The pedometer built into your iPhone'south Health app automatically counts the steps you take while your phone is in your pocket, in your hand or strapped to your arm. To check how far you've gone, click on the Wellness app, clickEdit, make sureSteps has been clicked and go on your phone with you lot when you walk.

Android: If your telephone has the Google Fit app, open up it and tap the Steps button, which can track your move. TapMean solar day, Week orCalendar month to check out your steps information. On Samsung phones, yous tin can track your steps through the Samsung Health app.

a person scanning a q r code with their smartphone

13. QR code reader

iPhone: QR codes are plastered practically everywhere these days: on ads, tickets, websites and more. Open the Photographic camera app and choose the rear facing camera. Make sure the QR code appears in the viewfinder. If the code is recognized, you lot'll encounter a notification. Tap the notification to open the link associated with the lawmaking. If you're non having whatever luck, visit Camera Settings and brand certain theScan QR Codes setting has been enabled.

Android:Open the Camera app and betoken it at the QR code. Tap on the notification that appears if the codeisrecognized, which will typically take you lot to a webpage. No luck? On a Pixel phone, make sure theGoogle Lens suggestions setting has been flipped on inside thePhotographic camera setting. On a Samsung Galaxy, the setting appears asScan QR codes.

14. Radio

Both:Yous tin download free apps that stream on-the-air stations from effectually the globe or special online-only stations. The listing of complimentary radio apps is long and includes Audacy, iHeartRadio, Pandora and TuneIn. You also tin can listen to podcasts.

15. Tape measure

iPhone: Open the augmented-reality-driven Measure out app. Tap the Measure out icon at the bottom of the screen. Indicate your phone photographic camera at the object you want to measure out, lining upwards a circled dot on your screen with the starting point. Tap the+ (plus) button. Move your phone to the end of the measurement and tap+ once more. The app likewise includes a level office.

Android:Several third-political party apps are available. Samsung'southward Quick Measure app, preloaded on some smartphones, works similarly to iPhone'southward app.

sixteen. Video photographic camera

iPhone:Open up the Photographic camera app. Swipe right and so theVideo selection appears in yellowish in a higher place the ruddyTapebutton. Tap the cherry button to start and end. Yous tin besides shoot in tedious motion by swiping so thatSlo-Mo is selected.

Android: On a Samsung Galaxy, swipe soVideo is to a higher place the white and crimsonRecord button. Tap the red button to starting time and cease. TapMore for additional shooting modes, which may include dull motion, super slow motion and pro video options that allow you to suit the photographic camera'southward exposure settings.

17. Vocalisation recorder

iPhone: Open up the Vocalisation Memos app. Tap the redTape push button to start and finish. Tap the icon with 3 horizontal lines for options that include changing the playback speed or skipping pauses.

Android: Free vocalism recording apps are available in the Google Play Shop. Striking the redRecord push button on the Google Recorder app built into Google'south Pixel phones automatically generates a searchable transcript, too.

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18. Weather forecaster

Both:Launch the Apple Weather app on an iPhone or fetch whatever of the fine third-party choices on iOS and Android whether you're concerned virtually a big arctic, searing heatwave or whether to carry an umbrella. Some volition tell yous what to await 60 minutes by hour.

nineteen. Your wallet

iPhone: The Apple tree Wallet app allows yous to use Apple Pay or any of your credit or debit cards in digital form, and y'all can add boarding passes, moving-picture show tickets, rewards cards and soon digital driver's licenses to the mix. To start, enter one or more than of your payment cards. In a shop, concur the phone almost the payment terminal and either double tap the side push button on an iPhone with Face ID to authenticate with facial recognition, or on a model without Face ID, lightly press the Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the Home button. You volition see a circled check mark and the word Washed when the transaction is complete.

Android: If your phone doesn't accept Google Pay, download the app from the Google Play store. You tin can add boarding passes, coupons and payment cards. At retail, unlock the phone with your face up, fingerprint or passcode, or other methods depending on the model. Next, place your phone well-nigh the terminal until you lot see Done and a cheque marking on the screen.