5 Things You Can Do With Your Smartphone

It feels like smartphones can do pretty much anything these days. Of course, most people will simply use their mobile devices to text friends, browse the internet, and check their various social media accounts. There are, however, a vast array of other possibilities out there for those who really want to see what their phones are capable of doing. If anything, the smartphone can become a central hub of control for many different applications and functions. Anyone who doesn’t know about this isn’t taking full advantage of all that their smartphones have to offer. So check out just a sampling of some of the things you can do and control from today’s mobile devices.

 Monitor Health

 Wearable technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. If you’ve seen a Fitbit, for example, then you get an idea of what they’re capable of.

Smartphones can utilize this technology too, making wearables more accessible and easy-to-use. Apps that are downloadable for your smartphone can connect to other wearable devices dedicated to monitoring your health. These wearables can have many functions, from monitoring your blood pressure to recording your temperature. All this data can be collected and stored, and if something looks like it falls outside of the normal parameters, local health officials can be alerted as well.

Start Car Engines

It can be quite the unpleasant experience to wake up in the middle of winter, go to your car, and drive to work while your car slowly warms up. Luckily with car apps like the Viper SmartStart, you can start your car’s engine remotely, allowing the vehicle to warm up before you ever step foot outside your door.

The app does require the SmartStart to be installed in your car, but once that’s done, you can start the engine with just a press of a button from your smartphone. The app also allows you to perform other functions, like locking the doors or opening the trunk.

Perform Car Diagnostics

 Similar to starting a car’s engine, other devices can give your smartphone even more capabilities. Modern automobiles come with a computer unit that basically monitors all the car’s systems. After plugging a device into that central computer, users can download an app that will give them data about their car’s on-board diagnostics. In this way, you can check on your car without having to get into its systems, making sure that everything is running smoothly. You can even receive alerts in case anything needs to be repaired before things get out of hand.

Create Mobile Hotspots

 This is a feature already available on smartphones that doesn’t require downloading an app. With your smartphone, you can use your carrier’s network to create a mobile hotspot for Wi-Fi, allowing you to connect other devices like tablets and laptops to the internet.

This is especially useful if you find yourself on the road a lot and can’t locate a good local Wi-Fi network to connect to. Each smartphone has different ways of creating a hotspot, so check online for how to make it happen with your particular device. You need to be careful with this though, because creating mobile hotspots at work may compromise your employer’s IT security.

Change Light Bulb Settings

 While it may seem like a little thing, being able to change the settings of your home’s light bulbs represents something much larger–mainly controlling items throughout your home from your smartphone (usually called having a smart home). In the case of light bulbs, an app available from Phillips allows you to change the color and intensity of the lights within your home.

This can also be done remotely, giving you the power to do so even if you’re far away from the house. In other smart home technology, users can also control their thermostats, garage doors, locks, and other household appliances, all with the ease of using a smartphone.

~ Rick