The ‘Swiss Army knife’ of technology offers amazing tools that can replace your GPS and more
by Edward C. Baig, AARP, December 1, 2021
Want to create a video for all the world — or just your friends — to see? Newer smartphones allow you to take high-quality video that used to mean buying a bulky camera.
Smartphones have become the Swiss Army knives of technology, going way beyond making and receiving calls while you’re on the go.
Yes, they’re often described as a minicomputer in your pocket. But you also have a radio, a flashlight — even a level for when you’re doing handiwork around the house.
As smartphones added features through the years, people began relying on them to take pictures, be their address book, wake them up in the morning and manage their appointments. More than 8 in 10 people age 50 and older own and use a smartphone, including 7 in 10 who are 70 and older, according to an AARP research report released this year.
But your smartphone can do much more. Here are 19 additional ways to use your iPhone or Android device and how to tap into those capabilities. All of the features are either baked into your phone already or available as free downloads from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store for Android.
Tip: Sick of fumbling with your phone? 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 command.
