Every day, numerous people have a routine of waking up to reach their smartphone and open Instagram. As you begin to scroll through an infinite feed, it dawns on you later that it’s time to move on with your day. However, smartphones offer capabilities beyond messaging, calling, and social media scrolling, many of which are highly productive. The latest phones can control smart home devices even if you don’t have a fully equipped smart home. There are numerous impressive features your smartphone offers. Some are readily available on your device, while others may require installing apps from the Play Store or the App Store. Take a break from compelling social media scrolling and explore your smartphone’s innovative possibilities. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best and most interesting things you never knew you could do everything with your smartphone.
Things You Never Knew Your Smartphone Could Do
The potential of smartphones appears boundless, yet users frequently restrict their device utilization to familiar areas. A significant challenge arises from the many features embedded in smartphones, as discovering, recalling, and utilizing them becomes a genuine hurdle. Uncovering these concealed smartphone features can enhance productivity and simplify daily tasks. Your smartphone is likely equipped to assist you in accomplishing various tasks. To elevate your smartphone usage, we’ve compiled a list of lesser-known features that can streamline your everyday activities:
- Scan Documents
- Make a Cool Looping Videos
- Help You Change Channels
- Measure Stuff
- Detect Metal
- Split Screen
Scan Documents
If you’ve ever had to sign and then digitally submit a document physically, you’re familiar with the inconvenience of printing, scanning, and emailing the document afterward. The great news is that you no longer need a clunky scanner. With Android and iPhone devices, you can use the smartphone to scan and export a document.
To Scan Documents on iPhones:
- Simply launch the Notes app.
- Select the camera icon.
- Click the scan documents button.
To Scan Documents on Android Devices:
- Just open the camera app.
- Position it over the document.
- Tap scan document for Pixel phones or the yellow T icon for Samsung devices.
Make a Cool Looping Videos
You’ve likely dabbled in video editing on your smartphone. With many apps available, including the creative features of Instagram’s boomerang, there’s no shortage of options. However, did you realize that you can craft captivating looping videos using the Clips app on your phone? These aren’t your typical looping videos. Here’s a step-by-step guide to bring this creativity to life:
- Stary by recording a straightforward loop video and importing it into the Clips app.
- Proceed to trim the video’s starting and end, allowing it to loop seamlessly.
- Add clips featuring the same motion.
- Introduce an unexpected change to an element in your video.
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Help You Change Channels
There are few things that can be as frustrating as preparing to watch a show, cozying up on the couch with your blanket and snacks, only to realize you can’t find the remote. Once you come to this understanding, you must search to locate the remote, only to discover that the batteries are depleted. To save you from the hassle, numerous TVs can sync with your smartphone, transforming it into a remote control for the device.
For iPhone Users:
- Ensure your iPhone and the TV are connected to the same network.
- Navigate to the screen-share option and click the remote icon.
- With your iPhone, this easy setup allows you to control compatible TVs, such as Roku, Fire TVs, or an Apple TV 4K.
For Android Users:
- Smartphone users enjoy a similar capability to Android TVs.
- Simply open the Google TV app.
- Tap the remote icon at the bottom right, scan for devices, and select your TV to complete the pairing process outlined by Android.
- Android provides TV remote apps for Roku and Fire TVs and third-party remote apps designed for Apple TV.
Measure Stuff
Need to determine the length of anybody but don’t have a tape measure on hand? There’s nothing to be worried about when you have an Android or iPhone. Numerous mobile apps leverage your phone’s camera to measure object lengths. For example, the Measure app on the phone employs AR to compute the dimensions of an object. To utilize the Measure app:
- Open the app and point your phone’s camera at the object.
- Adjust the camera angle until a white circle with a central dot appears.
- Position the dot over the object’s starting point, indicating the measurement’s beginning.
- Push the Add (+) button.
- Move your phone along the object until the dot reaches the opposite end.
- Push the Add (+) button when the circle is over the desired endpoint for the measurement.
Detect Metal
If you’ve misplaced a piece of jewelry or need to locate a dropped needle, your smartphone can serve as a metal detector. Numerous metal detector apps are available on the App Store and Google Play platforms. While these apps are free, they may come with ads. Simply download one onto your iOS or Android device and initiate your metal search by rotating your phone around. The app utilizes the built-in magnetometer to detect metallic objects, notifying you when it identifies one. The area may contain other metallic and electronic items such as TVs and refrigerators, which can interfere with metal-detecting. Remember that the results may be unreliable and depend on your smartphone’s magnetic sensor, but they can still be helpful in certain situations.
Split Screen
Splitting your screen is a fantastic method for multitasking. It has always been a seamless process on laptops. You can also split your smartphone’s screen. Both platforms support screen splitting whether you use an Android or iOS device. Android devices come with a built-in option to eliminate the need for third-party apps. However, iPhone users will require a third-party app for this feature.
For Android Devices:
- Open both apps you intend to use in split-screen mode.
- Tap the Recent Apps button located at the bottom of your screen.
- Locate the app you want to use in split screen and long-press its icon at the top.
- Choose Split Screen from the menu that appears.
- Select the second app you’d like to use alongside the first one in split-screen mode.
For iPad users,
The split-screen feature is built into the system. However, iPhone users can opt for an app like Split Screen View to enjoy multitasking capabilities.
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Last Words
The capabilities of our smartphones extend far beyond the routine tasks of calls and social media. Exploring the lesser-known features can significantly enhance productivity and simplify daily activities. From scanning documents, creating captivating looping videos, and acting as a remote control for your TV to measuring objects and even serving as a makeshift metal detector, our smartphones are versatile tools that can redefine how we approach various tasks. So, take a moment to explore beyond the usual routine and unlock your smartphone to fascinate these possibilities.