Almost everywhere you look, people have a cell phone. From the most urbanized to the most rural – if there is connectivity, there will be a cell phone. What’s even more, most cell phone users are switching to smartphones. Smartphones have almost overnight completely taken over our lives, mostly in a good way!
The challenge with smartphones is that we store EVERYTHING on them. What happens when you lose your phone, or worse, when it gets stolen? Well, here are some smartphone tips to help you make the most of your phone.
Back Up Your Photos
Don’t leave the fate of your photos to chance with manual backups. The problem is we become lazy and we postpone our backups. Instead, set your phone to automatically back up photos online (if you have this function) so you’ll never lose any memories if your phone is lost or stolen. As a fail-safe, do your manual backup’s monthly, but be certain to actually do it.
Cloud Storage
With a new phone, you’ll want to make sure you are securely backing up all those contacts, photos, videos, texts and more. There are many options such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Verizon, just to name a few.
Alternative Browsers & Email Apps
It’s easy to stick to the defaults for core functions, but if you take some time to try alternatives, you might find one that’s better for your needs.
Mailbox is a great email alternative for iOS and Android, letting you dismiss emails with a swipe, attach files directly from Dropbox and set reminders for messages that you want to answer later. Gmail users should also check out Google’s own Gmail app for iOS as it’s better than the iPhone’s default Mail app for searching and for viewing long conversation threads.
For web browsers try Chrome and Firefox as both let you view any tabs you have open on another device, though Firefox is Android-only. Dolphin Browser gives you a desktop-style tab view and includes frilly features such as gesture controls and add-ons.
Protect Your Phone!
Life can be full of surprises, including some not-so-pleasant ones like bumps, scratches, drops and spills. Protect your prized investment with a rugged case to help protect against accidents. Some cases even protect against shock and dust. Hard-shell and impact-absorbing type cases will help keep your phone safe.
You might also want to install a location app in the event that your phone gets stolen. There are quite a number of them out there, some antivirus apps have that function too. Yes, antivirus is also important, especially if you’re trolling the internet. I use Kaspersky mobile and I’m so happy with it. Not only does it defend against viruses, it also has a call/sms blocker for those annoying scams.
Apps to spice up your life
You’ll also want to stock up on some cool apps for that awesome phone of yours. There’s an app for nearly everything—whether you’re trying to boost your productivity, get fit, have fun, plan a road trip or just make your life easier to manage. There are a fair amount of free apps as well if your pocket gets slightly empty.
Make it your own!
One of the easiest ways to make your phone reflect your tastes is customizing the wallpaper. You can choose a photo you’ve taken or one that’s preloaded to your smartphone. You can also visit an apps store such as Google Play™ and find countless options to download by searching “wallpaper.” You can also personalize icons, shortcuts, the list goes on! This is the real fun part, making your mobile uniquely yours!
These are just a few of my personal favourite smartphone tips to spice up your smartphone. Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Feel free to post in the comments section below!