Smartphones are getting more versatile and functional by day, so they could take on more and more rules. A brief visit to Google could unveil dozens of ways to use your Android smartphone in a way you haven't imagined before. Unlike Apple iOS, the Android OS is being used in a lot more phones than you think, phones such as the Huawei P30. If you are looking to get an Android phone, then fonehouse is a great place to start. Below are 10 features that will help you master the use of your new Android phone.
Some Android models allow you to use the "OK Google" voice command to search for information when the display is off. These models have dedicated listening sensors to accept the verbal command, even if the display isn't active. If you want to know whether your phone supports this feature go to Settings> Search and Now> Voice> OK Google Detection> Always on and flip the switch. However, you need to provide a sample of your voice, so your phone will respond appropriately.
Losing your phone is a bad experience because someone could immediately access your crucial data. With the Android Device Manager, you can remotely ring the phone, lock or reset it. Wiping your phone remotely may seem like a drastic measure, but you should do that if you know, you won't get your device back. To enable this feature, go to Settings> Security> Device Administrators.
Dark theme will make your display more visible when using the phone under the sun or when reading at a low-light situation. Go to Settings> Accessibility> Colour Inversion. The colors on your screen will be inverted and appear darker. Your interface and app icons may appear weird, but you can see them more easily in extreme situations.
If you use Chrome as the default browser, you can access it on your smartphone from other devices. When you are logged in with your Google account, you can check the Recent tabs located at the bottom right of the interface. Tap it and you can see recently opened tabs, regardless of the device you use to open them.
Fortunately, not everyone has evil intention in their mind and some people are actually willing to return your phone. If you have the habit of misplacing stuff, you should leave some details about the ownership of your phone. You may show a message on the lock screen to tell the finder to contact you. Go to Settings> Security> Lock Screen Message. You can add your email address or phone number. To increase your chance, it's also a good idea to offer a reward for returning your phone.
Just a few years ago, you need to have a flatbed scanner to make a digital copy of your physical documents. If your smartphone camera is good enough, you can use it as a makeshift scanner. The quality may not be as good, but under enough indirect sunlight, you may get decent results. Scanning under direct indoor lighting is also recommended, although not as good as natural light. With some apps, you may convert the photographed documents into PDF files, so you can copy the text. Good apps for scanning your documents are Evernote and CamScanner.
For many people, it's a well-known feature, but some people still don't know that they can make their own Wi-Fi hotspot with their smartphone. Go to Settings> More> Tethering & Portable Hotspot. Configuring a Wi-Fi hotspot is easy, type in the name of your network and the password. Know that you are using your own mobile data plan, so if you have limited data allowance, you should track usage to avoid steep data bill.
Smartphones are equipped with all sorts of sensors. One of them allows you to know which one is south or north. You may download specialized compass apps, such as AndroiTS Compass or Smart Compass, so it's easier for you to navigate your way. Your smartphone could also be equipped with a barometer to let you know about the weather in your area.
The camera of your smartphone can be used as a barcode scanner. Install the Barcode Scanner app and it scans QR codes as well. There is plenty of other alternative barcode scanning as well. When you are in a store, you can use the phone to check the price. You may also check inventory with a barcode scanner.
Your phone could also work like smart sports wristband. You can track your running, walking and various other activities, without using a special fitness tracker. Google Fit is a popular fitness tracking app, but there are other alternatives as well. As an example, Runtastic Heart Rate Monitor could track your heart rate with the phone's camera.