A smart phone such as an iPhone, or one with the Android operating system lets you do so much more than just making and receiving phone calls – it’s like having a portable internet-connected computer. In this article I detail the many things that I was able to do with my smart phone while on a vacation in the San Francisco bay area, and in day-to-day life.
• With the Maps app I was able to get directions to different cities & landmarks, get travel times with traffic slow-down time estimates, and pinpoint our current location while traveling on a trolley car.
• With the mobile web browser I was able to search the internet to look-up a popular restaurant that I heard about, check reviews, and make a reservation.
• Used the “Check Please” app to help figure the tip on our dinner.
• While waiting at the trolley-stop, I used the mobile web browser to access the web address posted that was posted on a sign and found route map.
• I ordered Alcatraz ferry tickets.
• With the Email app I was able to receive receive dinner and ferry reservation confirmations.
• I used the mobile web browser to search for “bay bridge toll amount” and “new bay bridge completion” and downloaded an app that simulates driving on the bay bridge.
• I used the Google Places app to find nearby dining and reviews – which uses the smart phone’s built-in GPS to find my current location.
• When our XM Satellite Radio stopped working for a brief time, I brought up the Pandora Radio app to listen to music while driving.
• When it was time to fill-up the gas tank I used the Gas Buddy app to find the best price on fuel at nearby gas stations.
• I used the camera to take hundreds of pictures.
• Remembered how I used a Disneyland park attraction wait times app last year to help manage time waiting for attractions at the park.
• Read news from home using various apps from local media outlets.
• Played “Words With Friends” – a game similar to Scrabble – while waiting in long lines at the amusement park.
• While my wife was shopping with my daughter, and I was riding the trolley with my son, we both used the camera and picture messaging apps to send pictures back and forth.
• Each day I used a weather app to help decide how to dress for each day’s activities in the bay area’s micro-climates.
• I used my bank and credit card companies’ apps to check my balances, spending, transfer funds and pay bills.
• To compile this list I used the Notes app often as I thought of different things to add to the list.
So as you can see, a smart phone came in handy for more than just phone calls during our vacation. It also comes in handy every day in day-to-day life, and a backup for many of the things I do on my desktop computer. If you need help with setting up or getting more use from your smart phone or tablet computer, give us a call – we can help.