Many of us use smartphones on the daily, but how many of us actually maximize its functions? Apart from voice calls, social networking, telling the time, listening to music and maybe using the device as a flashlight, there are so many other creative ways the smartphone can be used beyond their standard features to make life easier. Jumia Travel shares 5 things you probably didn’t know you could do with your smartphone.
Control a TV
This may sound incredible, especially if your phone and your TV are not the same brand, but in reality, it can be done. Almost every smartphone is released with an infrared port that allows you to ditch your standard TV remote and instead use your device to control your TV. You however need to download an app from google play (if your smartphone is also android) which will help you set it all up. Once it is set up, you are able to carry out all the normal tasks you’d expect from a TV remote, but by using your smartphone. You can try download Peel Smart Remote on Android & iOS.
Scan documents
As long as you have a smartphone, you no longer need to go to a cybercafé or use a scanner to scan documents, photographs, receipts, business cards or anything on paper that you want to make digital. The smartphone’s camera is already a portable, pocket document scanner that you need. For those who use android smartphones, the Google Drive app has a built-in scanning feature while Evernote Scannable is available for iPhone and iPad users. Using the camera lens, scan and then share your scans via email or text, or export them as PDF and JPG files. Most smartphones even gives you the option of automatically rotating, cropping, and adjusting images so your scans are easy to read.
A cordless mouse and keyboard
This is super convenient if you are the type who uses a computer a lot and your computer’s touchpad is faulty. Your smartphone, especially android, allows you to download an App called RemoteDroid, which consequently turns your phone to a wireless computer touchpad or keyboard. This function is also a great solution for people who use their computers as their entertainment hub.
Games console
If you love to play games, especially video games, you will be delighted to know that there are some tremendously powerful smartphones around, which can give you a great gaming experience. The MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) offers a way to connect phones and other portable electronics to HD televisions and monitors, using an MHL cable linked between the micro USB port on your phone and your screen’s HDMI.
A microscope
A number of smartphone cameras are great for taking selfies and short videos, but with some tweaks, you can actually turn the turn the same camera into a microscope. With magnification levels up to 375x, you easily conduct a scientific experiment with your phone and satisfy your scientific curiosity or just enjoy the aesthetics of greatly magnified photos. Parents will love this as it could come in handy when doing home science project with their kids.
