They’ve taken over – getting rid of our alarm clocks, maps, computers, gaming consoles,
cookbooks, and fitness instructors! Their goal: to have us completely under control!
Ok, maybe not all that, but do you know what mysteries and possible hazards your smartphone
hides?
From humble beginnings, the very first smartphone appeared back in 1992, when IBM introduced
the Simon Personal Communicator. The device cost about $1,000, could only send emails
and run simple apps, and weighed as much as a hammer! But it was popular for its time!
Gradually, the giant dinosaur smartphone evolved and turned into a sleek modern gadget that
accompanies us even when we're asleep! But don’t charge your phone on the bed! The
battery can quickly heat up when it’s getting juice. If it makes its way under your pillow,
there have been cases when a phone caught on fire! Keep it on a hard flat surface, and
remove the case when it’s plugged in – that case can make things too toasty as well.
When I say our smartphones accompany us EVERYWHERE, I mean it – like to the bathroom! You ever
take a hot shower and leave your phone on the bathroom counter with some music or video
playing? Don’t do it! The steam from your shower can get inside the device, and once
condensation sets in, it can ruin the internal parts. (And I have a tip for that later!)
If your USB cable is too long, you can shorten it at home. To do this, wrap the cord around
a pen or pencil, and fix it in place with 2 clothespins on each end. Warm everything
up with a hairdryer for 3-4 minutes, and let it cool. When you take out the pencil, you’ll
have a coiled cord that saves space!
Say you lose your phone and need to immediately block it – dial *#06# to get its serial
code. You can call your mobile provider, tell them that number, and your phone will turn
off without the chance to unblock it.
To get rid of dirt and debris that collect in the charging port, use a can of pressurized
air like they make for keyboards. A couple quick puffs will clear everything out! And
never ever stick anything into the port to clean it out. Forks, toothpicks, anything
pointy – forget about it!
Don’t catch a case of nomophobia or “no mobile phone phobia” – the fear of being
without a smartphone. It’s a sense of panic that occurs when people forget their smartphone
when leaving home, can't find their gadget for a long time, or just completely drain
the device's battery. Not having that palm accessory can really put nomophobes under
a lot of stress! Poor baby!
With that in mind, try to lay your phone down more often. When you constantly hold it, send
messages, and play games, it causes tension in your joints and tendons.
To help yourself with that, “earn” your phone time. Make it a rule: 1 hour of productivity
with work, study, chores equals 15 minutes of phone time!
Don’t forget to disinfect your phone – it’s covered in germs! Scientists found that it
has 10 times more bacteria than an average toilet seat! (Can’t imagine how they did
THAT study! Hmm, Actually I can.) Don’t use antibacterial wipes on it, though – they’re
too abrasive. Fill a small spray bottle with equal parts rubbing alcohol and water. Spray
a lint-free cloth, and use that to wipe down your screen.
Don’t charge your phone until its battery shows only 10%. If your smartphone still has
a charge and you recharge it again and again, it can wear down the battery and shorten its
lifespan.
Don’t always keep it on the charger either. If your phone’s already fully juiced up
but is still charging, it’s not good for the battery.
To protect your phone from peeping eyes (“peeping eyes” ha), don’t use a graphic or numeric
password. No matter how complex those are, the most secure way to protect your gadget
today is with facial or fingerprint recognition!
When you’re watching videos, use a pair of sunglasses to hold your phone up on a surface.
Binders and old cassette cases work great for this as well.
Don’t use push-notifications – most of them require a constant Internet connection,
so they make your phone and battery work harder. And who wants to do that?
No matter how fragile they seem, modern phone models can easily send a person into space!
Of course, for a real flight, you still need a rocket, but an ordinary iPhone is smart
enough to replace an onboard computer!
Get this: one ton of ore contains 1 gram of gold – the same amount in 40 smartphones!
So don’t throw away your old devices. Take them to the service center instead!
Improve the sound quality when recording videos by closing the microphone with your finger
or a tissue. You’ll muffle background noise, so the main audio stream will be clearer.
You accidentally downloaded a bad app with malware on your Android phone – now the
app won’t close. Just press the "back" key several times. The system will understand
how dangerous the app is, close it automatically, and return you to your desktop.
If you double-tap on the handset button in the Phone app menu, it’ll dial the last
outgoing number.
Try to take a photo through your sunglasses if the light in your picture is too bright.
It’ll reduce the sun’s glare, and your picture will come out way better!
Make a quick phone case when you’re in a jam! Inflate a balloon, lay your smartphone
on it, and slowly let the air out. The balloon will envelop the device and keep the ports
protected from moisture and dirt! Can’t take pictures though…
If your TV or AC remote isn’t working, point it at your phone’s front-facing camera.
Smartphone cameras can "see" invisible infrared light coming from the remote control. If you
don’t see a red dot or glow coming from the remote, it’s time to change the batteries!
Or the remote itself.
If you’re afraid of not hearing your alarm in the morning, put your phone in a cup or
coffee mug. It’ll make the sound louder. Just don’t add the coffee.
Ever wonder why your charger cord is so short? Manufacturers do it on purpose to keep you
from using the phone when it’s charging. Just let it juice up without having to work
at the same time.
If you lose your gadget, click on the “Phone Search” link on the main page of your Google
account. When you select the device, just call it. Your smartphone will start playing
the ringtone at the maximum volume, even if it was in silent mode.
Next time the power goes out, turn your smartphone into a lamp! Just turn on your phone’s flashlight,
set it screen-side-down on a table, and put a water bottle on the light. Ta-da!
To avoid confusing the left and right earpieces, wrap some electrical tape on one of the cords.
Try to remember: tape means right! Or left, whatever you choose!
If you can’t find your charger box or you left it at home, plug into a TV! Most have
a USB input that can charge your phone.
A bright screen drains your battery faster than you’d think. To save some power, turn
down the brightness and use just a plain black wallpaper. Don’t ever use vibration mode
either.
Or, put some simple text on that black background – make it your name, email, and the phone
number of someone close to you. In case you lose your phone, the good Samaritan who finds
it can get hold of you!
If your phone has fallen in water, throw it a life preserver! Better yet, turn it off
quickly, remove the battery, and gently wipe the phone with paper towels. Use a can of
air to blow through every part of the phone for 20 minutes, without bringing it too close
to the gadget. If you have a dual-function vacuum, you can blow air with it, or use a
hairdryer on a mild temperature setting. Don’t use the rice trick – it doesn’t work.
Restart your phone 2 -3 times a week. It’ll reset the app cache, and your device will
work much faster.
To make your phone screen look like new, grab a cotton pad and wipe it down with a little
shaving foam. You can leave a little stubble for that unshaved look.
You can use the button on the headphone wires to take selfies when you want a wide-angle
shot, and your arm’s not long enough to tap the screen!
Next time you go to the beach or on a camping trip, put your phone in a small Ziploc baggie.
It’ll keep dirt and water out. (Also a nice trick when you want to watch videos in the
shower! But you didn’t hear it from me!)
Before you go to the store, take a picture of the inside of your fridge and pantry. Who
needs to write out a big long grocery list when you have tech on your side!