Smartphone tips every beginner should know

Aside from apps, cameras and internet browsing, smartphones have a couple of tricks that older, traditional mobile phones can’t match. Following are three core smartphones tips every beginner should know.

1. How your smartphone ‘makes’ wifi for your laptop or tablet

Your smartphone has a digital switch that lets laptops and tablets wirelessly use it as an internet wifi source. This is called different things on different phones, such as ‘tethering’, ‘wifi hotspot’ or ‘personal hotspot’. You’ll find this feature in your phone’s settings. Tap it on and it will give you the wifi password needed for other laptops with satellite pro a120 battery or tablets to use it as a wifi source. You should only do this if you have a decent monthly data plan.

2. How to never lose your smartphone contacts again

One of the big hassles with replacing a lost phone is retrieving contacts. Traditionally, they’re stored on your phone’s sim card. But you can make sure they’re never lost again by copying them into your Google account with a couple of swipes. This way, whenever you start up a new phone, you can ‘restore’ the contacts to the new phone from your Google account. Here’s how to copy the contacts. On an Android smartphone, go into your ‘contacts’ settings and choose the ‘merge’ feature. On an iPhone, go into ‘contacts’ settings and choose ‘Add CardDav Account’.

3. Your smartphone lets you text and call for free

One of the big cost advantages to smartphones is that they let you call and text people for free, anywhere in the world. They do this through free apps. Two of the most popular phone calling apps are Skype and Viber, both free from the iPhone and Android app stores. Two of the most popular texting apps are Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger, also free to download.

Apps and App Stores

One thing that really defines a smartphone is its ability to use handy programs called apps. These range from games to accountancy software and everything in-between. They are available to download directly onto a smartphone. On an iPhone, apps are downloaded from Apple’s App Store. On an Android Phone, they are downloaded from Google’s ‘Play’ Store. Around three quarters of all apps are free.

Top 10 Good Free Starter Apps

Here are 10 excellent free apps for both iPhones and Android smartphones to start you off.

1. TuneIn Radio (free)

Phone: iPhone, Android

Some phones (such as iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy S4) lack an FM radio receiver. This app allows you to listen to any radio stream, so long as the station has a web stream.

2. Real Time Ireland

If you want a single view of bus, train and Luas schedules, the National Transport Authority have put this app together. It’s basic but usable. For Dublin bus commuters, the Dublin Bus app is essential. It tells you when the next bus is due and you can search stops by their route or their location.

3. Yahoo Weather

While Met Eireann has its own app, Yahoo’s new weather app is arguably better. In addition to a specific five-day (and five-hour) forecasts for your locality, it shows local satellite, wind and temperature maps.

4. Hailo

This clever app gives you a real-time view of taxis in your area (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick) and allows you to request one. You can pay by credit card, call the driver at any time and get a receipt via email.

5. Livescore

This is a free results-based service that covers football, tennis, basketball, hockey and a few other sports. Its main concern is football and it covers all of the world’s major leagues with instant, live scorelines.

6. Evernote

If there is one note-taking app you should download, this is it. It works right across almost every type of device, meaning that you can access all of your notes, memos and documents (from years back, too) on any gadget you like. It also allows voice notes and images.

7. Runkeeper

Phone: iPhone, Android

You’ve probably seen lots of people updating their Facebook statuses with this particular app: it keeps track of your runs using GPS. Because it’s social, it’s a very effective motivational tool to keep your exercise up.

8. Whatsapp

Phone: iPhone, Android

This is the most popular app for texting and chat for free to friends who also use the app. The system works in the same basic way that an email works. It bypasses most operator charges.

9. Gmail

Phone: iPhone, Android

Gmail is now the default webmail address for many people, partly because it integrates so neatly with smartphones’ notification systems. Both tablet and smartphone versions are easy to use.

10. Sky Go (free)

Phone: iPhone, Android. If you’re already a Sky subscriber, this allows you to watch almost anything on your phone that you’re already signed up to on Sky. That includes the sports and movie channels.

Which is better — iPhone or Android Smartphone?

A. For beginners, iPhones are probably a little easier to use and have marginally more apps available. But they are also more expensive and have limited screen sizes. For those with iTunes digital music collections, iPhones are better. But for smartphone battery life, like SAMSUNG SGH-F480 Phone Battery, some Android models are better.