Modern mobile phones offer a lot of features than just making calls and sending text messages. This article explains how to make your mobile experience more exciting and productive by customising your phone and taking advantage of its hidden features.
If you've purchased a mobile phone in the last few years, there's a good chance that it has features you aren't using. Most of us know how to make calls on our phones and send texts (even if it's just to vote in our favourite reality TV show); many of us will take photos. But how often do use your phone as a calculator, a portable alarm clock or an address book?
In this feature, I've identified some of the most common features found on mobile phones and explained in general terms how to use them. While exact instructions on how to access such features will vary between models, the principles are the same for most phones.
Almost inevitably, your phone will have options not discussed here. Take time to read the manual for the phone - the getting started guide, which is often all we look at in the race to get our shiny new toys up and running, typically won't say anything about your phone's more advanced features. If there isn't a manual in the box, check if there's an electronic manual on CD. Alternatively, visit the phone manufacturer's website and see if you can download documentation. For older mobile phones, using a search engine may be easier than going directly to the site - phone manufacturer pages change reguarly and can be difficult to navigate.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the options on your phone - you're not going to damage it simply by trying things out. If you ever get confused, remember that you can generally get back to the main screen by pressing the red "end call" button once or twice on virtually any phone. If the software on your phone crashes more spectacuarly, remove the battery and leave it out for a few minutes, then re-insert and the phone on -it should be fine. Fortunately, this is a rare occurance!
What's Already There
No matter how basic your phone, it undoubtedly has features beyond calling, sending texts and storing your favourite telephone numbers. The first place to look is under Tools or Applications, which is where the majority of phones store their apllications. Many phones have a separate Games menu, and some applications will appear separately on the main menu rather than in a sub-menu.
Common applications found on most phones include calculators (ideal for quick sums when you're out shopping), alarm clocks (great for when you go on holidays and the hotel is too cheap to provide one) and basic games. These are generally rather like the free Solitaire and Minesweeper you get with Windows, but still can be a good way to pass time.
Keeping Time
One of the most common applications found on most phones is a calendar, for noting important dates and appointments. A mobile phone makes an ideal appointments diary for a number of reasons. It's portable, you probably already carry it everywhere, and if you need to change or move and appointment, you don't have to make a mess of scribbling out the old one. On most phones, you can also set up recurring appointments (for regular events like weekly meetings), and set reminders in the form of alrams that go off at a specified time before an event. A non-technological but important tip: using a phone-based calendar or address book will only make your life more efficient if you commit to it. If you try and maintain a paper diary as well as an electronic one, you'll find neither will prove particuarly useful.
A Useful Pack of ICE
A useful tip for all phone owners: place an entry under the name "ICE" in your phone's contacts list/address book with the number of someone you'd want contacted in the event of an emergency (ICE stands for In Case of Emergency). For instance, if you are taken ill in a public place, having an entry under ICE will make it easier for bystanders or police to identify quickly who to contact.
The PC Connection
Linking your phone to your PC offers a better range of benefits. You can back up the phone numbers stored on your SIM card, so you won't lose valueable contacts if your phone is misplaced or stolen. If your phone supports adding new applications, downloading them on your computer and then installing them will be a much speedier process than adding them directly on the phone. If you reguarly travel with a notebook PC, then connecting your phone to the PC will also often charge it, saving the need to carry a charger purely for the purposes. One of the biggest benefits of PC connection is if your phone has a built-in camera (and virtually all modern phones do). Connecting up to your PC provides the simplest way of moving photos off your phone so you can share or edit them. (Sending the pictures directly from your phone to other people is fun, but much more costly alternative if sending via MMS).
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.