Who uses all the features on their Smartphone?

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Predated

174 posts

Master Geek

# 96077 19-Jan-2012 20:45

After seeing here and other places on the net people recommending one phone over another based on pure numbers, i.e. bigger pixel count, higher feature count or larger megapixel camera I thought I'd find out what geeks actually use all these features.

I like the idea behind Dlna but can't think of a time I'd actually use it. I have 4 phones an HTC trophy, an iPhone 4, a Nokia E7 and an LG P500. I use the P500 as customizable home screens is the big thing for me.

I use the smart phone mostly for calling and emailing, I love being able to open all the attachments and viewing them, properly. The other big thing for me with Smart phones is the cloud integration be it iCloud, Google apps, or windows live, having all my data auto syncing across all the platforms is great. I personally don't take photos often or play highly graphical games so don't worry about other aspects of the phone.

So my Question is to you what features do you actually use, or being geeks do you just like to brag about the big numbers ( no shame in that, we all do it :) )

NZtechfreak

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# 571010 19-Jan-2012 21:04

I think I use most of the features, but I doubt my use is typical.

Calling and telephony are a distinct minority of my use, which comprises the following:

Watching HD video, on the device or via MHL to the television
Listening to music - via line out in the car, headphones, bluetooth to my Logitech Wireless Boombox
I use RDP with bluetooth keyboard and mouse with the MHL connection
I game, including gaming via MHL with my PS3 controller or bluetooth gamepads (emulators!!!!)
Browse
RSS feed + Read It Later
Facebook/Twitter
Use eBooks/kids books via the phone with my Son
Use the camera and take video
Use the GPS for navigation and also sports tracking with my bluetooth heart rate monitor
Use VOIP and similar voice calling/video calling apps
Use USB Host/OTG for various connections

DLNA would be the main thing I don't use because I prefer using wired connections for that stuff.

Naturally I still love to brag about big numbers :)

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davidcole

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# 571192 20-Jan-2012 12:39

I use mine (iPhone 4) for
reading books
mail
video (local and streamed via plex)
facebook/twitter
pc monitoring (Pc Monitor - great app)
photos and video
music to/from work
airplay of photos/video/music to stereo via ATV2
tracking runs/rides
logging gym workouts, weight tracking

and there';s a bunch on other app I'd use less that once a week - but in a week I'd use the above at least once.

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billgates

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# 571200 20-Jan-2012 13:01

I use my HTC Titan for

Emails
Facebook
Twitter
Camera
Skydrive
Games
News
GPS Navigation

Do whatever you want to do man.

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

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# 572537 23-Jan-2012 21:41

I use my Motorola Defy everyday. Of course I could live without a smartphone but I probably wouldn't choose to.

I use:

The audio player for music, audio books and podcasts.
The calendar to remind me of stuff.
Evernote to write stuf down.
The browser
A bit of email but not that much.
Sometimes watching TV on Demand but on a 3.7' screen it isn't perfect
Calling and texting.

The thing I am usually surprised with is that I am still finding out new stuff almost a year later. I just discovered Google Listen, now I can get most of the podcasts I want direct to my phone.

Wonder what I'll discover next?

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

freitasm

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Geekzone

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# 572540 23-Jan-2012 21:58

But how many of these are "smartphone features" and how many are third party programs/applications?

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billgates

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# 572554 23-Jan-2012 22:46

freitasm: But how many of these are "smartphone features" and how many are third party programs/applications?

Emails - Smartphone
Facebook - Smartphone
Twitter - Smartphone
Camera/Photos - Smartphone
Skydrive - Smartphone
Games - Third party
News - Third party
GPS Navigation - Third party

Do whatever you want to do man.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

# 572569 23-Jan-2012 23:38

of the main features of my smartphone, the one I probably use least is placing or receiving calls.

mckenndk

895 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 572581 24-Jan-2012 01:21

I have the Galaxy S II and believe I use it to its fullest especially when I am travelling

Android Software
Email
Calendar
Internet
Music
Messaging SMS
Alarm Clock
Note Taking

Phones Features
GPS
Camera
Front facing camera for video calls (only with BestMates)
Wifi Hotspot

Third Party Apps
News
Navigation and location
Podcast player
Document Editing
Messaging, Viber/Whatsapp/Skype
Youtube (usually uploading videos)
Bar Code Reader
Travel Guides and accommidation
Airnz Mpass
Facebook
Document Scanner (Camscanner)
Torch (uses LED for flash)
Currency conversion rates (xe.com)

These arnt all the apps I have on the phone but the ones I use the most, I don't tend to make many phone calls as the plans I am usually on are focused towards data and text's over data.
I am not a fan of having a phone as a status symbol and get annoyed with people that don't use it for what its worth Android, Apple or Windows Phone.

Dion

manuleka

76 posts

Master Geek

# 581649 15-Feb-2012 08:34

i use an iPhone 4

photos
txting
calling
playing games
reading (but i find the screen too small)
youtube
web surfing

i've got some friends who is selling or have sold their iPhone 4 to get 4S and all they do with their phone is txting and making phone-calls, and a few photos here and there....

alot of smart phone owners (especially iPhones) never really use most of the features on their phone

jeffnz

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# 581654 15-Feb-2012 08:54

well whether 3rd party or not if it wasn't a smartphone I woul;dn't be able to use them so in no particular order:
Email
GPS (use mytracks when cycling)
GPS navigation
Camera
messaging (not a lot)
phone see above

3rd party apps, too many to name but apart from google search I use tapatalk to access forums all the time.

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robjg63

2979 posts

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# 581676 15-Feb-2012 09:50

Predated: After seeing here and other places on the net people recommending one phone over another based on pure numbers, i.e. bigger pixel count, higher feature count or larger megapixel camera I thought I'd find out what geeks actually use all these features.

I like the idea behind Dlna but can't think of a time I'd actually use it. I have 4 phones an HTC trophy, an iPhone 4, a Nokia E7 and an LG P500. I use the P500 as customizable home screens is the big thing for me.

I use the smart phone mostly for calling and emailing, I love being able to open all the attachments and viewing them, properly. The other big thing for me with Smart phones is the cloud integration be it iCloud, Google apps, or windows live, having all my data auto syncing across all the platforms is great. I personally don't take photos often or play highly graphical games so don't worry about other aspects of the phone.

So my Question is to you what features do you actually use, or being geeks do you just like to brag about the big numbers ( no shame in that, we all do it :) )

I suspect you have answered your own question here - It depends what you want to do with it. They are a bit of a pandoras box arent they.

Ive got a basic android phone (samsung galaxy ace), I dont make many calls and text a little. Like you I like fact you can read the messages (and type).
I use the google navigate from time to time and a little web browsing.
Take the odd photo when I remember its got a camera.

Strangely one thing I do find very useful is as a bedside web browser. I often end up using wifi at home and checking the news (or geekzone) from bed.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

tdgeek

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# 581689 15-Feb-2012 10:14

4S

Messaging
GPS
Camera
HD Video
Music
Skype
News
Email
Calls minimally
EQ checking
In fact the apps are really just internet

I agee with JeffNZ, if I did not have a smartphone, such as the E71 I did have, the screen size and OS limit me to just calls and text even though it can do more, it is too small. To me a smartphone is not just what it can do (as most dumb phones can do many things a smartphone can do, but the smartphones size and OS make those things usable

Linuxluver

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# 581703 15-Feb-2012 10:52

I do actually use almost every feature in my phones....except the HDMI TV Out. I don't have a TV new enough to have an HDMI input.

Our current TV was 'free to a good home' several years ago when someone else upgraded. The last TV I actually paid money for is a SONY 14" from about 1994. I got tired of passive media consumption at about the same moment the world wide web came into being and 'media' became interactive.

I'm thinking about buying a 3D TV - mainly to give me a big screen to watch my own videos and Internet-based 3D videos on (YouTube, etc...)

My phone does almost everything my laptop, camera and MP3 player used to do....as well as being my phone.

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