Many fans of the iPhone have been busy searching for ways that they can increase the utility of their iPhones and there really are a lot of different ways you can go about this. With the range of features and apps on most iPhones these days there are tons of creative and clever ways to extend the life and functionality of your iPhone. And with the recent release of iOS 7 the usefulness only increases. Here are five of my favorites.
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| iPhone Original/3G/4/5 (Photo credit: Yutaka Tsutano) |
Turn the Brightness Down!
Right. Of all the features on your iPhone that will suck up battery life and keep you attached to your charger, your screen is probably the worst. Sure, that brilliantly bright display may keep your screen looking beautiful, but it takes a lot of energy to keep it that bright. As a result, I recommend most users do not keep their screen on the brightest setting all the time. Instead, I recommend that most users keep their phone's screen set only to the brightest setting they need to comfortably see the display.
Not Using Your Wi-Fi? Turn It Off!
Another big battery drinker that most iPhone users don't think about is the Wi-Fi connection on their phone. It takes quite a bit of energy for your phone to be constantly sending out signals and searching for networks and all that. If you're not currently connected to a Wi-Fi network and using it actively, turning off your connectivity will save your battery a fair bit of energy and wear and tear.
Use Your Phone as a Flashlight
There are a ton of great apps for the iPhone that can turn either your camera's flash or your screen into a flashlight so that if your power goes out or you're walking home at night or there's an accident and you need something to light your way for you, you can count on your iPhone. It uses a lot of battery though, so combine it with the power-saving tips above.
Rock the Double-Tap
Most people know that if they tap the home button on their iPhones they will get taken to their home screen. What they do not know, however, is that tapping it twice keeps their current app open but brings up a scrollable list of apps on the bottom of the screen, which is sorted by most recently used. This is an easier and more convenient way to switch between apps and find what you are looking for on your phone.
Consider a SIM-Only Phone Plan
Not happy with your current phone service? Want to get better coverage at a cheaper price and be able to keep your expensive iPhone at the same time? Now you can! SIM-only plans allow iPhone users to keep their phone while being able to select the cellular company and the plan that is right for them. Talk about freedom! Take a look at this list of options for SIM-only plans available for the iPhone.
There are lots of nifty things you can do with your iPhone. You can totally customize it with an almost infinite number of options. How you chose to do this is up to you and this list of nifty iPhone features should only be a starting point for you. In regards to the last point, however, if you're planning on getting a SIM-only contract, check out this great site for a list of 12 month SIM-only deals.
Laura Ginn is a professional writer and blogger who regularly writes about technology, particularly the topic of mobile devices.
