# New Smartphone - What To Do With It **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619 "2014-11-14T13:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/21 "2014-11-14T19:55:29Z")
You’ll want a good file manager (Astro File Manger, AndroXplorer, ES File Explorer) if you’re carrying miscellaneous data around on your phone. If you’re using the cloud, I’d recommend FolderSync as a one-stop app in place of the various dedicated ones. If you’re using the cloud for anything important, you’ll want encryption with support at both ends (a file manager that can open encrypted zip/7z files will do for basic security, a dedicated app like Boxcryptor if you want to minimize the hoop-jumping to read/view files). You’ll want e-book apps for any online ebook stores you use, or one in any case to read free public-domain stuff. I just had to go looking for a new calendar app – somebody at Google has been puffing on the crack pipe and decided that the week is only five days long and that nobody needs to see what’s going on for the whole month. So far, Today Calendar is serving as an adequate substitute (though I’ll have to shell out six bucks after the 30-day trial unless Google has a come-to-Jaysus moment on this issue before then). ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/22 "2014-11-14T20:08:34Z")
Get in the habit of keeping an eye out for mentions of apps that will be useful to YOU specifically. I know that sounds obvious, but it took me a while to get into the habit. Lots of great suggestions here (and I’ll be checking some of them out myself), but some of my most used apps nobody here would mention because they’re too specific. For example, NJTransit now allows you to buy train tickets on your phone. You just show it to the conductor. I love that. NJT Light is a great little app to find train schedules. I have a NYC subway map app that shows you service alerts. Those are only useful if you take NJTransit and the NYC subway, but I’ll bet there are things out there that will be similarly useful for whatever it is you do regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/23 "2014-11-14T20:21:51Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I just had to go looking for a new calendar app – somebody at Google has been puffing on the crack pipe and decided that the week is only five days long and that nobody needs to see what’s going on for the whole month. So far, Today Calendar is serving as an adequate substitute (though I’ll have to shell out six bucks after the 30-day trial unless Google has a come-to-Jaysus moment on this issue before then). If you are looking for a good calendar app that can function for a whole family, I recommend Cozi. Each member of the family can access the file on their device or on computer, set appointments for themselves or for all, send reminder emails to anyone or everyone in the family. It also comes with some nice list functions that we use for groceries. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/24 "2014-11-14T20:42:00Z")
The new Google Calendar does have a month view… though I kind of stumbled onto it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/25 "2014-11-14T20:44:37Z")
[Amazon is running a promotion](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=amb_link_426815902_2?ie=UTF8&hidden-keywords=B00NG4K8UO%7CB00OV4AOG6%7CB00E00C70C%7CB004YF6MHW%7CB004VCZVHK%7CB00FR88VTC%7CB00FLU0AQI%7CB00C3EM5J0%7CB00F1J3G9C%7CB008NF45S2%7CB006QNL112%7CB004JJR2K4%7CB00EU9VCKO%7CB004TI1WME%7CB00DXJCGE8%7CB00BJ8SXFG%7CB00OV6ATU0&rh=i%3Amobile-apps%2Cn%3A2350149011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-top-1&pf_rd_r=0YTW6VHNGWSWAMPPAV9C&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1973721222&pf_rd_i=2350149011) today and tomorrow for a bunch of utility-style apps for free. I recommend that you “buy” them on your regular computer rather than via your phone or the Amazon AppStore Android app. If you buy them all via your phone, it will attempt to immediately download and install them all. If you buy them via your computer, it will simply flag them as purchased and available for downloading onto your phone at your leisure. I’m not saying any of those app will change your life but you lose nothing buy claiming them and trying them out if they look interesting. Amazon runs these promotions fairly often as well as having a “Free App of the Day” (which, statistically, is nothing great more often than not) ---
**Author:** ![TheFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@TheFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFox)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/26 "2014-11-14T21:14:18Z")
A better text messaging app - I use HandcentSMS Shazam - for figuring out what song’s playing on the radio Your bank app - for cashing checks etc A flashlight - once you have, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without i A better browser - Dolphin or Opera Zedge - if you want custom notification sounds A volume control app - to customize volume for system sounds, notifications, incoming calls, etc Maildroid - for email Alarmdroid - for setting alarms and countdowns Weatherbug - Weather updates Ulysses Speedometer - Useful for seeing how fast you’re actually going, and average speed over your trip. Eats battery though Swype - for entering text much quicker ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/27 "2014-11-16T02:54:28Z")
Thanks, everyone. Some helpful stuff there. I’ve discovered that I hate Google Now and Hangouts. They have to go. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/28 "2014-11-16T06:08:31Z")
As mentioned a smartphone is about as versatile as a PC, in some ways even more. So what are your interests? Pretty much whatever they are there will be something interesting available on your smartphone. Since you have an Android , a general tip: look for scrollable widgets to display your content whether it’s your calendar, twitter feed, news etc. Google Play Newstand: this may already be installed. I like it for news and magazines. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/29 "2014-11-16T06:18:56Z")
Coaster for a beer mug! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/30 "2014-11-17T21:41:49Z")
For those of you advocating having your WiFi on all the time, [Life hacker](http://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-your-smartphone-and-827512308) has an article you may want to read. “Nordstrom, the store that the New York Times focuses on in its piece (although it’s not the only one doing this) installed sensors around some of its stores that would scan for smartphones with Wi-Fi turned on and scanning for networks. The sensors would then make note of the device’s MAC address (an address that’s unique to your phone) and use it to identify and follow the device as it moves about the store. Information about how frequently that MAC address visits the store, which departments it visits when it’s in the store, how long it stays in each department, and how long it stays in the store. Granted, you are not your phone’s MAC address, but if you carry your phone with you all the time, you may as well be.” I turn on my WiFi and location info when I need it, not on constantly for Google’s and other retailer’s data mining. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/31 "2014-11-17T21:43:55Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > For those of you advocating having your WiFi on all the time, [Life hacker](http://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-your-smartphone-and-827512308) has an article you may want to read. > > “Nordstrom, the store that the New York Times focuses on in its piece (although it’s not the only one doing this) installed sensors around some of its stores that would scan for smartphones with Wi-Fi turned on and scanning for networks. The sensors would then make note of the device’s MAC address (an address that’s unique to your phone) and use it to identify and follow the device as it moves about the store. Information about how frequently that MAC address visits the store, which departments it visits when it’s in the store, how long it stays in each department, and how long it stays in the store. Granted, you are not your phone’s MAC address, but if you carry your phone with you all the time, you may as well be.” > > I turn on my WiFi and location info when I need it, not on constantly for Google’s and other retailer’s data mining. That’s actually pretty cool. I wouldn’t mind that. But, search for wifi does take a lot of battery power, so I turn wifi off whenever I remember. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/32 "2014-11-18T06:49:45Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Go [geocaching](http://www.geocaching.com). Heck yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/33 "2014-11-18T18:43:57Z")
I do some woodworking and I find that a\*\* fraction calculator\*\* is invaluable in the workshop. You may find it useful in other activities as well. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/34 "2014-11-18T23:03:54Z")
Get the Clean Master and CM Security apps,the for general cache and junk file cleanup and the second for device security and autostart control on an app by app basis. Autostart control simply means you have the choice of not having an app start up by default, whenever you turn on the device. One caveat, though–I’m on an older device still using Jellybean; not sure how well these apps work with KitKat or Lollipop. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/35 "2014-11-19T05:42:03Z")
[Tune In Radio](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tunein.player&hl=en) ils good for streaming brick-and-mortar stations in all parts of the world, as opposed to virtual radio genre channels. The version I linked to is the Pro version and costs a couple bucks, but there’s a free version too. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/36 "2014-11-19T14:01:35Z")
I don’t know what you people are doing to your phones that you have to constantly have it charged, but I can go about a day and a half or so on one charge on my Galazy 4, and have since I got it. Maybe the reason you have to constantly have it charged is because you never let the battery drain and the battery’s memory got shot to all hell. I’m not constantly on my phone and playing games for hours on end or anything, but I also don’t ignore it either, and I’ve only had battery problems after about 2 or so years. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/37 "2014-11-19T14:14:07Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > It can play music, which is what mine does more often than anything else. It certainly has a player already loaded, and you can get one swith slightly better options for $10 or less. But put a memory card into it before you upload all the music from your computer, or you will exhaust the internal memory. It probably also has a setting that automatically saves pictures to the memory card. Use this setting. Get Angry Birds. I have the Netflix app, and I love it. I also have the YouTube app. I love being able to hand them to my son when he’s bored somewhere, like when a quick trip somewhere ends up being two hours, and he doesn’t have his tablet or a book, and I use Netflix occasionally myself. The screen is small, but the resolution is great, and it satisfies that old childhood desire to have a TV in your pocket. I have an old car that doesn’t have a beeping fob, so I now have a car-finder app, and don’t lose my car in parking lots anymore. If you like board games to pass the time, there is a free Monopoly app that mimics real game play very well, and several good chess, checkers, backgammon, gin, euchre, etc., all free. > [@](#): > > But as an example of interesting things a smartphone can do: guitar tuner. Of course, that might not be useful for you, but there’s probably something to do with your interest or hobby it might be useful for. Did not know about this. Is it just called “guitar tuner”? ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/38 "2014-11-19T14:40:00Z")
The best game for Android (and now IOS too) is [Ingress](https://www.ingress.com/). It’s like Geocaching meets capture the flag out in the real world, using your phone’s GPS. Join the Enlightened (green) faction and help humanity evolve with the help of extradimensional aliens, or join the Resistance (blue) faction and help an escaped AI take over the world. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/39 "2014-11-19T19:52:38Z")
Yeah Ingress is great fun. I enjoyed it for a year or so and started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686614)on it. I don’t play it now but there have been some interesting additions like missions so I may jump back into it. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/40 "2014-11-19T22:16:13Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I don’t know what you people are doing to your phones that you have to constantly have it charged, but I can go about a day and a half or so on one charge on my Galazy 4, and have since I got it. In my case, a lot of radio streaming, podcast download/playback, photography, basic browsing, or using content provider apps in place of browsing…you get the idea. It is true I’ve had my phone for nearly two years, so there’s probably been some minor deterioration in battery charge duration, but considering how heavily I’ve been using the device, I don’t complain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619.md?page=3)