# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/41 "2014-11-19T22:26:27Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Waze is a pretty good navigation app. Waze is now owned by Google, and I believe many of its features have already been incorporated into Google Maps. Speaking of Google Maps (actually it’s just called “Maps”), it’s more than just a map & navigation app. It’s also useful for finding local businesses, and looking up their contact info & reviews. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/42 "2014-11-19T22:33:35Z")
> [@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. > > 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. That’s a myth. Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from “memory effect.” I also have a Galaxy S4 (which I assume is what you meant). Under “normal” use it’ll easily last a day. In certain conditions, I can run out of battery power much more quickly - e.g. being in a building with poor mobile signal reception (your phone increases power to the transmitter to compensate), using the phone for navigation during long walks, taking lots of photos, etc. ---
**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 19, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/43 "2014-11-19T23:17:15Z")
I get about a day out of my Galaxy S4 mini with pretty regular use,and **T-Cups** , for your [edification](http://gizmodo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-smartphone-battery-the-right-w-513217256). **Rivkah** , yes, just search Google Play under guitar tuner. I use mine quite regularly and it works very 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 19, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/44 "2014-11-19T23:42:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > 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. IME, if you are staying in one spot and have a good wifi signal, like you probably do at home, then keeping wifi lowers the draw from your battery. The high consumption of wifi happens when you’re driving or otherwise moving from place to place, and the device continually searches for available wifi signals. If you do stop in one place for awhile, like a Starbucks, they’ll have wifi but it probably won’t be much better than the local mobile signals. ---
**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 20, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/45 "2014-11-20T00:14:21Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > One caveat, though–I’m on an older device still using Jellybean; not sure how well these apps work with KitKat or Lollipop. ETA: Don’t be too sure about how _anything_ will work with Lollipop, and in general try not to be the first one on your block to download any new version of the OS. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/46 "2014-11-20T03:44:31Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > [ul] > [li] GOOD browser - Dolphin is best, Boat is almost as good and a little more stable, Chrome if you want to be mainstream[/li][/ul] Never heard of Dolphin and Boat, why are they good? It seems like the few phones I’ve seen have “Browser” (is that an Android generic?) and Chrome. I downloaded Firefox. Haven’t used any enough to have a fav yet. What makes one mobile browser better than another? (Same as in the desktop world?) ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/47 "2014-11-20T03:49:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Coaster for a beer mug! I use the old ones, smart or dumb, as paperwieghts. I know it’s a joke but they really work if you have a ceiling fan blowing around the papers in your various piles. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/48 "2014-11-20T03:58:34Z")
Get the app for your bank or credit union or brokerage account. Most allow you to take a picture of a check to deposit it. Way cool. I’m using Aviate as a Launcher - I like it, but haven’t tried many others. (Full disclosure: I own Yahoo stock.) I also like Weatherbug as others have mentioned and I like NOAA Weather for having the only weather widget I like. Google voice has been more trouble than it’s worth for me, but YMMV. Just found “Jorte” which is a calendar app which I like quite a lot. Question: Are there any decent games (nothing fancy) that aren’t primarily trying to get you to upgrade or buy “credits or whatever”? ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/49 "2014-11-20T04:13:06Z")
Regarding the five day Google Calendar week, if you turn the phone to landscape orientation, it shows a seven day week. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/50 "2014-11-20T13:49:03Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > That’s a myth. Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from “memory effect.” > > I also have a Galaxy S4 (which I assume is what you meant). Under “normal” use it’ll easily last a day. In certain conditions, I can run out of battery power much more quickly - e.g. being in a building with poor mobile signal reception (your phone increases power to the transmitter to compensate), using the phone for navigation during long walks, taking lots of photos, etc. > [@swampspruce](#): > > I get about a day out of my Galaxy S4 mini with pretty regular use,and **T-Cups** , for your [edification](http://gizmodo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-smartphone-battery-the-right-w-513217256). > > **Rivkah** , yes, just search Google Play under guitar tuner. I use mine quite regularly and it works very well. Yeah I meant Galaxy, I can’t type for the life of me… And that’s an interesting article! Thanks for the link for it ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/51 "2014-11-20T13:57:13Z")
It’s been interesting. I like being able to check email wherever and whenever, and it helps me keep in touch with my busy and mobile family. And they like getting pictures of my daughter via MMS at regular intervals. I love the Kindle app. It means that there’s one less thing to carry around, since now I leave the Kindle at home. There’s some work stuff that’s helpful. Adobe Reader is helpful. I haven’t tried the new MS Office Android app, but I expect that I’ll be using it pretty often once I install it. Google pushed an upgrade to Android 5, and it installed itself seamlessly. No problems, and it didn’t affect my contacts or settings, so that was handy. Not sure what it does differently from Android 4.4.4, which is what came with the phone, but it’s there. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619/52 "2014-11-20T14:00:25Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > IME, if you are staying in one spot and have a good wifi signal, like you probably do at home, then keeping wifi lowers the draw from your battery. The high consumption of wifi happens when you’re driving or otherwise moving from place to place, and the device continually searches for available wifi signals. If you do stop in one place for awhile, like a Starbucks, they’ll have wifi but it probably won’t be much better than the local mobile signals. Battery life has been OK for me. I always go 24 hours on a charge. I don’t really need more than that, since I can always recharge at home or work. Of course, I may not be using it to the max, but for doing what I do, the battery life is sufficient. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-smartphone-what-to-do-with-it/704619.md?page=2)