1/06/2013

10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Your Smartphone

Studies show that the majority of adults in the United States own cellphones. As of September, 2012, the Pew Research Center found that 45% of American adults have smartphones.

With everything a smartphone can do, those statistics aren't so surprising. Mobile devices keep you connected at all times, whether it's by phone, texting, email or social media. And there seems to be an app for just about everything. But what about all the ways your smartphone can help with non-digital tasks?
We've rounded up 10 handy and little-known ways to use your smartphone in the physical world — matching paint color, starting your car from your kitchen, checking your heart rate and more.
What kind of real-world tasks do you complete with mobile devices?

Smartphone

1. Match Paint Colors

Want to paint your walls the same color of green as your throw pillows? What about making your wainscoting the same color blue as yesterday afternoon's sky?
With BEHR's ColorSmart mobile app, you can match the perfect paint color. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

2. Use Your Phone as a Level

The free iHandy Level app (one of the five tools included in the iHandy Carpenter toolkit), lets you hang pictures, align shelves and measure angles accurately.

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3. Start Your Car

The Viper Smart Start app lets you start your car remotely. All you have to do is install the device in your car, and you can warm the engine on a winter morning while you finish your coffee in the kitchen.
The Viper Smart Start is available on iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

4. Measure Stuff Using Your Camera Lens

Tired of pinching yourself on tape measures? Interested in measuring really tall things? There are several apps that can measure practically anything for you through your camera lens.
Check out Smart Measure Pro (linked above) for Android and Dot Measure Pro for iOS.

5. Create Blueprints (or Design Your Dream Room)

You can use your smartphone for high-level design with Mark On Call on iOS. Create detailed blueprints for your project, or mock up that living room you always wanted.

6. Visualize Your Home Using Augmented Reality

In the same design vein as Mark On Call, uDecore lets you view a real room of your house through your iOS device's camera and, using augmented reality, visualize different pieces of furniture and design elements.

7. Monitor Your Heart Rate

Azumio's Instant Heart Rate measures your heart rate after you place your finger on your smartphone screen for a few seconds. The app, available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone, was awarded the Best Health & Fitness App in the Mobile Premier Awards in 2011.

8. Use Your Phone as a Remote Control

Odds are you lose track of your remote all the time, but you probably have your phone by your side at all times. That's why ThinkFlood's RedEye Mini comes in handy. With a small infrared device, you can control several devices from the palm of your hand. Compatible with iOS.

9. Change the Color of Your Lightbulbs

Wouldn't it be convenient to control the brightness and color of your lights from your mobile device? Now you can, with Phillips Hue. The app and "smart" light bulbs let you adjust the lighting via Wi-Fi on your iPhone or iPad, and you can also turn your lights on remotely if you're working late and want it to look like you're home.

10. Program Your DVR Remotely

Do you often forget to digitally record your favorite shows before you leave the house? With Verizon's FiOS Mobile Remote app, not only can you control your cable box with your smartphone, but you can program the DVR when you're away from home. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

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10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Your Smartphone

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