There are so many amazing things that our smartphones can do for us, but sometimes we need a little help getting to know all of the hidden features. In this blog post, we will share some tips and tricks that will help you get more out of your smartphone! We’ll also show you how to use some everyday items to create handy tech accessories. So whether you’re looking for shortcuts on your keyboard or want to turn your old tablet into a security camera, we’ve got you covered!
1. Turn e-books into audiobooks
If you’re someone who likes to listen to books while you commute or work out, there’s an easy way to turn most e-books into audiobooks. Just download a text-to-speech app like NaturalReader, open the app and load your e-book. Then, hit play and listen as the app reads the book aloud.
2. Stop YELLING in your emails
If you’re one of those people who tends to type in all caps when you’re angry, there’s a hidden keyboard trick on your iPhone that can help you keep your cool. Just hold down the shift key and tap the letter “i” three times. This will turn off caps lock, so you can compose a more level-headed response.
3. Repurpose your old device
If you’re like most people, you probably upgraded to a newer smartphone as soon as your two-year contract was up. But what happened to your old device? If it’s just sitting in a drawer gathering dust, it’s time to repurpose it. With a few simple hacks, you can turn your old iPhone into a home security camera, a baby monitor or even a makeshift TV.
4. Search better
Search engines are getting smarter all the time, but there are still ways to make them work better for you. When you’re looking for something specific online, put quotation marks around your search term to get more precise results.
And if you want to find a website you visited before but can’t remember the name, type in part of the URL in the search bar. Google will often bring up the site you’re looking for.
5. Talk instead of type
If you’re not a fan of typing on your smartphone, there’s good news: you can often get by with just your voice. Many built-in apps, such as Messages and Notes, support speech-to-text input. And you can use Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, to dictate text messages, create reminders and more.
To dictate a message in the Messages app, open a new message and tap the microphone icon to the left of the text field. When you’re done speaking, tap Done. To dictate a note, open the Notes app and tap the plus sign to create a new note. Tap the microphone icon and start speaking.
You can also dictate text on your computer using speech-to-text features built into most operating systems. On a Mac, open System Preferences and select Accessibility. Click Speech in the left sidebar, then check the box next to Enable Speech Recognition. Windows users can enable speech-to-text by opening the Control Panel and selecting Ease of Access, then Speech Recognition.
With speech-to-text, you can dictate documents, emails and more. Just open the desired app and start speaking. When you’re done, proofread your text for errors (the computer may not always understand what you’re saying) and make any necessary corrections. Then hit send or save as usual.
6. Borrow e-books
If you’re an avid reader, you can save a lot of money by borrowing e-books from your local library instead of buying them. Most libraries have digital lending services that let you check out e-books and audiobooks using your library card. All you need is a compatible device, such as a Kindle, Nook or iPad.
To find out if your local library has a digital lending service, just go to their website and search for “e-books” or “digital lending.” You can also try an online search engine like Google. Just type in “[name of your library] e-books” and see what comes up.
If your library doesn’t have a digital lending service, you can still check out physical books the old-fashioned way. But you might want to consider signing up for one of the many online book clubs instead. These clubs let you borrow e-books from a huge digital library for a monthly fee. Kindle Unlimited and Oyster are two popular options.
So there you have it: a few simple tips for getting more out of your gadgets. With just a little effort, you can turn your tech devices into powerful tools that can help you save time and money.
Did you find this post helpful? Share it with your friends!
