Do you use your phone as your alarm clock? What about to check the weather or the news? My husband relies only on his wireless device as our morning wake-up call, and more than half of today’s wireless consumers report using smartphones as a morning alarm, to check weather forecasts and stay updated on news, according to a recent survey conducted by U.S. Cellular.
Five Common Questions about Wireless Devices
Since wireless devices have become an integral part of the daily lives of consumers, there are a number of questions that people have consistently asked. Here are U.S. Cellular’s solutions to some of the most common:
What is the best way to disinfect my wireless device?
The best way to keep your device free from germs, especially if you have a touch screen, is to use a screen protector like PureTek. Then, you can disinfect the protector with a simple alcohol or disinfecting spray. Pre-soaked wipes aren’t ideal as moisture can damage the device. Spray a soft cloth with ethyl or isopropyl alcohol and be sure the cloth isn’t soaking wet. Turn off your device and wipe it down. The less moisture you expose your gear to, the better. Be extra careful around the charging port and headphone adapter.
How can I make my device charge faster?
The fastest way to charge your smartphone or tablet is to turn it off and plug it in. The screen needs the most power, and users often have apps that run continuously in the background. If you don’t want to turn off your device, switch to airplane mode, which will disconnect you from cellular data and Wi-Fi. You also can stop all apps running in the background and reduce screen brightness to conserve the battery.
Can my smartphone read texts and emails out loud to me?
Most of the latest devices have this feature internally, and you can set voice control to your preferences. If your Android device does not have this feature, download the Voice Commands app to allow access to your phone’s core features and control system. Some hands-free driving devices, like the Jabra FREEWAY Car Kit, automatically turn on when you are in the car to enable these services.
How can I take a photo on a tablet without needing two hands to focus the photo and press the shutter?
Most devices have autofocus and allow users to touch anywhere on the screen to focus the shot. Apps such as Say Cheese Camera also let you use voice control to take pictures, turn on the flash and rotate the camera view. You also can purchase remotes and tripods to take your wireless device’s photography capability to the next level.
My Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with this feature factory installed. I simply say, ‘capture’, and the phone takes a picture based on my voice command.
Can my smartphone alert me to messages other than through sound or vibration?
Most smartphones have LED lights that can flash different colors for emails, text messages and phone calls. On the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, users can enable the LED light flash, which will activate the device’s camera flash to signal an alert or phone call. The Samsung Galaxy S5 has different colored LED lights depending on what type of alert you received.
Don’t forget, keep your kids accountable when using their phone by setting up a Parent/Child Agreement.
Print it, sign it, post it, and remind them!
I am part of the U.S. Cellular Blogger Brigade and have been compensated for this post, all opinions are my own.
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