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Ok, in the same vein as my "SMARTPHONE" learning thread, it might be nice to share, learn about, and use useful apps for smartphones that might be of interest to seniors.
I will note here that if you frequently use a website that also has an app, that what works on the website and how the website looks may be DIFFERENT than how the app works or looks.
PLEASE state what phone you use, it might be helpful to those interested in downloading an app!
PLEAAE be tactful AND helpful...not everyone her is "smartphone tech savvy"!!
I have an Android Motorola Revvlry, and use TMobile 55+ plan with unlimited talk text and unlimited data.
Because it's an Android, I can search for and download apps through the Google play store link.
I have Google Earth app on my smartphone.
So, I went to Google play store>search>typed in "Google Earth">install. When it loaded, I >open, and was up and running.
(BTW the ">" character means "click", which on a smart phone means "tap" that button, link, etc.)
Once the app is downloaded, it may already put a button on one of the app pages on your smartphone, OR you might have to click a button to put the link on your app pages.
In this case, the home link button looks like a picture of our wonderful planet.
Periodically, you might get a notification that there is an update to an app. If you click that link, it should upload the updates.
If not notified, I >play store>my user name>Manage apps> search for updates> update all, OR > ON THE APP(S) I want to update, and they will update.
Using wifi makes it quicker, but most can be updated on data too. If it's a lot of updates, it may suggest to you to wait til you can access wifi.
Important: it's wise to push your turn on button and when the "start menu" (similar to your computer start button), select "restart phone", let it restart and then sign in to restart phone.
This restarting will allow your app update (s) to efficiently load with the update changes.
*It's also wise to periodically restart your phone, if it's your only phone (like me) and leave it on all the time). No need to really turn it all the way off, just click the restart button.
Google Earth works about the way it does on your computer, and can zoom into a street view. In my opinion it's a bit slower than Google Earth on a computer, but it works.
Google maps is preloaded on my smartphone, and it is better to give me a map of directions.
That was a nice, simple explanation of the steps to download and use apps. Here are just a few apps that I find especially useful:
Pedometer. Instead of a Fitbit, this serves the function of tracking my exercise. It records and displays the basics such as distance in steps and miles and average speed of walking. There are more advanced apps for tracking physical activity but this does all that interests me.
Life 360. You can track on a map the movements of family members who also have the app and give permission. Rather than make a phone call, I can check to see that my wife is shopping or has been delayed at the doctor's office, etc. She can do the same with me.
Memo. I use a memo/note taking app for all sorts of information, mostly hobby related. The information files are easy to organize and search.
I use Google Assistant a lot. It's similar to Alexa, but with a screen. So I just tap it, and it will show "Listening..." and I speak my command, and it does what I need. I can say "Call Bob Jones" and it will look in my contacts, get the number and dial it. I can send a text without typing the same way. I can ask things like "Show me nearby Greek restaurants", and it will bring up a map of the closest ones. etc. You can ask it any sort of factual question, like "what is 23 times 432?", and you can ask it for the weather forecast anywhere in the world, etc. I like being able to speak the commands, especially when it's plugged into the car and I'm driving. It will bring the map up on my dash screen.
I like the app called "Reading glasses". It's basically a close up lens allowing you to zoom using the camera lens, but I can see almost any tiny thing, like the "mouse size font" on medication bottles, without resorting to digging my glasses out and putting them on. DH uses it to read restaurant menus if he forgot his reading glasses.
I like the flashlight app when I need light in a dark place.
I use the Netflix app on my tablet to watch movies and stuff from Netflix (I subscribe to it).
I have numerous Smart Home type apps that I use to control devices in my home from wherever I am. I have a Nest thermostat, and I have several smart plugs so that I can turn lights on or off remotely. And I use the Smart Cam app to see the feed from our various security cameras in/around our home.
For games, I personally enjoy Sudoku, and I play Classic Words, which is a free Scrabble clone without all the ads of the actual Scrabble app. I usually just play that against the computer when I'm waiting somewhere like the doctor's office.
I've also used several calorie tracker apps with varying level of success. Some are simple and others quite complicated.
A sleep sounds app. It has a bunch of preprogrammed tracks like storm, beach, night woods, train, cafe, white noise, etc. but also lets you create and save your own where you can add in a bit of thunder, rain hitting a window, frogs, cicadas, wind, fireplace, even weird stuff like someone vacuuming in the distance. I use Bluetooth to bind it to our portable speaker when we go to sleep, it's great.
I also use a compass app, it works like a real compass but also shows elevation which I assume it gets from GPS.
I have the "My radar" weather app on my Android smartphone.
It will give me radar weather info for my area, though I can look for weather anywhere.
It works similar to the weather radar apps your local tv stations use.
I went to Google play store>search, entered "My radar">download.
I let it download, then >open, gave it permission to access my location, and was up and running.
I can see weather as it is happening, and look in the direction it is coming from to see what will follow.
Roku app if you use Roku - controls audio volume/night mode/dialogue enhancement plus a much easier way to enter text for searches than the physical remote.
Most music streaming apps have a free module (like Spotify): Radio Paradise, Pandora, Amazon Music (for Prime members), (& probably your favorite stations from anywhere in the world). I listen with morning coffee or during housework/cooking.
I think one thing that you guys need to explain about apps is that they don't appear to be a one time purchase but that you have to rent them.......right?
I think one thing that you guys need to explain about apps is that they don't appear to be a one time purchase but that you have to rent them.......right?
It depends entirely on the app. The app itself is either free or a one-time cost, but the app might be connected to a subscription or to in-app purchases. For example, anyone can download the Netflix app but it won't do anything without a Netflix subscription.
Just this week I switched to a Samsung S20 (Android) when nearly 6 year old LG bricked itself. Shut itself off and it could not be restarted.
Apps I use often are:
- Weatherbug (construction management career required constant weather watching)
- RealCalc (a great scientific calculator application)
- Hangar360 (provides secure access to the plane hangar where I store my toys).
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