I remember the first time I saw a Smartphone. I watched the user touch the screen and swipe it. I was awed... was that even a phone? The time of Infra red phones, quickly gave way to Bluetooth phones and now Wi-Fi senders are the real thing as far as data transfer is concerned.
The very first concept of a Smartphone is said to have been envisioned back in the mid-1970s, but that idea didn't come into fruition until almost 20 years later when IBM's Simon Personal Communicator first showed its face in 1992.
Nokia entered the not-yet-developed Smartphone space in 1996. It released the Nokia 9000 Communicator to the world. The term "Smartphone" would not be coined until one year later, when Ericsson released the GS 88 concept, otherwise known as Penelope.
In the early 2000s, Symbian, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, and Windows Mobile (then known as PocketPC 2000) became increasingly popular. With capabilities such as email, fax, Web browsing, and other enterprise-centric features, so did form factors that catered to such use cases.
What about today?
Smartphones have evolved to the extent they can help you achieve your goals faster. Yes, they are no longer about what they can do in communication alone, but what they can do for you as a companion. Yes...you heard me right...companion.
More people are spending more and more time glued to their phones than was previously seen as normal. Android is the newest craze and with all the variety of android apps that can spice your life up, we will like to see what these new capabilities really mean for us and what we stand to gain with an Android phone today. These capabilities will shock you:
1.Use A USB Flash drive As Secondary Storage:
An android phone can easily use a flash drive as a secondary storage, most android users do not recognize this. All you need is an USB OTG cable(on-the-go) and a Stickmount free app, which will enable your Android phone to use flash drive and external hard disk as secondary storage devices.
While stickmount will root your old versions of android to enable it work with the OTG function, newer versions of Android, typically any phone made within the last three years, should work with an OTG cable just fine already.
Ever want to watch a video on your phone or tablet without wasting its storage space? Or maybe you just need to view a file your friend gave you. Well you can! You can plug in a flash drive just like you would on a computer if you learn how to use this.
2.Measure Your Heartbeat
Good news: your android phone can now be your personal doctor, or at least act like one.
The Instant Heart Rate app when downloaded on your android phone can now measure your heart rate. The app uses your phones built-in camera to track color changes on the fingertip that are directly linked to your pulse. Crazy Amazing stuff!
3.You Can Solve A Maths Equation Instantly by Taking a Photo of it
Apps! It's all in the apps. The Android platform seems to be the most enhanced for hosting of apps. And the variety of apps with different functionalities that are currently adapted to the Android are quite a number.
The PhotoMath app calculates equations using your phones camera. Once PhotoMath reads an equation, it gives you the answer alongside a step by step guide to how it came up with the solution. It can take in arithmetic, fractions, powers and roots, and simple linear equations.
What you use this app to achieve mathematically speaking is strictly up to you, but its amazing nonetheless.
4.Host Your Own Web Server
Android is based on Linux. This means that just like any Linux device, your Android phone can run a full-fledged Web server complete with a mySQL database, PHP support and FTP for file transfers. You can even use this server to host your own website on the internet.
KSweb is an Android app that can help you to set up a server on your android phone. This is the capability that makes me ask; what do we really need regular computers for?
5.Programming
Yeah... I mean that in all seriousness. AIDE for instance, is a free Android app that helps to write programming codes from your android phone itself. What this means is that in your Android phone you have the ability to program, you can actually write, compile and test an app directly on your device. I ask again, what do we need a regular computer for?
6.Play Games The Way They Are Meant To Be Played; With A Standard Game Controller
Truth is, touch controls are terrible for many games. Have you ever tried playing one of the good old platformer games on a touchscreen? It's an exercise in frustration
You will be needing three things; A Standard Game Controller, a USB OTG cable and your game face.
7. Start Your Car
Ever heard of Viper? Well now you have. It is an app that enables you to communicate with your car literally. You can start your car, lock the doors from 100 miles out, even open the trunk or check vehicle status information.
Even the regular computers didn't quite get this far.
With apps, the possibilities are endless. Apps are literally changing the world. So, use your Android phone to the fullest will you? Get Androidified!