Hacks you never knew your smartphone could do
Whether you use iPhone or Android, there are some hidden life-improving features that you need to know about. From using your phone as a tape measure, sharing your wifi password using a QR code or translating a document using your camera - Alice Beer has her top tech hacks.
IPHONE
MEASURE: This feature requires iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max or later Pro model.USE OF FEATURE:
Ordering new laptop cover.
Measuring for a new TV.
HOW TO USE FEATURE:
Open the tape measure app.
Point phone to the object you want to measure.
Click the capture button at the end of the object, glide the phone to the end of the object, capture it again to find out the measurement.
IPHONE / SAMSUNG: TAKING PICTURES TO IDENTIFY INFORMATION - PLANTS/CLOTHING
HOW TO USE FEATURE:
IPHONE: Available from Apple's iOS 15 and beyond.
Take a photo of the item you want to identify.
Go into your photo album and get a photo up from it.
Swipe the picture up and click the ‘i’ icon.
Click ‘look up XXX’.
SAMSUNG: Available from Samsung Galaxy S21 and beyond.
Open your Google browser.
Click the photo icon and scroll down to find out what the item is.
On Samsung you can do this for other objects such as taking a picture of a shoe and looking it up online.
GOOGLE PIXEL:REMOVING ITEMS FROM PICTURES: This feature is available on Pixel 4a and later. USE OF FEATURE:
To remove a logo or an ex boyfriend!
HOW TO USE FEATURE:
Open the photo you want to edit in the Google Photos app.
Tap, edit, tools then magic eraser.
Draw a circle or brush over the item you want to erase.
Tap Done to confirm your edits.
IPHONE: BUILT- IN MAGNIFIER: Feature started on iPhone 12.
USE OF FEATURE: Newspaper reading or small print on instructions.
HOW TO USE FEATURE: Open the magnifying app and swipe the cursor left to right depending how much zoom you want.
IPHONE: CAR LOCATOR: Feature on iPhone 6 or later with iOS 10 or later to use Show Parked Location.
USE OF FEATURE: You’re parked to go shopping in a new place and can’t remember where your phone is.
HOW TO USE:
Make sure your car is connected to your phone via bluetooth or carplay.
Park your car somewhere.
When you need to find your car open apple maps and the car shows you where your car is.
IPHONE / SAMSUNG: GOOGLE TRANSLATE A PICTURE:
USE OF FEATURE: To look up a menu on holiday written in a language you don’t understand.
HOW TO USE FEATURE:
IPHONE:
Open the camera app and place the text in the yellow frame.
Click the three bar icon and select translate.
Scroll down to see translated text.
SAMSUNG:
Open your Google browser and select the translate button.
Hold your phone up to the text and select translate.
SAMSUNG: SHARING WIFI CODE VIA QR CODE: Feature has been available on Samsung devices since at least the Galaxy S23 series.
USE OF FEATURE: Connect to someone’s internet password without the faff.
HOW TO USE FEATURE:
Go to WiFi settings.
Click on Wifi that you want to share.
Select the setting button.
Select the QR code button at the bottom left.
IPHONE: SCREEN CAPTIONS ON FACETIME: Feature available from iPhone 11.
USE OF FEATURE: Hard of hearing or even on a doctor's appointments.
HOW TO USE FEATURE: During a FaceTime video call, tap the screen to show the FaceTime controls (if they aren't visible). + At the top of the controls, turn on Live Captions, then tap Done.