These past few years have seen the rise of the smartphone — cell phones that do much more than just make calls. When the iPhone hit the market in 2007, it changed the smartphone landscape in a big way. With a smartphone, you can save money, stay in touch, and be more productive. You can travel lighter, keep yourself entertained during a commute, and stay informed, all with a device that fits in your pocket.
Here are ten things a smartphone can replace.
10. GPS
GPS stands for Global Positioning System — a network of satellites that help you navigate cities, forests and just about everywhere in between. Not too long ago, a GPS receiver was an expensive gadget to buy. These days, you can pick up a decent one for under $100. But if you have a smartphone, you don’t need a separate device and, in fact, you may already have great GPS software built into your phone. If you have an iPhone, you can use the free Google Maps already built in. Or, you can purchase a turn-by-turn GPS program for easier navigation. If you’re on an Android phone, Google Navigation is free and works great, as long as you have cellular reception.
9. Books
I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy books. There’s something about holding a book that you miss when you read one on a smartphone, or an iPad, or even a Kindle. But there are tons of free books, many of them classics, that you can read right on your smartphone. It means you can take a bunch of books with you for commuting or travel, and save money and space. If you want to read a best-seller, you can buy it right from your phone.
8. Digital Camera
Chances are you’ll always have your smartphone with you no matter where you are. That means you’ll always have a quality camera with you. Most smartphone cameras can’t rival the quality of a stand-alone digital camera, but they’re getting close. For most of us, we can’t tell the difference between a photo taken on a phone and one taken with a $300 camera.
7. Video Camera
Again, if you have your video camera with you at all times, chances are you’ll use it more. Most smartphones now ship with a high-resolution video camera built right in. It won’t match the quality of a $500 handheld video camera, but it should be good enough to capture a few priceless moments.
6. Music Player
I listen to music constantly. With an iPhone, an Android phone or just about any other smartphone, you can take your entire music collection with you wherever you go. You can convert your entire CD collection into digital files, and load them into your phone. You’ll always have your favorite music with you wherever you go.
5. Television
There are dozens of ways to watch video — movies, TV show episodes, YouTube — right on your smartphone. iPhone users can buy videos right from iTunes. If you’re interested in watching live television, there’s a device out there called a SlingBox. It hooks up to your cable box and rebroadcasts your shows right to your smartphone or laptop. I’ve been testing one for about a month now, and I love it. I can watch the news on the bus, or catch up on my favorite shows laying in bed.
4. Radio
Some smartphones have FM radios built right into them. If yours doesn’t, you still have options. You can download great podcasts right to your phone and listen to them whenever you want. Or you can use a program like iHeartRadio or WunderRadio and listen to your favorite station from just about anywhere.
3. Alarm Clock
Wake up to your favorite song or a terrible ringtone, and have a big, bright clock waiting for you. Most phones have this type of thing built right in, and there are some unique options available to download. If you distrust the hotel alarm clock (which I do, always) it’s great to be able to rely on your smartphone to get you up.
2. Laptop
More and more, people are spending time surfing the web using their smartphone instead of their laptop. But that’s not all. You can open and edit text documents and spreadsheets, access and reply to emails, use instant messenger networks and even edit videos, all from your phone. Most smartphones will connect right up to your WiFi internet connection, so you can enjoy the same speed you would if you were on your laptop. For a lot of people, a smartphone is a good alternative to a more expensive laptop.
1. Human Companionship
It’s sad, but how many times have you seen someone sitting in a restaurant tap-tap-tapping away on their phone rather than talking to the person sitting right in front of them? I’ll admit I do this from time to time. I’m trying to be better. So, don’t forget to put that smartphone down once in awhile and just talk.
