Your phone serves as your personal supercomputer that fits in your wallet. It’s likely that, even if you’ve owned your phone for a while, you’re still discovering new things it’s capable of doing. Even phone features that seem relatively straightforward, such as the GPS, have multiple uses that can help you get more done.
With all this in mind, let’s remind readers of the importance of keeping your phone protected from damage. Given the many ways in which these devices serve us on a daily basis, making sure they don’t become damaged beyond repair due to an accidental drop is essential. Whether you choose to shop online at https://www.bodyguardz.com/ or decide instead to browse in person, just make sure you settle on a phone case and screen protector built to get the job done.
Moving on, here are just a few ways that the GPS in your smartphone provides more than navigation:
How Many Steps?
You’re probably familiar with using a smartphone to track steps. When synced with a fitness tracker app and a device like a Fitbit, this information becomes an integral part of your fitness routine. However, did you know that your phone utilizes the GPS to measure accurately the distance you travel daily? This location-based method of tracking your distance is far more accurate than simply counting the number of steps and multiplying that amount by a set distance. So, the next time you’re wondering how far you’ve walked in a day, you can have confidence in the accuracy of your phone’s measurement.
Where Was This Taken?
Have you ever gotten in an argument with a family member about where a particular photo was taken? With smartphone photos, this argument never has to occur again. That’s because your phone utilizes its GPS to encode each photo with information about where that photo was shot. Aside from preventing arguments, this location metadata can be helpful as you seek to organize your photos. Rather than grouping your photos by date, you can group photos by where they were taken, which is really cool if you visit a particular location several years in a row.
Where’s My Phone?
There’s nothing worse than the feeling of reaching into your pocket, only to realize that your phone is missing. As much as you depend on your phone, if it goes missing or is stolen, it can truly ruin your day. Fortunately, the GPS in your phone can be used to help locate it so the two of you can be reunited. If you can’t get to your phone yourself, law enforcement can use this “Find a Phone” feature to catch the perpetrators.
Who’s Here to Help?
Another great use of GPS on your phone is to help provide exceptional customer service at tech-savvy businesses. Businesses can set up a geo-fence around the perimeter of their property and, if you have their app installed, when you walk in, they’ll be ready to greet you personally. This can help you save time if businesses can have items available for you right when you arrive or can alert them to any special needs you may have without needing to ask a bunch of questions.
Where’d I Leave My Keys?
If you’re always leaving your keys someplace where you’ll be able to “easily” find them later, only to forget that location when you go to look for them, your phone’s GPS can help you. By utilizing smart tags on items around your home, the tag and your phone can work together to geo-locate items you’re looking for, saving you a lot of time and frustration. You can even use these tags with pets or children to ensure you’re always aware of their exact location.
What’s Your Emergency
If you ever find yourself in need of emergency assistance, your phone could literally save your life. When you’re on the phone with dispatchers, they can use the GPS in your phone to pinpoint your exact location, minimizing the time required to reach you. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use this feature, but it’s good to know it exists.