Make your mobile phone smart with these 25 apps designed to supercharge your handset.
Mobile phones are a must-have for life today, whether it's for business or pleasure.
However, sometimes, like us, you'll be wishing your smartphone could be 'super' instead. Whether its updating your blog via text or getting navigation on your phone.
Well, it can. We've pulled together 25 ways to supercharge your smartphone.
We've split the tips into two different categories; Apps to make the most of an Android, BlackBerry or iPhone handsets and ways to make an ordinary phone 'smart'.
14 apps to supercharge your smartphone
Are you using your smartphone to its fullest? Probably not - smartphone owners typically push their devices up to only about half their potential.
Here are 14 smartphone apps to help your Android handset, BlackBerry, or iPhone become all that it can be.
Get free turn-by-turn GPS on an iPhone
When Google brought free turn-by-turn GPS functionality to Android, many iPhone users were envious.
In March, however, iPhone users gained their own free GPS app with turn-by-turn capabilities, courtesy of MapQuest.
Recently MapQuest added voice-guided directions to its free iPhone app, called MapQuest 4 Mobile.
Reviews of MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone are mixed. The big gripe concerns MapQuest's rerouting feature, which is not automatic and requires you to restart your navigation manually if you stray from MapQuest's planned route.
Nevertheless, if you want to try a free voice-guided navigation app for the iPhone, MapQuest 4 Mobile is worth a look.
Turn apps into a social activity
App-obsessed Android users will love AppBrain. Want to show off all your apps to your friends? Interested in how other Android users rate the apps they have downloaded? AppBrain is the service for you.
AppBrain also creates a personal app catalogue that you can share with other AppBrain users.
You can peruse the apps of your AppBrain friends and other users, as well.
Wondering what Lifehacker founding editor Gina Trapani has on her Android phone, for instance? You can check it out on AppBrain.
Never fear, Apple lovers: Similar services exist for the iPhone, too. Download AppsFire or Appfinder from the iTunes App Store to start sharing your favourite apps.
Communicate with everyone via Fring
A unifying social networking platform for your mobile phone, Fring allows you to use one app to communicate across multiple social networking platforms, including AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ, Skype, Twitter, and Yahoo Messenger.
Fring eliminates the need to download specialised apps for each social network or communication tool - now you only have to worry about which friends you want to reach. Fring is available for iPhone, Android and Nokia devices.
Make your Android phone location-aware
The smartphone app Locale for Android lets you set automatic preferences for your phone based on your location.
If, say, you tend to forget to turn your ringer off when you reach the office, just customise your phone using Locale to switch your ringer to vibrate whenever you get to work.
Or have it go to silent mode whenever you're at the cinema. It's simple, but clever.
NEXT PAGE: Get around town
- Improve your handset, whether its BlackBerry, iPhone or even a standard mobile phone
- Get around town
- Use your iPhone as a mouse
- 13 tips to supercharge your 'dumb' phone
- Reach your calendar via SMS
- Conduct mobile searches with Google
Comments
datasman said: UkThe guy is from PC world what do you expectErmm in this case PC World is a magazine - I assume you didnt realise that
Ian Dudson said: Double twist app finder I thought great until I went to the website You are required to install Google Chrome or Safari before you can view the site I dont want another browser Im happy with Firefox If Microsoft required you to use Explorer to view some sites everybody would scream especially the EEC Google dont go down that road Microsoft has already been stung and are lost a lot of customers inc me with that kind of stunt I like the Android Op system but
Uk said: The guy is from PC world what do you expect
raggedy said: What a complete waste of time Im on a couk site and youre telling me the services I could do in the USA The only reason I can see for this article is so the author can say Ive got an iPhone This site used to be informative neutral and interesting What happened
Ron Graves said: Re A word of caution Many of the services described below depend on SMS messaging and consume your mobile phone plans minutesSo NOT actually installed then Hmm
Ron Graves said: Please tell me what apps you actually CAN install on an ageing mobile phone Im sure my friend who has a decrepit Nokia 3510i would find that idea immensely interesting Not to mention laughable
Aaargh .CO.UK said: Just move to the US then to supercharge your phone eh
Sagman76 said: Pointless all US apps