by Larry Magid
This post first appeared in the Mercury News
Almost everyone has a smart phone, but chances are it has more useful features than you know about. That’s not your fault. Today’s smartphones can do an enormous number of things, so even tech experts, me included, probably don’t know about them all.
An arrow that tells you which way to walk
One of my favorite little-known navigation tricks is that both Google Maps and Apple Maps can help orient you when you’re walking. Simply point your phone’s camera at nearby buildings or landmarks, and the app overlays arrows and other visual cues to show you exactly which way to head. In my travels, it has worked in most, though not all, situations.
I find this feature indispensable because I often use it in unfamiliar places where the usual cues, like street names or knowing which way I’m facing, aren’t much help. Instead of guessing which way to start walking, I can see the correct direction overlaid on the real world.
Google’s feature is called Live View. Start walking directions, then tap the icon that looks a bit like a location pin inside a targeting frame, just above the compass needle. Point your phone at a nearby building, and it will display an arrow showing which way to walk. Apple calls its version immersive walking directions. The button is just above the speaker icon and looks like several small arrows pointing in different directions. If you don’t see it, you may need to enable Raise to View by opening Settings, tapping Apps, then Maps, selecting Walking, and turning on Raise to View. On some iPhones and in some locations, the feature may not be available.
Both apps can make mistakes, so it’s worth confirming the direction after you’ve taken a few steps or checking that it matches the map.
Backing up your phone
If you ever lose your phone or just upgrade to a new one, restoring from a backup will save you an enormous amount of time and aggravation. Both Android and iPhones can be backed up to the cloud and once configured, your settings, apps, photos and other data are backed up automatically.
On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud and iCloud Backup to make sure backup is turned on and check when the last backup occurred. On Android, open Settings, search for Backup (the exact location varies by manufacturer), and verify that backups are enabled and have run recently. It’s also a good idea to confirm that you have enough available cloud storage for future backups.
In addition to protecting your valuable data if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, cloud backups let you access your photos from virtually any device through iCloud or Google Photos.
Finding and ringing your phone
If your phone is ever lost or stolen, there are built-in services that can help you locate it on a map, play a sound, lock it remotely, display a message for anyone who finds it, or, if necessary, erase its contents. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then Find My, Find My iPhone, and make sure Find My iPhone is turned on. On Android, open Settings, search for Find My Device (or Find Hub on newer versions of Android), and make sure it’s enabled. It’s worth testing the feature before you need it by signing in to your Apple or Google account from another device and confirming that your phone appears.
I’ve never truly lost my phone, but I often misplace it, usually somewhere around the house. Unlike calling it from another phone, the find feature rings loud and clear, even if the ringer is turned down or the phone is in silent mode.
SOS and emergency settings
Depending on your mode, both iPhone and Android typically include built-in emergency features that can summon help with just a few button presses, but they only work the way you want if you set them up in advance. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Emergency SOS to review how Emergency SOS is activated, then scroll down to “Edit Emergency Contacts in Health” where you can also add medications, allergies, conditions and other health data.
On Android, open Settings and search for Emergency SOS for a list of emergency options you can configure, similar to what Apple offers.
Fingerprint or Face ID
Remembering and typing passwords is a pain, but both iOS and Android let you use facial recognition or your fingerprint to sign in to the phone as well as many apps. I use it for health and financial apps because it’s both secure and convenient. To take advantage of it, you’ll need to set up Face ID or your fingerprint in your phone’s settings and then enable it within each compatible app.
Automatic updates
We sometimes forget to apply system updates, but they often contain important security patches, bug fixes, and new features. Enabling automatic updates helps ensure your phone stays protected without you having to remember to install each new version. On either platform, go to Settings and search for “updates.” Select both Software Updates (for the operating system) and App updates to make sure everything is automatically updated.
Many more features
These are just a few of the many smartphone features you may or may not know about. I’ve posted an AI-generated list of 183 features at larrysworld.com/features.
And to think, the phone I grew up with had only two features: talking and listening. I never missed the “Find My” feature. It was tethered to the wall with a cord.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.