Until this past weekend, I'd never fully understood just how useful my humble iPhone 11 (yes, I'm holding on to it as long as possible) is.
We spent Saturday and Sunday cheerleading for our granddaughter Elise and her volleyball team in their latest tournament (in which they went undefeated in seven sets and won the gold medal for their bracket). The tournament was held at the St James Sports Complex, a vast facility not too far from where we live that has everything you could ever want except parking for vast hordes of volleyball players and spectators. And here's how my humble, though now ancient, phone enabled us to make it through the day ...
1. I used the phone's Uber app on both days to get rides to the tournament (having learned our sad lesson about parking availability last year, when we had to park quasi-legally a mile from the facility);2. The QR codes stored on my phone were our tickets to the event;3. I paid for our meals with the phone using Apple Pay;4. I texted back and forth with our daughter to coordinate meeting points and schedules;5. I accessed the tournament website to keep track of match times, court assignments, standings, etc;6. I used the phone's clock to check the time;7. I used the phone's camera to take photos and video and share them with others; and,8. When we were unable to see the courtside scoreboard from our seats, I used a handy scorekeeping app to keep track of the scores*.
The one thing I didn't use my phone for on either day was to actually make any phone calls.
Imagine that!
I also use my phone to take pictures of things I need to remember, or which I can't read without being able to enlarge them. And to do video conversations via FaceTime or Zoom. I also record the occasional voice memo to remind myself of things I shouldn't forget.
What did we do before smartphones?
What do you use your smartphone for besides making calls? What's your favorite app? Leave a comment.
Have a good day. Document it with your phone if you like. More thoughts coming.
Bilbo
* I didn't use it at this event, but I also have an app that does random coin flips. I use it to decide speaking order in the debate competitions I judge, because who carries an actual coin any more?
5 comments:
Well, whatever we did before smartphones, I guess I'm still doing it, because I don't have one and am not going to get one.
I'm a bit hazy on what an "app" is, but I probably don't have one of those either.
My CPAP has its own app. We let our truck read to us through Libby when we're on trips. Apple and Google Maps (usually) get us where we're going. The Tucson Festival of Books has its own app. And, yes, we use it for occasional *real* phone calls (as opposed to the spam stuff that's always ignored).
1 - 8? Zero. I've got one but I hardly use it. It irritates me when some site wants to send a two factor code to me and the phone is on the other side of the house. Many sites will call you on a landline. I always sign up for that option.
If it would make my life easier, I'd get a smart phone, but it wouldn't, so I won't. All I need is something I can use for calls and texts, although I use the alarm also, since it's there. And I always carry coins - our street parking meters and hospital exit gates require them. But this is all based on living in a relatively small town. If I moved even within Nova Scotia to a major centre I'd probably find a smart phone beneficial. Your list of uses is a great illustration of why!
My work phone: texting, calls, video calls, gps, and an occasional camera. My personal phone: I'm a news junkie. I use the Flipboard app the most, but also text, call, google, etc. No social media at all though I see some through my wife. And it is hooked up to a CGM (continues glucose monitor) too.
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