10 things you might not know your smartphone can do.
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You already know your smartphone can help you kick your own butt by monitoring your exercise and diet habits, keep you on time with reminders and annoying alarms, keep you from freezing or getting blown away in a hurricane by sending you weather alerts, and even stand in for that always missing in action TV remote.
Technology can be amazing; just don’t forget how to do it yourself!
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These are things you might not know they can do – I sure didn’t!
Scanner: There are apps for scanning functions that allow you to scan and manipulate documents.
Appliances: You can buy refrigerators that monitor supplies and create shopping lists, washing machines that can be controlled form anywhere and only run when energy costs are lowest in your area, ovens and crock pots, and dishwashers that are controlled through apps on your smartphone.
Thermostats: Not only can they be controlled remotely, they can also learn your habits and turn on and off with your schedule.
Door Locks: They can even be programmed to unlock when you approach the door without touching a button.
Video Doorbell: Allows you to see and communicate with whoever is at the door – from anywhere.
Smart Outlets: Allow you to control many of your existing small appliances.
Remote Car Starter: Start your car and turn on the heat or air conditioning.
Garage Door Opener: Can also be programmed to open when you approach and close when your car is in the garage.
Spirit Level: While maybe not extremely accurate, the sensors and gyroscopes in your smart phone can be used as a level.
Instrument Tuner: Even pros have to mess with tuning instruments. That’s right – there is an app for that.
These last two are my favorites on this list.
Window Film: This film has sensors that will change from clear to obscure.
Lighting: Some of the new lighting systems will allow you to match the lighting in your home to the lighting from a photo on your smartphone!
I haven’t tried most of these, so didn’t give links or recommendations, and I’m sure there several that I missed. Technology can be amazing; just don’t forget how to do it yourself!
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What do you want to know about DIY?
Do you have specific projects you would like to tackle? Not sure how to get started? Convinced that you won’t be able to get answers to your questions at the hardware store? Great! Tom wants to know.
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Check back to see if your question gets answered here at the Good Men Project DIY on Tuesday and Saturday.
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Photo: Flickr/Harsh Agrawal
I should clarify … scary how things have progressed with technology
It’s scary how things have progressed