Apps that are useful
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Prompted by the “Vaccine Passport” thread, I thought it might be useful to start a thread where apps for smart phones that contributors have found handy could list them. I don’t think there are a huge number, but some are really quite good.
I’ll start off with What3Words . This uses your phone’s GPS to locate you. It allocates 3 random words for each 3 square metres of our planet. Once the app is downloaded, you can generate the 3 words for your position without internet. You only need the weakest of mobile signals to send these words via text to whoever. They can then opt to use Google maps to navigate to you. Or can see where you are on a map of their choice.
It sounds like an unnecessary tool with the ability to generate traditional GPS coordinates, but it is so simple to use and much less prone to error as you never have to type in the words or those awful long numbers, just press the share button.
I’ve used it a lot for picking up walkers who have gone far enough, but can’t say exactly where they are.
It’s free.
Wow…thank you …someone just spent a few minutes showing me the attestation app on my phone …as I can’t print one off…no ink…hope I can do it.
But surely , you need an iPhone to use this wonderful ” App” ?
The only apps I use regularly are GoogleMaps, which I now use exclusively as satnav and BBCSounds which with my phone connected to my van radio lets me listen to Radio2 all day while I’m driving.
Bearing in mind I frive around 1,200 KM a week I use these 2 A LOT
But surely , you need an iPhone to use this wonderful ” App” ?
To be pedantic, for the sake of those not familiar with smart phones, an iphone refers to a phone produced by Apple. To use the app I referred to, and indeed GoogleMaps which I too use as a satnav and syncs very well with the What3Words app, you can use a smart phone from any of a number of manufacturers who use the Android operating system. The large number of manufacturers using the Android operating system means you will usually find better value products, although iphones are considered to be very good.
Another app I use is Whatsapp which is now freely available to anyone. It used to be restricted to Facebook users and I don’ t do Facebook. This app works like a phone or text message service with video call option and the only cost is data usage. So if you have a generous data package it is essentially free. I pay 9.95€ a month for 50 GB of data, never use half of it and have free calls to anyone who has this app installed. As all my family use Facebook they all use the app so calls to them are free. It is very good for sending photos without having to reduce the quality which you have to for email.
I don’t know if my mobile phone is smart or not, it was a cheap £50 re-vamped phone I bought purely so that I could install Whatsapp as one of my friends only uses that to communicate but, as I only have a pay as you go Giffgaff sim card, and no other contract, plus the fact that my daughters both use Whatsapp, it also means I can send any text messages to them and anyone else using Whatsapp for nothing and have no monthly outgoings. I just have to ensure I send a text via Giffgaff now and again to keep them happy.
It sounds like your phone is quite smart enough Fruitcake. Like you, I bought a reasonably priced Android phone purely to use one app. I discovered Whatsapp through my family.
The app I wanted to use is called Viewranger . It turns your smart phone into a sophisticated GPS device at a much lower cost than a traditional GPS device. The Viewranger app is free and allows you to do all sorts of things that I don’t bother with, but it shows where you are and have been on a map. I pay IGN 24€ a year and for this fee, my phone/GPS device shows me where I am on whatever IGN map I choose, all over France. For walking it is the Série Bleue maps that I choose. For driving I just use Google maps like BartyB. Having a GPS system linked to the Série Bleue maps is excellent for walks in unfamiliar territory. Worth looking for a phone with a good battery if you do this as GPS is a big drain on power.
I use a small old Nokia as my everyday phone as it is easy to carry. But use the smart phone when I need it.
A friend who is no longer able to drive gave me her TomTom GPS and ‘George’ takes me wherever I need to go. I don’t really ever use my mobile as a phone, it’s just with me in case of emergencies and to communicate via Whatsapp when needed and no outgoings whatsoever (apart from once in a blue moon topping up the Giffgaff card)
To be pedantic, for the sake of those not familiar with smart phones, an iphone refers to a phone produced by Apple. To use the app I referred to, and indeed GoogleMaps which I too use as a satnav and syncs very well with the What3Words app, you can use a smart phone from any of a number of manufacturers who use the Android operating system. The large number of manufacturers using the Android operating system means you will usually find better value products, although iphones are considered to be very good.
Yep , you caught me , I don’t know anything about ” smart phones” having never needed one .
I always wonder what or whom ” everyone” is talking to , when I see people with their phones clasped to their ears and have quite often spoken to someone that I thought was talking to me in a shop but was plugged in !
Whatsapp works on laptops too. Just go to WhatsApp.web on your laptop/desktop/Ipad.
You’ll need to use the WhatsApp settings, and then the WhatsApp Web/Desktop on your phone, to sync’ the two.
Then it’s working via your WiFi, so totally free.
If you’re using your iPhone/or equivalent, on your Wifi it won’t use your data allowance on your phone.
But you used to need someone to invite you onto WhatsApp. I don’t know if that is still the case.
If you open whatsapp and click on ‘new group’ at the top it should take you to your ‘contact’list. There you can see who is already on whstsapp and message or call them. Obviously you can suggest to people not using it that they download the free app. It’s also perfect for sending video clips.
I use loads of apps-all my banking/finances/energy provider/ supermarket shopping/scanning loyalty cards/vouchers at checkout. Really quick.
The ‘SayHi’ app is useful free translation app. You just need to speak in English and it translates to whatever language, both verbally and in text.
Must admit my telephone is a brilliant gps…
sayhi sounds good.
someone showed me yesterday how to put my attestation on my phone…but can I put both our names on it? Haven’t cracked that yet!
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