Owning a smartphone can save you time, help make life easier and even help you improve your business.
The iPhone is the most popular smartphone, and one we’ll mention in this article, but it’s definitely not the only brand available. The apps may be different, but you’re likely to find similar apps on other phones.
For the iPhone, there are many applications available in the App Store caters to just about everyone with life-improving programs.
Here are five examples of how the iPhone can improve both your business and your life.
Read Websites Offline
Whether it’s at a metro station or on an airplane, there are often times when we’re stuck without internet and have nothing to do.
The iPhone, with the Pocket application, allows you to save any webpage in its entirety to your iPhone. Any time you have a spare moment, just load up that webpage, even if you’re in a zero-reception area.
Not to mention, Pocket can also read to you using a text-to-speech engine. Simply tap the audio button in the mobile app, and your phone will read articles to you.
Listen to Audiobooks
Don’t waste the time you’re driving, walking or sitting on the bus. Any time you have a moment of downtime, why not spend it on your education?
The iPhone has several built-in audiobook features that really improve the learning experience.
For one, the iPhone will automatically remember where you are in audiobooks, so you don’t need to scroll through and try to remember where you left off.
You can also play audiobooks at double speed, normal speed or half speed, so you can tailor your learning rate to however fast you want the book to play.
Track Your Expenses
The iPhone makes it incredibly easy to track expenses. Instead of writing down what you spend, just type it into the expense tracking program of your choice.
Many of these programs can also export their data to be imported into other expense tracking software like QuickBooks.
Best expense tracker apps:
- Best overall free app: Mint
- Best app for beginners: Goodbudget
- Best app for serious budgeters: You Need a Budget (YNAB)
- Best app for small business owners: QuickBooks Online
- Best app for business expenses: Expensify
Sync Notes
Have a brilliant idea? Go ahead and open Google Docs, Evernote, or OneNote on your phone and jot it down.
The iPhone allows you to stay connected, from anywhere, through the use of the cloud.
For working on the cloud, you can always have access to the same documents no matter where you are or what device you’re using. Start on your phone and finish it later on your laptop.
Save Time by Getting There Faster with GPS
There are many apps in the App Store that can help you get from point A to point B faster.
On the most basic level, Google Maps can help you find walking and driving directions very quickly. In many cities, Google Maps can even give you bus directions. Other cities can do the same through third party apps.
In addition, you can also get metro schedules, bus arrival times and even book plane tickets—all from the iPhone.
Going on a road trip? Download Waze, plug in your destination, and let Waze direct you; while warning you of road hazards, accidents, and speed traps on your route.
As a business person, your time is one of your scarcest assets. The iPhone can save you a lot of time by making it easy to get from place to place.
These are just five of the many ways the iPhone can make your life easier.
In addition to the thousands of apps already out there, hundreds of new apps are released every month, each one aiming to solve some sort of problem in your life.