A recent survey commissioned by Consumer Cellular (www.consumercellular.com), a leading provider of cell phones and cell phone plans to Boomers and the exclusive cell phone plan provider for AARP members, demonstrates that seniors and Boomers are becoming smartphone savvy and use their cell phones to connect with friends and family more than ever before. Ninety percent of the respondents indicated they taught themselves how to use the smartphone. The email application was the most frequently used app for 59 percent of respondents. The survey data suggests that Boomers take advantage of accessing the internet on smartphones as much as, and in some cases more than, their younger counterparts. Overall, Boomer respondents reported a desire to own a smartphone to enhance their daily lives and keep in better touch with friends and family.
Smartphones have done an excellent job of making technology user-friendly, much better than what we have experienced with personal computers. The big breakthrough is the wave of smartphone âappsâ that can be downloaded to your phone free. Have you seen the recent TV commercial boasting that the iphone has over 500,000 apps? Whether you are looking for information or expanding your horizon of entertainment, there is an app for you. The portability and convenience of these apps are really life changing. A world of information and entertainment is literally at your fingertips. Here are a few apps that have caught my attention:
YELP â Find and read reviews about great local businesses nearby. Looking for a local restaurant that is still open? A gas station you can drive to before your tank hits empty? Search for places to eat, shop, drink, and play, then read reviews from an active community of those who have gone before you.
IMDb Movies & TV â This app never fails when it comes to looking up anything that has to do with TV, film, or Hollywood. The app also lets you find which movies are playing at local theatres and even purchase tickets. With an IMDb account (free or paid for Pro), the app provides even more features, like the ability to create a watch list of movies you want to see.
Shazam â Do you ever have trouble remembering the title or artist of music you hear while dining or shopping? Shazam to the rescue! Call up Shazam on your smartphone and hold it as close as you can to the speakers/music source. Within a few seconds, the app will tell you the title, artist, and sometimes even find the album art, too.
WebMD â WebMD is much more than a diagnosis app, although you certainly can use it to input symptoms you are experiencing and find some clues as to what’s ailing you. It also contains listings for healthcare professionals and pharmacies in the area, as well as first-aid guidesâsimple instructions that everyone should have accessible at any time for dealing with an emergency.
Google Goggles – Google Goggles is an augmented reality experience that layers additional information from the digital world onto the physical world. For example, you can take a snapshot with your phone of anything from a painting in a museum to a placard that’s written in a language you don’t understand, and Google Goggles will give you more clues to help you figure out what’s in front of you or why it’s important.
These and other apps are readily available through the Market app pre-installed on your smartphone from wherever you purchased it.
Keep those letters coming, folks. Send your ideas to: The Frugal Forum, P.O. Box 693, Huntley, IL 60142 or by email to: thefrugalforum@gmail.com.
