Chances are you or someone you know got a new smartphone or tablet over the holidays. But most of us don’t have time to go through the entire instruction booklet. Below are seven easy steps you can use for any device to make your smartphone smarter.
1) Email set-up, 2) Network check, 3) Wi-Fi settings, 4) Maximize battery, 5) Settings & notifications, 6) AT&T apps & services, and 7) Accessories
Let’s take them one at a time.
Email Set-Up
Pull vs. push. Pull email allows for a scheduled time the device will go out and find new emails instead of emails being constantly pushed to your device. Setting emails to the “pull setting” will help with overall battery life.
Network Check
Make sure you know which network you are using. For example, AT&T’s 4G LTE network lets you surf the Internet and talk at the same time- great for multi-tasking - or you might be able to switch to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi Settings
Most devices are Wi-Fi enabled and by using this network setting you can improve battery performance. AT&T operates the nation’s largest 4G network and provides access to nearly 225,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to its national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly wireless data plans.
Maximize your battery
For most devices, you can adjust the screen brightness, manually place the phone into sleep mode and turn on the battery saver—which all leads to better battery and phone performance.
Settings & Notifications
By limiting or turning off all applications that have alerts you will help improve device functionally and performance.
Apps and Services
Check out your carrier’s apps and services. For example, AT&T has Rollover Minutes letting you rollover unused minutes from month to month for a year. AT&T also has Family Map which helps parents keep track of where their child’s cell phone is via their smartphone or PC, or wireless phone insurance which can save you some big bucks if you leave your shiny new device in a cab.
Accessories
Take the time to check out which accessories come with your device. The right Bluetooth, car charger or screen protector can be worth it.
Operating system
Stay current with any upgrades to the operating system for your smartphone or tablet. Pay attention to software updates that pop on the screen of your device or PC when you synch the device. For example by downloading Zune software, you’ll be kept up to date on the latest phone offerings.
That’s it. Have fun, guys and gals.
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