Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that we no longer think about how powerful they have become. Today, high end smartphones like the iPhone 6 have enough processing power, storage and connectivity to rival desktop computers from not that far in the past.
While the average person might only use his or her phone to check social media, play some games and call friends, much more can be done on them than people realize. Because of all of the hardware and software available today, making your smart phone into a portable, basic computer is much easier than it might seem.
Hardware
In order to turn your smartphone into a functioning computer, you might want to consider pairing it with some external hardware like the following:
- What the computer has over a smartphone, in terms of being a real workhorse, is the ability to input data at a much faster pace than most people can type with just their thumbs. Therefore, having a keyboard should be high on your list of priorities if you want to turn your phone into a full computer. Even small keyboards can help you write and take notes more comfortably and accurately than using the touch screen alone. Use your phone’s bluetooth connection to easily connect an external keyboard so you don’t need to worry about wires when you’re traveling.
- As large as many phones are getting, sometimes it still is not enough for long work sessions. Thankfully, a new trend is to allow the mirroring of the phone’s screen to an external monitor though an HDMI output port. All you need to do is get the correct cable from your manufacturer and connect it to any monitor with an HDMI port.
- Power should be your last worry when trying to get work done. Although today’s batteries are much more powerful, they are far from perfect. Getting an external battery can be a lifesaver if you find yourself in a situation where a wall plug isn’t available. Battery packs can range in size from 2600 mAh, about the average smartphone battery size, all the way up to 18,000 mAh or about seven times the average battery size.
Software
Software is the heart of what makes your system work. This means that you need compatible software programs to make your phone work like a computer no matter where you go.
- Google Drive is a free office style suite of applications that covers all of the basic office functions you might need. It provides a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software, which are perfect for the college student who needs these for class, the traveling businessperson or the recreational computer user.
- Evernote is another useful tool for the user who wants a smartphone computer. Evernote is a notebook replacement tool that can be used to jot down notes, make lists, save pictures and collaborate with other users. For those who enjoy this more flexible style of workflow, this can be a great change from more rigid word processing tools. Evernote also has the ability to search hand written notes, which can be a great way to get down information from other people with just a quick snap of the camera.
Both of these programs also are available as a web or desktop client, allowing you to keep working no matter where you are or what device you’re using.
