Utility apps might not be glamorous, but they are useful. Read on for why you might want to download some of them.
When you get a new mobile phone, what are the first apps you want to download? For most people, the list probably includes games, social media apps or their favourite websites' apps. You know, the fun stuff.
What probably doesn’t rank very high on that hypothetical list are utility apps. But perhaps they should be. While they’re not glamorous, these apps do exist for a reason. They do things that are either useful on a daily basis or can come in very useful in certain situations.
Here are some of the different kinds of utility apps out there and why they can be useful.
Anti-virus apps
This should definitely be one of the first things you download on a new device. Unfortunately, there are lots of unscrupulous people out there who are just looking for a chance to infect and take control of your device to steal your data. Apps like Security Warrior have lots of features that will help to protect your smartphone. These apps scan your device for potentially dangerous software and alert you if they find anything suspicious.
Anti-theft apps
Sometimes these are separate apps, but they often come rolled in with anti-virus apps like Security Warrior. While they’re not useful on a day-to-day basis, these apps become vital in certain unwelcome situations. They won't magically bring your device back to you if you lose it or someone steals it, but they will help you locate it by finding it on a map or sounding an alarm.
Anti-theft apps can remotely sound an alarm on your device
They can also lock the phone remotely, or wipe it if you want to stop the thief getting their hands on your information.
Anti-theft features can be activated by SMS
Language and translation apps
Whether you’re learning a new language or are just trying to get by in another country, there are a whole lot of apps available that will be able to help you. Most of these are free options, starting with Google Translate or Duolingo, but there are also paid apps which offer a greater range of features. Dictionaries, translators and learning software are all available.
Apps to speed up your phone
Unlike performance-enhancing drugs, performance-enhancing apps are both acceptable and encouraged. One of the best things you can do is to download an app that will help your phone to run faster. The most common way to do this is by using an app, such as Turbo Booster, to clean up your device. These apps will look through your device for all the unnecessary files and software that are slowing it down. Deleting these will speed up your phone.
Speed up your phone by deleting junk files
Apps to help you launch your other apps faster
The longer you have your Android and the more apps you install, the harder it can be to find the one you want to use. Luckily there are also utility apps to help with this situation. There are lots of apps out there which organise other apps, making it easier to quickly open the one you actually want. For example, Quick Drawer lets you view apps either alphabetically, by most recently used or by most frequently used.
Organise your apps with Quick Drawer
Apps to help you find things
There are various apps that have been developed to help you find things. Some apps help you to find the nearest toilet. Some apps help you find a cash machine. Some apps help you find the best petrol prices. There are apps to help you find love, restaurants and more If there is anything you want to find, there is probably an app for it.
These are just a few of the many, many examples of why you should install some utility apps on your Android. The possibilities are virtually endless, so have a look through the Play Store today and see what you can find.
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