In many ways, your smartphone is more powerful than
the computers of Apollo 11. While it won’t get you to the moon, you can be
lightyears ahead if you use your phone to its full potential. That includes
using it when you have no mobile or data connection.
Listen to podcasts
You can listen to music to pass the time or you can
go with informative podcasts. One Android app that is yet uncovered is Podcast
Addict. Using this app, you can search audio and video podcasts by keywords or
networks, subscribe to your favourites, manually add RSS feeds or YouTube
channels, import OPML files, and download episodes for listening or watching
them offline.
Catch up on your reading list
If you’re like most people, you hardly have time to
read all the interesting articles you come across on a daily basis. Maybe you
can get through some of them if you started reading during your commute. While
doing nothing or reading novels can be very relaxing, it’s not always the best
use of your time. Plenty of applications support offline reading and syncing
between your desktop and your smartphone, it’s just a matter of finding what
works best for you.
Pocket
Pocket, formerly known as Read It Later, lets you
save pretty much anything you can view in a browser, including articles and
videos. You can even email content to your Pocket. When you have some Internet
downtime, check your Pocket for entertainment.
Download: Pocket (free) for iOS, Android, Windows
Phone, Blackberry, and more.
Readability
Do you already use the Kindle app to read books?
With Readability, you can send articles from your desktop or its mobile apps to
your favourite e-Book reader and read them on the go. Simply add kindle@readability.com
to your Kindle approved email list, then send articles to your Kindle email
address.
FeedMe
If you’re using RSS, you can go through your feeds
with an add-free Android app that supports offline reading and Feedly. You’ll
find more mobile RSS apps for various platforms in the Unofficial Feedly Guide.
Evernote
Did you know the web clipping service, Evernote, had
an offline feature for mobile devices? It’s only available to Premium
subscribers, but if you happen to be one, this is a feature you should take
advantage of!
Improve your foreign language skills
Whether you’re a bloody beginner or have some basic
skills, practising a foreign language has many benefits. Apart from being able
to eventually speak a few sentences or even have a conversation, it’s also a
great way to sharpen your memory and expand your horizon. With new words and
phrases come new insights.
Duolingo
The question is, can you learn a new language using
your phone? Absolutely! If you’re lucky, the language you’re interested in is
offered by Duolingo. You can learn Spanish, French, Italian, German, or
Portuguese with the most engaging, fun and best tool out there. And it’s
completely free!
Babbel
If you’re not so lucky, give Babbel a try. Here, you
can currently pick from 13 different languages. You can try the tool for free.
Play games to improve your memory
Is it possible to have fun and be productive at the
same time? Kill two birds with one stone by playing games that sharpen your
memory. Be sure to set an alarm, as time will fly as you are drawn into these
brain teasers.
Edit your to-do lists
You can be all low tech and do this on a digital or
even physical notepad, or you can employ an app. If you pay for Premium, you
can use Evernote to manage your ‘To Do’ list, while your phone is offline. A
free alternative that offers unlimited offline editing and one free sync per 24
hours is Remember The Milk.
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