It’s amazing how many people have a smartphone but use it just to make phone calls.

Using the example of smartphones that use the Android operating system, Google has a few tips for getting the most out of them:

APP BASICS

Apps are little programs with which you can do on your phone all the things you do on your PC. That includes:

* Check e-mail: Use the Gmail app or mobile web on the phone, or log in to another e-mail account through the phone’s browser

* Watch videos using the YouTube app.

* Search the web: looking for an actor’s name is particularly cool using Google Voice Search.

* The Calendar App is perfect for busy women. Get reminders for meetings, school runs and other events.

Personalise your phone

Android devices have multiple “home screens” you can personalise with the apps you use the most.

Choose different backgrounds and widgets (small “windows” that can show things like the weather or a friend’s status update on-screen without opening an app).

More advanced stuff

The smartphone comes with lots of extra goodies, such as GPS, a microphone, a camera, a video camera, a magnetometer, an accelerometer… and because it’s connected to the internet you can share everything you create with family and friends.

Some of the things you can do:

* Take pictures and share them with your Twitter followers.

* Tune in to local radio stations and listen on the go using an app such as TuneIn Radio.

* Take videos and upload them directly to YouTube.

* Download Metal Detector, which uses your smartphone’s sensors to help find metal buried underground (cool stuff).

* Download Wedding Plandroid to help plan a wedding. You can keep track of the florist, venue and caterer. This app was developed by a South African.

Learn what’s nearby

With Google on your phone you can search your surroundings for businesses, attractions, restaurants, banks – anything you want.

* You could also try finding a place to buy tonight’s supper using Google Places.

* Google Maps can tell you how to get there, by car or on foot.

* Google Maps Navigation can get you there using turn-by-turn directions.

* Google Street View can show you what your destination looks like.

* Check out the official Gautrain app for timetables and other useful information.

Keeping fit

* The CardioTrainer app can help you build and track exercise routines at the gym, learn new exercises and share results.

* You can use My Tracks to GPS-track and view live statistics – such as time, speed, distance and elevation – while walking, hiking, biking, running or taking part in other outdoor activities.

* Apps can help you learn new activities. Pocket Yoga, for instance, includes poses, instructions, music and more.

WEEKEND FUN

* When visiting an art museum, take a picture of a work of art and use Google Goggles to identify it and return search results about what you are looking at.

* You can crack open a bottle of wine using Goggles for some tasting notes.

* Take Google Sky Map outdoors and learn more about the night sky.

* If you want to stay indoors, you can play Rainbow Racer on your phone, an addictive ball game created by a South African.

Banking

Google says you can use your smartphone to pay accounts, check your balance and plan next week’s budget using mobile banking.

If you are an FNB customer you can use the new FNB Android app that was recently launched. You can also find the nearest FNB branch and ATM, and make free calls to any FNB contact centres.

APPS

Popular internationally

(not ranked in any order)

* WhatsApp

* Google+

* Google Navigation

* Amazon Kindle

* Tripit

* Angry Birds

* Androidify

* SPB Shell 3D

* Camcard

Popular SA apps

(Not ranked in any particular order)

* Rainbow Racer

* Wedding Plandroid

* FNB app

* Computicket

* Yellow Pages SA

* Gautrain

* ExpenZa - The Star