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Universal language: A woman holds up an iPhone 6 that she's just bought at an Apple reseller in India. Mobiles now do much more than just take calls

It is hard to think of a device that's had more impact on our lives over the past five years than the smartphone. Some 32 million of us own one, and we would no more leave the house without it than our keys.

Smartphones are indeed just that — smart. They can do so much more than simply make calls. You can use a smartphone to surf the web, take photographs, make videos, navigate to your destination, make notes, type up documents, play movies and music, socialise on Facebook and Twitter, and even use it as a boarding pass.

Here, we will show you not only how to choose the smartphone that is right for you, but also how to get the most out of it.

When you have so much technology in your pocket, it seems a shame just to leave it idle.

MAKE YOUR PHONE DO WHAT YOU WANT 

When many of us get our smartphones, we have little idea of how to adapt them to suit our needs. That's where the Settings menu comes in. Don't be put off by the gears icon on your home screen — you don't need to be technically minded to have a tinker.

Here we'll show you how to take control of some of the most important settings, such as adjusting your privacy preferences and working out how to make a wireless Bluetooth connection.

But it's well worth spending time working your way through all the other settings that can also be adjusted, ranging from your ringtone to the brightness of your screen.

When you do so, it will feel as if you have a whole new smartphone, arranged the way you want it and not how the manufacturer thinks you want it.

PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY 

One of the most pressing issues facing smartphone users is the question of privacy. With so much personal data being stored on our phones and in the cloud (see cloud section overleaf), there is a great need to keep it protected.

As well as keeping our data private, most of us are also keen not to publicise our whereabouts.

However, many smartphone apps are able to establish exactly where we are by accessing the phone's location through its inbuilt GPS system.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons for this — a mapping app obviously needs to know where you are, as does a weather app. However, some apps seem to want to know where we are for no good reason.

And some apps are greedy for other details about us, and sometimes can access our list of contacts, and even our camera.

So how then can we maintain our privacy on our smartphones?

SETTING UP A PASSCODE 

First of all, do ensure that you have a passcode to unlock your screen. This stops somebody picking up your phone and merrily looking through all your data.

Apple

Go to Settings, and then tap on passcode. Turn on passcode, and your iPhone will prompt you to set up a four-digit Pin. After this, you need to enter your Pin every time you wish to unlock the screen.

Android

Go to Settings, and tap on security. Then go to 'screen lock' and tap on Pin. Now choose your Pin, and you will be asked for this each time you wish to unlock the screen.

Windows

Go to App list, and then tap on Settings. Select 'Lock Screen'. On a Windows phone, you can't set up a passcode but you can set up a password. Turn on password and then enter your password in the text box. When you have finished, tap 'Done'.

Safe from prying eyes? Do ensure that you have a passcode to unlock your mobile phone's screen

CHANGING PRIVACY SETTINGS 

Apple

1. Go to Settings, and then tap on 'Privacy'. To manage which apps gain access to your whereabouts, tap on 'Location Services'.

2. The next screen will show you a list of apps that can find out where you are. Scroll down the list and see which apps you are happy knowing your location. If there is an app you are not happy with, click on its name, and then click on 'Never' to stop it accessing your location.

3. If you want to disable all apps from using your location, then simply slide the switch at the top of the screen to off. Bear in mind that this will effectively disable many useful apps, such as maps.

4. Now go back to Privacy. You will be presented with a list of your iPhone's functions, such as camera and microphone. Tap on a function to see which apps have access to it. If you are not happy with an app having access to your microphone, for example, simply turn that app off.

Android

Unfortunately with Android, changing which apps can access your location and smartphone's functions is an impossible business — unless you have a special piece of software called a permissions manager. You can search for one in the Google Play App store, but these are often disabled by Google with each software upgrade. However, you do have a certain amount of control over your Google account itself.

1. Go to Settings, and scroll down to Accounts. Tap on Google.

2. Click on 'Search'. Then tap on 'Accounts & Privacy'. You will now be presented with a screen that gives you many options.

3. Tap on 'Google Location Settings'. This will now bring up a screen which shows you which apps have recently requested your location. You cannot disable the location reporting for each app, but if you slide the Location switch to 'off', you will disable location access in its entirety. This will of course hamper apps that rely on your location to work — such as maps and weather apps.

4. Go back to Accounts & Privacy. Explore the other options available, such as turning off your web history.

Windows

As with Android, Windows Phone 8 only has very limited means of ensuring your smartphone is not snooping on you. To stop the phone reporting your location to any apps, go to Settings in your App list. Tap 'Location', and slide the switch to off.

If you want to delete your history on Internet Explorer, or to stop websites from tracking you, then go to Settings and tap on 'Internet Explorer', and then 'Advanced Settings'. You will now be presented with a list of checkboxes with which you can manage your browser's privacy.

ANDROID, APPLE OR WINDOWS: WHICH MOBILE SYSTEM IS THE BEST?

To the uninitiated, all smartphones look pretty much the same. But underneath their shiny exteriors there are many differences.

The biggest is undoubtedly the operating system, which is the main piece of software that runs all the functions on any computer, be it a tablet, a desktop or a smartphone.

In the UK, there are three main operating systems and this is the first choice you will need to make when buying a phone.

However, it is important to remember that all types of smartphone offer very similar functions, such as email, maps, the web, messaging and, of course, phone calls. The good news is that you can't really go wrong.

A sign for Google is displayed behind the Google android robot, at the National Retail Federation, in New York 

ANDROID 

Made by Google and given away to any manufacturer that wishes to use it, the Android operating system is the most widespread. As a result, there's a huge range of phones available that use Android, with prices to suit every pocket. Devotees say it is streets ahead of other operating systems, and that the likes of Apple are always catching up.

Pros: A wide choice of phones; its Google Play store, where you buy apps, is excellent.

Cons: Interfaces vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so if you change smartphones, it may feel different to use. 

APPLE 

The latest Apple mobile operating system is called iOS8, which Apple claims is its most important release yet. It's certainly impressive and looks good, and critics of earlier iOS releases say Apple has finally caught up with Android.

Pros: Easiest screen to navigate; the biggest app store.

Cons: You are limited to buying an iPhone, which is much more expensive than other smartphones.

WINDOWS 

In a solid third place after Android and Apple, the Windows system is still not to be scoffed at. Although it looks less pretty than its rivals, it has a very simple screen layout that may make it attractive for those less comfortable with technology.

Pros: Simplicity; access to Office suite of programs is handy for work, too.

Cons: A relatively small app store.

AFTER ALL THOSE LEAKED PICTURES, CAN YOU REALLY TRUST THE CLOUD?

Safe and secure? Try to avoid storing data online that is very personal, such as bank passwords and pictures you wouldn't want the world to see

There has been a lot of recent Press attention about 'cloud computing'. Much of it is concerned with celebrities having their 'clouds' hacked into, and having their private —and often intimate — photos stolen and circulated on the internet.

So what exactly is the 'cloud', and how do you get it on your smartphone? And is it safe to use?

The 'cloud' is actually a remote computer called a server that stores data such as photos and documents. Because today we store so much data on our smartphones — such as movies, music, photos and emails — the handsets quickly run out of memory.

The solution is to store all or much of this data in the cloud, from which it can be accessed via an internet connection — either through wifi or your mobile-phone provider's data network.

The great benefit of cloud computing is that your data cannot be lost in the event of your smartphone being lost or stolen. Another bonus is that other devices in your life — such as your laptop and tablet — can all be synchronised. This is called 'syncing' and means that when you take a picture on your phone, it will be nearly instantly available to view on your tablet. Your documents are also synchronised, so if you create a document on your laptop, you will be able to see it on your smartphone.

It's very convenient but is it safe? Could someone hack into your cloud and steal your data?

In theory, nothing is 100 per cent secure on the internet. As with many things in life, cloud computing needs to be approached with a mixture of common sense and precaution.

Try to avoid storing data that is very personal — such as passwords for bank accounts and pictures you wouldn't want the world to see — and protect your cloud account with a decent password.

Never respond to an email that asks you for cloud log-in details. These emails are known as 'phishing', because the senders are 'fishing' for your details.

The benefits of having all your data securely backed up far outweigh the potential risks. 

 

 Which cloud should you use? 

Cloud computing is now extremely popular and there are many companies offering services that are very similar.

The prices for storage and the amounts of storage they offer change regularly. Most of the following services have apps that are available on all three major smartphone operating systems. 

To install any of these apps, you will need to go to your smartphone's app store to download the app. It will guide you through registration.

 

DROPBOX 

www.dropbox.com

2 GB of free space

1 TB (1,000 GB) is £7.99 per month

Available on: iOS, Android

Pros: Very reliable; and compatible with many smartphone devices

Cons: Pricey; not much free space

GOOGLE DRIVE 

http://ift.tt/1rHG9AW

15 GB of free space

1 TB (I,000 GB) is $9.99 per month (that's £6.25; Google often charges in dollars).

Available on: iOS, Android

Pros: Reliable; best value; works well with Google services such as Gmail

Cons: No support for Windows phones

ONEDRIVE 

onedrive.live.com

15 GB of free space

200 GB is £3.99 per month

Available: Windows Phones; iOS; Android

Pros: The best choice for Windows phones; good amount of free space

Cons: Relatively expensive

iCLOUD

www.icloud.com

5 GB of free space

1 TB is £14.99 per month

Available: iOS

Pros: Syncs very well with other Apple products

Cons: Expensive; Apple only

AMAZON CLOUD DRIVE 

http://ift.tt/1rHG93V

5 GB free space

1 TB is $500 per year, or around £25 per month

Available: iOS, Android

Pros: Easy to use

Cons: Less flexibility than other cloud services 

WHAT ON EARTH IS 'BLUETOOTH'? 

Bluetooth is a system by which devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers can communicate with each other wirelessly over short distances. Bluetooth does not require wifi or an internet connection to work. So long as two devices have Bluetooth, then they should be able to connect to each other.

WHAT DEVICES CAN i CONNECT TO?  

There are scores of devices on the market that you can connect to. Perhaps the most popular are speakers and headphones. However, you can also use Bluetooth to connect your smartphone to printers, hands-free kits for cars, keyboards, and even other smartphones.

Get yourself connected: You can also use Bluetooth to connect your smartphone to speakers, headphones, printers, hands-free kits for cars, keyboards, and even other smartphones

HOW DO I SET UP BLUETOOTH? 

Before you enable Bluetooth on your smartphone, you must make sure that you have switched on Bluetooth on the device to which you are connecting.

This may sound obvious, but this is the most common reason why people cannot get Bluetooth to work. Once you have made sure, you will need to 'pair' your smartphone with the device.

Apple

1 On your home screen, select Settings, and then tap on the Bluetooth tab.

2 Slide the switch to on. Your iPhone will now perform a scan, to see if there are any nearby Bluetooth devices it can connect to. When you see a device you want, tap on it.

3 Your iPhone should now ask you to pair with the device. Tap on 'Pair' and within a few seconds, your handset and your device should be paired.

Android

1 On your home screen, select Settings, and then tap on Bluetooth.

2 Slide the switch to on. Tap on the name of your device — such as 'Nexus 5' — until the display indicates that your smartphone is 'Visible to all Bluetooth devices nearby'. The device you want should then appear below.

3 Tap on the device, and within a few seconds, your smartphone should connect.

Windows

1 In the App List, select Settings. Then, tap Bluetooth, and turn the status to on.

2 Your Windows phone will look for any Bluetooth devices. When it appears, select the name of the device that you want to connect to. After you have paired it once, the phone will automatically connect to the device when it's next in range.

Aide memoire: If you have a smartphone, there are hundreds of ways of making notes

USE YOUR PHONE AS A NOTEPAD 

Ever had a great idea and wanted to jot it down, but didn't have a pen and paper to hand? Well, if you have a smartphone, there are hundreds of ways of making notes — be it shopping lists, reminders or just good ideas.

Apple

1 On an iPhone, an app simply called Notes is already installed. To make a note, launch the app, and then press 'New'.

2 Type in your note. If it is easier and quicker, then select the microphone icon next to the space bar, and dictate your note. This is particularly useful if you're on the move.

3. When you have finished your note, select 'Done'. After you have finished your note, you can share it via Messages, Mail, Twitter or Facebook, or send it to a printer. Press the share icon at the bottom middle of the screen to do any of these.

4. If you tap on 'Back', you will return to a list of all your notes. Select which note you want to see again. To delete a note, press the dustbin icon. To edit or add to the note, tap on the pencil and paper icon.

FIVE OF THE BEST SMARTPHONES

APPLE iPHONE 6 

Best all-rounder

The new iPhone is extremely thin (6.9mm) and light, while its 4.7 in (119.4mm) screen looks rich and subtle with realistic colours. Despite it being slimline, Apple has made a lot of room for the battery, which lasts much longer than in previous models. The eight-megapixel camera is improved, and soon you'll even be able to use the phone for payments (as you would a contactless credit card), with security features including a fingerprint recognition lock.

From free on contract, from £539 without contract

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 

Best for power

Samsung created the 'phablet' category — which lies between phone and tablet. This new model has a 5.7in (145mm) display and very fast processor, not to mention a big battery and 16-megapixel camera. 

There's even a sensor on the back that can monitor your heartbeat.

From free on contract, from £629.95 without

HTC ONE MINI 2

Best for sound

Another Android phone, the Mini 2 is smaller than most smartphones, though it still has a 4.5 in (114mm) screen. It fits the hand well thanks to its curved back, while the screen is sharp and vibrant. It's especially good for music lovers, thanks to big, powerful front-facing speakers that sound great.

From free on contract, from £379.95 without

NOKIA LUMIA 930 

Best for display

Elegant and well-crafted, the Lumia 930 is solid but reasonably lightweight. It uses the Windows Phone operating system and includes a versatile and effective camera app. Great for use overseas as a satnav, because with Nokia you can download the maps you want beforehand and use them without an expensive roaming data connection.

From free on contract, from £399.95 without

SONY XPERIA Z3 

Best for waterproofing

If you're fond of outdoor activities or want to text in the bath, this waterproof and dust-resistant phone is ideal. Sony's version of Android is done with style and charm, with subtle shortcut symbols and understated software design. The powerful 20.7-megapixel camera is especially good.

From free on contract, from £549.95 without

Android

1. The best app to make notes with an Android smartphone is Keep, which is made by Google and available free in the Play Store. After you have launched the app, tap on 'Add Quick Note'.

2. You then have the option of making a straightforward typed note, a list, a voice memo, or even a picture note. After you have made your note, you can press on the bell icon to add a reminder, which can be triggered at a certain time, or even when you go to a specific location, such as a town or a postcode.

3. When you have finished making your note, tap on the lightbulb at the top left. You will now see all your notes. Select any note to see it again.

To delete a note, press the options icon at the top right of the screen and select 'delete'. To share it, tap the options icon and press 'share', then you will be given a list of ways you can share it.

4. If you want to see your notes on a web browser, go to http://ift.tt/MGz7yU, enter your Google account login details, and your notes will appear.

Windows

1. Select OneNote from your App List. At the bottom of the screen, tap on the 'Plus' icon to start a new note.

2. Notes can be given titles, by selecting 'Enter title'. If you do not enter a title, then the first line of your note will automatically become the title. Tap below the title and then write your note.

3. When you have finished, press the back arrow icon. This will take you to your list of notes. If you wish to open a note, select it from the list.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

One of the enduring problems with smartphones is that no matter how big the screens get, those of us with fingers bigger than those of a skinny teenager find the virtual keyboards tricky to use.

Thankfully, smartphone makers are aware of this, and now there are many ways to make life easier for those of us who weren't brought up with a smartphone attached to our palm.

Apple

The latest version of Apple's iPhone operating system features a predictive text system called QuickType [Swiftkey is a rival company which is accessible on an iPhone but is not the Apple one].

When you are using the keyboard to type, say, a text message or email, iOS8 guesses what word you are going to type next, and offers up a selection of completed words that you can tap on rather than type out.

QuickType even understands what your conversation is about, so if someone texts you to ask whether you want to go out for dinner or drinks, you will be given the choice of those two words to tap on.

There are some nifty shortcuts, too. To get capital letters, instead of tapping shift and then the letter, just touch shift and then drag you finger to the letter and release your finger. You can also get a full-stop quickly by tapping the space bar twice.

When you're typing with an iPhone, for quick access to numbers or punctuation, touch the number key marked '123' and slide up to the number or punctuation character you want, then release your finger. The character will appear in your text and the keypad will revert back to letters so you can carry on typing.

If you're using your iPhone to shop online, then iOS8 will recognise when you need to type in your credit card number.

To save you time, you'll notice above the keyboard that you have the option to 'Scan Credit Card'. Tap this, and then simply hold your smartphone over your credit or debit card, and the card details will automatically be filled in on the payment form.

And if you have photos of your contacts, here is a fun way to access their details quickly in iOS8: double click the home button — at the top of the screen, you'll see the faces of the people you've messaged or called most recently.

If you hold down on their face, you'll be given a range of options of how to contact them — from phone to instant messaging.

Android

Android phones feature a predictive text system, which guesses what you are going to type next.

All you need to do is to tap on one of three anticipated words presented to you, thereby saving you from having to type the next word out. Of course, if none of the options are correct, you can still keep typing away as normal.

Android smartphones also feature a 'swipe' keyboard, which is really handy.

Rather than typing out words, you simply drag your finger from letter to letter, and the smartphone works out for you which word you are trying to write.

The system works brilliantly, and it doesn't mind if you have fat fingers!

Windows

As you type an email or a message on your Windows Phone 8 smartphone, a selection of words appear that try to anticipate what you are about to type.

Keep typing until you see the word you need, and then simply tap on it.

Your smartphone will even add full stops. If you tap a space twice and start the next word with a capital, a full-stop will be automatically inserted.

HOW TO MAKE VIDEO CALLS

One of the great things about smartphones is you are able to make free video calls to your friends and family. It's a brilliant way to catch up with your children and grandchildren, even if they are on the other side of the world.

There are many apps on Android, Apple and Windows phones that allow you to make video calls, and it is important to remember that both caller and receiver need to be using the same app in order for the call to work.

In addition, video calls use up a lot of data and so it is advisable to use a broadband wifi connection rather than using your mobile data network that will cost you a lot of money.

Apple

If you and the person you wish to call both have iPhones, then the easiest way to make a video call is by using Apple's inbuilt FaceTime app.

1. To turn on FaceTime, go to Settings and click on FaceTime. You will find that FaceTime has already associated your mobile phone number with the app, and people will be able to reach you on FaceTime via this number. Swipe the button at the top to the right to turn on FaceTime.
2. You can also be reached on FaceTime via your Apple ID email address. Tap on 'Add another email' and then type in your email address. This will send a verification email to that address, which will contain a link to click to verify that it is OK for that email address to be associated with FaceTime. Add as many email addresses as you like.
3. Now exit Settings and launch the app. Enter a name, email address or phone number of the person you wish to contact. The screen will now show their name and contact details. Tap on the video camera icon in 'FaceTime'.
4. This will start the call. Until you connect, you will see your face. When the receiver answers the call on their iPhone, you will see their face. To end the call, press the red button to hang up. Note that you can also make and receive FaceTime calls on an iPad and a Mac with the latest software.

Android

The easiest way to have a video call on an Android smartphone, providing the person you are calling also has an Android phone, is to use Google Hangouts. This should normally be pre-installed with your handset, but is available free from the Google Play Store. To use Hangouts, you will need to have a Google account.

1. In the menu at the top, tap on the head and shoulders contact icon. This will bring up a list of your contacts. If your contact is available to have a video call, a green speech bubble will appear next to their name.
2. A new window appears. Along the top, to the right of the contact's name, are three icons. To make a video call, tap the camera icon.
3. Until you connect, you will see your face. When the receiver answers the call on their Android phone, you will see their face. To end the call, simply press the red button to hang up.

Windows

Unlike with Android and iOS8, Windows Phone smartphones do not offer an inbuilt video call app. However, the Windows Phone Marketplace offers plenty of apps, including the most popular video calling app, Skype, which like Windows is owned by Microsoft.

Skype

Skype is undoubtedly the leading app for making video calls. One of the big advantages with the app is that you can use it to make free video and voice calls to those with different types of smartphone. They do of course need to have Skype installed, which is free.

1. After you have downloaded Skype from either Apple App Store, Google Play, or Windows Phone Marketplace, launch the app. If you have never used Skype before, the app will guide you through registering an account. You may find it quicker to set up an account on your laptop or desktop computer first, then download the app on your phone and enter your account details.
2. Although Skype varies slightly depending on your operating system, it always works in the same way. After you have logged in, Skype will ask to look through your smartphone's contacts to see whether any of them are on Skype, and to add them to your Skype contacts.
3. After Skype has done this, you will be presented with three screens you can swipe through. Go to People and then click on the tab marked 'All'. Now choose whether you want to see all your contacts, just your Skype contacts, or just your Skype contacts who are online.
4. Select the available contact you wish to speak to. On the new screen, tap the video camera icon to initiate a video call.