Smartphones come with many useful features that make life easier, but some of these features are hidden or overlooked.
From quick shortcuts to helpful settings, these tips can make using your smartphone faster, easier, and more fun.
Below are a few simple tricks to unlock your smartphone’s hidden abilities!
Smartphones are a big part of daily life, helping with everything from staying in touch to tracking fitness, scheduling, and entertainment. But many of us don’t know everything they can do.
Here are some hidden smartphone features and tips to help you make the most of your device.

**Silence in Seconds**
Everyone’s been caught in a place where phones should be silent, only for it to start ringing. You can quickly silence calls or notifications by pressing the volume down button. Your phone will go quiet without ending the call or dismissing the alert, saving you from any embarrassment!
**Quick Camera Access**
Special moments happen without warning, and there’s no time to search for the camera app. You don’t need to unlock your phone to take a picture. On iPhones, swipe left from the lock screen to open the camera. Android users can double-press the power button to open the camera instantly. This way, you’ll never miss an important shot.
**Widgets**
Widgets have grown from simple displays to tools that can make smartphone use even easier. Adding widgets to your home screen lets you check important info, access apps, and complete tasks without scrolling through menus. Popular widgets include calendar, email, weather, notes, and health. For smart home users, widgets can control devices directly from the screen.
**Reduce Eye Strain**
Spending long periods looking at screens can cause eye strain. To help with this, activate dark mode. It looks sleek and saves battery on OLED screens, plus it’s easier on the eyes at night. Many popular apps also have dark mode. Also, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.
**Reduce Battery Drain**
Nothing is more frustrating than a phone that loses power without use. Modern smartphones come with battery-saving settings that help stretch battery life. Here are some ways to preserve battery power:
– **Activate low power mode (iPhone) or battery saver (Android)**: This mode turns off non-essential functions to conserve energy.
– **Auto-brightness**: The screen uses a lot of battery. Lowering the brightness or using auto-brightness can save power.
– **Limit background refresh and sync**: Many apps refresh in the background, draining the battery faster. Limiting this can save energy.
– **Close or uninstall battery-draining apps**: Social media, gaming, and streaming apps often use more power. Close or uninstall apps you don’t often use to save battery.
**Keeping Your Phone Running Well**
To keep your phone running smoothly, it’s important to maintain it. Over time, your phone can slow down due to heavy use or software updates. Here are some tips to keep your phone fast and efficient:
– **Clear cache regularly**: Apps save temporary data, but too much cache can slow your phone.
– **Limit background apps**: Apps running in the background use memory and battery. Limiting background activity helps improve performance.
– **Free up storage space**: Low storage can slow your phone and cause apps to crash. Clearing storage boosts speed and stability.
– **Update apps and software**: Updates include bug fixes and improvements to keep your phone functioning smoothly.
These smartphone tips are just a start. Exploring these tricks can make your device a more helpful part of your daily routine, from staying organized to simplifying tasks.
Heavily-Tattooed Woman Says It’s “Not Fair” That She Can’t Get A Job
Following a woman’s accusation that TJ Maxx was discriminating against her due to her appearance, a subsequent instance involving a job rejection at the store has generated controversy. 23-year-old Ash Putnam, who goes by @ashxobrien on TikTok, talked about how she was turned down for a part-time job at the store because of her body piercings and tattoos.
Putnam claims that after applying for the job, she got an email a few weeks later rejecting her application. Disappointed by the information, she vented her annoyance on TikTok and sparked a discussion on discrimination in employment.

Putnam’s initial grievance was with the impersonality of getting an email rejection instead of a call. Even though this is standard procedure for big businesses, she thought it was disrespectful considering how hard she worked to apply for the position.
When Putnam went to her neighborhood TJ Maxx to personally find out why she was rejected, a staff member informed her that she didn’t have enough experience for the role. Despite the employee’s insistence to the contrary, she suspected that her tattoos had a big influence on the choice.
Putnam stressed that, despite her unhappiness, she wasn’t necessarily in need of the work and was just looking for extra money to help her pay off debt faster. She thought it was unjust, though, that her tattoos appeared to be a deciding factor in her employability.

Putnam has obvious tattoos of images associated with Satanism, including a Leviathan Cross and a goat that symbolizes the god Baphomet. Thousands of TikTok users commented on her post, implying that her tattoos probably affected the decision, even though it’s unclear whether hiring supervisors noticed them when she applied.
Visible tattoos, according to some reviewers, may be viewed as unprofessional, particularly in jobs where employees interact with customers like those at TJ Maxx. Others brought out the difficulty of finding a job for young folks without any prior work experience if employers value experience over potential.
The event brought up more general concerns about how society views physical alterations and employment procedures. Putnam questioned why having a tattoo should prevent someone from getting a job, given that many tattoo bearers are quite skilled workers.
Putnam’s tattoos may not have had a direct impact on her rejection, but the event brings attention to the ongoing discussion over appearance-based discrimination in the workplace. It’s critical to think about how hiring procedures may be more inclusive and equal for all candidates, regardless of appearance, as the conversation continues.
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