My Phone’s Secret Weapons

Five features that enhance my mobile experience

Call me a mobile phoneophiliac. I like them all.

I always do a doubletake when I see an Apple iPhone 5S sans case. Its slim design, beautiful user interface, and app functionality are easy on the eyes. I appreciate the conveniences of phablets, like a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, a beautiful phone with a 5.5" screen. I owned one back when it first came out and got many comments about how big my phone was. I can understand those preferring a Windows Phone and how it’s able to integrate with their professional work needs. But the phone I’m finding the most enjoyment out of is my current device. A Google Nexus 5 made by LG. It’s a 32GB powerhouse with a slim design and a vibrant 5-inch screen. It takes care of my power user tech needs wonderfully. And the best part of my Nexus is the hidden, secret weapons located within.

Wi-Fi hotspot

I don’t have to rely on public or work wi-fi to use my laptop or iPad Mini. By enabling the password-protected portable hotspot feature on my Nexus 5, I’m able to use my phone’s unlimited data plan to get e-mail or browse the web. Plus, I get to be helpful with friends or family that need wireless access when they don’t have one available. I’m their internet provider!

USB OTG

For the price of a lunch entree, I bought a small cable and installed the Nexus Media Importer app. This allows me to connect any USB jumpdrive or external hard drive to my phone and view photos, videos, and music on my phone without using up drive space. It’s a great solution for watching a one-off video on my television at home with my $35 Chromecast. And it’s theoretically possible for my phone to have up to three terabytes of storage space.

Unlocked Freedom

I paid $400 cash for my 32GB Nexus 5. Bought it from the online Google Play Store, not a mobile phone store. It’s double the price of a typical phone purchase from the phone carriers, but I believe I’ll save money in the long run. Here’s how your money is spent when you “lease” a phone from a mobile carrier:

$199 = price paid for a new phone with a two-year contract.
$720 = $30 smartphone fee per month x 24 months under contract.
$919 = Total money spent overall after two years.

By bringing my own equipment to my two-year contract with a mobile carrier, that $30/month fee is waived, essentially lowering my annual costs by $360, which is almost the price I paid for my phone in the first place.

No Crapware

I love a pure and simple operating system on my phone. I don’t want a phone company pushing their own versions of cloud backup or messaging software on me. And I definitely don’t want my mobile carrier pushing security apps on my phone that I can’t uninstall. I want to be in control of the apps I put on my phone. The svelte, agile Nexus operating system gives me Google apps, that’s all. It’s just like I rooted and installed a custom ROM on my phone, but I get to enjoy this without breaking my warranty.

Chromecast Mirroring Desktop

There was a recent update to Chromecast that really enhanced my phone experience. Just like Apple’s Airplay technology, I’m now able to mirror my Nexus 5's screen up on the TV in my family room. Photo albums of trips are now easily viewed from a 37" Vizio screen instead of everybody hunched over my phone.

I’m not in competition with other people to have the best or coolest phone out there. I want to have a device that works for my needs. After an extensive amount of research, and trying various paths, I’ve found a great solution by buying a device outside of my mobile carrier and enjoying its extensive capabilities for my 21st-century tech needs.