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The telephone in your paw can do more than than the computers we had years ago. It's a communication device, a photographic camera, a scanner, a fettle tracker, a camcorder, a GPS, a game panel — I could proceed.

There's also a lot your telephone can do that you would non call up was possible. Tap or click for seven brilliant ways your smartphone can help you become things done, from measuring someone's summit to remoting into your computer.

But sometimes, you lot only demand to talk. If your service is spotty, there are a few ways to heave your signal strength.

When it comes to texts, it's nice to know if your message went through and the person read it.

On an iPhone

Apple's default text messaging app, iMessage, makes it easy to know if your recipient has read your bulletin. There is one caveat. Both the sender and recipient must be using iMessage on an iPhone or iPad and accept Read Receipts enabled.

When you text someone with Read Receipts turned on, you'll detect the word "Read" beneath your bulletin, and the time it was opened.

To turn on your Read Receipts in the iMessage app, click Settings, scroll down, and tap Letters. Enable Send Read Receipts. These steps piece of work with Macs and iPads every bit well.

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On an Android

Similar iPhone users, Android read receipts require both sender and recipient enable the characteristic. Instructions may vary co-ordinate to your device's manufacturer, model, and operating system.

First, open your Messages app and navigate to the settings. Depending on your phone model, operating system, and cellular provider, yous will notice one of the following: Read Receipts, Transport Read Receipts or Request Receipt. Turn on the applicable option.

On a Samsung phone, become to Letters > Bill of fare > Settings > Chat settings. Hither, you lot can enable read receipts.

In Google Messages, open Messages. Tap the three-dot carte (More) > Settings > Chat features. Tap Send read receipts.

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What about Facebook?

Read receipts are enabled past default in Facebook Messenger. If y'all wish to turn them off at some point, distressing, Charlie. You tin can't. A sneaky workaround allows y'all to read messages without producing a read receipt.

Simply turn off your Wi-Fi and cellular connectedness to read all received messages. Open up the app, then turn on Airplane style. When you finish reading your letters, strength quit the Messenger app.

Are you 1 of those people with a perpetually low phone battery? Here'due south how to get more life out of your smartphone.

File photo - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. 

File photograph - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. (Photo by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

WhatsApp lets you choose

Unlike its parent visitor Facebook, you lot can opt out of read receipts in WhatsApp.

How do you know when someone views your bulletin using WhatsApp? Look for the checkmarks:

A single gray checkmark indicates a successfully sent bulletin.

The appearance of a second gray checkmark shows your message was delivered to the recipient's phone.

The ii checkmarks will turn blue if the recipient has viewed your bulletin.

To turn off this feature, click Settings and tap Account. Choose the Privacy option and disable Read Receipts.

One time yous have your read receipts enabled on all your apps, you volition no longer have to wonder or worry almost whether a recipient has viewed your message.

File photo: The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

File photo: The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

Bonus Tip: Essential tech cleanups to practise before 2022

Is your digital life in demand of a footling TLC? Listen for smart means to tidy up your tech, within and out. You'll learn a few cleaning secrets, along with unproblematic methods of sorting the clutter, clearing out junk and freeing upward space on your devices. Information technology looks like y'all simply institute your new holiday project.

Check out my podcast "Kim Komando Explains" on Apple, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.

Heed to the podcast here or wherever yous get your podcasts. Just search for my concluding name, "Komando."

What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim'south national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You lot can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your telephone, tablet, television, or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim's gratis podcasts.

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Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Testify, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters, and more, visit her website at Komando.com.