How to prepare your smartphone to leave

1. Connect lucrative mobile phone packages or buy a new SIM-card

Provide themselves with mobile phones can be a variety of ways. What to choose - depends on the route and duration of your trip.

• Connect the pack to travel with your operator. The easiest option is suitable if you are going on a trip for a couple of weeks. Learn all about the price of roaming, incoming and outgoing calls, internet. And do not forget to carefully read all the footnotes with asterisks.
• Buy a local SIM-card in the host country. And this is an option for those who are going somewhere for a long time. Calls home will cost still is not cheap, but on the internet and communications in place, you will spend much less.
• Buy a special SIM-card for travel. For example, "Dreams», GlobalSim, Orange Mundo or "GOODLINE". These are the companies that provide services of international communication. To use such a card is more expensive than the local, but cheaper than a package to connect to travel long or buy on the SIM-card in each country.

2. Limit traffic and download the app to search for Wi-Fi

Typically, mobile internet abroad is expensive even if you connect an optimal package. Therefore it is necessary to take additional measures.

traffic Shaping

Turn off automatic update, sync with cloud services and mobile data applications in the background. Set traffic limit on Android, download Traffic Monitor or My Data Manager on iOS. Most mobile operators have their own application, which can also monitor the traffic residue. And do not forget to remove the updated widgets: they too steal kilobytes.

Doubt that thinks of everything? Locate switch off cellular data and turn it off whenever you do not need internet.

Prepare your mobile browser. Most of them are able to save pages for viewing offline, and some, such as Chrome or OperaThere are modes of traffic economy. And do not forget to include this feature in YouTube app.

Search Wi-Fi

Connect to the free Wi-Fi is not always safe, but sometimes can not be choosers. To search for Wi-Fi abroad, you can use the application Wi-Fi Map. In it contains information about free access points and passwords to them.

3. Download messengers to call function

So you'll have to call loved ones using mobile data or Wi-Fi. Learn in advance which friends how messenger uses, and simply set them all.

4. download the map

Install any good maps with navigation. The main thing that they were able to work without the Internet. For example, MAPS.ME and TripAdvisor - cards with the ability to save sites for offline viewing, marks tourist destinations and routes, as well as everything else that you may need to travel. To travel to Russia fit "Yandex. Cards"and 2GIS.

Some features Internet still need, so before the trip, read the application and do not forget to download the required portions of the card in advance.

5. Put the PIN-code and set up two-factor authentication

First, put the PIN-code or unlocking the face or fingerprint. Second, set up two-factor authentication for all applications with critical data, especially banking.

Two-factor authentication - a protected the input method when the system requests data of two types. For example, PIN-code and confirm the password of the SMS. Authorization confirming support Google services, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and many others. These other applications, such as banking, can be protected using authenticators, such as Authy or google Authenticator.

6. Install offline translator

In order not to be in a situation where you need to quickly understand what is written in the announcement on the door, but no internet. Or when you want to talk to a foreigner, but the vocabulary is not enough.

PROMT - simple and effective offline translator that supports six languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German and French. If all necessary languages ​​to download in advance, the application can be used without internet. In PROMT different modes can be used as a classic translator tool for dialogue or phrase book.

Interpreter

In translation mode, you can type text or tell a story into the microphone. And, you can click on the camera icon, and PROMT translated text in the frame. This can be useful when reading signs and advertisements.

Dialogue

dialogue mode - the same translator, but with a more intuitive interface, where each of the interlocutors to speak their native language, and you can trace the history of the conversation. You can select a certain topic of conversation for a more accurate selection of words. With the grammar may be some problems, but the translators are not perfect, and the meaning of words still remains clear.

Phrasebook

Phrases that you definitely come in handy, you can learn in advance using PROMT as a phrasebook. All examples are divided into categories.

7. Install application for drawing routes, housing search and currency conversion

• XE Currency - an advanced currency converter and one of the favorites in the application for the App Store category of travel.
• Rail Planner - help in the planning of rail travel in Europe.
• BlaBlaCar - application to search for travel. There are also international routes.
• Trivago, Booking.com - Search hotels services. In case the planned option goes wrong.
• Airbnb - searching for rooms and apartments for short term rentals. Option for those who want to save.
• Wikiroutes - search service of public transport routes in 1700 cities around the world. Tell, what transport to choose how long the trip and how much it will cost.
• FlightRadar24, SeatGuru, GateGuru - application for those who travel by plane. Help monitor the status of the flight and do not get lost at the airport.

8. Download music, movies, TV shows, podcasts and audiobooks

Especially if you have a long travel between points. Music it's best to upload strimingovyh services: Apple Music, «Google Play Music», «Yandex. music" or Deezer. To download books and audio books suitable Storytel, Patephone or Bookmate. A series can be downloaded at ivi or "Amediateke». All of these services work on a paid subscription, but most have a free trial period. Perhaps vacation is enough for him.

Podcasts on iOS-device can be loaded in the normal self-titled application or Overcast. On Android-smartphone can be set Podcast Republic, CastBox or TuneIn Radio.

All this, together with photographs from the trip takes a lot of space. That memory is not over, use cloud-based services, such as iCloud, google Drive, «Yandex. Disk" or Dropbox. Just do not forget to turn off the automatic synchronization of galleries without Wi-Fi-access.

9. Buy a good laptop battery

The journey autonomy is becoming one of the most important features of a smartphone and search for outlets can be a real problem. Therefore, change the battery before you travel, if it is worn out and buy an adapter if you are traveling to a country with a different standard sockets. And then take care of the portable charging.

Key figures that are worth paying attention to: capacity, dimensions, and connectors. It is desirable that the battery can fully charge your phone at least a couple of times, taking into account the energy loss by about a quarter. Note that the device with the battery capacity of 2500 mA⋅ch charge per 10 000 mA⋅ch not be able to charge four times, and three. With the dimensions of all the easier: the main thing that was pauerbank conveniently carried in hand luggage. A moment with connectors necessary to consider in the event that the original charging cable from a smartphone a custom USB connector. In this case, you will have to buy an adapter.

So that the battery is not withdrawn, it should fully charge and carried in hand luggage. And do not skimp. Noname-charge of China can not go through customs. In any case, you can advance to find the battery manufacturer's specifications at the official site: they are often specified certification and data on the safety device.

10. Buy Shockproof Case

Even if you are very careful in the city do without a cover, the trip is better to keep your smartphone. You risk not only the money spent on its purchase, but also invaluable photos from the trip, and, most importantly, communication. So buy a shockproof case, stick to the screen protective glass and grab a waterproof bag or even a sealed plastic bag to protect your smartphone from water or sand.