Do any of you use any smartphone apps for your work or projects? Or, maybe you use built-in functions aside from the flashlight? What about connected tools?
(In case you were wondering, shown above is Dewalt’s Android smartphone from a few years ago.)
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I last touched upon this subject 6 years ago, when smartphone-connected tools were becoming commonplace. Has a lot changed since then?
I know some people use “bubble level” and distance measurement apps in a pinch. While I occasionally remind myself that my phone has built-in linear measurement and level indicator apps, I never use them.
Some people use noise level apps, but I’d be hesitant to trust them.
Personally, I have moved away from connected tools. Sometimes it’s essential, such as in logging and charting measurements. Other times… does anyone really need a smart drill? I did buy what I suppose you could call a smart drill press, but it doesn’t require a smartphone for use – I mainly use its speed controls.
There are some tools where smartphone connectivity do provide helpful functionality, such as the ability to remotely control and schedule worklights.
But overall, I’d say that I don’t really use my phone for tool-related purposes.
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Am I missing out on anything?
Albert
I use the calculator and light frequently. I also use Menard’s and Home Depot’s apps to scan barcodes when I can’t find the price on the shelf, to check inventory, to locate the aisle, and to comparison shop.
My iPhone has a measuring app that uses the depth sensor but I don’t trust it. I’ve occassionally used the protractor and level, but I rarely need them. I paid a few dollars for the QuickBend app to bend EMT conduit. It works fine, but I haven’t done much work electrical work recently. I have Miller’s free welding app installed. It looks fine, but haven’t done much welding recently either.
I have two cheap Wi-Fi endoscopes that I bought on Amazon. They connect to my iPhone using Wi-Fi. I use them regularly to look for leaks behind drywall. I used one recently to see how big a wasp nest was inside a wall. They are surprisingly useful.
If I still had my Jeep, I would get one of those bluetooth OBD-II readers. But I got rid of that POS two years ago.
fred
Using your smartphone as the display screen for an inspection camera or thermal imager – would seem like a good application. One less component to carry:
https://www.amazon.com/Ferret-Tools-CFWF50A2-Inspection-Camera/dp/B08P2CP22X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=B08P2CP22X&qid=1631214913&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/FLIR-Pro-Grade-Thermal-Smartphones-Accessory/dp/B07V5BYMZM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=B07V5BYMZM&qid=1631215237&s=electronics&sr=1-1
Joatman
Hmmmm… I didn’t know that you can scan barcodes for pricing with an app. Nice to know! Thanks for the tip.
Matt the Hoople
Yep. Works great at any store that has an app. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, etc.
I use an ISO tolerancing app and a right triangle (trig) app.
Sometimes use the video chat app on two phones when checking circuit breakers to see which turns off a light in the circuit I want to work on.
Used the camera on the phone as a bore scope to look down inside wall cavities and behind cabinets.
YouTube has become invaluable for learning how to do something you’ve never done before.
I have one of the Bluetooth OBDii scanners that comes in handy when the check engine light is on.
frobo
I have a fridge, washer, dryer, and several cameras that allow me to connect to them with apps. I never do it, and never expect to. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but such features don’t make the products any better, at least in my case. Same thing goes for power tools.
I do use my phone to access a tap drill chart which is useful, and I occasionally use the level and measurement capabilities when I need to take a quick ballpark reading.
Serendipity
The only time I have heard that s connected fridge is good is for shopping lists. You can’t write on your fridges screen what you need and it syncs with your notes on your phone. The camera inside is good if you forget what you need and can look from the store.
Kent Skinner
There has been a really poor track record of those type of connected items every getting an update. All it takes is for a hacker to figure out how to get into the back door of Brand X washing machine, and they are on your home network.
I’d rather leave my key under the doormat than trust any of those companies to do security competently, and keep sending upgrades for the life of the product.
Jared
I use my phone most often to look things up in the shop – be it a torque spec or a youtube video if I’m really lost. Not much else besides the calculator and light.
I’m not opposed to having power tools be smart-enabled if that permits some function that would otherwise be awkward. Maybe a tool could have an adjustable trigger, custom speeds, maybe a flashlight with a user-programmable button profile or something like that where it might otherwise require a bunch of buttons on the tool and it would be awkward. However the current tech doesn’t seem to do anything I need – and it’s often only offered on expensive premium tools which I’m not that likely to buy.
I anticipate a lot of comments along the lines of “keep that tech away from my tools”. I don’t have a negative reaction to it – but I’m basically ambivalent to the current smart tech in tools. It doesn’t do much and it costs money – but I might use it if I had it.
Oh, I just thought of one thing I use my phone for a lot – photos. Especially when working on something complex I like to take a bunch of photos along the way. I may not need them come reassembly, but many times I’ve hesitated trying to recall a step, a order of reassembly or a setting and then been able to flip through my photos to see what it should look like.
JoeM
*Snicker*… I dunno… “Does” I? Correction Goblin is having a good giggle on that one.
My answer though, is yes. But, it’s my regular cell, not some rugged brand. And it’s usually either just a calculator, or whatever bluetooth or wifi functions are available for my tools. This extends more to technological tools, than it does to construction or detailing tools. Don’t get me wrong, I’m drooling fiercely over the Bluetooth adapters for adding to my tools, and for using my DeWALT Connect app for inventory and control over whether they are in use. And… Yeah, sometimes I have to pull up a conversion tool when I have a headache, especially going from the archaic Imperial measurements to the Civilized Metric that I prefer. I also have a couple different PocketRef series books with charts to help me do that conversion.
To some degree, Mobile integration is good… But to a large degree, it goes too far. If we’re in the territory that the phone app you’re using to track your tools, is sharing photos of your work to Social Media? Too far… Back it up… The app needs to shut up and do what we tell it to do, not whatever it feels like doing… Track our tools, let us tune or control the use of our tools, and then wait for our commands. That’s it.
Admitted Bias: I am definitely a control freak. I don’t like a lot of attention pointed my way, and I like to move on from things. I also like to stay on a topic for as long as possible, without diversion until it is resolved. I’m a Problem Solver by nature. Leaving things in the middle drives me insane. Especially when people change the topic mid-sentence because they have nothing to contribute to the conversation… That throws me, and I walk away. So, I expect my Mobile integration to stick to its lane, as I want it to operate, and do nothing I don’t actively do myself.
(I know, “but you write so much, how can you not want attention?” I type fast, and I spellcheck on the fly, and I had a Jewish Grandmother who was very uptight and regimental about spelling and grammar… I am more comfortable within the conditioned way she made me respond to the world, than I am with slang and shortened speech… it doesn’t mean I want attention, it means I’m articulate with my words. And I didn’t do this to myself, I was raised this way, without a choice. If not for the anxiety I feel when I try to just kinda “Grunt” in agreement or “Glare” in disappointment so I can move on, I would just kinda be a single-syllable all-work-no-talk kind of person. But, Jewish Grandmothers know how to guilt-trip you into levels of neurotic hell that no one else can in life. For me? It’s writing things out in full form. If I don’t… I get flashbacks to my Grandmother… Okay? Does that explain why I talk so much? ‘Cause that’s why I talk so much… She died in 2018, and I still have her voice in my head, nagging me to talk more. It’s Jewish Guilt.)
Jim Felt
Why yes Stuart sure “do”!
Stuart
Thanks – fixed!
(It’s not an excuse, but I changed the title 4 times before publishing a post. Sometimes I’ll miss the most blatant of typos no matter how many times I proofread.)
JoeM
No need to apologize! It was just a bit of fun!
Perry
I use mine for photos, notes, voice recording, and I use the joist app for my estimates and invoices. It definitely increases my productivity and since I have a Samsung I can use Dex to use my phone like a pc at my home office as well
Peter Fox
The only connected tool that I have is Mooshimeter, https://moosh.im/mooshimeter/
While it it is accurate and does work, I find it to be clunkier than just using an normal multimeter for most applications. The app never did work well for me with regard to real time graphing. However It does work decently as a data logger, you just need to unscrew the case and remove the micro SD card to retrieve the data.
Overall I think the idea of leveraging a smartphone as a display/interface for another tool does not really save any money or improve functionality. It’s similar to the fad of using a plug in adapters to use a multimeter as a display for another instrument. While it may have made sense back in the late 80’s and 90’s when multimeters were more expensive I dont think it does anymore. In most cases I would rather have a stand alone tool.
Additionally I am not really even a fan of using my smartphone as a inclinometer/angle gauge or a calculator. it will cost substantially more to replace my phone if it is damage using it as a tool than will a stand alone tool. I even carry a cheap folding pocket calculator with me and use it rather than my phone. It is just easier and faster to use and when I dropped a piece of steel C-channel on it running the display I was only out $5. Similarly a digital angle gauge cost about $20, much cheaper to replace.
I can see some benefit to the ODB-II reader that you can just leave plugged in. However to anyone more seriously involved in automotive repair stand alone scan tools probably make more sense.
Matt
I think of Milwaukee’s, “one key“, and no, I do not use it and never will. Probably designed by a millennial who thinks everything needs an app. I don’t need a nap to remove Lug nuts.
MM
Nope.
I generally don’t even have my phone on me while I’m working–it’s not like I can use it with filthy hands anyway, and it’s generally nothing but an unwanted distraction. I leave it in the truck.
Ball_bearing
I hate autocorrect.
My job requires mostly manual tools, but if I have the opportunity I will get a smart gauge/manifold set.
Serendipity
No. But I can see how setting specific speeds or torque settings find new super useful. Makita has a battery kill tool. You set a time limit on a battery, say a week or two hours, and if the battery is not resynced it kills it until it is put back in the cradle.
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/BPS01
Stuart
This has been out for a few years – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/makita-sync-lock-battery-lock-out-programmer/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
It’s an interesting concept built for very specific needs – preventing workers from stealing employer-owned battery packs.
In hindsight, I appreciate the point they make about how it avoids jobsite distractions by providing a hardware-based sync rather than software-based management.
Frank D
No. Less complexity is better.
One that might be handy, is if outdoor equipment and power tools could have an AirTag slot for location purposes.
matt s
Definitely. Working in field service (industrial manufacturing) for almost 30 years now, the biggest game changer, tool-wise, has been the advent of the camera phone. Whether to take a quick photo of an error code, a wiring harness or to record a video of some strange machine behavior- the camera phone has saved a TON of time. Customers sending me photos/videos- or I take a photo before digging into a giant bird’s nest of wiring- that instant access to photo/video has changed how we work- and almost all of it has made our work faster/safer/more reliable.
Branden H
As a service electrician, my phone is probably my most used tool. Calling/texting the crew, office and customers, emails, gps, calendar, parts lists, lots of reference photos for bids, voltage drop calculator and conduit fill calculator. My phone gets used as a quick periscope pretty often inside walls. I however don’t use really any connected tools currently.
Gordon
I have a google home mini in the shop that I regularly ask questions when I don’t want to pull my phone out. Surprisingly it can answer things like “what are the torque specs for the lug nuts on a 2008 honda fit”. I’m pretty sure it’s 80ft-lbs, but it’s nice to hear it and double check. I also use it a lot for conversions between metric and imperial. It’s just a lot harder going from MM to a Fractional imperial measurement. It’s a little frustrating that it can’t do some simple things like, “what is half of 25 and a quarter”.
I bought a construction calculator because I found the app wasn’t as nice as the physical calculator and it was the same price as a used calculator off ebay.
Most times, my phone stays out of harms way. I started leaving it on a shelf in a cabinet. Too many close calls dropping something and having it smack my phone in my pocket. Even cheap phones are pretty damn expensive.
Mike Ring
I keep the following apps on my iPhone and iPad. I’m not affiliated with any of the apps or companies, just my humble two cents and experience. They make my life easy. HD, Lowes to check inventory, scan items, locate items in store. Construction Master Pro calculator (don’t leave home without it), Timestamp camera (GPS, Address, city, state, time, and date), Mila’s Tools (Great app for converting anything on the planet), Adobe Scan, Dark Sky weather app (Best weather app on the market), 5-0 Radio Pro Scanner app (Great App to find out what’s going on around you in emergencies), 811 Dig Alert, and finally XactRemodel for pricing out jobs on the fly, and finally Bosch MeasureOn app for measuring and completing take 0ffs using my Bosch laser measure.
itsgalf
Smart Tools? No.
But they have plenty of apps for HVAC technicians that help with diagnostics or calculating target superheat/sub-cooling. I’ll usually look up a Pressure/Temperature chart for different refrigerants on my phone or use an app to tell me what my target superheat should be.
Then they have pressure probes, temp clamps, manometers that can all feed info into smart apps that take place of the more traditional gauge manifolds and k-type pipe clamps. I haven’t invested into a full set of smart hvac measuring instruments myself yet as I only do AC stuff for apartment complex maintenance…but it is the future.
MFC
I use my milwaukee onekey app to turn the lights on and off since they’re typically hung up high or left in an attic. I really love that feature. I also use onekey to check on how many presses the press tool has done. It started at 50,000 and counts down until it needs service. In the past I’d just check calibration every couple of months.
I thought I’d use the onekey connectivity of my high torque 1/2″ more, but I found, after playing with it for a bit, that the original settings are just fine.
I also use my phone for keeping track of my trailer and truck and I have a wifi hotspot and solar panels/charger that powers the security cameras and send me notifications whenever they see movement (which are typically bugs flying around).
Bluetooth radio, can’t forget that, or the construction calculators.
Yeah, I guess I use my phone a lot. The whole business kind of revolves around it.
Kent Skinner
I use my phone for routine tasks in the shop – playing music, taking photos, taking notes, calculator, unit conversions, etc.
I just don’t connect anything to the internet that I can’t regularly do security checks on, and get updates from the manufacturer.
As far as BT battery monitors and smartphone connected drills that can change the RPM via touchpad – they just aren’t for me.
Mike
I only use my phone for the light and calculator if I’m using it at all while working on projects. I still print out plans and cut lists. Occasionally I’ll reference YouTube or a instruction sheet if I don’t have it on hand.
AlexK
Maybe this should have been two different posts. The smart phone clearly has a place in almost every situation. Even if it was only used to call for help in an emergency (I consider calling for pizza an emergency). I think almost everyone has one and it is an essential, on you at all times, item. Like your wallet and keys. Connected tools? That’s what I’m here to learn from others but it seems kinda separate from the smart phone.
I work at a wood shop with sawmills. Could only afford (rationalize) my $200 Christmas price, iPhone se. Fantastic camera. I photograph “faces” and designs I see in spalted maple and other species. That’s for fun. But it’s also a way to log (pun intended) a slab that has lots of character and might be priced differently or get offered to special clients. I photograph and text images of any potential problems to the owner often. Why have him come out to look at what he can observe remotely. I take photos of the acoustic guitars I’ve built. I can enclose a book of photos showing the build from beginning to end. The smart phone is the greatest tool I have. Except that my girlfriend calls me on it and makes me have to stop playing with my big boy toys, and go home to do chores. Which allows me to play with other big boy toys, like a ride on mower. Why am I complaining? I’m always playing with tools. I don’t think I’ve “worked” a day in my life. Spent plenty of time sweating for others, but I think lots of people on this site enjoy what they do. Now, how do I rationalize buying another folding knife. I’m pretty sure I have less then 10. Actually, I’m not sure.
Mason M
I’m an HVAC technician. Bought into Testo when I first started and been with em ever since. Testo has an app that you can like their smart probes to so you can take pressure and temperature readings without ever pulling out a manifold or purging a hose. Fieldpiece and Yellow Jacket have similar setups. There’s also an app called MeasureQuick that allows integration of sensor probes from several different manufacturers.
Personally, I’ve not been impressed. I have a Testo 550s manifold and there’s nothing the app does that it won’t do better and faster. All the other techs that carry around the pressure and temp probes always have all possible varieties of issues. My digital gauges still work just as well as they ever did.
Hoser
I use HD and Menards apps very frequently, nice to order lumber and pick it up in the yard without ever having to go into the store. Or check stock, get ideas, specs, etc.
I use DeWalt Tool Connect and Mobile Pro regularly. Tool connect is only used for lights set up around the job, I am not interested in controlling tools. I am fully capable of not pulling the trigger fully while cutting or drilling metal so as to not destroy the bit or blade, or modulate the trigger on impact wrenches.
I use SketchUp viewer. It’s great to pull up projects and view dimensions and plans while in the shop or on the job. And it’s so nice to be able to show the customer a plan or project using the app. And I throw my iPad in my work bag everyday, so I always have it with me. Oh, and the AR is neat.
I also heavily rely on my phone for many other work things, many, many notes with lists of things I need, questions for jobs, material lists etc., my billing program syncs across all devices so I can use that on my phone and it will sync to the cloud and be on the computer when I get home, I use Dropbox heavily for plans, spec sheets, miscellaneous job PDFs and info. I use scanner pro as well as the native scanner on my iPhone/iPad to keep track of receipts and then put them in Files and they are stored in the cloud. I use Adobe to store catalogs and PDFs as well. I started with Adobe many years ago, but I should probably migrate all that stuff to Dropbox or Files, right now I have several locations to store stuff and it can get confusing even though I have everything organized very neatly inside of each app.
Of course I use the camera, Safari, etc., that’s a given, however I do not use my $900 phone as a flashlight. That is stupid. I have a Surefire Sidekick that is the most used tool I own and it clips onto my pocket. Far better than a phone flashlight, I can clip it onto something or hold it in my mouth if I have to, and it’s $30, so if I drop it down a wall cavity it’s not the end of the world. I literally laugh at a tradesperson that pulls out there phone to use as a flashlight.
Nathan
connected tools like one key or tool connect – no. and I don’t plan to buy any
but use my smartphone for DIY and work projects – al the time.
DIY wood work – look up parts, convert measurements, math needs, etc. ANd once in a pinch I’ll admit I used my mobile as a level for hang a TV at my in laws house.
DIY house repairs – look up videos or parts, maths etc etc. In some cases look up the manual for say the dishywashy things like that.
DIY car repair – Always. so with the right module and software mobile phone reads the car computers. Ford – I use Forscan lite it’s awesome and worth the few dollars. GM I use Torque Pro – similar thing. Module I use an OBDMXLink yes it’s more than the cheapo ELM modules on Amazon but again money well spent. I can see anything a dealer can see with my laptop also – so deeper detail than the mobile. BUT give you an example Brake work – brake flush – on a modern car flushing and full bleeding the brakes means doing an ABS service function that flutters all the valves and then leaves them all open. Dealer service manual will call for this. You can do it yourself with the tool above.. Other things – look up parts , videos etc.
SO I guess in that case I do use a connected tool but I don’t think that is what you meant. I will say I could be pursuaded to use one of those connected torque wrenches where you can set the drive torque or other features. There are only a few I know of but I could see that becoming popular.
Paul C
I’m a service engineer. So let me see…
Manuals for basically everything. Paper is much better but I can’t dedicate half the van to manuals that get dirty and destroyed. The nicest one is Schneider’s VFDs open the manual with a QR code printed on the front. Even better is when it faults it has a QR code on the screen that opens the manual to the fault page.
Work orders, time sheets, GPS navigation, checking supply house inventories.
Conduit bending app for offsets. Wire pulling app to check tension needed. And constantly doing ampacity to size or wire size to ampacity.
Calculator, photos, video once in a while. Horoscope with a cheap one. Bluetooth instrument calibration on the ones that use it.
Tried stroboscope and an RPM meter apps. Both did not work very well at all, Also tried a Bluetooth multimeter. The interface was very flaky and I eventually gave up.
So basically I use it constantly for lots of communication and a lot more.
Sam S.
Emerson Copeland and Danfoss refrigeration tool apps
SECOP capillary tube selection tool
Walabot for stud scan tool
Torque OBD2 scan tool
Unit Converter
And of course the camera. I used to go through a ton of pocket note pads writing down equipment model, serial number, specs…etc. Now I just take a pic of the data tag. Some of the guys are using bluetooth connected apps for refrigerant pressure reading.
Kevin
I use it for one tool. I use the One Key app for the high torque impact wrench, it’s actually proven pretty useful. Not in the sense that you use it regularly, you essentially use it once to tune the impacts setting the way you want. I have one through four set like this.
1.) low speed with cutoff at low torque in forward/ full speed in reverse
2.) mid speed forward/ mid speed reverse
3.) wide open throttle forward and reverse
4.) full speed forward with ~80 ft/lb cutoff in forward/ full speed with cutoff when faster breaks free in reverse
For most tools, it’s obviously unnecessary but for impacts, configuring application-specific setting is pretty useful for real world use. You can set up the tool the way you want it via the app, then literally not touch it ever again if you like the setting you programmed
Kingsley
I used the angle calculator app on my Android phone to double check the pitch of my house roof when I was building it.
The estimate I made on my plans was 29 degrees and that’s what my phone showed!
Rx9
A smartphone is an information tool.
I have a pdf copy of my car’s factory service manual on my phone. I use the calculator and a unit conversion app.
The camera is a great ersatz inspection camera and flashlight. Other than that, not much.