Smartphone Apps of the Month—June

When I was a teenager, caught up in a typical teenage world, my mother would often say to me, “Sometimes you’ve just got to stop and smell the roses.” At the time, it was just another goofy thing mom said—what did she know?

As with so much that mom told me, now that I’m older I think about it all the time—and being outdoors so much now that it’s spring, I realize again how right she was. It really is so important to take time to appreciate the magic of the natural world we live in. Watching my garden bloom, or marveling at the glow of a glorious full moon, are things that are simply good for my soul.

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to two neat apps that really help reinforce mom’s message. Spend some time with these, and you’ll come away entertained, educated, and enlightened!

BeeSmart —for Android & iPhone

Bee 2With this app, you’ll get easy-to-follow tips on how to plant gardens that attract pollinators and help them thrive, and also an excellent, easy-to-use visual library of plants for every region. You can create personalized lists of plants based on your preference for pollinator type, flower color, soil requirements and sunlight, and really find smart ways to make your garden a beautiful and healthy place.

Environmental changes all over the world have led to a significant decrease in pollinator habitats and populations, making the advice here even more timely and useful. Pollinators play a critical role in helping plants to flower and reproduce, and helping seeds grow into fruits and vegetables.  The BeeSmart Pollinator Gardener focuses on ways to promote the health and propagation of bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and more.

Whether you want to contribute to a healthy ecosystem for these important creatures or simply find great information to let you grow beautiful plants and flowers, this app has something for every gardener.

NASA—for Android & iPhone

Nasa appI grew up in what was affectionately called “The Space Age,” and I’ve never lost my sense of awe for the incredible accomplishments of our astronauts and the majestic pictures they sent back from outer space. The official app of NASA takes me there all over again.

You’ll get up close with planets, constellations, and distant galaxies by viewing over 14,000 magnificent images from space, with more being added every day from the Hubble Telescope and orbiting deep-space satellites. You’re also able to track the visible passes of the International Space Station, and follow launch information and countdown clocks for upcoming missions, like 2018’s “Solar Probe Plus” project to explore the sun’s outer atmosphere.

You can also watch live streaming programs on NASA TV, and hours of other great informational videos. But if you do, here’s some advice mom would also approve of: remember to connect to Wi-Fi to help save data on your Consumer Cellular Connect Plan!

We’ve all got busy lives to lead. But mom sure had it right—life is better when you find time to cherish the amazing things around you. Fortunately, there are great apps like the two featured here to make this a little easier to do.

32 Thoughts on "Smartphone Apps of the Month—June"

  1. Jon Alexander says

    Sorry to bother you about the “app”. With more research I see you do have one and am downloading it now.
    Thanks again

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      It’s never a bother, Jon. I’m glad to hear that you’re downloading our app, and if we can help you with any other questions you may have, just let us know. Thank you!

      • Karen says

        Ashley, I am interested in the BeeSmart App. Is there a cost to download. Are there associated costs to use it? I’ve never sued an app or downloaded one. If not costly I’d like to try the BeeSmart App. Where do I begin? I have a Huawei phone.

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          Great news, Karen! Each of the apps we recommend here on the blog are free of charge for basic use. To download it, you’ll want to select the Google Play Store app, which should be on your homescreen. From there, tap the magnifying glass in the upper right corner, then search for the BeeSmart app. Once you’ve found it, just click the download button and you’ll be on your way! You can download other apps by using the same steps. Once you get started, I’m sure you’ll find there are thousands of great apps that are a lot of fun. If you run into any issues, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509 and we can help walk you through it. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and we hope you have a great day!

          • Karen says

            Do I need to turn on WiFi and data to get the app?
            I understand the app is free, but is there a charge for using it?
            Sorry for being dense, but I don’t have a 10 year old in my life to help me with this stuff.

          • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

            No apologies needed, Karen! You will need access to Wi-Fi or data so that you can connect to the Play Store and download the app. We recommend using Wi-Fi, so you won’t use any data from your plan. The app is free to use, though there may be some advertisements shown within the app. We appreciate you asking, and please feel free to post more questions if you have them. I’m happy to help!

  2. doris pons says

    Does Consumer Cellular Have Customer Service? It takes at least
    15min. to get connected. My phone is stuck at Welcome Page in French and insists on staying on in French. The rep can’t help and no Internet Help Either.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re so sorry to hear that, Doris. Please try turning the phone off, then back on again. This should start the setup process over again. I see that our account advisor also recommended the Getting Started video for your Pop 3, so I’ve emailed that to you. I’m sorry that we weren’t able to help you more over the phone, and I wanted to let you know that we appreciate your patience. Thank you for taking the time to post, and we hope you enjoy your new smartphone!

      • Phillip Richcreek says

        I’ve had the same issue several times. I’m calling from a voip phone, not a smartphone. And the prompts say I can choose to leave a callback number, but when I choose that option I’m not invited to actually give a callback phone number.

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Phillip. I’ve passed this feedback on to our IT team so we can look into this further. I was able to take a look at your account, and I see that we were able to assist you over the phone and get any issues resolved. We appreciate you taking the time to comment, and we hope you have a great day!

  3. Tom Poleet says

    Ashley, Is Consumer Cellular going to introduce the Apple iPhone SE model soon? I hope your aware that the iPhone 5s (16, 32 & 64 gb’s) are on Apple’s list to be extinct in a few years (IF not sooner!).
    It’s a shame that Apple has decided to eliminate the 32 GB size drive(s) from their model lines (Price was acceptable).

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Great news, Tom! We already offer the iPhone SE in a variety of colors and sizes. You can view them here on our site, or you can purchase one at your local Target store. Best of all, Easy Pay is available so you can get one starting at just $50. We’re happy to get one on the way to you if you call us at 888-345-5509. Thank you for posting, and we hope you have a great day. Let us know which color you choose!

  4. Greg says

    When is consumer going to offer more data in it’s plans?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Greg. We recently updated our plans, but our largest data plan includes 4GB of data and unlimited text messages. With our new format, you have the ability to purchase additional data for $10 per 1GB if you surpass our largest plan. We’re happy to talk with you about your usage and find a plan that is a right fit for you. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to make a recommendation. We appreciate you taking the time to post, and we hope you have a good day!

  5. Chloe Lemons says

    I have tried to contact consumer through the contact us tab, I fill it all out and it will never send. not a good web site.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for letting us know, Chloe. I’ve passed that on to our site team for review. You can reach us via email at [email protected] if you have a question or need support. And of course, we’re always happy to help you here or at 888-345-5509. We appreciate your patience, and we look forward to speaking with you!

      • darkstar says

        I had this problem just yesterday, when complaining about the implementation of your automatic upgrades. Apparently your site doesn’t support Chrome, so after typing out an email I hit “send” and nothing happened. Copied my text and pasted it into Safari, which worked. Had I been able to find the support email that is listed all over your blog comments, I wouldn’t have needed the form at all. So I’d suggest not just fixing the email form, but also putting the support email address on the contact page.

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          We’re sorry to hear that our site didn’t work with your computer, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know. I’ve passed your comments on to our site development team so that they can get this resolved. We’re glad to hear that you were able to send an email to [email protected], but we’re also happy to help you at 888-345-5509 as well. Thank you again for the feedback, and for posting today!

  6. Paula Gooch says

    Ashley, I just recently dropped my cell. My battery fell out and I was unaware that my Sim chip also fell out, so now I have no way of communicating except through my laptop. Where do I go to get another Sim chip for my phone. And is it true that all my contacts are lost as well on that Sim chip?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re so sorry to hear that, Paula. If you like, you can give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to get a SIM card on the way to you. You can also pick one up at your local Target or Sears store. If your phone is still working, your contacts may be stored on the phone and may be recovered. Once you have your new SIM in hand, we’re happy to help you back up your contacts over the phone if you like. Thank you for taking the time to post today, and we look forward to assisting you!

  7. Donna says

    Are you going to get Samsung smart phones anytime soon?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s a great question, Donna. We’re always looking to provide a variety of devices to our customers, but at this time, we don’t have a Samsung device available. Our SIM card is a great option that may work for you, though. It can be used with most unlocked, GSM phones including Samsung devices. That way you can have the phone you want, but still enjoy our affordable and simple service. If you would like to try our SIM card, just give us a call at 888-345-5509 or visit your local Target or Sears store. You can also order one on our website here. Thank you for taking the time to post, and we hope you have a great day!

  8. Joanne Berens says

    I need to upgrade my phone because it fell and the glass is shattered, should I call or do it on your page? I don’t want my phone that I am suing now to be canceled till I get my new phone delivered?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re sorry to hear that your phone was broken. If you like, we can help you order a new one at 888-345-5509. Our customer service team will ensure that you can still use your current phone until the new one arrives. They will also be happy to make a recommendation if you are looking for a similar smartphone, or something a bit different. Thank you for commenting, and we look forward to taking care of this for you.

  9. Jerry Brown says

    I was having a problem with my cell phone/zte wireless home phone base and called your customer service. Veronica helped me with the problem. It took about 1-1/2 hours to finally find the solution, but Veronica remained patient, objective and determined to help me. She deserves my gratitude and your recognition.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That is wonderful to hear, Jerry. I will be sure to let Veronica’s supervisor know so that she can be properly recognized. We really appreciate you letting us know!

  10. Jane says

    I didn’t have service yesterday in a neighboring town I was in. I thought you said you get nation wide service?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re sorry to hear that you didn’t have service, Jane. We do offer nationwide service on two of the largest networks available, but issues like this can come up. At times, towers may be undergoing maintenance or be out of order. We’re always happy to take a look at the areas around you and let you know of any issues. Please give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we will be happy to look at the coverage in that location. You can also view our coverage map here on our site to check before traveling or vacation. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  11. Brenda says

    I upgraded my phone to a Ascend Mate 2 in May of this year. Love the phone, but it will not read text to me over my Bluetooth vehicle. I am not real happy about this at all. Its paired to my vehicle and phone calls come in but it will NOT READ MY TEXT MESSAGES TO ME AT ALL? WHY IS THIS?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Brenda. Depending on the vehicle, Bluetooth capabilities can vary. While most will allow for hands-free calling, additional options like this text message option may not be available with your vehicle. We recommend taking a look at the vehicle manual, which may provide additional steps and information about the Bluetooth options. If we can assist you with anything else at this time, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. Thank you for taking the time to post here on the blog, and we hope you have a great day!

  12. RoseMoya says

    Why can’t I get my Motorola G4 Play phone out of emergency only mode ?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Rose. I took a look at your account, and I see that we were able to assist you with this over the phone. If the issue persists after fully charging your new phone, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to troubleshoot it further. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us, and we hope you have a great day!