It might sound ridiculous now considering how dependant we are on smartphones, but there was a time when we managed without them. They have however, made life easier in a number of ways... 1. WhatsApp How did we survive before this app?!  Free messages once you have working internet, which of course can be a problem in itself but that's for another day. It really is a great invention altogether, although we don’t always need to know that someone has seen our message at 9:10 and hasn’t bothered to reply yet. Viber also falls under this category, free calls…sorted. 2. Facebook Creeping Made Easy Of course you don’t need a smartphone to do this but it’s a lot handier than dragging out your laptop every time you need to check Facebook. Contrary to popular belief, the social media site has uses other than stalking your latest crush, such as keeping in touch with friends who have emigrated. Chances are at least one parent has jumped on the Facebook bandwagon... whether you choose to accept their request is entirely your business. 3 Games Smartphone games are a very popular feature; people have been known to get increasingly addicted to Angry Birds and Candy Crush. If you have a competitive nature, beware, as you may find yourself obsessing about getting to the next level before anyone else. You have been warned… 4 Selfies Since the forward facing camera was born the world has just gone crazy for selfies. Taking pictures of yourself in various frames of mind; from happy smiles to the ever popular “sad “ face and we can't forget the pout. Duck face (big lips), frog face (tongue out) and fish lips (pursed pout) are some of the epic poses around in case you feel like getting involved. 5 Email This is definitely one of the more practical aspects of using a smartphone. If there’s something big going on at work, or if you forget to do something before leaving the office, being able to access email from your phone really does make life a whole lot easier. 6 Twitter Popular social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owe a lot to the humble smartphone. If we weren’t able to get these devices readily on our phones we probably wouldn’t use them quite as much. Twitter is a little addictive, attempting to figure all of your thoughts into a 140 character post can be quite engaging. 7 Television The rise of apps like 4od, RTE Player and Netflix means you can easily catch up on anything you miss. Some people have an issue with watching programmes on a small screen but new smartphones with larger screens are being launched practically every day. No excuse then for missing out what Nidge is plotting next, sure Love/Hate has us all gripped! 8 Google Maps Anyone who has moved to a new area will appreciate this invention, accessing a step by step guide from one location to one another (even if it is only down the road) is one of technology’s greatest gifts. It’s also a godsend if you take a wrong turn in the middle of who knows where and you need help immediately. 9 Fitness Any gym bunnies, runners or exercise hounds in general are sure to appreciate the wonder that is the smartphone. From yoga moves to mapping your run to toning exercises…. You can ask for just about anything and the smartphone will deliver. 10 Filters There are countless camera apps on the market, all of which use pretty filters to enhance your images. Instagram is one of the most popular (it does have a special way of turning a bad hair day into a L'oréal ad), apart from the selfie epidemic; you can share photos of landscapes, food, fashion etc. Instead of investing in an expensive camera, smartphones produce high quality professional photos.