As smartphones become more and more popular, phone technology keeps advancing so much that virtually anything you would need a computer for you can find right in your pocket.

Ever since getting an iPhone over a year ago, junior communications major Justin Christiansen said that the only way he would ever go back to having a non-smartphone would be if he was financially unable to keep one.

“Internet access at your fingertips so you can pretty much get online anything you need at anytime. I’m able to check stocks if I want to see those, I’m able to check weather, check MySacState – anything I need on the tip of my fingers,” Christiansen said. He currently owns a Samsung Captivate.

But probably the most popular feature of smartphones that other phones don’t have are the applications.

While a lot of applications are unnecessary and overpriced, there are a surprising amount of them out there that most college students would find useful, but may be unaware of.

The ever-popular website – www.ratemyprofessor.com has an application available that students might want to consider using when choosing their classes.

“It’s just like the website. Previous students go back and rate their professor. I use it to register (for classes), and who wants a bad teacher? It helps you steer clear of teachers that don’t teach as well and is helpful sometimes because who’s going to know better than a student what a teacher’s like?” said iPhone 4 owner and freshman family and consumer sciences major Michael Brenton.

When it comes to schoolwork, there are applications that students may find helpful to manage their classes.

“‘Ihomework’ (is) basically an app where you can put in all your classes, and all your homework for those specific classes. It also keeps track of what you turned in, haven’t turned in (and) the grades or points for that assignment. For people that are more apt to using their phones it’s really beneficial,” senior business administration major Geneva MacFarland, owner of an iPhone 3G, said.

Other useful applications for classes are those that take the place of class required books.

“My government class required a law dictionary so I got one (an app) for free instead of having to pay, and it’s on the go. I’m carrying two dictionaries on my phone where I would have been carrying it in my backpack, so now I’m carrying it in less than a pound,” junior government major Dayana Cabellero said. She owns an iPhone 3G.

Another class-friendly application that Caballero found useful was the “inClass” application that helps manage class work and reminders. Once you put in your schedule, you can update it with assignments and it will recognize which class you’re in, as well as allow you to record your lectures and remind you an hour ahead of time when you’re supposed to go to each class.

Other helpful applications that college students might find helpful include the “Cram” application, which allows students to create multiple choice quizzes, study guides and flashcards.

The “GasBag” application locates the nearest and cheapest gas, in addition to creating a gas purchase logbook and mileage tracker.

Finally, the “Shot on us Ajax Bartender” application lists recipes for over 40,000 alcoholic drinks and can suggest drinks you can make just by listing the ingredients of your choice.

With phones on the verge of doing everything for us, it is easy to understand why people, especially college students, have come to depend on them so much.

“Every time I leave the house without my phone I feel naked, incomplete. I can’t call anybody, I have no contacts, I don’t memorize my numbers, I have my reminders in there, alarms, a lot of things that keep me going through the day. I’d probably be lost without my phone,” junior kinesiology major Chelsea Harris, who owns an Android Ally, said.

Cayla Gales can be reached at [email protected]