A clever suggestion known to some but not all smartphone users.

Here's another challenge that the same solution will solve. When getting tech support for something electronic - a PC, a router, a TV, etc., the technician may ask for the item's serial number. Or as when troubleshooting a modem, sometimes the MAC address is needed. These are usually on the back or on the bottom.

The device in question may be installed on a shelf with connected wires so that it can't be easily moved. Or placed where the back isn't visible. And if it can be turned, the numbers are too hard to see. You can use your smart phone, reach in and hold it facing the back and snap a photo. Or, use it to similarly capture writing too small to see easily, and resolve your problem the same way as you describe.

Another easy way to locate tech device info is via the WiFi router app. Most routers offer an app. The Device Manager and Network Map lists pertinent information, MAC, IP address, link rate and connection type. The ORBI app offers extensive device info and options.

I've also used my phone to take pictures of things that cannot be easily seen. My contractor has been using his phone extensively this week to take pictures of areas where we suspect a leak might exist. He can't get close enough with his eyes, but can take a picture and enlarge it.

Sometimes if I'm in a store and have forgotten my readers, I'll use my phone's camera to zoom in on a tag.

True, Michael. I've only ever needed to provide a MAC address of a modem, to an internet provider when first establishing service, they need to grant access permission for the specific modem before anything works. When you have a router separate from the modem, I don't believe the router is able to access the modem's MAC info.

Serial numbers are needed when talking to a manufacturer's tech support for a specific device.

I don't think most people know how to sign on to their routers. For me, doing it the old fashioned way (using a browser and entering the network IP address, usually 192.168.xxx.xxx where the two last fields can be set to be 1.1 ) is much easier than using an app. I have an ORBI system in my main home, a regular router in another, and as an intermediate level user, I don't find the apps to be useful. I'm sure some do and the apps were developed with the less capable users in mind. Different ways to do the same thing.

I was in Costco in the clothing area, and a woman and her daughter were trying on coats. I heard them say they wished Costco had mirrors, so I suggested they use their phones to take a picture. Voilá, it worked.

If you have an iPhone, you have a magnifier. On mine, I just swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and then I get what is shown in the pic below. I've circled where the magnifier is. When you tap on that, the magnifier opens, and you can use the slider (seen in second photo) to adjust the enlargement.

Any phone, I or Android or others that have cameras, will act like a magnifier by enlarging an image by zooming in. Most have similar shortcuts to launch the camera app.

An addition to bpath's comment, I've seen many women use their phones like makeup mirrors. Start the camera app then switch to the rear facing camera. Voila!

I take a picture of my shopping list. Can send it to hubby if he is coming home earlier than I am.

For shopping lists we use AnyList with Family Sharing on to include 4 of us. If my daughter needs something she adds it to our list, and we do the same to hers.

One of us can be at the store with the list, and send a picture to the other with the message “is this the one you want?”

When you have a router separate from the modem, I don't believe the router is able to access the modem's MAC info.

Elmer, I missed that part of your post. As long as your modem is powered on and connected via Ethernet to your router you can access it to find Model, SN, and MAC.

Netgear, Arris, Motorola modems are accessed via 192.168.100.1. Lower case admin & password gain access to Netgear modems. My Spectrum Arris doesn't request a login.

Poke around. The information is there if you ever need it.

Well. shiver my timbers. There it is indeed. I like learning new things. Thanks.

I'm not one whose equipment is landlocked - my newish Netgear router (replaced an Arris) is on the desk, on the other side of a desktop PC from the Orbi. I can easily pick either up and look at numbers on the bottom (with the help of my Google phone to magnify the size). The modem at another location is ISP-furnished and a bit less accessible on a shelf with low headway I'll remember the other approach should it be useful in the future.

I've used my iPhone to take photos of advertising posters I've seen around the place and want to remember the details, or recipes in magazine in places like the hairdresser's where I can't just tear it out.

When we were travelling, we had got a little tourist map of the town outlining a vast number of street art pictures and information about the artists etc from the local tourist bureau, and were following the trail. Some young German backpacker girls spotted that I had a map, and came over to ask where I had got it. Since by that point it was about a 3km walk to the tourist bureau, I suggested they simply take a photograph of the map. DH came over (he's always bemoaning my general low-tech approach to life) and asked if they had asked to take pictures of my map. "No, _I_ suggested it," I told him. I do use technology when it will make things easier.

Elmer, you're welcome.

Depending on the provider, the ISP modem is usually visible via the ISP website, "My Account". Usually, not always.

Or, you can select "remote connectivity" on your offsite router and you'll be able to access it remotely from anywhere in the world as long as you have WiFi connection.

Netgear and Asus offer tremendous options for end users.

Juneroses, I wish I could do that in the shower. Without my glasses on, I sometimes can't see if the bottle is shampoo or conditioner.

I teach young kids and my favourite use of my smartphone camera is to take pics of their seating positions. For example, they have a choir order and sometimes it will get switched around at the last minute before a big event. They aren't going to remember who they stand next to, but I can whip out my camera and get them sorted pronto if I've taken a pic. Last week a student had done some work on an iPad and forgotten which one. I had been taking pics of them as they worked and was able to see the # of the iPad she'd been using in the pic. Saved me loads of time having to look thru all the iPads.

I’ve used the Find My Phone app twice this week to locate my misplaced phone in the house.

Colleen, when our son went to Croatia (the “Game of Thrones” part of his summer travel lol) he was going to stay in an Air BnB, that was tucked back on a narrow side street. Before he left, we did a Google Maps, street view video of the approach to the street and loaded it on his phone. So when he got to the neighborhood, he just followed his saved “escort”. He says he never would have found the street without it.

Daisy, my DBIL has some reading difficulties, and when he is in the store will easily pick up conditioner instead of shampoo. I have to look closely, too, they make the bottles look identical!

I had a piece of music from choir that I needed to make some changes to, but I couldn’t bring it home. I took a picture of it, sent it to my son who made the changes on his notebook, and then we printed it, and I brought it back and inserted it in my folder. He also sent it back to me and I brought it up on my iPad that fit perfectly on the piano so I could practice at home. If I knew how to use my phone better, I probably could have done it all right there.

Michael, in the 25+ years I've had an internet connection (I was an early adopter here in Silicon Valley with the DOS-like text-based, non graphical system in the very early days), I've never once had to access the modem. The very earliest years were dial-up but later with DSL and now with a Cable connection. So it's interesting to know but likely not needed. Have you ever had to access your modem?

What a nice post. Maybe we don't need to access our modems often but many other useful ideas we may not have thought about. I will surely revisit this when I have plenty of time. Who even knew there was a "find my phone app"? No that's not a real question, Elmer.

I've used my camera lately to read the model # on my stove that was too low to see, take home the vin # from a friends auto to check recalls for her. I'm also carrying my Medicare card on phone while card is safely left at home, same with new eyeglass prescription. Since needing a cane, I find the less I have to carry and keep track of the better, so no purse or wallet. Have also used it to carry a few coupons.

Lindsey, I don't have the magnifier feature on my iPhone as you have it shown, but I did finally figure out why I couldn't tilt my pictures into landscape mode because the portrait lock was on. So thanks a lot for fixing that problem for me!! :) I only know enough to be dangerous to myself. :)

Daisychain (and Bpath for your BIL) put a rubber band around one of your bottles (just remember which one) so you can tell with a feel which is shampoo and which is conditioner. Gives a better grip for a slippery bottle, too.

@murraysmom Zone 6a OH - Actually, you do have the magnifier feature on your iPhone. Three photos follow, as well as some instructional text after the third photo.

First, go into Settings and scroll down to the General area. Tap on Accessibility:

Once you are in the Accessibility group, tap on Magnifier:

Then, toggle the Magnifier to ON:

To use the Magnifier, all you have to do is press the home button three times (quick succession) and that will activate the Magnifier in the camera.

Have you ever had to access your modem?

Not often. I've known about the access for a long time. Years ago I would access the modem to reboot it when told by ISP to reboot or clear the logs. Over the years modem manufacturers took away those features due to some security issues.

Now most ISP's provide a "reset" for customers to use via the ISP's portal.

Some have reset buttons to push. Or, the old standby, pull the power cord, count to 10, reconnect.

Yes I've had a few occasions with tech support when they've sent a reset signal. Usually shortly after I did it myself manually.

How many iPhone users have enabled Assistive Touch? I use it and it's loaded with shortcut features. Try it and give me some feedback.

Assistive Touch