Thank you for asking this question. The answers and comments are helpful and interesting.
I do a lot of research on mine. We travel and it's a simple, off the cuff sort of way to find and preview quilt shops. Depending on where you find yourself, that "preview" business is a time and effort saver. I look at the dynamics involved in the actual fabric but I also look at stuff that has to do with the store and how it's run and how it presents itself. All that is probably all me but it sometimes makes a real difference in what I can expect to find when I walk in the door.
Another thing I use the phone for is figuring out where traffic tie ups are located. It helps me avoid accident areas as well as the places that road work is causing slow downs. It also tells me whether it's worth the effort to figure out an alternative route or I could equally well just "tough" the problem through. Helpful when I'm on a voyage of discovery especially if I am going to be on my own.
Again everyone, thanks.
Alvie