March 10th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Samsung, Touchscreen
The Genio Slide is the phone for you if you like to keep up with your friends and family through texting and the social network Facebook. It has a touch screen but gives you the option to type with its big slide-out QWERTY keyboard – much easier when you want to key in lots of text. The keyboard does make the phone a bit heavier than most.
It’s a pleasure to use, with its own native Facebook application and a 2.8-inch touch screen. It also has widgets so that MySpace and instant messaging is easily accessible.
All messages are organised in one uniform interface through your contacts, so keeping up with all your friends’ texts and chat is a breeze.
Data transfer is high-speed as the Genio Slide is a 3G phone. It also comes with Wi-Fi so you can connect when you’re in a Wi-Fi hotspot.
As with any mobile phone, it has the ability to download music and an FM radio with RDS, and with the 3.5 mm audio jack any standard headphones can be plugged in. The internal memory is 150 MB and can be increased to 16 GB, so there is plenty of storage for all your favourite tracks.
The camera is not as high quality as comparable phones but will take an ok family or holiday snap. The camera has 3.2 mega pixels and is fixed focus without any enhanced options. It has a video camera and you can use it for video calls.
March 9th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband
Once you have decided to make the switch from dial-up internet access to broadband, how do you choose a provider? The UK offers many broadband providers, which is great for competition, but also adds to confusion. Costs, coverage, and even equipment and service type can vary from provider to provider, but a few simple steps will help you narrow things down.
Your first step is to find out which companies service your area. Some companies like BT offer broadband service nationwide; others like Orange home broadband offer certain features nationwide, but some other features only in certain areas. You’ll want to first find out what’s available where you live, and make your choices from that.
Next, decide what type of broadband connection you’d like. ADSL coverage is widely available and reasonably priced. SDSL coverage is not available as widely and is more expensive. Cable internet and satellite internet is much less widely available and more expensive. However, if you live in a remote area, satellite broadband may be your only choice.
Find a range of speeds that would suit your needs, and check prices on those options. You may also be able to find coupons or special deals for starting service, or you might even have good luck calling the provider directly and asking about any introductory specials.
Once you’ve chosen, don’t forget to check periodically to ensure your provider stays competitive with their broadband price. Remember, you’re in charge as the customer, and if you find better service or prices out there, you can change at any time.
March 5th, 2010 | Camera Phones, Mobile Phone Reviews, Sony Ericsson
The Sony Ericsson Yari has been out for some time now and there are some great mobile phone deals to be had with it. This is a hybrid phone that combines standard mobile phone technologies with gaming in the style of the Wii, which for many is just the entertainment that they need. The games on offer are controlled in a very physical way, for example, in tennis you stand the handset in front of you and move your hands to control your players, the phone senses these movements and the players on screen respond accordingly. Have a game of 10-pin bowling and you will need to use the phone in the same way as the Wii handset and swing the phone to move the balls. For some this is just mobile phone gold, for others this seems all a bit pointless and not something you require your mobile to be able to do.
This is not a touch screen mobile, the standard phone keyboard slides out from the bottom of the phone. There are features such as Bluetooth, GPS and an onboard camera adding to the appeal. The phone itself is available as a contract mobile phone or a pay as you go unit, and the prices are reasonable with many deals to be had if you shop around. This is probably likely to appeal more to the younger generation rather than an office professional, and it isn’t the best in terms of MP3 playing either; in fact it is almost hard to see where this mobile phone would win when you compare it with other mobile phones currently available.
March 3rd, 2010 | Mobile Phone Recycling
Phone recycling is the best option when your handset gets old and you want to get rid of it one way or the other. If you recycle mobile phones either by selling your phone or having it exchanged, your efforts will benefit not only you but also the environment.
How then are these old mobile phones recycled? The answer to this question lies in why these companies pay cash for mobile phones. There are usually two reasons behind this business of mobile phone recycling.
Phone recycling companies make better use of your old mobile phones under the strict supervision of their engineers. These engineers repair the old handsets and afterwards sell them, or they sometimes donate the units to charity.
The first option, which is reselling the phone, is the primary reason why these phone recycling companies are in business. Under the strict and careful supervision of an experienced phone company supervisor, the reusable elements of your mobile phone are extracted and recycled. These materials include plastic, glass, silver, gold and coltan. This means that if we chose to throw old mobile phones away, we would lose these valuable materials.
According to the Canadian-based natural resources company Falconbridge Limited, one metric tonne of old mobile phones exclusive of their batteries contain the following: 140 kg of copper, 3.14 kg of silver, 300 g of gold, 130 g of palladium, and 3 g of platinum. These metals are recycled by the phone recycling companies and resold.
February 28th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband
A broadband Internet connection is a must these days, and has replaced the old dial-up connection in most cases. Dial-up is just too slow for most purposes. It makes sense to upgrade to broadband, or if it’s your first go at connecting to the Internet, to start out with broadband, as there are scores of broadband providers offering broadband deals.
Tiscali broadband (TalkTalk), Virgin Media broadband and O2 broadband are just a few of the more popular broadband providers, and as there’s so much competition for signing up new customers there are always broadband deals on offer. Broadband comparison sites can be found everywhere on the Internet, and if you don’t have access yet, use the library or an Internet cafe to compare broadband deals. Lots of broadband providers like Virgin Media broadband and Sky broadband will provide a ‘bundle’ of services, so you can get your telephone and cable television stations bundled in with your Internet broadband connection and make savings on all three. Such broadband providers have good discounts on offer if you opt for a package. It also means everything ends up on the one monthly bill, reducing the headache of household paperwork.
Most broadband providers also have broadband packages for business users. BT has a Business Total Broadband that has a range of packages to suit business broadband needs. UK Broadband exploits advanced WiMAX technology to provide business customers with customised mobile network services.
So whether you’re at home or in an office environment, it’s worth shopping around before choosing the broadband package that’s right for you.
February 27th, 2010 | Google Android, HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen
The HTC Magic is a touch screen smart phone using the Google Android operating system. As a competitor to the iPhone, the handset is smaller and may suit users who prefer a sleeker mobile phone.
The touch screen works quickly and easily and users can bring all of their installed applications on to the screen with just one touch. A number of applications can be installed free of charge from the Android market though more pre-installed applications would be of benefit.
The keyboard for text messages and emails works better in landscape mode than in portrait and some users may find that the screen is not as sensitive around the edges as it is in the centre, so typing needs care.
Applications that can be supported include GPS navigation and internet social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging applications. The handset can also be connected to a computer with a USB cable to allow for easy data transfer of music and videos, which can be played in several formats.
The music functions on the HTC Magic do let it down a little. It does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack and all music has to be stored on an additional memory card. The camera is also disappointing as there is no flash and the battery life is much shorter than similar models of mobile phone, though time-saving applications can be downloaded to extend battery function.
However, for those looking for a basic smart phone with email and internet access the HTC Magic is a good choice.
February 24th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Nokia
Nokia’s introduction of the 6600 Fold produced plenty of mobile phone news. Nokia has predominantly based their mobile phones on the bar design. The 6600 Fold is one of the few devices to feature a clamshell design that easily fits into your pocket.
The Nokia 6600 Fold is just 87.7 mm long by 44 mm wide and it is a trim 15.9 mm thick. This mobile phone weighs 110 grams with the battery attached. When the device is opened, users will find a bright 2.1-inch OLED screen that supports up to 16 million colours. There is also an external OLED screen that blends into the cover of the Nokia 6600 Fold.
The battery gives users up to 4 hours of talk time or 300 hours on standby. The Nokia 6600 Fold is quad band and will operate on 3G networks. Users will find support for Bluetooth technology included with this mobile phone. For easy surfing, a WAP 2.0 browser comes pre-installed on the Nokia 6600 Fold.
Users will find a 2-megapixel camera integrated into the Nokia 6600 Fold. This camera offers users LED flash and can capture video clips. A secondary camera has also been integrated into the device for video calling functionality.
Nokia has only included 18 megabytes of internal memory in the Nokia 6600 Fold. Users who wish to store music and photographs on their device will be able to take advantage of the integrated microSD expansion slot that supports cards up to 8 gigabytes in size.
February 23rd, 2010 | Mobile Phone Recycling, Mobile Phones
Mobile phones have gone from being a tool for busy business people to being a fashion accessory. As we all know, fashions change constantly, so the phone you bought a year ago is no longer the style icon that it once was. Thankfully many mobile service providers offer free upgrades if you have a contract, and pay-as-you go phones can be quite reasonably priced. This makes it easy to follow the latest trends in mobile phones and keep your phone as up to date as possible.
A side effect of this is that we end up with old mobile phones lying around our houses, hidden away in cupboards and drawers. Companies such as Envirofone and Mazuma have realised that there is a market for re-conditioned mobile technology and offer cash for mobiles.
With the majority of old phones being less than a year old it is usually a simple matter of testing the phone and preparing it for re-use. With a new SIM card and a clean, what was an unwanted phone becomes useful to someone else. With strong relationships with well-known manufacturers, networks and retailers, these companies are ideally placed to find new homes for used mobile phones and can offer you cash for your old mobile.
Envirofone and Mazuuma will also take broken and unusable phones and recycle them. Reclaiming up to 80% of the materials for use in the manufacture of new items. If your phone is broken or damaged however, you will find that you don’t get as much for it as if it were in good order.
February 19th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, mobile technology
The number of broadband providers can seem bewildering to the newcomer looking for a fast connection for one reason or another. Should you go for Tiscali broadband or Plusnet broadband? One friend recommends Orange home broadband, another raves about Be broadband. What should you do, with so many broadband providers and so little time? A good first step is to take a look at a few of the many broadband comparison websites, where you can check out the latest broadband deals. Compare broadband providers on these broadband comparison sites and you might even decide that mobile broadband is best for your schedule, and mobile broadband comparison sites will provide in-depth information on this. Thinkbroadband is a good place to start.
The choice between Orange home broadband and Plusnet business broadband may be a simple one, but digging further down into the maze of broadband providers will reveal more of the broadband deals on offer as well as the finer points of the services provided. For many, Virgin Media Broadband or Sky broadband, tying in your telephone and cable TV for additional savings, will be a good choice. Others, especially businesses, will need to customise their broadband requirements when they choose their broadband providers, as business broadband provides varying levels of support. For a business, UK broadband might be a good choice because of their use of WiMax technology. This system means that networking can be customised to suit a range of corporate requirements.
After checking out a few of the broadband comparison, and mobile broadband comparison websites, things should start to become clearer!
February 18th, 2010 | LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones
The LG GW520 is a networking phone for the current market. A slide top mobile phone with a well designed physical QWERTY keyboard will allow you to readily keep in contact with all your friends, tweets and fellow networkers.
Opening LG’s homepage accesses a screen full of your favourite contacts and the waving icons show message lists and the latest contact you have had with the people on them. Its predict number facility is great for regular users and updating the home screen to include other widgets is simple.
The GW520 is an update of the KW360 and succeeds in many areas. The addition of 3G supporting Internet access takes this phone out of the realms of merely texting and emails. There are lots of favourable things about the GW520. It has good connectivity, FM radio, and good battery life and as an entry level touchscreen is definitely worth a look.
The phone does have a few problems because the screen is a little unresponsive, typing is a slow laborious process and the 3-megapixel camera produces dubious results. Email push is slightly problematic and not able to work simultaneously with other programs, so you need to have it constantly open to use it effectively, while the 2.8 inch screen does feel a little cramped.
These complaints aside the LG GW520 has proved to be a popular phone with customers. It is slightly heavier than its cousins the KW360 and the Cookie, but definitely not a house brick.
