February 28th, 2009 | Handheld Devices, Navigation Tools, Wireless Devices
The handheld GPS device market is full of impressive models fitted with features, which are suitable for particular situations. For example vehicle navigation, boating, hiking etc., your choice of handheld GPS device must therefore be suited to your intended use.
First of all, look for a handheld GPS device that has a mapping screen. These models are much more expensive, but they are more accurate those that only have numerical latitude/longitude position fixes. Your handheld GPS device should at least be water-resistant or preferably waterproof. Handheld GPS devices that bear IPX-7 certification show that they are waterproof. This, however, does not imply that they can be used for swimming. IPX-4 certified devices are water-resistant, which means they can withstand water splashes from any direction. Similarly this does not imply that you can deliberately dip them in a river.
Choose a GPS handheld device that has at least a 20-route memory. Some models in the market come with up to 50-routes memory capacity. You can buy a 20-route model that has a memory card slot, which will allow you to upgrade progressively. You should also ensure that you purchase a model with a capacity of least 500 user-entered waypoints.
Handheld GPS devices with a 12-channel parallel receiver system will be ideal for those of you who frequently spend time in wooded areas. You can better this by acquiring newer models that are fitted with 15-channels, as the extra three are retained for WAAS. Your device should be capable of directing you to the next waypoint and should be the right weight and size for you to carry and use comfortably.
February 27th, 2009 | Mobile Phones, Samsung
The P260 from Samsung is a functional mobile phone. The slider design of the phone contributes to the smaller size of the P260 while providing users with a decent display screen that offers 262K colours and a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels.
This handy Samsung mobile phone is 101mm long by 50mm wide and it is 17mm thick. The device weighs 119 grams. Users can expect up to 3 hours of talk time and 220 hours on standby out of the battery that comes packaged with the Nokia P260.
Users can take advantage of the camera that is built into the device which is 2 megapixels. The camera is also capable of capturing QCIF quality video. To store photos and video the P260 from Nokia provides users with 25 megabytes of internal memory. Many will find that this is not enough storage space and will be happy to know that an expansion slot is available that supports microSD.
The Samsung P260 does not provide support for 3G networks. It is also only tri band which supports only the 900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies. Another nice feature that the P260 does provide users with is integrated Wi-Fi which supports 802.11b/g networks.
The P260 can also function as a music player supporting both the popular MP3 and AAC file formats. For users that frequently fly they will be delighted to know that this mobile phone offers a flight mode option which allows the mobile phone functionality of the device to be turned off while still letting users enjoy music playback.
February 24th, 2009 | Wireless Devices, mobile technology
Setting up a wireless network is an easy process, which does not take a ‘tech savvy’ genius to accomplish. The process is made easier since most wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connections take advantage of a protocol known as DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This protocol automatically assigns an IP address, eliminating the need for a network administrator to carry out the task. It is easy to become lost in the rush to have the system up and running in record time and in the process throw caution to the wind and forget to take security precautions to protect your shiny new wireless network. This article will highlight some of the things you can do to improve the security of your wireless network.
Do not use default administrator passwords and usernames. You should change any default login information provided by the manufacturer of any hardware you have on your wireless network. This should be accomplished the moment you incorporate the hardware. If you don’t, the default login information is available to hackers and you leave your wireless network prone to hacking.
Use the WPA/WEP encryption feature. There are several encryption technologies available for you to choose from. Make sure to choose a large byte encryption, which is harder to crack.
Do not use the default SSID. Since all manufacturers of hardware ship their products with the same SSID set. Failure to change the default SSID, when configuring a wireless network, can be taken by hackers as a sign of a weak and vulnerable network.
Keep the MAC address filter enabled. Each piece of hardware in a wireless connection possesses a unique identifier, known as the physical address or MAC address. Keying in the MACS addresses of this equipment restricts the network to only allow connections from hardware that can only be identified by access point routers.
February 20th, 2009 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Sony Ericsson, mobile technology
The W595 mobile phone from Sony Ericsson offers users a walkman styled device that offers great features for music lovers. The W595 is a compact slider that comes with a whole range of features but the ones that are most interesting revolve around its capabilities as a digital music player.
The Sony Ericsson W595 comes packaged with an impressive 2 gigabyte memory card. This provides users with enough space to store up to 1900 songs. The music player supports popular formats such as MP3 and AAC. In order to change the song that you are listening to on this device all you need to do is shake it. The new shake control feature of the W595 makes this phone incredibly easy to control.
The W595 from Sony Ericsson also comes with a built in FM radio and the display of the mobile phone will tell you what station you are listening to and may even indicate what song is playing on the channel.
Another attractive feature of the Sony Ericsson W595 is the selection of colour combinations that it is available in. Users can pick from Active Blue, Cosmopolitan White, Jungle Grey, and Ruby Black.
The device is pretty compact being just 100mm long by 47mm wide and 14mm thick. The W595 also weighs 104 grams. The battery that comes with the device will provide up to 9 hours of talk time and 385 hours on standby. The device is quad band and functions on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies. Support for UMTS 2100, EDGE, and HSDPA networks are also included.
February 18th, 2009 | Apple iPhone, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen Display, Wireless Devices
The Apple iPhone is a three in one gold nugget which combines phone, internet and iPod into one. The Apple iPod has set the standards so high that competitors such as HTC are finding it hard to break into the smart phone market.
In terms of design, the Apple iPhone is equipped with a brilliant display and a streamlined body measuring 4.5 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.46 inch deep. However it actually feels smaller in the hand than looks. The absence of buttons is bound to grab anyone’s attention.
The display is big and user friendly. The display screen of the Apple iPhone measures 3.5 inches and the screen resolution is 480×320 pixels (160 dots per inch). This gives a true colour quality to pictures and videos making them life-like. Also the graphics are sharp and the movements are fluid.
The menu of the Apple iPhone is both stylish and easy on the eye. The display icons are well spaced and geometry is observed in their placement on the screen. The phone menu, mail folder, the safari web browser and the iPod player icons are placed at the bottom of the screen while at the top of the Apple iPhone you find the camera, calendar and settings icons.
The Apple iPhone touch screen functionality is a thrill to use as well. This is due to its fluid nature and its multi-functionality. It acts as a dial pad, keyboard, safari browser and music and video player; depending on what you are doing.
February 16th, 2009 | Mobile News, mobile technology
The Google Mobile RSS reader is such a practical application that it is guaranteed to make things easier for you and keep them organized. This is because with the Google Mobile RSS reader you will assistant you in the following:
1. Manage multiple websites and all the content they carry. This comes in handy when you want to keep up to date with a particular piece of information. This is because you will receive the update on your Google Mobile reader as soon as that website is updated. And to top that you get it in your Google Mobile Reading list under that appropriate website and category. Think of the amount of time that saves you! I mean how great is it not to browse each individual website to search for the latest information?
2. Google Mobile reader also enables you to add new feeds with similar ease. All you need to do is to perform a quick search of the new phrases or keywords you would like to add and Google Mobile reader provides you with results of related links you can add.
3. Google Mobile reader makes it extra easy to share links between peers and to post pages on public forums. This is a one click process enabling you to pick an item, post it on a page and make the page public.
4. Last but not least, Google Mobile reader enables you to highlight a feed of interest so that you are able to trace it with ease. Google Mobile reader has a function which enables you to add a star to any item of interest. This makes it easier to trace that particular item.
February 14th, 2009 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Nokia, Wireless Devices
The Nokia 6220 mobile phone offers users many features that would typically be found on higher end phones in a simple and affordable package. This phone appears to be just like any other standard mobile phone, but looks can be very deceiving.
Built into the Nokia 6220 mobile phone is an impressive 5 megapixel camera. This camera has the added benefit of having Carl Zeiss optics and includes features such as autofocus and xenon flash. The camera can be used to capture video as well as for making video calls.
You need never get lost again when you carry your Nokia 6220 with you. Users can take advantage of the built in GPS system that will help you pin point your location and get you to where you need to go.
You can play all your favourite MP3, AAC and MPEG4 files directly from the Nokia 6220 and there are 120 megabytes of internal memory to store files on. There is also an expansion slot that supports up to 8 gigabytes of additional memory.
The Nokia 6220 is 108mm long x 47mm wide x 15mm thick and weighs just 90g. Users can expect around 3½ hours of talk time and approximately 250 hours on standby, with the standard battery that comes with the phone.
Another great feature that the Nokia 6220 provides is access to 3G networks. The phone is also quad band and supports the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies.
February 13th, 2009 | Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson’s W760i is offering users features that will really expand the use of the device. A mobile phone is no longer just a mobile phone. Now they are digital music players and navigation systems that will help you to never get lost again. The Sony Ericsson W760i is one of these new mobile phones that users will have a hard time parting with.
One of the great new features that the Sony Ericsson W760i provides users with is a built in GPS system. Users can use the device with Google Maps Mobile and Wayfinder Navigator whenever they are in need of directions.
Users can also use this small mobile phone as a digital music player that supports MP3 and AAC music formats. A cool feature that will delight many users is the fact that you can play the music out of stereo speakers that are built into the Sony Ericsson W760i. In order to change the song all a user needs to do is physically shake the device. Support for Memory Stick Micro is provided for the device so users can store a decent amount of music.
The Sony Ericsson W760i is a reasonable size at 103mm long by 48mm by 15mm thick. The device also weighs 103 grams. Users can expect the battery that is included with the device to last up to 9 hours of talk time and up to 400 hours on standby. To further improve this mobile phone the device is offered in a selection of great colours including Fancy Red, Intense Black, and Rocky Silver.
February 11th, 2009 | Handheld Devices, Mobile Banking, Wireless Devices
The development of mobile banking is facing challenges, mainly because the applications used to support it are wanting in more ways than one. Let us take the case of the Interactive Voice Response, or IRV. This application only allows for enquiry services. As convenient as this might be in saving time and resources, its major drawback is that transactions cannot be carried out using IRV.
The same can be said for the SMS application. However, a solution to this can be found in the WAP technology. In mobile banking, WAP, or Wireless Access Protocol, applies a concept similar to that applied by e-banking. This is made possible by banks who maintain Wireless Access Protocol sites which their clients can access using a WAP enabled mobile phone or PDA. WAP forms support HTML forms and can be programmed with a host of security measures to make them more secure. This way, customers can be able to enjoy the full banking experience through mobile banking. In addition to the customary enquiry and transactions services, customers can conduct more sophisticated transactions, like brokerage transactions involving stocks transfer through their mobile phone.
How does Wireless Access Protocol technology work?
The mobile banking Wireless Access Protocol supported application requires the hosting of a WAP gateway. The gateway or hub consists of a server where the bank information files are stored. Mobile banking applicants access the bank’s site via the WAP gateway to carry out transactions. The WAP gateway links the mobile network to the Internet.
February 8th, 2009 | Mobile Phones, Wireless Devices, iPhone
Much hype has surrounded the Apple iPhone since its introduction into the market. Apple iPhone has had an iron grip on the smart phone market. This is because in addition to its sophisticated design, it carries a host of features that set it worlds apart from other smart phones like the HTC smart phone. Some of the features, which set the Apple iPhone apart from other smart phones, include:
Bluetooth and Wireless.
While most smart phones available in the market do not have a wireless functionality like Bluetooth; the Apple iPhone boasts of a full range of wireless functionality with support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple iPhone automatically searches for Internet hotspots when browsing. In addition, it is equipped with a Bluetooth 2.0. This means that it is able to deliver faster transmissions over a longer range than smart phones equipped with the 1.2 version of the Bluetooth.
Messaging and e-mail.
The Apple iPhone engineers took this into consideration when designing the phone. The Apple iPhone can be used to send both text messages and e-mails. The Apple iPhone displays a text message thread as one long conversation. This makes it easy to view and select text options.
Apple iPhone menu integrates most of the popular e-mail accounts including Yahoo, Gmail, AOL as well as Mac accounts. The Apple iPhone can also be set to receive messages from other IMAP4 and POP3 system.
Safari Browser
This is one feature that truly sets the Apple iPhone apart from other smart phones. This is because the Safari browser displays web pages unlike other smart phones, which offer limited graphics.