Old Mobile Phones: Things to Do
When it comes to technology, nothing gets phased out faster than a mobile phone. Sure, desktop computers and laptops also run on technology that gets updated on an almost weekly basis. But nobody trades up computers on such a fast schedule. Mobile phones on the other hand are devices of a completely different nature; people carry them around all the time and despite being expensive, it is not so uncommon to easily trade in a new device for an even newer mobile phone.
There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it is a lot better than having a mobile phone sit in the house all day doing nothing but accumulating dust. But while it is important for users to find ways of disposing of their old devices in a useful and practical manner, there is one other important consideration as well, personal safety.
Any mobile phone will contain a history of its previous user if the contents have not been perfectly cleaned out. The best way to ensure that this is done requires doing it manually. The first step is by removing the storage device on the handset: the memory card. Most handsets come with a limited internal memory, forcing users to stick with memory cards to storing data. Simply by making sure that the card is no longer inserted in the device means that the data is no longer accessible.
The next step is to look for a factory reset option. Most devices would allow users to instantly delete entire caches of information –provided that a proper password is also used. This will make sure that other content are no longer available.
Lastly, users should manually check the device after a full memory wipe. In the instance that some data (such as image folders) are not deleted, users can manually remove such content from the phone.
Smart Phones, Social Networking and Sales
It is not a rare thought or idea for an individual to consult with friends and peers before making a purchase. Even if it is a completely new product to try out or a recommended alternative to an existing favorite, retail purchases are heavily influenced by who and what we surround ourselves with.
Before, these immediate factors were people who lived together and people who worked or went to school together. Proximity was an important factor for word of mouth. Even in the early days of mobile phones, people still relied on direct, one-on-one conversations to get a recommendation through.
These days, you do not even have to be directly talking to a friend to influence their decisions for the coming weekend. Take movies for example, all it takes is a well timed Tweet or Facebook status update about how you felt about the latest blockbuster film that premiered this week and the information is automatically sent to everyone with live status updates –and chances are, that is a lot of people.
The retail industry and the world of market has been turned inside out by the emergence of social networking and smart phone technology. The two elements combined formed into a very powerful medium. After all, social networking may sound good and all, but if internet access was limited to desktop computers, it would not be as influential as it is today, where people can access online content anytime, anywhere.
Commercial research firm Gartner has finished a recent intensive study on the behavioral patterns of consumers, determining what factors will most likely influence a purchase. While friends and contacts were expected, the use of social networking is certainly something that changes the game for many marketers.
Of course, many had not missed out on the marketing capabilities of social networking and smart phone technology, a vast majority of commercial companies and brands are being advertised on Facebook and Twitter.
Free iPhone 4 Bumper App is Online
It is finally here, Apple’s promise to give users free bumpers to help fix the issue the faulty antenna. Of course, a bumper will not actually repair the mobile phone’s actual hardware, but it provides users with a way to use the smart phone without worrying about calls being dropped all of a sudden.
According to reports, the Apple iPhone 4’s antenna is prone to losing signal and worse, dropping calls. Many users have complained that the smart phone would often drop calls in the middle of a conversation, which was both wasteful of resources and also frustrating for people having the call. For a while, the cause of the issue was hard to pin down, and it was not until many people complained online that it was known that the antenna was the cause for the problem.
However, identifying the cause did not bode well for anyone, the only solution to a hardware problem that affects the hardware for all devices is a recall for all iPhone 4 units, and with over a million of the devices already purchased by consumers, it was a logistical nightmare that Apple did not want to wade into.
The solution came about 22 days later after the launch of the iPhone 4, a full three weeks after the device has been out on the market and almost as much time since users have identified the problem that plagues the device. Apple’s answer came in the form of an emergency conference where the problem has been dubbed as “antennagate”.
Steve Jobs took the stage and gave a rousing speech about how the issue is not really Apple’s problem but a problem for all phone makers. Naturally, it only took days before other phone makers countered Jobs’ arguments, stating that only the iPhone 4 has such as history and experience with so many dropped calls.
Phone Recycling: Saving the World, Finding Stolen Phones
Mobile phones are a big target for thieves. After all, most of the newer smart phones are pretty expensive and even the cheapest devices can still be sold off for a price; that price does need to be high either, as the investment cost for stolen items is practically zero. Getting even a single pound for a stolen handheld is already an injustice.
While tracking down high end devices needs hardware and software, finding low-end stolen mobile phones can be a lot harder –especially when thieves have found the perfect place to convert the stolen phone for money; at recycling centers. The devices can be brought in at various commercial establishments or in specific locations where the phone will be replaced by a cash incentive.
Now, mobile recyclers have a brand new protocol: checking for stolen devices. Carphone Warehouse, Mazuma, Virgin Media, 20:20 are all making a pledge to examine each handset sent in for recycling. This will prevent people from using recycling services to obtain money for stolen goods.
It is pretty harsh how the recycling industry is being used by malicious individuals in order to profit from illegal activities. While it is a bit too much to hope that something would be sacred from such persons, it is also important to remember that companies that invest heavily in recycling do so in order to entice people to give up their old handsets for recycling purposes.
Several tons of mobile phone wastes are created on a daily basis and the phone industry accounts for a large percent of the total carbon footprint that our civilization leaves.
Fresh Picks: Nokia’s C6 is Now in the UK
Our recommended quick-pick handset is now available in the UK. The Nokia C6 may not be as impressive as an Android smart phone, but there are still times when having even the basic Symbian S60 OS is pretty much enough for the average user. Besides, access to the Nokia Ovi store still means that the handset gets a large library of apps and media to download, and users will have plenty of things to do with the device.
Local network operators, O2 and Vodafone UK have announced that the device is available for free on their tariff plans. At the lowest, the handset can be obtained for free under a 25 Pound monthly contract from either operator. We can probably expect to see this phone on other networks in the next few days.
The only complaint that we can give about this phone is that for its retail price (about 289 Pounds on the official Nokia online store for the UK), the phone only packs a resistive touch screen. Capacitive touch screen technology always provides users with a better control experience. Hopefully, the next C-series handset would have a better screen. Still, at 3.2 inches, the TFT display provides ample room for viewing photos and watching videos.
Overall, the handset is a practical device that still manages to bring in some useful extras. The 5 mega pixel camera is a perfect built in snapper for those who love to take excellent quality images. Considering that 5MP is the current average for high end devices, the C6 is already loaded. The phone’s 434 MHz, ARM 11 CPU performs up to the device’s needs. But users should not expect super fast loading especially when handling resource heavy apps or features. As one might expect, this smart phone supports both 3G and 2G networks. The device also supports GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi.
Microsoft Defends Lack of Multitasking
It seems that Apple is not the only company that is planning to don the cape of being stubborn. According to recent reports, it seems that Microsoft is wholly under the impression that users do not want multitasking features on their mobile phones.
According to Greg Sullivan, the senior product manager for Microsoft, the presence of multitasking will greatly reduce phone performance. He believes that above all else, users want smoothness and speed on their handsets –at the cost of multitasking.
What Greg, and many others at Microsoft fail to realize however, is that multitasking and handset slowdowns, are actually issues that Apple has already been through. The first Apple iPhone OS came out lacking these very same features, and in the past couple of years, users had continuously asked for these to be implemented. In time, Apple saw that the functions are truly needed and decided to put them in.
Microsoft should already know better. That was the truth for Apple before, and that is how it will be –there is not point not adding in multitasking features.
Even if it means that the handset would slow down when running multiple apps; that is a decision that Microsoft has to give to the users, not decide on their own. Users who are specific about having the best and fastest device performance would naturally not make use of the feature. But the rest of the smart phone community would not mind the occasional slowdown, would certainly appreciate having multitasking.
Cut and paste is a more nonsensical issue. Microsoft should know better than any other developer how important the function can be, but they still decided to do without it. While the selective text selection feature will be useful (for addresses, contact numbers, emails), it will not be able to copy shopping lists, product names and other important bits of information.
Apple’s Free Cases: Par for the Course
Are we really expecting so much of Apple? Or to rephrase that question, did we really expect any better?
As Steve Jobs has pointed out, Apple has been in the industry for about three decades now, and while it is one thing to point out that the folks at Cupertino have not learned a thing at all, it would be sad to realize that the industry itself has not either –at least in regards to Apple and how they deal with things.
If the first half of 2010 is to be used as a reference point, it is easy to see how Apple quickly broke down relations between them and Adobe, gotten Taiwanese manufacturer HTC riled up and has also managed to show the world how tough they can get on developers.
So when they have managed to sell over 1.7 million units of a device with a faulty antenna, did we really think that they would do the noble thing and start a recall? Maybe the tech industry is simply far too optimistic.
It has already been revealed by many financial experts that a recall would cost Apple almost a solid billion worth of Pounds (USD estimates are at 1.5 billion). Apple would never take in such a loss, and that estimate is bound to get higher once the company steps into the perilous task of recalling such a large volume of expensive devices.
In any case, it seems that Apple has at least made a decision about what course of action they would be taking. While it makes no sense that the company has taken 22 days to decide on a course of action, it is still good that they have finally come out to provide the world with a more viable solution than a software update to the signal meter.
Apple’s iPhone 4 Issues could have been Avoided
The current state of things is: Apple has already sold over 1.7 million defective iPhone 4 units. The issue is something that cannot be easily resolved and in order to sort things out, Apple has already declared that they will be holding a press conference.
What makes things really tough to take in is the rumor that Apple was already aware that there was an antenna problem during the prototype testing of the handset. According to an informant from within Apple; the senior engineer, Ruben Caballero was told not to speak to the public about such matters. It is ironic however, as the rumors point to Ruben as the man who found the secret location in the first place.
Knowing that Apple could have prevented all of this from happening in the first place is a truly disappointing realization. After all, so many users has been affected by the omission of this one single step; had the iPhone 4’s antenna been okay, then no one would be worried about dropped calls and not massive lawsuits would need to be fired.
As to why Apple refused to listen to a chief engineer, no one can tell. But one can only assume that they are already deep in the production process when they realized that they could not afford to change the devices as they are.
In the meanwhile, millions of iPhone users are already looking towards the big conference, hopefully Apple would be announcing a solution to the issue and that a fix would be made available for users. Still, that is unlikely as it is believed that the hardware issue cannot be resolved by an over the air update. It is only a short while before Apple’s conference; we will finally get to find out what Apple has been up to regarding the issue.
Windows Phone 7: Needs Apps to be Balanced
There is plenty of talk and promotion about how the new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform looks and works. And frankly, the new OS really is quite impressive.
Microsoft has been able to outdo themselves in the design and the execution of the WP7 handset. The OS itself is far from final, it s comprehensive, smooth and well made. The visual quality of the animations and transitions creates a new look and feel for the Microsoft mobile platform.
There is currently plenty of talk and discussion about existing features such as the Bing search engine, Zune, Silverlight, MSN Player, the Xbox Live Games services and more. However, as many might notice, these are all Microsoft made features. While the device does support integrated social networking, it still lacks a strong library of apps that users can rely on.
Of course, it would be pretty demanding to expect that WP7 apps are already available, but the fact is, Microsoft needs to attract a significant number of developers for their OS.
According to some, having apps to choose from is one of the key reasons why they aimed for a smart phone in the first place. Many other people who are not interested in apps would rarely go for smart phones at all. Of course, the WP7 OS has its own merits, but lacking a decent app library would be very disappointing.
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, is confident that the Windows Phone 7 OS is going to attract both users and developers. Despite the initial reactions from developers that the system is hard to develop for (especially since the cross platform programming can be quite a daunting task), it seems that WP7 users will have new games and apps to look forward to when the system is finally launched this coming September or October and with promising handsets like the HTC Gold expected to be running Windows Phone 7, things are looking up for Microsoft fans.
BlackBerry Protect: Keeping Your Data Safe
Losing a phone can be quite the problem. There are two major loses that are attributed to such a personal device: the financial cost of such an impressive piece of hardware, and of course, the digital content that is stored on the phone. Data containing information on friends, relative, addresses, itineraries, personal notes, shopping lists to business oriented content such as database access applications, private supplier and client data are often stored in BlackBerry handsets.
This is why it is not surprising that RIM has started a new program that would help out BB users who have either misplaced their handsets or have fallen victim to mobile phone theft.
The new BlackBerry Protect system is an online service that gives BlackBerry users a chance to access their mobile phones from a computer. For those who feel that they might have simply misplaced the device. The service allows for users to activate the GPS on the phone and have it ring or alarm loudly in order to be found. This is particularly helpful when you cannot tell whether the device was left at the office or at the house of a friend (at least it saves you a long trip).
In cases where theft is a possibility, more extreme actions could be taken. One of the most impressive things that can be done is to lock out the handset. The device will not be easily accessed by whoever has taken possession of it, and if needed, owners are also able to wipe out the data of the handset completely.
Naturally, such a system would also be dangerous for owners should other people be able to obtain their login information to the BlackBerry Protect service and as such, RIM is taking important steps to ensure that the system has enough fail safes. Currently, BB Protect is running in a closed beta test, and we can expect to hear more about this new service soon.