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.
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.
iPhone 4 Problem List Grows Long, This Time the USB Port Catches Fire
Yet another problem has reared its ugly head, much to the dismay of Apple fans all over the world. The issues keep on piling up, possibly because these smart phones were wheeled out much quicker than it should have been before strict quality checks could be performed. This time, the issue has caused many a burned hand as iPhone 4 USB ports end up malfunctioning and catching on fire.
As if yellow screen blotches, dwindling reception issues and broken displays were not enough, now the device suddenly catches fire by simply plugging it in for a charge.
The USB malfunction results in a messy goo of burnt plastic and melted metal near the USB port. This looks to be the most dangerous flaw yet, leaving the owner with skin injuries and an expensive mobile phone paperweight.
According to reports, one such owner verified that he only plugged his device in to charge the iPhone 4 when its connection caught on fire. The owner of the toasty device then tried to return his dangerous mobile phone to Apple via their official store. Unfortunately, he went home with nothing due to the unavailability of a replacement handset.
Apple Store techs confirmed that the unlucky owner’s iPhone 4 did indeed have a malfunction when it was plugged in, which can be attributed to a defective USB port.
Because of all the bad publicity, Apple still refuses to go for a mass recall or give out freebies for their unsatisfied customers. At least they did offer a full refund to those who would rather be rid of their iPhone 4 devices, but this is hardly enough to address the prevalent (and now, utterly dangerous) issues that the initial iPhone 4 batches are experiencing. It is truly shocking the way that the mobile phone giant has skimped out on the quality of their fast selling device.
Smart Phone GPS: Splitting the Demographic Map
Back then, people just needed any GPS. Typically, a standard GPS device would provide you with just as much information as other would. While some had extra features such as points of interests, the common features were all one and the same. Of course, the big defining factor was also the fact that the service was paid for.
But these days, getting access to voice guided sat nav is a simple matter of turning on the feature on your smart phone. Many Nokia handsets have the feature, and so does all Android smart phones that have GPS and use versions 1.6 Donut and above, like the popular HTC Desire.
Many believe that the emergence and growth of GPS on smart phone technology will be killing off companies such as Garmin and TomTom. While these may seem likely, the reality is far from such. Aside from the fact that Garmin and TomTom are established, reliable and well respected brands in the GPS industry, they also cater to a very specific market of people who cannot afford to switch to the free GPS services offered by mobile phone makers: professional who need very accurate GPS services.
These include the police, delivery personnel, medical response teams, and other groups and institutions that have to rely on “paid” maps –maps that they can count on (or sue the company if the data contained is misleading or incorrect).
While Nokia and Google’s maps are often more than enough for the average person, they are also not accountable for the accuracy of the data they supply.
With that said, it is obviously more than enough for the average person to use the free voice guided sat nav services as opposed to having to pay a monthly service (with the average cost of a high end smart phone –it is something that is almost expected now). According to recent news, free GPS is now being brought to the iPhone thanks to Skobbler.
Disney to Establish Footing in iPhone App Development
It looks like the iPhone OS is going to be the next gaming platform that Disney Interactive is setting its eyes on.
Disney has already been an established brand in the video game market –especially in the past few years. With their purchase of the Kingdom Hearts license from (then) Squaresoft (now known as Square Enix) to the development of the Disney Interactive studios that focuses heavily on creating games internally. This latest game, Epic Mickey is an expansive third person adventure game for next generation consoles.
Now, it appears that Disney is seeing the value of games on smart phones and would like to start creating their own apps particularly for the Apple iPhone. Their Apple-preference is seen in the acquisition of Tapuluous, the developer of successful iPhone apps such as Tap Tap Revenge. Tapulous is not just a well known app developer, but they are also an established Apple supporter. The choice to get Tapulous is also quite strategic; the company is currently working on social games for the iPhone.
In any case, this makes purchasing an iPhone 4 (or sticking to the older iPhone 3G/3Gs) a pretty nice alternative for any Disney fans –because with this, no official Disney apps will be released for other platforms.
So far, there has been announcement as to exactly what apps and games will be made available for the iPhone -though some expect some tie-ups with existing console titles or even some functional apps that provide insight into the history of Disney and its works.
In many ways, it is not surprising to see Disney making such a move. The entertainment company has always been at the forefront of the industry and with smart phones becoming a heavily influential media channel –it is natural that Disney would step into the industry as well.
First ELSE Cancelled by Emblaze, Might be Sold to Other Companies
Last year, we got to have a sneak peek at the new operating system and user interface design by Emblaze, the First ELSE. The unique user interface system was based mostly on the use of just one finger to navigate throughout an entire phone’s worth of features and content. While it is also possible to use the device with two hands, the fact that the entire handset can be used with just one is a big convenience –especially for people who are often on the go.
The actual handset later appeared at the MWC last February where Emblaze showed off their brave and innovative design ideas when it came to interface design. The First ELSE is one of the few UI’s that focused on the real strengths of smart phone and touch screen technology –as most user interfaces feel like mock ups of desktop interface designs.
Sadly, it has been reported that Emblaze will be cancelling the production and development of the First ELSE. According to various sources, the company has been taking some severe financial trouble and would need to re-allocate the funding that was originally made for the new smart phone. The money would be re-circulated to help the company re-stabilize. However, there is no word that they would continue the First ELSE development later on and it has been said that the company is considering selling the technology to other developers and manufacturers.
While it is unlikely that we see Access Linux being used in newer smart phones, the possibility that the UI design might get adapted is pretty high. Many who saw the demonstrations of the OS gave pretty good reviews and feedback regarding the design ideas which means that it is likely that companies would actually adapt the one-finger control UI –if they purchase it from Emblaze.
Google’s CEO Says that Smart Phones are the Future
Eric Schmidt and Bill Gates would agree that the smart phone technology will certainly be pushing the limits of technology and innovation to new heights and to quote the two men, “it is the future”; they are quite right.
Even at this early point in time, it is easy to see and predict that smart phones will become more and more prevalent in the next few years to come. With many handsets now adopting the basic standard features on smart phones, it will not be long before mobile phones that do not have access to internet (GPRS and 3G) are completely phased out by new smart phones.
Communication will still be the key function that the smart phone services, but aside from the usual call and text functions, these mobile phones will also be delivering email and other forms of internet related messaging and communication functions (such as microblogging on Facebook).
The fact that new wireless technology is helping the industry grow faster also helps –and the boom with social networking is also a major factor in the spread of smart phones. In some ways, many could say that the two are directly bearing proportional growths –the more people want social networking, the more people tend to get smart phones while the more people have smart phones, the more inclined they are to access social networking.
Schmidt is also taking things from the perspective of the Google company; in the past few years, they have changed and innovated plenty of things on the internet, and they see the mobile phone as the platform through which they can do more for people and provide better and faster services as well.
He also points out that smart phones are making companies adapt a more open policy with information –which is a great benefit to app developers and most importantly, the end users.
Predicting Smart Phone Trends
With manufacturers focused on current technology and what new features the various operating systems are delivering, some might say that the level of innovation in smart phone technology has come to a slow down.
While there is no decrease in the number of concept devices being made by various manufacturers and product developers in order to inspire the industry to push forward, the innovation has been concentrating more on software than the hardware itself.
This does not mean that the hardware is not changing, it is but only in a single direction of “better specs”, which simply means that the easiest way to predict what tomorrow’s handsets is by looking at the devices available today in simply increasing the speed, power, capacity and performance.
Still, there some new (and old) technology that is being developed that might change the way mobile phones are being used. Take Nokia for example, they are now bringing back short range device communication, this technology as originally developed as a more secure alternative to Bluetooth thanks to its limitation with proximity for devices to communicate.
The development of new touch screen technology is also being implemented as well. Larger, thinner and more flexible touch screens are being developed and this may help change the way mobile phones are designed and made. However, since the current form is quite effective and efficient in terms of functionality and practicality, it will be a long time before a new form factor is accepted.
As stated above, the real change in hardware is simply in improving the current specs. Chip manufacturers are racing to create not only faster and more powerful processors, but also in finding ways to cut down on power consumption. Since mobile handsets rely on rechargeable batteries with limited capacities, there are limits to how fast a modern CPU can be.
How Powerful Should a Smart Phone Be?
Technology moves, and when it moves, it moves fast without waiting for anyone, not even our society. As our daily lives become more and more entrenched with the use of smart phone technology, WiFi, and 3G access, the more we leave ourselves chained and tethered to the limits and capabilities of the very handsets we use.
A person who does not check Facebook or send Tweets often will not be reliant on a smart phone with live updates or similar social networking tools. On the other hand, a person who has come to enjoy the benefits of being able to send new updates to friends and colleagues at almost any time will feel rather out of touch and disconnected when forced to use a basic 2G handset without WiFi access.
And that is just the start of it. Web browsing and internet access are now considered to be very basic features, and for many people, owning a social networking account or Twitter account is commonplace. They would actually raise an eyebrow when told that an individual does not have either (a reaction that was not so common when net access was restricted to desktop computers). While this reaction can still be shrugged off, it is a benchmark about what we consider accessible and doable for the average person.
When mobile phones start getting higher capacity batteries that are able to handle faster and stronger processors, the range of things that a person can do with a smart phone will also increase. Employers often expect their smart phone-bearing employees to be able to stay on top with email and basic documents since the device can handle the document processing. At this rate, the speed and power that we see in the desktop computers of today will soon be available on smart phones of the future.