Make the most of it!

Whether you have just taken out a new contract on a smartphone or have been using your phone for months and want to know what more it can do for you, it’s never too late to learn a thing or two to get more out of your Android device.

Owning a typical Android smartphone has a number of benefits, but have you ever looked at just how many functions there are, here’s a list of what I could think of – Phone, Email device, compass, GPS Sat Nav, Digital Map, Pocket Torch, Video Camera, Digital Still Camera, Webcam, Spirit Level, MP3 Player, MP4 Player, Radio, Handheld Gaming Device, Pocket Watch, Alarm Clock, Personal Organiser, Dictaphone, Calendar, USB Storage Device, Web Browser, Translator, Photo Viewer, On Demand TV Viewer, USB Storage Device, Web Encyclopaedia/dictionary/thesaurus, Social networking device, Personal shopping advisor (Google shopper), Digital book/magazine subscription service/reader, Sky TV Scheduler, Stopwatch, Calculator, Guitar tuner, Video editor, Photo editor, Note Pad, Audio trimmer, Online document storage etc... The list does go on!

Here are a few tips for making the most of an average smartphone scenario, let’s say a mid-range Android device with 500 texts, 300 minutes and 512 mb of data allowance a month...

Tip #1: Use your data!!

I would recommend to anyone with an Android device and a social networking account, email account, ebay account, blog or all of the above – Get a data plan! A data plan will really bring your device to life. Your typical data plan gives you 512mb of allowance, which unless is explained in everyday terms doesn’t sound like much, but trust me, for most people this is by far more than enough. A lot of people I know have an allowance but are too scared to use it in case they go over their limit, so the first piece of advice I can offer is to monitor your usage online, or even easier, download an app called ‘my data manager free’ from the app market which lets you know how much internet you have used.

Having a data allowance allows you to have your email account, social network, maps, internet browser and online document storage at hand 24/7, but other uses include necessary software updates as they are released and the ability to have your contacts/messaging backed up online as you go.

Tip #2: Use your noggin, and WiFi!

When indoors, or at any WiFi access point I seriously recommend reverting to WiFi in your settings for obvious reasons. Thats it!

Tip #3: WiFi Video/voice calling

There are a number of services, namely Skype, which offer this. I cannot explain how handy yet under-used this is in the world of smartphones. Add all your friends who have a smartphone and start taking advantage of high-quality, free unlimited chatting.

Tip #4: Lost again!

Can’t find your way around in the car? Get yourself a car phone charger and start using your free GPS! It’s amazingly simple to use and just as good as your average TomTom or NavMan. Type or even speak your destination into your Android, amend your preferences and away you go, turn by turn navigation right there!

Tip #5: You’ve shot, now share!!

What do you do with your photos taken with your phone? Most of you will keep them there in your device to show to whomever is lucky enough to be in your immediate vicinity. A great app for photo sharing with all your friends is a little app called Facebook! I’m sure you’ve heard of it, what makes it so great is that most people either have it, or know a close friend who uses it – and that’s what sharing photos is all about...

Tip #6: Organise your life!

I’m just as guilty as most of you – until recently I never really used Androids great calendar app, I seriously recommend it as not only is it an extremely concise organisational tool with a reminder function, you can even add photos, maps, navigation and invites to contacts, all backed up online just in case you lose your phone! The alarm clock ain’t too shabby either!

Tip #7: Holy Google Batman!

The best thing about owning an Android phone is the amazing free Google suite of apps and utilities, here’s a brief rundown and explanation of my faves:

Google Goggles: Ever seen a landmark, brand logo or product you recognise, but just can’t remember what you need to know about it? Goggles allows you to take a picture of whatever you want, scans the image, then will take you to every bit of information under the sun!

Google Shopper: Found something but want it cheaper? Shopper has a barcode scanner, voice recognition and text search, so if there’s a bargain to be had, you will find it on your Android.

Google Maps: A suite in its self – Google Maps is the centre of your navigation, places, route planning etc, and the best part is its all free!

Google Translate: With well over 50 languages to choose from, you can travel the world and never be lost in translation, with voice and text translation this app is a must-have for travellers.

Google Reader: I subscribe to a couple of blogs, and Google reader is an amazingly efficient way of feeding new articles right to your smartphone via RSS feeds.

Google Search: Good ol’ faithful! Google search is as simple, yet advanced as ever. Search for anything with your voice or text for almost instant results.

Tip #8: Try it yourself!

At the end of the day, the only way you will learn to get the most out of your phones features will be to have a mess around yourself, what’s the worst thing that can happen? Go explore – you’re paying for it, get your moneys worth!


Follow me on Twitter @virtuoso666

My credentials, sort of...

I like to consider myself rather knowledgeable when it comes to mobile phones, but I would be a liar if I was to tell you I had qualifications relating directly to cellular technology!


Here I thought I'd share my mobile phone timeline dating back to June 2000, when I got my first PAYG handset at the tender age of 12. Every phone displayed here is a new handset, all duplicated images are re-buys, as until recently I have only ever had one phone at the time. I may have missed a couple of handsets from the list, and by the end of the year you'll be able to add at least two more handsets to the end of the list.

To answer a couple of questions - I paid for every phone in the image, with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy Pro, which was given to me at the Samsung Mob!lers Kick-Off event. I tend to sell my phones in order to afford the next one... At the moment I still own the Samsung Galaxy Pro, Samsung Galaxy S 2, and the Nokia N97. 


Every phone I've owned, I've absolutely loaded, hacked, explored and worked out every bug possible. The image above only represents the phones I have owned. If you have any questions about any of the above handsets, or any other phone on any platform, feel free to give me a buzz, I have written how-to's on hundreds of handsets and am more than happy to help out.

Rest In Peace Steve Jobs

You won't often find me saying great things about Apple products on this blog, but no-one can ignore just how much of an innovator Steve Jobs was. The Ex-Chief Executive of Apple Inc. was responsible for such products as the iPod, iPhone, the Mac and the massive iTunes.

He changed a lot of our day-to-day lives and put up some stiff competition in the world of electronics, lived a success and died a success.

Rest in peace Mr Jobs.

New kid on the block...

With the Samsung Galaxy S 2 ruling the roost for quite some time now very little competition has even come close to taking the number 1 spot – but every titan gets their day, the Iphone 4S is on it’s way, should we be in fear for our Galaxy S 2s? Heres a brief prediction...

Build quality

Historically Samsung have always built solid handsets, even cheaper phones still feel sturdy in the hand, and despite its weight and back panel, the Galaxy S 2 is a very solid phone, with nice balance of weight, no offset edges – the only downfall as far as I can gather, is that the shiny, smooth plastic on the bottom lip if the phone may be vulnerable to scratching.

The Iphone comes out of the box sparkling like a diamond, in true Apple fashion it’s sleek, slim, and the materials used in production are of high quality. The phone carries a nice amount of weight too. One downfall is that despite all claims, I have seen plenty of Iphones age terribly, the handsets do become tacky if not kept in a case.

Verdict – Draw

Processing power

The Galaxy S 2 came storming out of the gate and effectively changed all the rules, a combination of a nice simple user interface with a dual-core 1.2ghz processor made for maximum performance and set a new standard, this phone, though not the first to carry a dual-core processor, it was certainly the first phone we will remember that paved the way for the new ‘superphone’.

The Iphone 4’s A4 processor might only operate one core, at what is nowadays a sluggish clock-speed, the whole UI is run smoothly and apps don’t seem to have any problems with lag, video is played smoothly and multi-tasking isn’t an issue. With the new dual-core A5 processor being added to the Iphone 4S it looks like Samsung may have to step it up!

Verdict – Iphone clinches this, as the potential is insanely threatening.

Originality

Samsung have certainly spent a lot of time tweaking their designs to come up with the perfect handset, and although not perfect, the Galaxy S 2 is a great representation of what Samsung’s innovation has to offer.

Since the release of the original Iphone some years back, very little has changed to be honest, we’re getting more of the same, but smoother, slimmer, and more up to date with today’s trend... The Iphone 4S is identical to the Iphone 4 but with a few wrinkles ironed out.

Verdict – Samsung takes it by a country mile, evolution is what keeps the industry interesting...

Excitement factor

The Galaxy S 2 had some big shoes to fill, following the footsteps of the mighty Galaxy S, and the overlooked Nexus S, there was a lot of buzz around Samsungs latest monster. Conference floors were crowded with people eager to see how this phone could shape 2011, the Super AMOLED Plus, the 1.2ghz processor and 1GB of RAM was enough to keep the Galaxy he talk of the town.

Marketing is at the very heart of Apples success as a cellular manufacturer, where some products have a slow release period and sell themselves eventually, sadly, Apple are not a good example of this. The mere mention of the fashion conscious cellular giant creates global buzz... That’s until the Iphone 5 was officially unconfirmed as Apples next device – an updated current model was never going to cut it!

Verdict – As the Iphone 5 has now been revealed as the ‘4S’, Samsung claim this.

  

Mine does and yours doesn’t!

The Samsung Galaxy S 2 doesn’t only pack generous stock specs, but gives you the ability to embellish, by adding a memory card or changing the stock battery for one with a higher mAh rating. The android market is flooded with independent app developers, which has become a very good thing for the customers, and most apps worth having are free!

The Iphone typically comes completely un-changeable out of the box, the closest to customising the handset you will get is by putting a case around it, and the storage capacity you opt for isn’t upgradeable. The app market is fantastic but most good games etc. aren’t free!

To sum it up

We’re in exciting times now as competing smartphones are now truly becoming superphones, shockingly mobile phones of today are out-clocking laptop computers of just a few years back, the media players of mobile phones are outperforming current top mp3/mp4 players, the cameras on our smartphones are rendering the standalone digital camera obsolete.

Samsung and Apple have never been at such stiff competition, and with Android truly throwing a spanner in the works my faith lies with Samsung. I won’t be replacing my Galaxy S 2 with an Iphone any time soon and my reasons lie with freedom to customise, individuality and the fact I know most things worth having on my phone are free!

ShredderBenjamin

Review of Samsung Galaxy Pro

Samsung have really become a dominating force in the smartphone market and I blame this almost solely on the Android series, known as Galaxy. Sure, we have the Windows 7 Phone series and Bada handsets, but Android has really taken Samsung to the next level.

One of the later instalments to the Galaxy series is a slightly more modest handset known as the Samsung Galaxy Pro, which compromises cost without having devastating effects on performance. This phone, with the large QWERTY keypad, physical buttons and the unusual-to-android landscape display shows how versatile the Android platform really is. A perfect competitor for RIMs Blackberry Curve 8520 and 9300 handsets, this device tries to prove the Galaxy Series does have what it takes to work in the business world. Let’s take a closer look.

First impressions:

Upon opening the box I was first hit by the slightly unusual shape, the Galaxy Pro seems to be a much wider device than average to cater for the landscape display and very wide keyboard. I was unsure what to think about the extremely flat screen which appeared to be recessed into the handset, though this isn’t the case, the screen is flush where the keypad is raised from the surface. Needless to say, the form factor is very practical, and after a few minutes of observation I found the looks had grown on me very quickly.

Up and running:

Turning on the device I was immediately disappointed by the quality of the display, the resolution is very low (320x240 Pixels) and colour is weak, this TFT display appears to have been taken from a much more primitive handset. The interface of the phone is extremely lightweight which aids a rather quick boot-up, and running the onboard apps was a smooth experience at first but now a few apps have been installed from the android market the overall speed of the phone has dropped. The appearance of the interface, from the apps tray to the pre-installed widgets and general settings, is all very nice – no messing around here.


The Keypad at first is rather slippy, the keys are individually raised, but are very 'inline'. The keys are soft and are not offset, though after a while, sending texts and short emails becomes natural.

App Me:

Let’s face it, this is a Blackberry rival, so let’s look at the pre-installed business-type apps. My very favourite business app here is the ThinkFree office suite, which right out of the box allows you to not only read Microsoft Office compatible documentation, but to edit and create documents right from the device, and in conjunction with the pre-installed email app, you can easily edit and forward your CV or other docs on the go, which was once a pipedream, even on the most advanced smartphones of the recent past.

This phone does not offer a video player pre-installed, for some reason, but free video players such as Rock Player can be downloaded free from the Android market. This phone is very light on pre-installed apps, I can only imagine for the sake of keeping the CPU clear for core applications to run smooth right out of the box – though unless you plan on installing tens of apps at a time and running high-performance games, your average Blackberry-fiend shouldn’t have a problem with lag.

Media:

As I mentioned above, you will need to download a video player, but YouTube, Rock Player etc... all run without a problem. Despite the display, videos look rather nice on the device, colours are watchable and sound is easily loud enough. The music app is very basic but is still one of the best music apps on this price-range phone. Battery is average if I’m honest, but due to the small display, video playback won’t kill it in ½ an hour.

Make it snappy!:

I am not greatly impressed with the camera, the picture quality is what you would expect from a 3.2MP sensor, maybe a little better, but I couldn’t get along with the shutter delay – every second picture was of my feet due to such a delay. Video capture is a relatively smooth experience as it doesn’t suffer the shutter delay problem, but I can’t see myself using footage I have caught on the Galaxy Pro even for YouTube uploads.

Overall:

After a few days I have found the battery lasting slightly longer, the camera shutter delay is persistent yet I am more patient with it, and I am used to the keyboard. I have also found the keyboard is great for gaming, which is good for the commute to work.

The phone is a nice change to what we’d call the ‘norm’ in the android world, but is far from a high-end device. I would recommend this to a slightly older user who doesn’t like touch-screen devices for texting.

Visual Performance                               **

Battery Life                                         ****

Camera Performance                             ***

Processor Performance                          ***

Build Quality                                       ***

ShredderBenjamin

The phone buyers guide: Contracts and handsets.

Whether you have had ten phones or none, once in a while you’ll come to a point where you need to consider your usage of your phone, and review your choice of handset & price plan. From experience, I have found most mobile phone retailers very helpful, though some just want to sell you the biggest package possible for their own commission. Here I will hopefully help you out by raising the most important questions you NEED before you buy!

1: Do I need to get a fixed contract?

First of all when taking out a fixed contract, usually between 12 and 24 months in length, the first thing to consider is ‘have I got a steady, reliable income?’ – this is essential as you will need to commit a good chunk of your income to a regular payment. If you have never had a mobile phone before I suggest you start with a Pay as you go tariff, as within a couple of months you should have a good idea of your usage habits. If you have already had a Pay as you go phone, and you regularly top-up more than £20 a month, you can usually get a great deal and get more for your money by signing into a contract. Remember, go for a modest contract if you need, you can always raise your tariff later.

2: What kind of price plan should I go for?

Most Pay as you go providers offer very competitive price plans, and the great thing about PAYG is that you have no commitment, but if you regularly make phone calls and use mobile web, I really recommend some type of contract price plan. Being in a contract does not necessarily mean you will be tied to your phone & plan for months on end, many providers now offer a ‘rolling, monthly’ contracts, in which you pay a regular direct debit, but can opt out in a months notice. You will, on the other hand, always get the best deal on fixed contracts over 12 months.

Another common misconception is that you will need to change your handset when you start a new contract – sure, one of the great things about starting a new contract is that you are offered a whole host of new handsets, seemingly free of charge (nothing is free...), but the reality is you will get the very best contract deals if you don’t opt for a new handset.

3: Smartphone or dumbphone?

Plain and simple here, Iphones, Androids, Modern Symbians, Blackberries etc. all have one thing in common – They’re all very smart. If you  are not one for social networking, and you check your email inbox less than once every other day, do yourself a favour and go for a ‘dumb phone’, such as a Nokia or other ‘Candy bar’ style phone. Where I stand against poor quality sub £30 handsets as they’re generally more trouble than they are worth, you don’t need a hyper-fast processor and touch-screen of you only talk and occasionally text. Another fact is you will get a better contract deal if you go for a more modest handset. Do you have Facebook, twitter etc?? You know is you do, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go for a flagship model. Most phone manufacturers make decent mid-range handsets, going for one of these will save you money.

4: Extras Extras Extras!!

When you’re speaking to the charming young lady or gent in the phone shop, take some time to think about the extras you are being offered, there are tons of extras such as ‘extra data allowance’, ‘inclusive 08  numbers’ and international calls packages usually in £5 per month blocks. At the time, these all may sound very handy, but the cost does mount up, and as I have found, there are a lot of boundaries included. If you have a landline, international calls are cheaper anyway, 0845 & 0870 numbers are free on most landline phones, and if you feel you will need extra data allowance, can this not be solved simply using wifi??

Insurance is another thing altogether, handset insurance can cost you anywhere between £5 and £20 a month. Sales reps will try their hardest to sell you insurance until they are blue in the face, but another sad truth is, there’s usually a high excess to pay in the (unlikely) event of misfortune, and many banks offer free handset insurance with packaged accounts. Also, independent insurers now commonly offer ‘Gadget cover’ which offer protection over all your gadgetry – including your laptop, mp3 players and other devices you may use outdoors.

5: Pimp my phone!

The last thing, when it comes to buying a phone, is customising/protecting it with a case, silicone cover, screen protector etc... The best advice I can offer is to buy online. Stay away from retail outlets as they will overcharge massively, we’re talking 10x the online prices.

Any questions?? Follow me on @virtuoso666 on twitter, feel free to ask anything gadget related.

ShredderBenjamin

Samsung Mob!lers: Samsung theme/wallpaper.

Here is my submission, sticking with the Samsung Galaxy theme I decided to create a simple wallpaper and screen layout. The Samsung logo is incorporated over a galaxy image, and the Android logo is there as the little guy is rather fitting!

Video On The Go?

One of the great advantages of having a smartphone is the ability to carry high quality footage in your pocket. I am currently using my Samsung Galaxy S 2 for my commuting entertainment, and when I’m not playing games like ‘Stupid Zombies’, ‘Angry Birds’ and ‘Bubble Blast’, I like to watch videos on the train, my preference by far is under 5-minute comedy clips, amongst other informational content. Below is my top 5 short video series’ available on YouTube for commuters.

1: College Humour Originals Present Jake and Amir.

Jake and Amir is a sub-series presented by two of the College Humour cast, usually the setting is a desk in modern office, and the plot is general banter – your classic ‘dim witted Amir and short-tempered Jake’ series. Thrown in is usually an up-to-the-minute reference towards trend and the odd misunderstanding, this series sounds like a cliché, but I assure you, the series is very entertaining and funny.

2: Vkgoeswild (YouTube Channel).

Vkgoeswild is a YouTube Channel run by an Icelandic independent musician who specialises in piano covers of alternative music, namely rock and metal covers. I particularly like this channel as  the videos are generally short, but the level of skill and talent is so high, that every upload is inspiring and uplifting.

3: IGN Entertainment.

IGN Entertainment is an up-to-the-minute channel which provides the latest news about video games, consoles, general computer software, and occasionally, gadgets. Videos are uploaded daily and news is delivered effectively and clearly. This channel is a must-follow for hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.

4: Mobile Gazette.

Mobile Gazette is one of the leading gadget guides out there, and their YouTube channel generally puts out fair reviews, news, how to’s and unboxing videos of all the latest mobile phones. The news is always up to date and the reviews/unboxing videos are usually very in-depth.

5: Fail Blog.

What can I say? If you haven’t visited Fail Blog yet, you’re in for a treat! Most videos are under one minute and there’s usually a 99.9% of laughter. From skateboarding accidents do DIY mishaps, there are hundreds of uploads to kill those vital last few seconds of your commute.