by greg on March 25, 2010
Over the last three years we have seen SmartPhones increase in popularity as countless people across the world are willing to pay £200+ for a phone that will let them do just about anything. With the boom of the SmartPhone we can expect to see older models fade away into the background as the likes of HTC and Apple who currently hold a strong position in the market , setting up for the 4G Generation of mobile devices in the near future.
What happens to all these older models of phones though? A lot of us tend to throw them to the backs of cupboards and store them away, never to see the light of day again. As we enter an era of recycling, and being green there are many phone buyers out there that will give you money for these old phones which not only help you with some extra cash but you can also feel the benefit of doing something good for the environment by selling them to recyclers.
We have all seen adverts for Mazuma and Envirofone, but this concept is still fairly new. Even more so are comparison sites for this service that allow you to make the most back for your mobile phone. Sites such as SellMyMobile.com provide a comprehensive search facility and compare all the leading phone buyers in the UK. [click to continue…]
by greg on September 9, 2009
Sony Ericsson Aino
After announcing a November release of their first new generation multimedia phone, the Satio, Sony Ericsson have released details of another device – the Aino.
Unlike the totally touchscreen Satio, the Aino has a slide out keypad as well as touchscreen functionality. The Aino also seems to pack a heavy punch in the multimedia department with a Playstation 3 inspired touch-menu, WiFi and GPS but most exciting of all is the Remote Play feature. This software was originally developed for the Sony PSP and will allow the user to control and access content on their PS3 using the Aino! Another superb feature of the Aino is the MediaGo software which allows you to download any media and content from your PC or laptop directly to your phone! As if that wasn’t enough, the Aino will also allow you to watch, pause and record live TV on your handset. When it comes to multimedia functionality, this phone is looking second to none!
The Aino also features a more than adequate 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, geotagging, face and smile detection and autofocus. The phone’s design is far from groundbreaking and the lack of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack is disappointing but with the inclusion of Sony Ericsson’s two trademark features, Cybershot & Walkman, alongside the impressive multimedia functionality I’m certain this phone won’t fail to impress.
Sony Ericsson Aino image via Mobile Shop
by greg on September 9, 2009
Sony Ericsson Satio
Sony Ericsson have just announced a November release date for the first of it’s new generation of multimedia phones, the Satio. It will feature a staggering 12.1 megapixel camera and run on the same Symbian operating system as the Nokia 5800 and N97. Until now, most phones have either concentrated on being primarily a music or camera phone but the Sony Ericsson Satio seems to do it all. The camera is not only a staggering 12.1 megapixels but also features a xenon flash as well as smile and face detector features. The operating system, which is all new to Sony Ericsson, is run on a 3.5″, 16 million colour, 360×640 resolution touchscreen with an accelerometer controlling the orientation.
With full HSDPA and HSUPA support alongside WiFi, Bluetooth, A2DP and GPS the Sony Ericsson Satio also covers every base when it comes to connectivity and the external MicroSD card slot allows easy memory expansion as opposed to the less readily available memory sticks used in previous Sony Ericsson models.
With all the above features packed into such a good looking handset, Sony Ericsson seem to have all the bases covered with their new top end multimedia handset. With an already proven, functional and easy to use operating system will this be the handset to give the iPhone a run for it’s money?
Sony Ericsson Satio image via Mobile Phone Shop
by greg on September 7, 2009
This is a guest article by Rob from SIM only deals.
A combination of increased markets and lower prices from SIM only mobile phone providers has seen the level of SIM card only mobile phone contracts in the UK rocket over recent months. With the financial crisis still gripping the UK many people are looking to make cutbacks with regards to their finances, and for many SIM only deals have provided the ideal solution to stay in touch with loved ones without having to pay a fortune.
One specialist comparison site, www.simonlyoffers.com, has shown just how popular these SIM only deals are becoming, having reported a massive rise in SIM only sales over the past few months. With more and more people seeing the benefits of SIM only sales levels have soared by nearly sixty percent since the start of the recession.
Director of the comparison site, Rob Webber, has cited a number of reasons for this huge take up in SIM only deals. One of the main reasons for the increase in popularity of these contracts is that people have realised that this is an effective way to save money whilst still staying connected. Another reason is that mobile phone companies have realised the potential of SIM only deals in the current climate, and have subsequently improved marketing and increased awareness of these deals.
Webber added that the benefits of SIM only were obvious, and said that with SIM only consumers were able to enjoy cheaper monthly prices, thirty day contracts as opposed to eighteen or twenty four month contracts, and a greater allowance of texts and minutes, all of which added up to far greater value for money. He also said that it was likely that the popularity of SIM only would continue to soar, as people realise just how much cheaper these deals are compared to standard contracts.
by greg on August 21, 2009
Very few people know about alternative ways of charging their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets. However, it is possible to charge these gadgets without having to rely on electricity. For instance, unknown to many, solar cell phone chargers are available in the market.
But how do solar cell phone chargers work, exactly, and how efficient are these environmentally-friendly products?
The design or appearance of these chargers often varies depending on the brand or model, but they are generally lightweight; a few of them are even small enough to fit inside your pocket. These charger has a small solar panels that stores energy. [click to continue…]
by greg on August 5, 2009
Due to the huge popularity and growing demand for high-speed internet access The GSM Directive recently approved access to new spectrum for advanced data, which can be used for accessing the internet on mobile phones at broadband speeds, and will soon be released following a major breakthrough by the European Union.
A number of European regulators have agreed to share out the spectrum they have more fairly, rather than auctioning it off to the highest bidder. This will allow the spectrum to be used throughout Europe for the current 3G mobile networks and the future 4G networks when they are implemented. This will give mobile phone users the chance to access the internet in the same way as home broadband users currently do, which will be seen as welcome news by many consumers.
Once the GSM directive, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, becomes law in September the Government will have just six months to roll out the measures that have been outlined in it. [click to continue…]
At a press event in London yesterday, HTC announced the release of an all new Google Android phone, the HTC Hero! Not only is this new handset running Android but also HTC’s, all new, widget-based operating system – ‘Sense’. This new user interface will provide easily customisable live content in the form of email, SMS and social networking which I’m certain will be expandable with a variety of other downloadable widgets and services.
Along with Android and an all new UI the handset will feature 3G HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, 5mp camera, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack plug, digital compass and a MicroSD card slot. All this will be centred around a 3.2” HVGA touchscreen which apparently uses a new anti-fingerprint coating! On top of this HTC also say that this is going to be the first Android phone to support Flash, straight out the box! Sound pretty promising doesn’t it?
The HTC Hero will be available in Europe in July on Orange and T-Mobile.
Image via HTC Hero @ Mobile Shop
Mobile phone recycling is on the rise according to Hitwise data.
Internet searches related to the recycling of mobile phones have almost trebled over the last 12 months. UK Internet searches for a portfolio of mobile phone recycling search terms – such as ‘recycle mobile phones’, ‘mobile phone recycling’ and ‘phone recycling’ – increased by 189% between the week ending 17/05/2008 and the week ending 16/05/2009.
Further proof that money concerns are trumping environmental concerns in the current environment is evident in the decrease in searches for other types of recycling. UK Internet searches for the recycling of other items – including computers, electronics (excluding mobile phones), CDs, clothes and furniture – have fallen by 50% over the last 12 months. Searches for regional recycling centres have also decreased by a third over the same period.
Mobile phone & battery recycling links
Mobile phone recycling sites Gaj It
Battery Recycling – BatteryBack
Battery Recycling – Waste Care
This guest post i written by LaptopLogic.com – a great site to find more informations on smartphones, netbooks and laptops. Also check out their laptop finder section to find out what laptop brand you should go for.
With more than 32 million smartphones sold in the first quarter of 2009 its become obvious that they are here to stay. Many of the smartphones all share the same features, web browsing, media player, calendar, games and more. Most all have QWERTY keyboards and cameras as well. They almost all offer very vibrant screens and offer a sleek design. With everything, there are always slight differences and that is what you should consider when looking at various smart phones. Does the phone work with your PC or Macintosh? Will it connect with existing software you have like Entourage or will it work with all your music and movies you have stored on your laptop? These are things to keep in mind when considering a new phone, especially a smartphone. [click to continue…]
Yesterday the Samsung BeatDJ M7600 launched in the UK and it’s already proving a hot seller according to a few insiders we’ve spoken to.
This is a real music phone with 3.2 MP camera, beat DJ feature and loads of extra features.
The unusual ‘pill’ shaped M7600 is a compact phone and a clever piece of design. It weighs just 99 grams, making it very light, and measures 112x51x13.9mm, so you’ll never have a problem slipping it into your pocket and forgetting about it until it’s needed. The curved ends of the phone itself conceal the stereo speakers, which are enhanced by Bang & Olufsen ICEPower, giving a far better sound when the phone is facing you in landscape orientation, while sitting on the end is a 3.5mm jack plug for your own headphones.
However, it won’t be the pretty design or friendly OS which attracts anyone to the Beat DJ, it will be the flashy music player and its ability to let you create your own tracks! The music player itself has been specially created for the M7600 and takes advantage of the circular control at the base of the touchscreen, which overlaps on to the actual handset case. This iPod-like control deals with the track forward/track back commands, while the display replicates this circle in its centre, allowing you to skip through the song playing. By turning on the Beat DJ feature, this control then lets you scratch, add filters and sound effects plus make fine adjustments to any customisation you’ve added. It’s intuitive enough and with some practice, keen DJ’s should be able to create something quite impressive, which can then be recorded on to the phone.
Image via Samsung BeatDJ M7600 @ Mobile Shop
