Could You Live Without Your Smartphone? Probably Not.

It sure didn’t take very long before smartphones came into the world and started to dominate our lives. Even sitting here thinking now, I can’t think of very many people I know who don’t own a smartphone. I can still remember when the very first iPhone was released and can’t believe how much has changed in the (relatively) few years since then. But just how important our cell phones in our lives? Well, if a survey from Bank of America has anything to say about it, they’re pretty important – some would say they’re almost the most important thing in our lives – and that’s a little scary.
The above mentioned survey by Bank of America revealed that a whopping 47% of U.S. smartphone users said they couldn’t go a day without their beloved phone. Wow. One day? Come on U.S. – there’s a physical world outside of your digital one. That particular statistic may not be the most telling one, though, especially among the younger folks surveyed.


Are You Addicted To Your Smartphone?
When the survey asked those aged 18-24 how important their phones were to them, they said they were more important than their toothbrush and their deodorant. Seriously. When our technology becomes more important than our own hygiene, it sounds like there’s a problem somewhere down the line – especially when these results come from the youngest people surveyed. It makes one wonder what the results will be in 10 years. Maybe there’ll be a toothbrush and deodorant app then, who knows.
Do you know someone who can’t last a day without their phone? What do you think these results tell us about our society? Let us know your thoughts regarding this story in the comments section below.
[Image via dhakatribune]
SOURCE: http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/live-without-smartphone-probably/

10 Clever Camera Phone Hacks That You Must Try

Have you ever forgotten where you parked your car after leaving it in a huge car park? Or have you ever stayed at a hotel only to realise you can’t find your way back to it after a day sightseeing? Well the following camera phone hacks will ensure you never forget or lose anything ever again. Because after all, camera phones are not just for taking selfies!







Source : http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/10-clever-camera-phone-hacks-must-try/

Factory Resetting Android Phones May Not Erase All Data

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably took to sites like eBay or Craigslist to get rid of your used cell phones. And why not? Who wants to keep a drawer full of old phones when there’s some money to be made from them? All you have to do is take a casual look around eBay and Craigslist (among other sites) and you’ll see there is a huge market for old and used cell phones. But when money talks, it’s sometimes easy to forget to do important things before you offload your phone onto someone else, specifically getting rid of all of the personal data on the phone.
Since we now use our phones to do just about everything, including mobile banking, it’s more important than ever to wipe your phone of any personal information before selling it to anyone. And while many Android users have used the factory reset option included in their settings options to do just that, it may not have worked all that well. Oh, it looks like it works on the surface and at first glance, but deep down much of your personal information is still visible to someone who knows how to find it.


Just Because You Can’t See It Doesn’t Mean Someone Else Can’t…
Security software company Avast recently bought 20 used Android phones off of eBay to do a little testing of their own regarding how thorough the factory reset option is, and their findings aren’t all that encouraging. Using some basic available software, Avast found thousands of pictures (including many embarrassing nude selfies), contacts, texts, loan applications, etc. They say while the factory reset button looks appealing, it really only deletes all of the phone’s application information, and not necessarily all of the user’s personal information. So be careful before you think about selling that old Android phone!
Of course Avast has a mobile app which they claim will wipe away your data in ways the factory reset option cannot.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts regarding this story in the comments section below!
[Image via forum.xda-developers]
SOURCE: http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/factory-resetting-android-phones-may-erase-data/

How To Fix Your Broken iPhone Display

Apple builds their flagship devices with great care and makes them able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. But people do treat them like they are made of an indestructible material and throw them around a bit, which of course they aren’t and so the occasional cracked display will arise.
There are many tech-heads, which make it their job to tear down beautiful devices, such as the iPhone 5 and see just what makes them tick.  Take the guys over at iFixit for instance, they have very nicely  supplied a guide to replacing the screen, if you feel like you are up for the challenge, that is.

The technical writer, Andrew Optimus Goldberg, claims this (warranty-voiding) repair for the iPhone 5 is, in fact, reasonably easy to do.
To undertake this repair, you are going to need a few things.   First of all you will have to buy a new display assembly. You can purchase these online, just look on the web, and maybe check out eBay. Additionally, you will need a 3.6 millimetre five point (Pentalobe) screwdriver, a Phillips #00 screwdriver, a small suction cup and a plastic prising tool.
Ok, now you have your kit laid out on a nice big, flat table with lots of room to work, open the iPhone’s case.  You do this by removing the two five-pointed screws between the speakers on the bottom of the phone. Press the suction cup onto the glass, close to the home button, and pull upwards. Next, insert the prising tool in the crack you have just made. You now need to keep pulling and detach the clips, which hold the screen on and then work your way up to the top, but be careful not to open the assembly fully.
Now you want to remove three screws located at the top-right corner and use a small Phillips screwdriver to detach the small, silver metal bracket holding to logic board.  There are three cables, which need to be removed from here. You can use the prising tool to remove them. Now you can fully remove the panel assembly.
You now need to disassemble the front panel.  This is done by removing the earpiece bracket and the speaker. Look for the camera sensor cable and remove the camera and rear microphone as one unit. Now take the screws off the home button bracket and lift the ribbon cable off the touch panel assembly. Now remove the bracket and the ribbon cable and prise the home button loose.
Once you have accomplished these tasks you can remove the aluminium plate that covers most of the back of the display assembly and then transfer the working parts that you have just removed from your old panel and put them into the new one. All you need to do now is completed the procedure in reverse!  Don’t panic, everything should fit back into the same places.  Just ensure that all the connections are reattached accordingly.
[Image via iphix]
SOURCE: http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/fix-broken-iphone-display/

Microsoft Windows 8 Banned By Chinese Government

In a move that caught Microsoft offguard, the Chinese government has issued a notice that  agencies are to forego purchasing Windows 8 and installing the software on any new government devices. The notice that was officially sent out is titled “Agreement to supply information about the class of energy-saving products complement the mandatory tender notice“.
If that reads a little awkward to you, ask Google Translate, as the original page is in Chinese. In any case, the announcement highlights energy-saving products, but Windows 8 is specifically mentioned as item #5: “all computer products are not allowed to install Windows 8 operating system.”
Chinese news outlet Xinhua looks back to the termination of support for Windows XP as a reason for the ban on Windows 8.

In a news report, it says that the move was made to ensure computer security. Apparently, the Chinese government is not confident that Microsoft will continue support for Windows 8 in the future, hence the ban.
It is important to note that the ban is only in effect for government-owned devices. Private consumers are free to purchase whatever OS they want to.
On another note, the ban on Windows 8 seems to be only a part of the government’s strategy. In the same report, Xinhua states that China is going to focus on developing its own operating system, based on Linux. Knowing just how China does not lack for talent in this niche, it is not surprising that they will want to work on their own operating system.
On Microsoft’s part, the company says they were surprised by the announcement, but they also emphasized that they are doing what they can – and will continue to do so – to meet the requirements of the Chinese government in terms of procurement. They also mentioned their ongoing relationship with the government by providing Windows 7 and that they will work with the government to evaluate Windows 8.
[Image via sqwabb]

Source : http://news.filehippo.com/2014/05/microsoft-windows-8-banned-chinese-government/

The Evolution Of The Smartphone Camera

Source : www.filehippo.com
I remember getting my first camera as a kid. It was a big bulky basic Ricoh camera that needed a traditional film roll to be inserted before you could take any pictures. Of course at the time I thought it was wonderful, despite the fact that half the time most of my pictures either came out blurry or not at all. When we finally got a digital camera I remember thinking it was the best thing ever, being able to see what you had captured straight away. For mum too this was a revelation because it meant she could just delete all the ones she didn’t like of herself straight away!

Yet if we fast forward in time, we see that camera phones have once again brought in a whole new approach to not just taking photos and videos but also sharing them. The quality of camera has vastly improved too and now, when a mobile company releases a new flagship handset, one of the big features is the camera. The infographic below has some interesting facts and figures on how and why people are turning to smartphones to capture their lives – I was left wondering whether the time will come when the smartphone camera will be so good, that no one will use the traditional digital camera anymore and whether they will become as redundant as my first big bulky basic Ricoh. What do you think?

Use the Pushbullet (Android)

We all know the time-consuming struggles of having to email a file to ourselves so we can open it on a mobile device. Well, struggle no more! Pushbullet is a simple but ingenious app and browser extension that uses push technology to transfer files from a computer to a mobile device and vice versa. Send anything from a grocery list so you don't forget the milk again to a PowerPoint presentation your boss gave you to wow the client. Goodbye, first-world problems; hello, Pushbullet!

Part 1 of 3: Setup

1. 
   Download the free Pushbullet app onto your device. Two mobile operating systems are currently supported: Android and iOS. Click on the previous links or search for "Pushbullet" in the appropriate app store on your device.
   • For Android devices, you must be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or later.
   • For iOS devices, you must be running iOS 7 or later.
2. 
   Download the browser extension. At the moment, only Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox support the extension.
   • Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pushbullet/chlffgpmiacpedhhbkiomidkjlcfhogd
   • Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/pushbullet/
3. 
   3
   Create an account on the Pushbullet website. You'll need to sign in with your Google account (or make a new one if you don't have one yet). This will allow you to store and open the items you've pushed, as well as configure your settings to fit your usage.

Part 2 of 3: Pushing Files from Your Mobile Device to Your Computer

1. 
   On the app, tap the bullet icon at the upper right corner to push a new item.
2. 
   Choose the type of item you want to push and fill in the necessary fields.
   • Note: send a simple message
   • Link: send a URL to a web page
   • Address: send an address, which opens with Google Maps
   • List: send a list of items (e.g. to-do lists, checklists, shopping lists, etc)
   • Picture: send a photo from your device gallery/camera roll
   • File: send a downloaded file from Google Drive or your device's Download folder
3. 
   Choose the location where you want to push the item.
4. 
   Tap the arrow icon to send it. If the push was successful, you should see a small pop-up notification.
5. 
   Open the item on your computer. This can be done in two ways: clicking on the pop-up notification that appears immediately after you push, or going to the Pushbullet website and viewing a list of recently pushed items.

Part 3 of 3: Pushing Files from Your Computer to Your Mobile Device

1. 
   Navigate to the Pushbullet website and sign in. Most of the time, you should already be signed in.
2. 
   In the form provided, choose the type of item and the location, and include any necessary information.
   • To push a picture, select File and browse for the specific image.
   • You can also change the push location by clicking the device icons to the left of the box.
3. 
   Click on the green "Push it!" button to send the item.
4. 
   Open the item on your mobile device. You can do this by either going to the Pushbullet app or swiping downwards to access your device's notification center and tapping the item. 

Source  : http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Pushbullet

Google Now Helps You Get Your Shopping Done

Google Now has a new purpose: reminding you to spend money. With the latest update to Google Search, Android users will soon begin receiving notifications when nearby retailers carry an item they've recently searched for online. If you've queried Google about a new pair of hiking boots or a toy for your kid, don't be surprised if those items automatically appear in a Google Now card — assuming a nearby store actually carries them. If so, you'll see the products, their prices, and the stores where you can find them show up in a card meant to "remind you that you wanted them," Google says. It's not clear how many products Google keeps track of at any one time, nor how long it will hang onto items and check if you can buy them locally.

Unfortunately, even if it finds a match, Google Now can't tell you whether an item is in stock at a given retailer; you'll still need to call or go in to confirm availability. Like other cards, you can turn off tracking via Google Now's settings. (That might be a good idea if you often share your phone and want to avoid gift spoilers, for instance.) Google has been busy improving its personal assistant of late. In recent weeks, the company has added offline support and introduced a helpful feature that remembers where you parked your car.

Source : www.theverge.com

Who needs Apple? iPhone apps are coming to Android!

Android and iOS have long been divided by their apps – or lack of on each platform – with many developers locking their own apps onto one platform, much to the disdain of smartphone owners everywhere. But now some smart PhD students are breaking down the wall that separates Android and iOS apps by developing a platform known as Cider, which will let you run iOS apps on your Android phone! Yes, really. Does this sound brilliant or what?
Six PhD students at Columbia University’s Department of Computer Science have been hard at work on a project known as Cider, an operating system compatibility architecture that can run apps built for different operating systems on the same smartphone or tablet. In a nutshell, instead of using a virtual machine, Cider achieves its task by effectively translating the foreign iOS code of an app that lets Android’s kernel run the app natively – of course, the specifics are complex, but the results are simple: you’ve got iOS apps running on Google’s own mobile operating system.
Moto E: The world’s best budget smartphone just got even cheaper
Currently, the results show that it’s far from perfect, with many features missing from apps: GPS, cameras and Bluetooth, for example, are not supported at the moment, as the iOS app isn’t able to interface with its Android equivalent hardware feature, and the app itself will fail if it runs into a problem. Still, it’s a promising start for the six students, and it could pave the way for even more iOS apps to run natively on Android, all without any porting or tweaking needing to be done on the developer’s end – that means it could make development even easier than before, giving you even more choice of what apps you can play with on your Android blower. See Cider in action in the video below.
What iOS apps would you like to see run on your Android phone? Is there anything you’re still desperate to get your hands on, or do you think the Google Play store has everything you need? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source : gadgetshow.channel5.com

Samsung Galaxy S5 Review

 

 

The basics

The Samsung Galaxy S5, the latest and greatest flagship phone from the South Korean electronics giant, is finally here, and it takes the place of last year’s tip-top Galaxy S4. It faces plenty of stiff competition though, from the likes of HTC’s brand new One (M8), the upcoming Sony Xperia Z2, and of course, Apple’s own iPhone 5s, but with revamped software smarts, a waterproof chassis and a fingerprint scanner to call its own, Samsung’s looking at taking the top prize with the S5 - can it claim the throne though? Though the phone is only out today, we nabbed one earlier this week to give it a full review ahead of schedule. Let’s find out.

The good

If we say the Samsung Galaxy S5 provides little in the way of surprise, that’s not meant as a backhanded compliment...we think. This is the light heavyweight phone you’d expect. It rings up at just 145g on the scales, but still feels sturdy, with a design that’s very familiar by this point - so you’ll know by now if you love or hate that silver trim and plastic feel. Even if it’s not especially handsome or innovative, at least you can get at the battery to replace it, or throw in a micro SD card to give yourself an extra 128GB of storage on the cheap. Despite this accessibility, it’s also capable of surviving immersion in water, so don’t worry about running it under the tap, if er, that’s what you’re into.
Samsung’s stance however is clearly that the frame isn’t what matters - it’s the display that acts as a window into your virtual life. And what a display it is. The full HD, 5.1-inch AMOLED panel is super sharp with vivid colours and wide viewing angles. Some say that Samsung’s screens are over-saturated, but unless you’re someone who worries over colour temperature, rest assured it’s still one of the very best you can find.
Tech fans will find plenty to delight them with the S5’s specs meanwhile: it’s powered by a blazing-fast 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor - the same CPU behind the HTC One (M8) and the Xperia Z2 - that’s capable of chomping through the most demanding apps and games, while there’s a hearty 2GB of RAM at hand to power through your multitasking sessions. Rest assured, the S5 is not short of horsepower - and you’ll be pleased with how fast it blasts through everything you throw at it.
On the dimple-shaped rear of the phone, you’ll find the S5’s beefy 16-Megapixel camera which is extremely fast to focus (just 0.3 seconds!) and gets it right more often than not. Picture quality is tip-top, and can rival many of its peers - though it lacks the take-anywhere reliability of the Nokia Lumia 1020, it certainly bests the HTC One M8. Its real time HDR mode lets you see the final photo before you even hit the shutter button, a feat that many rival phones can’t manage - but the S5’s shooter does suffer in low-light, even with its improved flash. We found photos shot in dim conditions to be grainy, and lacking in quality - which means you should stick to shooting in the light with the S5. On the video front though, you’re able to make the most of the sensor’s megapixel count, as you can shoot in full 4K resolution - but be warned, it will eat up your phone’s storage, and you won’t be able to view the full quality on the phone itself, or even most TVs or monitors.
As for the software itself? It’s Android 4.4 and it absolutely flies - which means you can choose from millions of apps and games to try, and tweak it to your heart’s content. Android’s a five star smartphone platform, make no mistake. Samsung’s extra “embellishments” however go in the column below...

The bad

Samsung’s not afraid to cram in all manner of different features into its phones, and while we’ve seen that in the past with shedloads of software smarts that are questionable in their practicality (EyeTracking, anyone?), the South Korean phone maker is extending its Swiss Army Knife of features to the hardware too. To compete with Apple’s Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s, Samsung has introduced its own fingerprint scanner into the home button, which works similarly to the HTC One Max’s - you have you actually swipe your finger downwards on the sensor. We found that the standard way Samsung suggests to set up your scanner makes for a tedious way to get into your phone, and we had many failed attempts to unlock it - which as we’ve said before, makes it pointless. If it doesn’t work 100% of the time, you might as well use it 0% of the time when a pin code or gesture is still swift and fairly secure.
While it seems Sony has the market on waterproof phones on tap, Samsung has also introduced dust and water resistant powers to the Galaxy S5, making it able to take a dunk in a metre of water for half an hour - but it just seems tacked on to us. We appreciate that the S5 will be able to survive a drop in the toilet bowl, but while Sony’s phones look built from the ground-up to survive a splash, Samsung’s addition looks like a last minute addition to the somewhat drab design we’ve seen for the past few Galaxy iterations. Add to that, the cover over the micro USB charging door is fiddly and arguably pointless if you’re not the sort to drop your phone in a puddle on a whim.
Again, Samsung has decided to continue its plastic crusade with its latest handset, and while it’s supposed to be its flagship device, the phone feels a tad short of premium - it’s a very similar, almost practically the same, plastic design with unsightly chromed edges, and it just gives the impression of cheap and tacky. Thankfully, Samsung has ditched the smooth plastic back for something a lot more substantial to hold onto, but instead of the faux-leather design that’s been seen on the Galaxy Note 3 and the recent Galaxy S4 Black edition, you’ll find a dimpled back that’s very reminiscent of a plaster. Not the best connotations, that.
At 5.1-inches, the Galaxy S5 is also nearing on phablet territory, and it actually measures up rather closely to Samsung’s own Galaxy Note 3 - it’s certainly pocketable though, although if you have small hands, you probably won’t be able to use the S5 with one hand.
TouchWiz, Samsung’s own take on the Android experience meanwhile, looks slightly better than before, and has received a new lick of paint, but it’s somehow become more convoluted in the process - the settings app is a prime example of that. There’s a whopping 61 icons to pick and choose from to adjust the S5’s settings, and by default, they’re arranged into rows of three in nine categories, and while you can pick a listed view instead, it’s still a lengthy process to find the right setting you want to adjust, or even spot it amidst all the colours. Thankfully, Samsung has included a search option for its settings, but we’d rather just see a much better designed menu. Also disappointing is just how much Samsung’s new UI looks like Apple’s iOS 7 - the very same flat design and circular icons abound. In fact, the notification trays looks astonishingly similar. Let’s have something more original next time please, Samsung, we’ve seen this before.

The bottom line

You know what you’re getting with the Samsung Galaxy S series at this point. Pick up an S5 and you know you’re going to end up with the fastest phone on the planet (at least for a few months), with the most incredible display, and bang up to date software. For many, that’ll be all they need to make the most of the truly customisable marvel that is Android.
If you’re after flair in your phone however, a little bit of design panache - or an amazing camera above all else - just remember you have other options, no matter if Samsung’s inevitable marketing blitz makes it seem otherwise. The HTC One M8 is the most beautiful phone you can buy today, and nobody’s got the Lumia 1020 beat for images if you’re really prepared to dig into the settings. But hey, looks aren’t everything right? The Samsung Galaxy S5 remains king of the jacks of all trade, at least.

Source : gadgetshow.channel5.com