Best Phone Blog

Nokia has once again flexed its muscles in the entry level market of mobile phones with the release of the Nokia X2. Again, what we have is a very affordable handset that provides us with all the features that one would expect from a mobile phone. Plus, it comes from the highly successful X Series which makes the device even more impressive.

Broad Range

The Nokia X Series is a fast growing family of mobile phones. What’s great about this series is that it caters to a broader market. Although the first models in this line were considered to be high end devices, Nokia has expanded the series’ range by adding a couple of entry level handsets to the family.

One such device is the Nokia X2. It still bares the prestigious X Series name, but the difference is that it comes with a very reasonable price tag. This is perfect for consumers in the aspiring market segment as they also want to get a taste of the excellence of the X Series without having to burn a hole in their pocket.

Everything You Need

In terms of features, the Nokia X2 possesses all the features you’d need from a basic mobile phone. Of course it doesn’t have support for 3G and Wi-Fi, but at least there’s still EDGE and GPRS to rely on for mobile internet connectivity. The X2 even comes with an above average 5-Megapixel camera which sports features like an LED flash and video capture capability.

The device also has a very attractive and compact design; it has the dimensions of 111 x 47 x 13.3 mm and is available in two different colour combinations – red on black and blue on silver.

If you’re searching for a quality, no frills type of device that is both affordable and reliable, then the Nokia X2 is definitely a mobile worth considering.

One of the best things about smart phones is that they allow users to consolidate various accounts online into a single inbox and be able to check all their emails, private messages, instant messages and other details in a single threaded inbox view.

Push email has really changed the way we access information. However, most folks tend for forget that one other feature that consolidation does is to bring together one’s address book; which leads us to the topic at hand, be careful when sending messages to everyone, because you can never really tell who everyone is.

Also, judging by the number of incredibly embarrassing videos that folks tend to self upload in the first place, it seems that being able to use media sharing sites while being intoxicated is not much difficult so it might be an idea to leave your shiny new Galaxy S at home if you’re planning a big night out!

So yes, be careful with the information you obtain at any given moment, with smart phone technology able to access the web easily and instantly, it would be all too easy to accidentally send the wrong things to the wrong people. According to recent reports, the most likely possibility of an office blunder comes in the form of miss-sent email messages.

Of course, the worst part is accidentally writing an email and sending it without thinking about the consequence. Unlike in desktop environments where there are so many things that would prevent a person from being active. Smart phone access is instantaneous and quite unforgiving considering the fact that it will not give users the time to think about whether they will send an email or not.

According to the study, over 1/4 of men are reported to have sent emails that they regret while about 17 percent of women have confessed that they sent an angry email all too soon. In any case, avoiding becoming part of the group is as simple taking the time to decide what you really want to write in the first place.

T-Mobile’s recent announcement about their plans for the iPhone 4 surely made their loyal subscribers consider getting one for the sheer fact that there are quite a number of tempting plans to choose from. But what about those who would like to get an iPhone 4 from Three?

Well, the mobile network carrier may be the last to get the mobile device in the UK but they made sure to give consumers plenty of options to choose from. Those who would like to get the 16 GB version of Apple’s device from Three will be able to do so with a convenient 30 GB monthly plan which gives a generous total of 5000 text messages, 500 Three to Three network talk time as well as a hefty 1 GB data transfer allowance for web browsing. Of course, you will have to pay 99 GBP upfront but at least it is a onetime payment that you will never have to worry about again.

If the 16 GB capacity sounds a little to measly for your tastes, the 32 GB version of the iPhone is also available of course but you will have to pay a sum of 189 GBP at the start of the contract. You still get all the 5000 text messages, 500 minutes of talk time as well as the nice 1 GB worth of internet use.

If you would rather not pay the initial 99 GBP, you will still be able to get an iPhone 4 by paying 45 GBP monthly. This is a good deal for those who do not want to pay a big sum upfront.

At any rate, Three will finally be among the network carrier choices for the iPhone 4 this coming July 30. Of course, T-Mobile debuts on the same day so it all boils down to which subscription plans draw in the crowds.

Mobile phones are a treasure trove of information on its users. From contact information, message histories and even photos and images, a mobile phone can hold plenty of important information on users. Even a simply music playlist can give a quick insight into the nature of the owner of the device.

It is now a common practice to make use of old mobile phones by either selling them off to others, trading them in or simply by having the devices recycled. And by all means, mobile phone owners should find way to utilize their old handsets. But it is also important to ensure that prior to letting go of the device; information on the handset should be wiped clean.

This begins with the removal of all storage devices. This is basically just the SIM card and memory stick (if the handset supports it); this alone will take out a large chunk of information on the handset. However, it does not remove data stored directly in the device. Users should manually delete file folders, media content such as music, videos and images to ensure that nothing gets left on the device.

Many users tend to forget to clear out the internet history of their mobile phones. Since the advent of 3G networks, more and more people have become used to getting push email, instant live updates and more web based accessibility. This however has given any device more data on their users. Be sure to clear out browser histories, cookies and of course, delete all the extra apps you have downloaded over time.

Most devices will have a special computer application that would allow users to simply wipe all phone data using a computer. Others, such as devices that use the Android operating system, have a factory reset switch that would revert the device back to its original state.

It has been announced that several iPhone owners have reported that they are being charged with high data roaming charges on their accounts despite the fact that they have already disabled the function on their mobile phones.

As most of you already know, travelling outside of the UK can result in really high roaming charges –especially for data. This is the reason why so many people opt to disable their roaming capabilities prior to leaving the country. Also, a data cap has been implemented on all accounts (unless specifically requested by users). This are among the several measures that have been implemented in order to prevent excess charging costs for users.

Smart phone owners often know well ahead of time to manually disable roaming features on their mobile phones, but it appears that for those using an iPhone, that step is hardly enough.

According to various iPhone owners, their monthly bills have been increased by a sudden surge of data roaming charges. Fortunately, most networks understand the situation easily enough to offer to refund excess payments or in cases of unpaid charges, the excess amounts can be canceled from the bill. Such direct action is always appreciated, but it also implies that networks are already well aware of the problem.

Currently, Apple is already facing plenty of criticism for the way it handled the whole situation with the antenna on the Apple iPhone 4. To admit that the iOS has issues with roaming is going to cost the Cupertino based company plenty, and further ruin their already struggling reputation in the mobile industry.

Anyway, for those who have recently travelled outside of the UK with an iPhone handset and found themselves with a large bill with data roaming charges, it would be a good idea to have a quick talk with a representative from your mobile network.

Reports show that the Apple app for the free bumpers is ready for download. To be eligible for the free Apple bumper, iPhone 4 users must use the app to log into the Apple iTunes store and select the special offer. Each account may only avail of the offer once –allowing Apple to control the distribution of the free bumpers and ensure that every owner gets a piece.

For iPhone 4 owners who have already bought an iPhone Bumper earlier (prior to the emergency conference where the announcement was made) refunds are available. Since the bumper is exclusively available on the online store, purchasers will be given an instant refund on their credit cards.

As convoluted as some of Apple’s explanations and schemes may be, they are actually pulling off the giveaway pretty smoothly. Many would even argue that the use of a special application is a stroke of genius that would allow Apple to closely monitor which user has gotten the bumper and who has not.

Still, the problem still exists. Even if Apple gives out free bumpers, owners will still be left with a phone that has a malfunctioning antenna. Since the problem is a hardware issue, it is unlikely that Apple would ever be able to instate a proper repair program for all existing users, let alone a recall that would actually fix the solution.

In the end, not all users are happy with the iPhone 4, with the antenna issue and lack of proper support from Apple, many are considering a switch to other mobile handsets instead. Samsung has taken the initiative to seek out disgruntled iPhone 4 owners who speak about their iPhone problems on Twitter, and are offering free Galaxy S Android devices to get users to switch. So far, the public has given a very positive reaction to Samsung, not only are free offers always welcome, but the i9000 Galaxy S is also a very impressive phone as well.

For many years, Research in Motion has been catering specifically to business clients and smart phone users who heavily use email and texting features. BlackBerry handsets are primarily known for their physical keyboards –this actually explains why the term CrackBerry was coined several years ago.

For those who are not familiar with the term, Crackberry was used to refer to a form of smart phone addiction that was obtained because it was the first time that users had been able to send, receive and reply to emails instantly –like a supersized form of severe text messaging habits.

Anyway, going back to the topic at hand; RIM has decided to take the BlackBerry user experience to a whole new direction –with media. Media playback was always a side feature for BlackBerry handsets and never a main feature. BlackBerry’s OS 6 aims to change that, by delivering video and music content in a whole new way.

The first things we noticed with the new layout: how closely it resembles Apple’s iOS color schemes -from the heavy use of gray tones to the slight gradients. Thankfully, RIM brought in enough of their own elements to make the design their own. Users will certainly enjoy being able to see the album art embedded in music files, and how video playback controls have been streamlined.

Of course, no matter how much RIM improves the media playback experience on the operating system, the real issue still lies with the hardware. One of the main reasons why BlackBerry handsets are not the first choice for video playback is because most BB handsets come with small screens. This is due to the portrait oriented physical keyboard that the brand is most known for.

As impressed as we are with the media improvements on the BlackBerry OS 6, it will be a while before RIM is able to change their brands’ market range. At the same time, it is unlikely that any other company could take away their existing share of users.

Vodafone UK and O2 UK have announced that the Nokia C6 Symbian smart phone is now available on their official sites. The device is free on 25 Pound monthly tariffs, making it one of our most recommended budget handsets. Finnish manufacturer Nokia is also offering the device on their main UK online store; the C6 is available SIM free at a retail price of 289 Pounds.

The Nokia C6 is a practical smart phone. While it is not the handset of choice for users who are more interested in experiencing the complete modern operating system with Android handsets and next generation platforms –like the Symbian^3 and the MeeGo OS, this device is meant to serve users who need a decent reliable smart phone that has more features than the average low end handset.

In terms of overall performance, the C6 is decent. It is good enough to run a vast range of apps and features, but it will definitely bog down when faced with huge file loads and successive command inputs. At 434 MHz, the ARM 11 CPU’s speed is nowhere as near as high end devices –but for the average smart phone user, this is usually more than enough.

The slide out QWERTY keyboard feels a lot like the 4 row layouts that Nokia uses for their N series devices. The top row tends to sneak just a little under the upper face, but it is not that hard to use when held properly. The buttons are responsive and provide a resounding feedback that allows users to type fast on this device. Expect to see happy grins on text messaging and email heavy users on this device.

The phone also comes with a 3.2 inch TFT resistive touch screen display (with an accelerometer and a scratch resistant surface), a 5 mega pixel snapper (with autofocus, geotagging and face detection) and the Symbian S60 OS.

September is just a few months away and so is the launch of Windows Phone 7 (if earlier rumors are to be believed). The new platform from Microsoft is quite different from the previous Windows Mobile operating system and so is the target user base.

WP7’s main focus is on social networking, and while some users might appreciate the new approach, other could say that Microsoft has taken it too far.

There is nothing wrong about social networking on a smart phone; in fact, one can pretty much expect it. Integrated features for Facebook and Twitter are so commonplace that some smart phone buyers already consider if a basic feature. However, Microsoft has taken it one step further by choosing to replace certain aspects of the handset with social networking features –namely, the contact list.

This is where Microsoft might have stepped on a proverbial landmine. For most people, the friends list on Facebook is a collection of friends, family and “random acquaintances that would really help boost the number of people you get to play with on Facebook’s gaming applications”. That said; it is common that a mobile phone would have a more personal list of contacts. Microsoft takes away that distinction by placing everyone in a linked Facebook account into the smart phone’s contacts page.

Since the process is automated and there is no way of preventing it, the only other thing that people can do is to not associate a Facebook account in the OS.

Still, the OS manages to shine in many other aspects. The new UI design is both unique and impressive. But most old school users might not be able to adapt to the bleeding effect of the cut off text on top of the pages. The large empty space on the side might also throw off some users –especially those who want to fill up the entire screen with content.

The smoke has not yet fully cleared since last Friday night as Apple has taken in all possible reasons as to why the iPhone 4 has no real problem.

While the Cupertino based company is still in denial about the whole situation, the current owners of the iPhone 4 (estimated to be over 1.7 million all over the world), will have to contend with having to use a smart phone with a broken antenna that should be held “in the right way” so that their calls will not be dropped.

At the same time, several mobile phone manufacturers have expressed their stand against Apple’s statement that the antenna is something that all manufacturers should consider as a challenge –and that other devices are suffering from the same issue.

Research in Motion and Samsung have already made official announcements regarding the matter –stating that their devices are perfectly fine and that they are not suffering from any antenna issues. Nokia and Motorola, though not mentioned by Apple in the conference, also made similar public announcements as well.

For users who are not too happy with the free case that Apple is offering as a solution, there is one other option to go for: the recently launched Antenna-aid. With the situation with the antenna looking like it will never be fixed anytime soon, online retailer Etsy has released a small adhesive vinyl strip that can be used to cover up the exposed antenna area.

While the manufacturer only states that the accessory “might” fix the issue, it is still a better alternative than having nothing at all. Also, this solution is a great fit for users who are not too keen on adding the bulk of a casing on their iPhone 4.

In the meanwhile, plenty of speculation now surrounds the date of September 30 –the last day for refunds and free iPhone casings. Many suggest that a second version of the iPhone 4 –one with a fixed antenna, might be released by then.