Best Phone Blog

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.

According to Gary Marshall of Tech Radar, “maybe Steve (Jobs) should blog”.

The man has a point, not that Steve Jobs needs to start blogging sometime soon (though that would work too), but that Apple needs to change the way it interacts with the world.

Sure, they make decent enough products to become one of the largest developer-manufacturers in the world, but that does not mean that the world likes them. Steve Jobs has personally earned a reputation in the industry as the cranky old man who has a distorted view of reality, and the folks at Cupertino under him are not falling far from the Apple tree (and yes, pun intended).

They even went as far as telling the world that they forgo having PR, which is why they take things to a personal level –which is outright unprofessional and bad for their company. They have the option of taking things personally, but that does not mean they can lash out in the very same way.

It would be silly to believe that they have taken 22 days tackling the iPhone 4’s antenna issue and have only come up with such a crude solution. While a free iPhone case has been on the list of solutions early on, it is not something that a company that considers itself a rival to Microsoft and Google would waste so much time on.

There is no excuse that is acceptable at this point. While users will certainly appreciate a full refund, this does not bode well for those avid Apple supporters who have been hoping to use the iPhone 4. These people have remained loyal users to the Cupertino based company, and are willing to stick it out even with a faulty smart phone, and the best that Apple can do is a cheap free case (not even the slightly better looking iPhone bumper).

Just about a week ago, it was made known that Apple was looking for antenna experts and engineers. At that point, the clamor over the antenna issue was still at a low point and nobody had been pestering the Cupertino based company to move into action. Now, it appears that all the lights are on Apple as over a million iPhone 4 users wait what the decision of the company may be in regards to solving the antenna issue that is plaguing iPhone 4 users.

Recent reports indicate that this all could have been avoided at a much earlier point before the device has been mass produced: Apple was already warned by their own employees that the antenna had design issues.

According to unnamed sources from within Apple, senior engineer Ruben Caballero had already identified the issue early on –presumably, during the testing phases of the prototype. He already aired the issue to superiors, including Steve Jobs (whom we can all assume responded by telling Ruben that he was simply “holding the phone wrong”).

Now it seems that Apple has been taking their people for granted and getting in on the action now is a little too late.

Naturally, Engineer Ruben is not allowed to talk to the public on behalf of Apple, but we certainly would want to know what Apple’s initial reasons were for completely ignoring the warning. In the end, the iPhone 4 ended up with one of the biggest design blunders that have ever happened to the smart phone industry.

For those who have never heard of the iPhone 4 antenna issue, here is a quick summary of the problem. Basically, the iPhone 4’s antenna comes with a weak point –and when this point comes into contact with human touch, it will not be able to receive signals from the network.