Best Phone Blog

Hotel goers have something to be excited about. With the advent of new technology, devices such as the iPhone now have the potential to give you that hassle free dream holiday that you have always wanted. For years, hotel chains have been experimenting with the many different ways of giving you accessibility options from devices such as your handy smart phones.

Back in 2006, hotels such as the Marriott started making these features a reality. Select establishments such as the Nine Zero in Boston have relied on different, more convenient ways to identify and let their patron in. These range from iris scanners, biometric systems to RFID.

While it is not yet a commonly used technology, smart phone accessibility alternatives may soon include hotel check ins, bill payment relaying, room service computations, instant reservations as well as feedback services. From the moment you inquire about the hotel services down to your check out, smart phones have the potential of making your stay more pleasurable.

This month, there is another trial that gives smart phone owners a chance to enjoy perks over those who are not so tech savvy. To be specific, the InterContinental Hotels Group revealed a project called “OpenWays”. This will be tested in the Houston Downtown Convention Center at the Chicago Holiday Inn Express.

OpenWays enables iPhone owners to use an app to open the door to their room. It is inevitable that other smart phones will be supported to make this technology accessible to more patrons. The implementation of other uses such as bill checking or extending your hotel stay, may be close at hand now that there is something to kick things off.

The OpenWays app will not be up for public use yet but seeing the way smart phone technology is evolving, this is definitely just a matter of time.

It may seem like a major loss, but with over two years of connoted support from Apple, the first generation iPhone has finally met the end of its time. And a good time it was. Since the launch of the device over a couple of years ago, the device quickly became the recognizable touch screen smart phone in the whole world.

The iPhone operating system held a place as a new benchmark for how touch screen controls should be –how responsive and how intuitive a user interface must be in order to achieve the best user experience when navigating a device. The iconic black front and metallic back cover has become pop culture references and changed the world of smart phones the way the iPod changed the world of portable music devices.

Getting down to the hard numbers, the first gen iPhone already received two major OS updates and has lasted to be in use by the mobile phone industry for a length of time that very few other handsets have lived through. As a smart phone, the device has had a long lifespan –most Android and WinMo devices would be shoved out after the first major OS change it sees.

With the new iPhone 4G in the horizon, letting go of the old iPhone is a need that has become more and more apparent. The new features and capabilities of the OS will need hardware that the old iPhone cannot provide and if Apple is to stay on top of the mobile phone industry, they would need to stick with devices that can function and run with all of its features and capabilities in tow.

Owners of the first generation iPhone are encouraged to have their devices properly recycled when migrating to the upcoming iPhone 4G.

Read more about the first generation Apple iPhone at Stuff TV.

The Apple iPad is not just web browser. It is not just an eBook reader. It is not just a media player. It is a little of all, and offers a little bit more. Still, being a jack of all trades usually makes one a master of none, so how does the iPad really come out?

The touch screen tablet will not hit UK shores until later in April, but this account should offer some valuable insight for book readers who feel that this gadget could very well replace their Sony Reader or Amazon Kindle:

Its’ heavy!

Seriously, for those of you who loathe huge hardbound books that are encumbering to read, then Apple iPad is going to be one of those books that you will have to juggle from one hand to another as the heaviness is unbearable.

If you just need to check on a single article or news clip, then you will not mind at all, but when you are over 300 pages deep into reading, the weight becomes pretty noticeable. Fortunately, reading the screen is easy when you can prop it up on your leg or on your table.

Another issue with the iPad is that the main screen provides a lot of glare. Much like its smaller iPod counterpart, there is now way that you would be able to use this device in direct sunlight, though there is no issue when all the lights are out. It does however, does not respond well to changes in lighting. There are reports that the device is supposed to have an ambient light sensor that will automatically changes brightness settings, but no noticeable changes occur when moving from a well lit room to a completely dark area.

In terms of software, the readers for the iPad and the Kindle are well matched. Though the iPad does have some technical issues, the fact that it provides more functionality makes it a great purchase. But if you are simply looking for a better eBook reader, just stick to the Kindle.

Find out more about the iPad as it goes up against the Kindle at Business Week.

Tom Tom has replied to all the allegations surrounding its iPhone app and have corroborated the fact that the cradle and app bundle represent real value for money and that Google’s insistence to add turn by turn navigation isn’t any cause for concern.

All the answers to the questions poised to Tom Tom were comprehensively compiled by MacFormat and put on the Question & Answer part of the website. All the rumblings about the cost of the app have really caused the sat-nav giant to have a re-think on the £100 cradle and £60 Apple iPhone app.

Based on the information obtained from the website, comments left on MacFormat were virtually unanimous in their criticism:

“I would like to see why they think that £160 all in is a fair price! A TomTom is cheaper!”

“Why is the cradle so damn expensive? It’s put me off buying the App and cradle. Can buy a stand alone unit for a lot less.”

The reply from TomTom was “We price our application competitively and also feel that with the existing technologies and our frequent, free updates, we offer a sat nav solution that is value for money.”

One of the major bones of contention in the sat-nav world is actually Google’s decision to navigate into turn-by-turn navigation through its Google Maps and street view but Tom Tom has reiterated that it would cope and that it wasn’t a problem.

A spokesman from TomTom further added, “TomTom strives to provide the best navigation experience. Through technologies, such as IQ Routes, we believe we can provide the best in routing and maps.”

Some thought it meant Safety, a nod to increased Wi-Fi and 3G security. Others thought it meant Smart, drawing attention (to the already obvious) Smartphone credentials. A few even suggested Sexy. Well, a few of our friends suggested that last Friday night in the pub. But now the truth is out: the ‘S’ in the new Apple iPhone 3G S stands for Speed. Not all that interesting, we’ll agree, but certainly truthful: the iPhone 3G S will be running at least twice as fast, and almost three times as fast for some features. The internet loads quicker, flipping between applications is smoother, and every other transition, animation and similar will be streamlined by the tinkering Apple have done.

Think of the iPhone 3G S as an already impressive sports car given an all over tweak. Even if it looks exactly the same on the outside, the engine, suspension, gearbox and everything in-between have been modified, and when you get behind the wheel you really notice it. Some might complain that they wanted more, that Apple should have made it smaller / slimmer / lighter… but then this isn’t a ‘new’ phone: as the name suggests this is just what we has before, plus a little bit. A brief rundown of some of the other things they’ve beefed up:

• 3-megapixel camera
• Video recording and editing
• Voice Control
• Digital compass – pretty useless, but lovely nonetheless
• Cut, Copy & Paste – from websites, documents, photos… basically from wherever you want
• Landscape keyboard
• Longer battery life

So all in all, what you haven’t got is a new phone, a reason to upgrade from your iphone 3G. But if you’re still stuck with the original iphone, or are thinking about getting into the gadget and application-filled world of smartphones, then this is the best choice you could make. Don’t believe us? Then read this Iphone 3G S review, or listen to this nerd convince you instead: