There’s No Cell Phone on the Menu!

There’s No Cell Phone on the Menu! appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

The age of the smartphone has provided us with amazing technology, communication and innovation. We can talk to people all over the world, carry out our day to day business activities on the move and be constantly available. However, is that such a good thing?  Should we always be ‘eyes down’, faces glowing from the light of our iPhones and other handheld devices? There’s a time and a place where communication should only be with the immediate people around us, at the dinner table is the perfect example.

When Is It OK to Check a Smartphone at the Dinner Table?
Smartphones are clearly (sadly?) a significant part of modern life, so it’s probably helpful to create some rules for their use at restaurants and other mealtime occasions. Here’s a proposal for 21st-century dinnertime phone protocol…

 

An entertaining and light hearted perspective on the frustrations of smartphone use at mealtimes. We all do it, we are all guilty of taking that quick glance when we should be engaging in family time at the table, a catch up with friends or even at a formal event.

Some obvious points of courtesy explained in the above video, that with this day and age, some people just seem to forget.

If you’re at a restaurant, then set your voicemail. You can pick up any messages once you’ve finished dining, and even make your return calls on your way home using a bluetooth headset or car kit.

Boost, Davis Flip Cell Phone Etiquette – MediaPost Communications
For all the concerns about appropriate cell phone etiquette in today’s society, perhaps there are indeed times when it’s more appropriate to check one’s phone rather than engaging with the people around you.

Next time you are sitting at the table and feel the urge to check your phone, just stop for one second and think about whether right at that moment it is really necessary. Enjoy the moment and the time you are spent with others. There’s no cell phone on the menu.

Amazon Fire Phone Ignites a Spark!

Amazon Fire Phone Ignites a Spark! appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

Today is the day that Amazon shows the world that its technology is not just about tablets. Its very first smartphone called the Amazon Fire Phone is making an appearance. Looking as though it could be pretty snazzy and start breathing down the necks of the big dogs such as HTC, Apple and Samsung.

Amazon unveils Fire Phone with eye-tracking tech
Building upon its wide expertise in the tablet space, Amazon has unveiled its first smartphone today. So yes, all those rumors were true after all. It’s called the Amazon Fire Phone and its main selling points are bound to be Amazon’s reach in terms of content services, as well as the unique 3D UI dubbed Dynamic Perspective.

It seems a little on the pricey side, but do all the incentives such as Amazon Prime subscription make up for it?

The 3D camera effect sounds interesting and we are yet to see this on other devices (as far as I am aware). It’s so clever! With the ability to scan almost anything and buy it from Amazon. What a way to make money!

FireFly: Amazon’s Fire Phone Can Identify Almost Anything – Gizmodo
Amazon’s new Fire Phone had to be about getting people to buy stuff from Amazon, right? Of course. Enter Firefly, which turns the Fire Phone into a sort of universal object scanner that’ll recognize books, DVDs, or jars of Nutella, and help you buy them – from Amazon!

So will Amazon be the next threat to take over the technology world, or will the competitors within the smartphone industry come up with something even more spectacular? Has the Amazon Fire ignited a spark?

 

Avoid A Sand Infested Device!

Avoid A Sand Infested Device! appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

Do you remember the days when you would take a trip to the beach, taking your paperback book, mp3 player and usually a camera to capture some memories of the day? Did you ensure that your electronic devices were stored safely to avoid any damage from water or sand? We made that extra effort didn’t we? These days we tend to have a device about our person, each and every day that can perform all of these tasks. We can read a book, listen to our favorite music or snap the kids building a sand castle all through the magic of our cell phones. However, are we so used to just carrying them around now, that we don’t think ahead about protecting them where conditions that are a little different from everyday life could cause long lasting damage.

How to make sure your iPhone is ready for the beach
Smart devices like the iPhone have become a part of our every day life that we can no longer live without. We take them with us everywhere we go, even to places where electronic devices were not designed to be.

Some great tips, and a reminder that it’s not only the water and sand, but the heat from the sun too, that could give your cell phone or tablet a bit of a meltdown! The article states that you shouldn’t charge your device at the beach, however, this young lady seems to have other ideas.

It’s probably best just to use the juice in your battery that you have, and then find something else to do. Perhaps watch the world go by through your sunglasses.

If you do want to protect your devices (and it’s highly recommended that you do so), check out a  waterproof jacket for your tablet and keep it safe from the sea. There are many cell phone and tablet accessories that will keep your electronic best friend happy and content, and your day at the beach an enjoyable one, without the stress of finding that sand infested, water damaged screen when you get home.

 

 

 

Feel Like Knight Rider With Your Smartwatch!

Feel Like Knight Rider With Your Smartwatch! appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

With the smartwatch being the latest craze from the wearable devices range, Apple have been a little behind its contenders with their own release. However, it doesn’t look as if we will have to wait for too much longer! By October the stores should be stocked and Apple’s latest release ready to go on sale.

Apple smartwatch all set for October launch: Report
Apple is preparing to sell its first wearable device this October, aiming to produce 3 million to 5 million smartwatches a month in its initial run.

It looks as though Apple have declined to comment on its release, but surely it has to happen in the very near future, to keep up with the likes of Samsung. Is 2014 the year of the smartwatch?

The designs do tend to be a little on the masculine and chunky side, so it would be great to see something looking a little more feminine for the ladies. There are a few available, and I think in order to not miss out on a huge portion of the potential market (us females) then there does need to be something a little more lady-fied (if there is such a word!) The release coming up from Google seems to be just as big and bulky.

Google’s First Smartwatches Look Big And Bulky – Business Insider
Just as Google is preparing to roll its new smartwatch software out to the masses, we’re getting a closer look at what the first two smartwatches powered by Android Wear will look like.

It’s an exciting time for this development in technology, and it won’t be long before everyone is plugged into their cell phone via their wrist. Think Michael Knight talking to his wrist watch…that’s what we will all be like!

 

 

 

Is Your Charger On?

Is Your Charger On? appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

The advance in smart charge technology is definitely something that we all appreciate. The high use of our electronic devices causes our batteries to drain faster than ever, leaving us with that dreaded “your battery is low” notification, when you need your phone the most. The designers at Theo Elements look like they could be onto something with a case that charges your cell phone as well as protecting it! Now that is something that could be extremely useful!

Theo smartphone case packs wirelessly charged backup battery
Designers at Theo Elements are looking to swell the ever-growing ranks of 3rd-party wireless charging solutions on the market with Theo Power – a case fitted with a both wireless charging technology and a removable back-up battery pack.

Using the most common market standard for wireless charging technology on the market today, it looks as though this cell phone accessory could really take off. Especially in situations such as this…

Making sure that the power switch is actually clicked to the ‘on position’ will most definitely prevent frustrations, like the one this guy experienced in the video. However, when you don’t have a phone charger to hand, a device that can charge and protect could be just what you’re looking for.

Protecting and Proactive

Protecting and Proactive appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

We see everyone these days with their eyes focused on their cell phone or tablet. Whether they are commuting to work on the train, sat in a coffee shop or even just crossing the road! Sure enough one day we’ll be taking them into the shower! Maybe that is a little extreme, and the new waterproof tablet from Samsung – the Galaxy Tab 4, hasn’t been designed for that purpose, but it gets you thinking.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Active Gets Trademark, Could be a Brand New Waterproof Tablet
It would appear that Samsung wants to take its waterproofing and dust proofing to tablets, especially since there’s a Galaxy Tab 4 Active trademark out there. IP67 certification is coming to their slates and this is by no means a premiere, since we’ve already got the Xperia Z2 Tablet with this feature.

Protecting your phone or tablet from water and wet conditions is important. These are expensive devices, and you don’t want them to be ruined in that unexpected downpour, or if you happen to drop your device in the sink or toilet (and let’s face it, it happens more often than we would like). Having a waterproof device is a great idea, but if it’s going to be impacting on design and size, then why not use a tablet or cell phone accessory, like a protective case?

 

Perhaps protecting your phone in the first place is preferable to putting it in a bag of rice, but it’s a good tip to know. We of course are not recommending that you do so, that’s up to you, instead here’s a list of tough cases that will protect your iPhone as much as possible.

15 Tough Cases That Will Protect Your iPhone 5S in 2014 and Beyond (list) – Gadget Review
To protect your investment and your social life, it’s wise to get a case that can handle anything life throws at you – accidental spills, drops and more. We’ve rounded up some of the best tough cases around that will protect your iPhone 5s from life and its unpredictability.

The Otterbox Defender cases appear to be suitable for not only Apple products but for Samsung too.

Get protecting and proactive in the care of your tablet and cell phone devices. Look after them, and they will look after you!

 

HTC Heating up the Apples!

HTC Heating up the Apples! appeared first on DiscountCell Reviews.

There have been a lot of rumors recently concerning HTC and their up and coming devices. Whispers of an HTC One M8 Prime being in the pipeline have recently been squashed, so all the buzz and the excitement has started to die down. Or has it? It seems as though the Taiwanese manufacturer wants to be out there making some noise and giving the likes of Samsung and Apple a scare or two!

HTC puts One M8 Prime on ice?
It’s sounding like the HTC One M8 prime may have been canceled, but does that mean we’ve no hope for an M8 with a quad HD display?

With the One M8 Prime being put “on ice”, HTC are making sure that their name is still out there in lights by tapping into the smartwatch market with the HTC One Wear.

HTC One Wear smartwatch to launch in late August?
HTC hinted as far back as last October that it was looking to once more branch out beyond smartphones. It hinted at a future smartphone but not until it met “a need, otherwise if it’s just a gimmick or concept.” Jump forward a few months to Mobile World Congress and HTC reportedly showed off behind closed doors a new device based on the Qualcomm Toq and a smartwatch that would come with an AMOLED display.

With the next generation of devices looking like they will be released before Apple, just how does the HTC One M8 compare to the iPhone?

You can really tell the difference in the sound. Just by listening to the first minute of that video, even the most loyal of iPhone lovers, will have a tiny shift in their mindset to explore more with HTC. Could there be another hot contender in the smartphone wars? Watch this space!