Despite setting astounding launch sales records, iPhone 4S owners are plagued by battery drain that even Apple engineers are having difficulty solving.
Like the antenna issue experienced with the initial launch of the iPhone 4, the millions of iPhone 4S owners have been plagued by battery drain that Apple engineers have been working around the clock to solve. The Guardian reported on the issue saying that Apple engineers have been contacting users who have complained about battery drain that is not resolvable with normal means, such as turning off location-based services and terminating passive apps when away from the phone for long periods of time. Apparently, Apple has been requesting that these customers install diagnostic software onto their iPhone so that the battery drain issue can be resolved more efficiently.
Tech Crunch editor Erick Schonfeld spoke his mind on an opinion piece: 'Dear Apple, Please Make My iPhone 4S Battery Life Suck Less.' In it, Schonfeld claims that his iPhone 4S battery died within eight hours after a full charge with normal Internet usage, talk time, and standby. Quite contradictory to the official tech specs from Apple's website:
Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)
Standby time: Up to 200 hours
Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 10 hours
Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
Many sites and news outlets have, as always, posted tips on how to preserve battery life. Cellphone Accents always carries ever-ready Apple iPhone accessories and cell phone chargers for those needing backup juice. Otherwise, there are options and settings you can configure within the iPhone to optimize its life and minimize battery drain.
Start off by lowering your screen brightness, locking your phone when you do not plan to use it, and disabling location-based services when not needed. Be sure to terminate apps after use as well -- unlike Windows or Mac OS X where you can click an 'X' to terminate a program, you will have to press the home button twice to reveal a list of all active apps on your iPhone. Press and hold any open app for a moment to reveal red minus (-) sign, allowing you to terminate apps to save your phone from inevitable battery drain.
Supermarket apps are making use of the power of mobile technology to give shoppers a 'smarter' experience, offering discounts and other benefits with each visit. Having a smartphones in hand, shoppers can now engage in a mobile experience with their favorite foods and products as a result of supermarkets' push for more customers.
Modiv Media and Ahold teamed up as marketing company and supermarket chain to test a pilot program in Massachusetts allowing customers to scan bar codes into their iPhones. The supermarket app is linked to the rewards card system allowing targeted offers when shopping around.
The pilot program was geared towards supermarket apps and their viability with customers and the supermarket itself. Using smartphone apps cuts costs for the supermarket as customers almost always walk in with their trusted phone. Customers get direct access to ongoing sales on items they continue to purchase directly from supermarket apps while the company can focus on other budget concerns.
Another upside is that many shoppers with smartphones are well accustomed to using barcode scanner apps to shop around for the right prices. Reviews, in addition to prices at various locations are available on barcode scanning apps, which could prove to be quite popular on supermarket apps as well.
The tactics employed by grocery stores could help to improve the overall shopping experience, with more informative buys, faster purchases, and possibly more a interactive experience with the supermarket itself. The advent of new payment options, available through services such as Google Wallet and PayPal, coupled with the supermarket apps experience should prove to be less of a headache for what is a chore to many.
Mobiledia's insight with smart shopping includes developments 'on the forefront of easing the shopping experience. GPS programs to help people locate items in stores are in development, and in the UK and South Korea, apps allow people to point a smartphone at a picture of a product and instantly order it to be shipped to home or office.'
Analysts, such as Professor Srinivasan Keshav at the University of Waterloo, suggest that people who send text messages may be succumbing to carriers charging up to 4,000 percent more than the true worth of a text. However, the rise of free messaging services may cause carriers to rethink their exorbitant pricing strategies.
'It's something like a 4,090 percent markup,' says Keshav, in regards with the ten to twenty cent charge that carriers charge each time customers send text messages. The professor estimates that carriers pay about a third of a penny to send a text message over existing cellular networks.
Free message services, such as Apple's iMessage, BlackBerry Messenger, and Facebook Messenger are increasingly on the rise as customers find a way around one of many ways carriers make money off of high priced, low bandwidth services.
'There's a huge amount at stake here. [Wireless carriers] are undermining the core business model for an industry that makes most of its money from services that are high priced and low bandwidth, like texting,' said Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett.
Moffett also found customers who send text messages through Verizon allow the carrier to benefit from more than ten percent of its total revenue through texts alone. In the US, people who send text messages contribute to more than two trillion texts each year, generating $20 billion for wireless carriers.
Standalone messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Kik and social media services such as Twitter offer free solutions for those who send text messages and are tired of paying for ridiculous carrier fees. These services allow for much more than the traditional text; group chats, sending photos and video, and cross-platform functionality on top of free usage are amongst the perks offered by messaging apps.
In India, the women of New Delhi may have a new weapon in the form of a phone app on their side to safeguard them from would-be attackers in a city plagued by rape and other personal attacks.
'Fight Back' will be launched in November to aid women in a capital city where a rape occurs every 18 hours according to New Delhi police. Backed by Whypoll.org, 'Fight Back' aims to rectify rape gone rampant in New Delhi by allowing the user to activate a phone app which sends a SOS alert via text messages, sending your GPS location to up to five people (police included), and posts on Facebook and Twitter.
Police report that one in every four rape cases in India occur in New Delhi. Buses, metro stations, and markets are populous places that still do not serve as safety zones for women in India. Hindol Sengupta, co-founder of Whypoll, believes their phone app will help women feel safer in such an environment.
'Safety for women has become such a huge issue here and we felt that citizens of Delhi, where possibly the problem exists the most, could use this type of technological intervention. . . we believe this is Asia's first phone application aimed at making women safer.'
The National Crime Records Bureau reports that rape cases in India have increased astronomically since original reports in 1971, leaping 760.4 percent from 2,487 to 21,397 rape cases in 2009. Reuters reports that activists believe these extreme figures to be a 'gross underestimation' of the actual number of crimes committed 'with most women afraid to go to police, fearing stigma and family dishonour.'
Many would-be attackers, at the sight of a potential victim dialing the police, would simply stop and leave. Unfortunately cell phone charms do not double up as pepper spray or tasers (yet), but the 'Fight Back' phone app seems like it will do its best to protect women from such situations, or serve to help law enforcement and your social networks with anything worse that may occur. Cell phone batteries charged, a phone app could be the difference between safety or worse happenings.
Citizens of the wireless world, make room for fashion as Jil Sander has just released a designer cell phone using Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' on an LG handset.
Jil Sander, based out of Germany, brings her eye for design to the world of smartphones. Her designer cell phone rivals that of HTC's plum-faced Rhyme and ultimately those who are accustomed to the iconic iPhone-centric design seen with many smartphones.
What's notable is that Jil Sander's designer cell phone is not just an overpriced display for your cell phone charms or a blantantly bourgeois bling phone. Instead, it utilizes the latest version of the Windows Phone 7 operating system (codenamed Mango) and handset hardware from LG Electronics -- both of which are underdogs in the current wireless market.
Though the phone was released in Europe, it serves as a precedent for fashion designers to search for markets outside of textiles to sell their brand names. The Jil Sander designer cell phone displays the German fashion house's namesake where you would normally see an LG (or otherwise) logo. The 'home button' sports the telltale Windows logo as Mango's easy-to-use smartphone interface is highly touted by Jil Sander Mobile.
Jil Sander Mobile released a video touting the phone's fashionable features. At face value, they claim 'modernity, purity, and understated luxury' allowing one to 'communicate in style.' The phone is shown to be encased in a blue leather (faux or not is unknown) and when revealed, one can see the model-skinny inspiration Jil Sander took to her namesake designer cell phone. Aesthetics aside, the phone comes pre-loaded with a Jil Sander app, keeping you up to date with the latest fashion going-ons with the fashion house.
The Jil Sander phone bypasses the need for fashionable cell phone covers as it was designed with the intention of fashion-forward functionality. Mango, paired with LG's hardware, should provide its Jil Sander supporters with the designer cell phone experience they have been waiting for.
Chiropractors have issued warnings against a condition plaguing those of us who are constantly tethered to our mobile devices.
'Text neck' is caused when one flexes their neck for extended periods of time, as we do when we are staring at the screens of our mobile devices. Chiropractors warn that arthritic damage may occur if the affliction is untreated. Extreme cases of text neck can make straightening one's neck a very painful ordeal.
Repetitive strain on the neck has been on the rise with mobile devices like tablets causing users to strain for better viewing angles.
Rachael Lancaster, of Freedom Back Clinics in the UK, says joints and tissue in the neck are not meant to be in a flexed position for prolonged amounts of time, so staring down at mobile devices puts your neck under stress. ''Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position. That is exactly what people are doing with their necks. If people continue to put their necks in these positions, the body will gradually adapt to the stresses.'
To avoid the condition, The Telegraph gives us a couple pointers:
take regular breaks from your mobile devices.
sit straight and look straight ahead while tucking your chin back towards your neck
rotate your shoulders with your arms at your sides
While using your phone, continue to sit up straight and hold the phone to your eyes so that you can maintain proper posture. The British Chiropractic Association, as stated in The Telegraph, claim that doctors were seeing more and more patients with text neck as a result of too much screen time on mobile devices and too little regular exercise.
Are you looking to save some money here and there to for your new Apple iPhone 4S accessories and cell phone covers? Imagine the time and money you could save in chiropractic work if you took regular breaks from mobile devices.
Health Canada has developed guidelines for safe cell phone usage, explaining that exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by a cell phone should be reduced as much as possible. RF energy is given off by phones similar to what's found with AM/FM radio and television broadcast signals. With the ever-increasing adoption of cell phones across the world it is important to perform in-depth research on the health risks devices may pose so that regulation may be imposed to ensure safety for all users.
Market Watch, who reported on Health Canada's guidelines, gives a little background on RF energy risks stating that 'there are a small number of epidemiology studies that have shown brain cancer rates might be elevated in long-term/heavy cell phone users;' however, 'other epidemiology studies on cell phone users, laboratory studies and animal cancer studies have not supported this association.'
The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified RF energy as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' acknowledging that limited data exists suggesting RF energy increasing the risk for cancer in cell phone users.
Health Canada's guidelines, in light of inconclusive research on RF energy emission, suggest the following:
limiting the length of voice calls, especially encouraging those 18 years or under to limit usage
Health Canada's suggestions are basic changes that consumers can implement with their cell phone usage. Their guidelines sets general public exposure limits to RF energy '50 times lower than the threshold for potentially adverse health effects,' according to the press release.
Data and calls are transmitted and received from cell phone towers, using minimal power to keep RF energy exposure levels well below safety limits. However, the transmitting power of a cell phone may vary depending on the type of cellular network it uses and distance from the nearest tower. Transmitting power typically increases the further away you move from the nearest cell phone tower.
Though services such as Health Canada continue to research on the potential effects of exposure to RF energy, it wouldn't hurt to purchase a Bluetooth headset just in case your cell phone turns out to be harming you in the long run.
John Bruno, a Wales-based personal trainer, can improve your health using your smartphone no matter how far you are from his facilities. In addition to health and fitness apps becoming increasingly popular, Skype has enabled Mr. Bruno the ability to administer his brand of physical training using little more than a wireless connection and a smartphone.
“I first got the idea when I was on holiday in the Maldives in 1994. I got talking to this guy who worked for Disney and I told him that I’d always been keen to be a hologram so I would be able to train people wherever they were as a hologram on their computer screen. Then, when Skype came out in 2006, I thought it was a great opportunity to be able to train clients anywhere in the world. Things like the iPad, Facetime and Skype have enabled me to do that.'
Mr. Bruno's 'Skype Personal Training' offers another smartphone solution to the hustle and bustle of any given day. Many find it hard to juggle work, home, hobbies, and exercise in a balanced manner, but with his online training, health is something more your smartphone can help manage. Unlike exercise videos of old, Skype Personal Training allows for a personalized experience as you can stop at any time for tips on proper technique or anything else a trainer may be able to help with.
Though you may never meet Mr. Bruno in the flesh, his package allows smartphone exercisers to keep in contact with him via video conferencing, emails, and newsletters. One-to-one or small groups are contacted by trainers and given personalized exercise regiments in PDF form.
“It also means you can do your workout in your scruffy tracksuit bottoms; you don’t have to worry if you haven’t got the best designer gym gear because only I can see you!”
At Cellphone Accents, we often feature health-awareness apps that are new to the ever-growing app markets, whether they increase your appetite for exercise or help you get rejuvenating beauty sleep. Happiness is crucial to any health-conscious individual, and with Untappd's app, happiness is a cold pint of beer with good company.
Untappd focuses its services on the world of beer and the social aspects that inevitably occur from grabbing a glass. With their new Android and iOS-native app, you can check up on what brews your friends are drinking and where their watering hole is for the night. Social networking meets beers as you can toast to the occasion or comment on beers shared by those using Untappd. The app also offers beer recommendations based off of your networks' taste, so the option for something new is always available. Badges are given for completing different criteria, similar to Foursquared's check-in badges.
The Untappd network is already bustling with over one million check-ins and more users after an acquisition of another beer app, but more notably, the system has just recently made the switch from a web app to 'native' app due to its recent successes. In addition to the ability to share photos, the new native app version of Untappd allows notification and navigation interfaces which increase speed since a page reload is not required each time its opened. This results in check-ins that are as quick as the speed of some who can down a glass.
Untappd, whose slogan is 'drink socially,' speaks volumes to those wondering where to go on a Friday night as it provides an updated experience to the original social networking that is drinking in one's favorite pub or bar. On their website's home page, a ticker of check-ins continuously scrolls as people share their choice beers which is made readily available for not only customers, but businesses looking to advertise their 'beer experiences' amongst target markets.
'Untappd is all about exposing our users to new beer experiences and helping them spread the word amongst their friends. These experiences include discovering both new beers and new venues at which they can enjoy a frosty brew. We provide a fully mobile, web-based platform for beer enthusiasts to discover and share across all major mobile devices. . . as well as an accompanying fully featured web site. With such a focused community, we can provide many ways in which to increase exposure to your brand, brewery or venue to those who matter most.'
Who would've thought that beer would pair so well with a cell phone app.
Ask any smartphone owner what their favorite apps are, and chances are they will mention the likes of social media, entertainment, and productivity apps like Facebook, Angry Birds, and Google maps. Nielsen, in its analysis on the top twenty Android apps by active reach in the US, found that women were mostly accessing social networking apps like Facebook and Twitter while men favored Google Maps.
Using a sample of 18-and-older Android smartphone users, Nielsen was able to monitor active market reach for Android apps using an in-device monitor for survey respondents. Google-made apps were high on the list for active market reach across both sexes, but differences were found especially with social media usage.
Facebook alone had an active reach of 81 percent to women as opposed to 69 percent of males. Similar trends were seen with Twitter (16.5 percent versus 13.4 percent); however, percentages between genders switched with use of Google+, with 15.8 percent of active reach to males as opposed to 13.4 percent for females.
Popular amongst both groups were Angry Birds and its offshoot, Angry Birds Rio, though Words With Friends shared more interest amongst females than males. The obvious spread of Google productivity and lifestyle services such as Gmail, Google Search, YouTube, and the obvious Android Market shared popularity amongst men and women as well. Other Android-necessary apps were Advanced Task Killer (free version), Pandora, Barcode Scanner, and The Weather Channel.
While men don't sit well with asking directions, those on Android devices are definitely adopting a reliance on Google Maps. Women on the other hand, are flocking to Facebook in what Nielsen sees as 53.5 billion minutes spent by Americans in May 2011 alone. With cell phone headsets and hands-free kits freeing up the use of our thumbs and fingers, it's no wonder we can spend so much time on more pleasurable pursuits. Cell phone covers and face plates may not have the hype of Facebook and Google apps, but we'd love to see the adoption-rates through Nielsen. For now, the company continues to find more data suggesting that apps are increasingly adopted as part of our lives. Is this the era of convenience, or dependency?
As with many modern marvels, phones have become a new status indicator for the wealthy, and manufacturers have noticed, opting for diamonds, rubies, and sapphires instead of high-end hardware and current operating systems for some models. Though these phones are reserved for the wealthiest of people able to drop thousands of dollars on a whim, some new insight as to how these phones are developed and marketed may have you wondering why cell phone charms aren't enough for these high-end consumers.
Companies such as Vertu and Aesir offer phones that average around ten times the price of an unlocked iPhone 4, and for a good reason: they're bejeweled with precious gems. For their customers, a gold-plated phone is more favorable to the most fashionable cell phone covers currently on the consumer-level market (we would beg to differ, however).
Almost like Maybach is to Mercedes, Vertu is the luxury-edition division of Nokia, who's successes have been quite the opposite of what is seen in the current economic climate. The Finnish phone maker is the number one manufacturer of smartphones worldwide; but only Vertu has seen a 50% growth in employees since 2009 while the parent company announces a let go of some 3500 jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan, according to Bloomberg.
So who's buying a 'Signature' piece? Surging demand in the Persian Gulf, Russia, and China have prompted increased sales in phones with sapphire crystal-covered screens. Already, 60% of the luxury phone market in Western Europe is dominated by Vertu who's 'Accent', 'Constellation', 'Signature', and 'Limited Edition' phones reflect a touch of class one diamond-encrusted key at a time.
'It's a collector's item. People are used to collecting, say, watches, while designer phones is a practically empty niche,' said Aesir founder Thomas Jensen to Reuters.
Besides top shelf pricing, luxury phones have one thing in common at the moment: they're not so smart. Many phones, such as the aforementioned Aesir 'AE+Y' phone, do not come with cameras, or even the latest flavors of Apple, Android, or Mango. The AE+Y phone targets those who have staff that already manage their calendars and chauffeurs to replace GPS. Many also have multiple smartphones for obvious business and personal needs, therefore making these phones collectors items, pieces of modern techno-art, and even as a new type of fashionable jewelry.
Vertu is slowly adopting the move towards a smarter luxury phone, allowing more modern features such as touchscreens and offering 24-7 reservation and chauffeuring services in their more 'modest priced' entries.
'They’ve been quite clever and successful in keeping Vertu separate from the Nokia brand. They obviously want to avoid customers applying the same mass-market associations,” said Professor Omar Merlo, of Imperial College London.
With consumer-level phones being priced as they are, it's no wonder most roll their eyes back every time there's mention of phones of pure gold.
Chances are, if you're on your phone from the day straight through to the wee hours of the morning, you're not getting enough sleep. Add to that the countless number of distractions constantly chipping away at our weary bodies everyday, and you have the recipe for a single need: Good sleep. REALLY good sleep. If you're feeling stretched thin, you may want to consider this health app to improve and manage your sleep patterns.
At the headquarters of Zeo, monitoring and managing sleep has been as easy as counting sheep, with their proprietary devices designed to track snooze quality and quantity from the comfort of home. The company has found success with their first device, the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach, as an all-in-one device that monitors and analyzes your precious Z's, by using a headband sensor to track your tosses and turns. The 'Personal Sleep Coach' was recently renamed to 'Sleep Manager Bedside' as an allusion to the upgrades made with their latest release: Sleep Manager Mobile.
Sleep Manger Mobile improves upon the successes from the Bedside version by bringing all the same functionality to your phone. The headband monitor connects via Bluetooth (similar to our fantastic cell phone Bluetooth headsets) to your mobile phone, sending your sleep data periodically for the Manager app to analyze.
Results from the sleep data will track and reveal the duration of your awake, REM, and deep sleep patterns using Zeo's TruTrack technology 'with scientifically proven accuracy,' as stated on the product page. The mobile app allows analysis of sleep patterns, which can then be used to cross-reference against Zeo's online tools and sleep coaching programs, allowing you to find and adjust factors that are taking away from your beauty rest. After your night's over, Zeo's 'SmartWake' alarm turns on at an optimal point in sleep, leaving you refreshed and never late for any engagements.
MobiHealthNews points out the potential customers for Sleep Manager Mobile in their report. 'Zeo has two main customer segments: the Frustrated Sleeper and the Health Optimizer. The frustrated sleepers are typically older, have had trouble sleeping for the past five to seven years, and are willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for a solution. The optimizer group is typically younger, knows that sleep is important to overall health, shops at Whole Foods, does yoga, etc. This group is more price sensitive, which helps explain the $99 price tag for Zeo Sleep Manager Mobile.'
According to Zeo co-founder Ben Rubin, sleep tracking is a multi-billion dollar market that could be expanded upon the mobile sector, with all the advances that smartphones are proving to bring to optimizing and managing health concerns. The magical Sleep Manager Mobile starts shipping at the end of October nationwide, and will only be available for the iPhone, with an Android OS plan in the works. Just like cell phone batteries need charging for continued use, your body needs sleep in the same way.
Your smartphone does it all, so why not have it give you ESP? NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest wireless carrier, unveiled its plans to use smartphones as extra-sensory devices with the nothing more than simple little phone accessories.
As previewed at CEATEC Japan 2011, an annual electronics trade show, NTT DoCoMo showed off mobile-based accessories for phones, tablets, and everything in between that further your device's prowess. Engadget was quoted as saying that the mobile accessories 'aim to swap out the peer criticism with smartphone objectivity' as their main focus is to gather data generated by your phone, networks established by the carrier, or by biometric data.
Imagine, you are experiencing a long Monday and who knows how long it has been since you have had a well-deserved snack break. Or, has it really been that long and your stomach and mind are playing tricks on you? Fret not, as one of NTT DoCoMo's mobile data gathering accessories allow you to check on your hunger levels. Simply blow into a straw that analyzes the amount of acetone your body is producing due to rising hunger levels, and voila, your phone has determined whether or not you are truly hungry. It is also useful for knowing when are optimal times in a day to do some exercise.
Here is a list of other smartphone accessories NTT DoCoMo unveiled (as reported by tech blog Penn Olson), for better or worse:
Cell phone cases that collect data such as UV light and gamma radiation: the latter is not so important here in the US, but in light of the catastrophic natural events that affected nuclear reactors in Japan, it may be a bit more important than detecting the UV light one is exposed to while sunbathing in Malibu.
NTT DoCoMo also revealed smartphone cases that detect bad breath and body fat, both of which are deemed as unpleasing as unsightly cell phone charms (we are called Cellphone Accents for a good reason).
A food app that analyzes images of food, say that cheesecake you were about to eat, and cross-references them against a database that gives you a calorie count for a standard portion.
An augmented reality app that takes data from NTT DoCoMo's environmental sensors which display real-time data when you point your smartphone camera in any direction, any time.
These smartphone accessories will most likely be available in Japan first, but it is indicative of how pervasive smartphones have become over the last decade and how the trend continues towards things that may or may not be so welcomed by consumers.
Facebook Timeline was announced in light of recent tweaks made to the world's foremost social networking hub. As with all rollouts of new Facebook features, people made their likes and dislikes known about the new friends list and public profile subscriptions. These features were released by Zuckerberg's company in order to prepare against its newest contender, Google+, which was released publicly this month.
Timeline, in short, is an overhaul of your Facebook profile putting your important achievements in the forefront. Instead of scrolling to the bottom of one's page to 'show more posts,' Facebook designers drop a literal timeline right down the middle of your profile, emphasizing more worthwhile achievements and activities in a more visually appealing manner.
Scrolling down on one's Facebook will not be subjected to the monotony of likes and one-line indications of new friends and positions in life. Instead, maps of places you have been will be properly geotagged like a modern Travels of Marco Polo. Full page photos of events are placed about akin to a digital yearbook.
Others equate Timeline to a sort of automated auto-biography; coupled with Facebook engineers' latest developments to track 'patterns' in which we consume and live. It is well known that Facebook partners with many in the advertisement and marketing realms and Timeline is nothing more than Facebook's latest marketing ploy. Editor-in-chief Lance Ulanoff of Mashable believes that one of the biggest issues with Facebook Timeline is peoples' willingness to trust Zuckerberg's vision.
'I don’t know if anyone is ready to trust Facebook’s algorithm to decide what to show and hide as the Timeline grows. Up top is full of minutiae. Down below, it’s an outline. But what Facebook deems important: — a birth, first steps, new job — may only be the highlights. To be fair, though, it’s not clear just how much editing we’ll be able to do on our timelines. The better question might be, who would want to spend time editing them, anyway?'
Zuckerberg's keynote at the f8 likened the older versions of Facebook as the first few minutes of a conversation with someone you have just met. Timeline will be the next few hours and more of an engaging heart-to-heart with whoever may come across your page. However, it seems like we are losing touch with our personal interaction skills. Obviously, Facebook developers are making it so that Timeline will be useable on mobile platforms without any issue. Things seemed more simple when a cell phone charm or cell phone case could define who you are.
Is Facebook Timeline simply too much information to share?
Whether it be plum, fuscia, or royal purple, HTC's latest debutant 'Rhyme' offers a fully functional phone for the aesthetically pleased mind.
News outlets have been unsure as whether or not the Rhyme is a female-oriented phone, as HTC's marketing plan made no such mention of said 'F' word. HTC senior designer Nicole Coddington, one of the phone's lead designers noted that development of the phone meant more than slapping on a pretty paint job.
“Our major design tenet was just good design. We weren’t thinking about it being for this or that segment.'
Rightfully so. The phone itself is a what one may expect out of a modern handset: front facing 5.0MP camera with face-recognition, a sizable 3.7 inch display, and the latest iteration of HTC Sense on Android 2.3. Tech specs reveal that the phone is more than capable for those wishing to have a petite, phone-sized personal assistant.
Though the Rhyme will only don a purple coat via Verizon Wireless, it will be bundled with accessories that HTC wants to seamlessly integrate into your lifestyle. A full-sized dock has been included, a perfect replacement for unsightly cell phone chargers. HTC was sure to note the popularity of cell phone charms as the Rhyme comes with a charm that flashes when there is an incoming call. Lastly, the phone is bundled with a pair of tangle-free headphones -- the only downside being that the headphone jack is shared by the charm. Style or substance, anyone?
Regardless on whether or not you subscribe to HTC's latest phone-fashion-lifestyle mantra, it is something to note that HTC continues to push the envelope with phone design. CNET's report on the Rhyme was sure to note the companies recent phone releases.
'HTC has been known as a company willing to go out on a limb with devices, building the first Android device, the G1 for T-Mobile, and the first 4G device in Sprint's Evo 4G. Earlier this year, it released a unique Facebook-centric phone, the Status, for AT&T.'
The phone will be available at the end of September, with HTC's global marketing chief Jason Mackenzie stating, 'for a feature phone customer, we think this is a better product than the iPhone.'
The words 'exercise' and 'zombies' may not go together like peanut butter and jelly, but a new exercise app in development may sway such an opinion.
Zombies, Run! is an experience that takes the recent popularity of exercise apps and molds it into a story- and objective- driven zombie apocalypse survival story powered by your smartphone and your natural running abilities.
Parents with children who are gamers or fans of the horror genre in general may have noticed a recent surge in zombie-related popularity. Entertainment has capitalized on have numerous depictions of zombies; from shambling simpletons to undead Olympic sprinters. With a release date for iOS and Android devices in early 2012, we can ring in the apocalypse a little earlier while keeping fit for whatever life throws at us.
The app is in development by Six Studios, whose portfolio of clients includes the likes of Disney and BBC. The story, written by Naomi Alderman, is one that unfolds in relation to the amount of time spent running in real life; in the game you automatically collect items which must be distributed amongst 'survivors.'
'Where did the zombies come from? What are the leaders of your base planning? There’s a deeper mystery to be uncovered, puzzles to be solved, websites to be discovered, documents to be viewed so you can learn the truth of what’s happened to the world.'
For some, motivation for exercise is tough to come by. Six Studios provides an experience that not only has you 'running for your life,' but also keeps you engaged in something other than monotonous routine. The app allows for real-time tracking, recording the distance, time, pace, and calories burned during your runs. You will be able to play your own music during missions, which allows for the story to progress in between tracks.
The only thing between you and zombies is your running prowess. Charge up those cell phone batteries and don your cell phone charms -- Zombies, Run! may be the app-ocalypse (pun intended) to end all excercise apps.
As it stands, online dating services have always been hit or miss. Their success is definitely measurable in terms of relationships made, but Meexo claims that its mobile platform will enable an efficient, personable, and secure experience for its community.
Meexo uses information gathered from existing social networks like Facebook to get an idea of the user's 'likes.' Check-ins and mobile GPS data will allow location-based suggestions to propose date locations or to match potential interests between members.
During Meexo's launch, a mock-up of their proposed dating application was displayed on a virtual iPhone presentation, showing ease of navigation and use. One demonstration sampled a user swiping through high definition profile pictures of matches optimized by personal data, alike to how services like Pandora gathers and remembers.
Upon selection of a crush, Meexo will begin to remember mutual interests and display nearby date spots. TechCrunch, who unveiled Meexo's launch at their DISRUPT conference, reported the following:
'Meexo is also looking to become your personal concierge (or assistant), remembering that both you and your girlfriend love sushi, and her birthday happens to be coming up, so the app will alert you and help you set up a date at a great sushi restaurant. (A partnership with OpenTable, for instance, would be a huge leg up here).'
Are privacy concerns and plain old annoyance deterring you from online dating?
Spammers are deterred by Meexo's use of virtual currency; upon sign up, a limited amount is allotted and used whenever messages are sent to potential matches. Only one profile is allowed per smartphone, limiting the number of 'stalker' profiles that plague current dating sites. Communication between you and your 'crush' is done via text through Meexo, which does not reveal either party's phone number.
Imagine if features like FaceTime or other mobile videoconferencing were ever able to be integrated into a dating service such as Meexo. One would probably want to take off their cell phone Bluetooth and cell phone headsets to look a little more suave. Joking aside, Meexo is entering a lucrative market with many foreseeable partnerships that could help to improve the online dating experience.
It's that familiar ringtone that's been interrupting your favorite movie since 1994.
Nokia's namesake 'Nokia Tune' has been cast into the spotlight as the cellphone maker has offered to shell out $10,000 to the lucky webizen who receives top votes by peers and a panel of judges for making a new Nokia sound to replace the well-heard song. Nokia listed full details for the contest on the their Nokia Conversations blog.
'For the first time ever, Nokia – together with AudioDraft – is asking you to create the next version of the Nokia ringtone, which will be placed next to the standard Nokia Tune within select phones of Nokia’s 2012 product portfolio. This means your winning entry will be made available on some 100 million devices and also be obtainable from Ovi Store.'
AudioDraft is a music and sound design service that allows developers of products (be it that you are searching for your next ringtone, commercial jingle, or video game music) to select a license as to how much you are willing to pay out for the end product, review and give feedback to 'contestants', down to picking the winner -- all of which allows you worldwide use of the end product.
Upon viewing Nokia's contest on AudioDraft, one sees a continuous scroll of tweets all referring to #nokiatune. Aspiring contest winners are able to upload their ringtone via AudioDraft to allow visitors a chance to review, rate, 'like', and share potential winners.
Twitter user @simontonekham, one of numerous people creating buzz on Twitter, states his opinion on #nokiatune: 'I wish there was a steel drum cover to the familiar #nokiatone#nokiatune#jingle.'
The grand prize winner is decided after popular votes determine finalists. A panel of judges, ranging from Nokia ranging from Nokia's Senior VP of Design, Marko Ahtisaari to world-renowned DJ duo Super8 & Tab and many other top minds in the audio branding industry.
Mobile payment has been a concept continuously refined over the past couple of decades, shifting people's banking habits from dealing with a live teller, ATM or debit card, to tap-to-pay services and mobile wallets. Major phone manufacturers and credit card companies are pushing to work with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in order to make the cell phone into a virtual payment and rewards system.
Imagine being at your local drugstore, and pausing to choose between the familiar PayPass system with your credit card, or deciding to pay by waving your smartphone. Not only will the system allow a quick and secure transaction, but proponents of NFC technology propose perks in the form of coupons, membership points, and deals customers would otherwise not be able to access outside of their devices.
It's coming soon.
This idea is being proposed by a super-venture called Isis, and with integration to be handled by major mobile network providers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA), and major credit card companies (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). Outside of the United States, mobile payment has already seen great successes in places like Japan, implemented by top mobile powerhouse NTT DoCoMo. The company is looking to expand phone payments through implementation NFC technologies.
Edward McLaughlin, Chief Emerging Payments Officer at MasterCard (as reported via the New York Times) assures those skeptical of the technology's security, that NFC-enabled smartphones have the benefit of remote data wiping, which is much faster than recovering a stolen credit card by any means. You can also buy a cell phone case for added everyday security. Mr. McLaughlin has already adopted usage of Google Wallet, released in May this year, and has used it for everyday purchases through his Google Nexus S.
NFC technology has been tested in various markets across the globe such as Seoul, Oslo, and Singapore. Over on our side of the lake, Joint-venture Isis plans to setup test markets in Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas by the first half of 2012.
Analysts from the research firm Gartner released estimates that most mobile payments are currently bank account transfers and suggests that the main obstacle with mobile payments will be the end-user's ability to comply with using their phone to pay. Others believe that the time it takes to get the app ready, would deter most casual users from mobile payments. In the end, developers need to find ways to implement a fast and secure transaction between mobile phones and vendors.
The incentives posed by mobile payment proponents such as automatic accumulation of membership points, rewards and automatic recognition of sales or coupons accessible on the Internet are a benefit that many may look forward to in a time of penny pinching -- and your cell phone holder may become your new billfold. Changing what 'wallet' means for good.
For those of us still taking baby steps in the world of mobile technology, augmented reality seems like something from the Sci-Fi channel (or E! for those with different palates). As if location-based services, quick response (QR) and barcode scanning, were not helpful (or confusing) enough, visionaries of the mobile market envision your world enhanced with information and resources through the lens of your smartphone camera.
Augmented reality in a whole represents technology that superimposes information over live picture or video feeds using the device's camera. Say for example you have been enjoying your Roman holiday and stumbled across an unknown landmark. Being proactive and wanting to impress friends with your newfound technological aptitude, you have access to Wikitude on your iPhone. With a press of a button and a quick search your area is scanned using georeferenced information, pulling up the information on let's say, the Pantheon.
Augmented reality is not new technology per se, but marketers and developers are increasingly developing smartphone and tablet apps that cater to our daily needs. Both iOS and Android phones offer augmented reality suites such as Layar who boasts their position as 'world’s leading mobile augmented reality platform with thousands of developers and content layers, and over 10 million installs of the Layar Reality Browser.'
Such apps allow developers to continually develop content 0n the consumer level adding layers upon layers of augmentation upon whatever one's reality may be. With the sophistication of the mobile market in terms of technology and service providers, augmented reality has moved from its original military and gaming applications to a more practical use for the everyday consumer.
'You're never looking down at your phone; you're always looking through your phone,' says Trak Lord, founder of Metaio who specializes in augmented reality development with natural features such as facial and landmark recognition. Recently his company ventured beyond barcode and QR scanning to develop 3D recognition of environments using augmented reality.
'Recently we went beyond the camera to add other sensor information, such as geolocation, so that you could overlay 3D information on the real world -- for example, to find a place to park. In the app we tested, a red car icon indicates that a spot one street away is taken; green that it's available. 3D information layered on city parking sensor data. It relies on information about where you are.'
The world is always moving, and we at Cellphone Accents assume that you are too. Do yourself a favor and make mobile technology a breeze with our cell phone headsets and always be on the ready with our cell phone chargers; unfortunately augmented reality does not work without a charged battery.
As your children go out your front door and into the 'real world,' concerned parents may begin to ponder this question. After all, it's hard to not wonder if you've equipped your kids with all the right tools they need for a healthy, safe environment.
While children can be more concerned with whether or not their phone will play the latest games, or if it can be decorated with the cutest cell phone charms, parents and guardians have a more pressing thing to consider: The bottom line. When you keep in the mind the ridiculous plans and smartphone prices that can suck wallets dry, it becomes a huge roadblock. Not only this, but parents also have the worry about not being able to keep track of every little action a minor may perform on the phone--one accidental dial may cost more than a pretty penny in the long run.
Fortunately, both big and small wireless phone services are increasingly addressing this dilemma by releasing phones and plans specifically geared towards the child and pre-teen market. AT&T and Verizon Wireless already have options aiming to make the cell phone and child equation a little less volatile.
blocking up to 30 incoming and outgoing calls and text messages
blocking 411 directory assistance calls; time of day usage restrictions
dollar limits for downloadable purchases and overall limited number of texts, calls, and data usage allowed per billing cycle
Verizon Wireless' Family Locator boasts functionality via PC or phone at $9.99/month plus data charges with the following features:
receiving arrival and departure notifications for each family member
create scheduled location updates for each family member
the ability to locate any family member, anytime, anywhere
Now here is the bane of most parents decision-making regarding the cell phone dilemma: there is no denying that your little Debbie or Rodrigo has been ogling over that tricked out iPhone or the latest and greatest Android phone. Remember that there are other options to financial suicide and consider these prospects: Kajeet and Firefly Mobile.
While Sprint and T-Mobile offer similar parental control plans and features at more down-to-earth prices, Kajeet and Firefly Mobile bring the child-phone experience down to the essentials, saving you a pretty stack of pennies for that cell phone cover you have always wanted.
Kajeet offers perks such as:
no termination, activation, or contract fees
plans start at $4.99, phones at $29
GPS feature with one-button functionality to locate lost cell phones or cell phone users
Firefly Mobile offers similar plan rates but slightly higher-priced rates due to their premier phones being custom tailored to the child or pre-teen user. When searching for plans, customers generally have the option for pre-paid and contract plans. Pre-paid plans have the advantage that no long-term contract or credit card is required to start up service which limits the potential for out of the ordinary bills and overused minutes. In regards with contract plans, you may benefit from long-term savings and cheaper up-front prices on cellular devices, but these tend to be disadvantageous for parents with children who do not make full use of contract options.
As succumbing to technology for all ages continues to be the trend in a modernized world, it may be wise to consider these cell phone options for your child and for your peace of mind.
Texting while driving, as efficient as the feat may seem to be to some, has obvious fatal consequences and repercussions. AT&T, as part of their It Can Wait public service campaign, has released DriveMode through which customers 'can manually enable the app prior to driving, activating the text auto-reply feature. The app also allows disabling of emails, incoming and outgoing calls and Web browsing. When the app is turned off, user can view the calls, messages, and emails as they normally would.'
As more and more states have banned various aspects of the cell phone 'experience' on the basis of the technology's disruptive nature, mobile innovations such as headset to cell phone Bluetooth pairing and other cell phone hands-free and headsets decrease the need for texting while driving. In AT&T's public service announcement regarding the reduction of texting while driving with DriveTime (available on their ShareATT YouTube channel), they quote research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute: 'Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's driving the length of a football field.'
However, with legality disregarded, many people still find ways to circumvent the safety aids and put full faith on that five-seconds of screen-time.
Charlene Lake, chief sustainability officer and senior vice president of AT&T Public Affairs introduces DriveMode in the hopes 'to reach new and experienced drivers alike to generate a change in behavior and underscore our message that when it comes to texting and driving, it can – and should – wait.”
Though the driver using the app is severely limited to receiving and transmitting communication through their mobile device, AT&T has enabled the following features (taken from a recent AT&T PSA) which should help for total functionality in emergency situations:
The “Allow List” lets users select up to five contact numbers – such as roadside assistance and family members – to send and receive calls while the app is running.
911 is an automatically approved number and easily dialable from the home screen.
Music and Navigation settings allow one music and one navigation app to run while AT&T DriveMode is enabled.
Currently the app is available for free to Blackberry customers on the AT&T network, with future releases slated for Android and iOS phones.
As a former commuter of five to ten-mile per hour Los Angeles traffic, the allure to pick up the phone and do one of a million things was almost too great -- until approaching the accident and ultimately realizing that texting while driving is not worth the effort.
Smartphones, tablets, and all mobile devices continue to contribute to the increase of online purchasing with the plethora of mobile markets available across mobile operating systems. While most people can say that they have shopped online for the product of their desire (or convenience), global consumer research company Experian Simmons found that approximately 33.3 million consumers use their mobile devices for shopping-related activities which includes quick-response and barcode scanning, product research, and direct purchases.
Quick-response or “QR” scanning is one of the more recent advancements in mobile technology. Customers with smartphones who spot QR codes on their favorite products or even potential purchases and advertisement experiences often find insider information that those using conventional means such as a basic Google search or perusing a periodical.
As of late, Nissan dealerships across North America have recently established the 'On Vehicle Graphics' system which allows consumers to make decisions about their potential purchase.
Nissan North America’s VP of Marketing, Jon Brancheau stated about the On Vehicle Graphics system, “Nissan's new QR code program puts important decision-making information at shoppers' fingertips while on dealership lots, helping sales personnel make a more effective presentation, as well as providing customers with a 'silent salesperson' if they are shopping the lot after hours,”
Available on these QR codes are pieces of information ranging from vehicle-specific information, dealership information, vehicle overview images and videos, incentives, and even the capability to request a quote straight from the dealership.
As companies across the commercialized globe continue to add QR scanning and other future-forward methods of online shopping to their marketing and advertisement campaigns, product awareness and purchase of said product will depend more and more on the capabilities of our mobile device of choice.
Whether you need cell phone batteries to ensure your mobile shopping longevity or a slick cell phone holster for a quicker than quick QR scan, Cellphone Accents has all your smart shopping needs. Owning a smart phone these days means you should leave the not-so-smart shopping to the next person.
The CellphoneAccents family loves a good deal, and by now everyone over at the office knows about Groupon, the website that offers 50-90% off deals for dining out, activities and buying a mountain of wonderful products.
We're excited to announce that the ultimate deal company now offers an app for your cell phone.
With the Groupon mobile app, saving money cannot be more simple: You can easily find deals nearby and then pinpoint them on the map. Deals can also be directly purchased from our mobile phones, which is great way to buy a deal when you don’t have time to get onto a computer.
Whether it's for tracking your savings progress or convenience, the app will allow you to see all the past deals you've purchased, and also keep track of when our Groupons will expire, so we can take advantage and enjoy all the deals we have purchased.
Some of you may be yawning and thinking, 'what's new about another app?'. We say plenty:
Ever-hip and following green ideals, the app is eco-friendly, switching out the old print and redeem method with your phone screen. Simply open the Groupon mobile app and redeem it.
Launched in November 2008, this massive deal company and has been finding the best discounts we've ever seen, utilizing a great social web 2.0 practice that set the stage for a revolution in how we purchase and work with local companies. With the app, things have only gotten better. It is a great service that provides people on the go a way to still find deals without having to go to the trouble of searching.
Gilt Groupe is another fantastic website for finding deals. Ever-posh and full-on VIP, it has also come out with a mobile app for their members. Gilt Groupe, however, may not be as big of a household name as Groupon, and the model is a little different.
At Groupon we purchase a coupon, for instance, to buy 10 classes of yoga. At Gilt Groupe, you purchase the actual product or trip. Rather than local discounts, it provides instant members-only insider access to today’s top designer labels, at up to 60% off retail.
Becoming a member is free and everyone can find something on sale they need (shoes). They offer sales every day for women, men, kids and home as well as exclusive local services and travel packages.
The mobile app allows you to always see the current sales, preview any upcoming deals, and make purchases in less than a minute with a few simple clicks on your phone.
Having mobile shopping apps allows uz to avoid that hassle of going to the mall, while helping us still save money, which we're sure no one would object to, all through the convenience of our trusty cell phones.
At CA, we're already buying extra cell phone chargers to keep our phones ready for app-usage, and cell phone holsters for quick access. We see a lot of purchases in our future.
Now that fall is approaching it's time we at Cellphone Accents put down the margaritas and the tortilla chips and get our butts back in the gym. With work from 8-6, chores around the house, and a dessert truck parked up the street, being healthy can be nearly impossible. Or so we thought.
With some inner motivation and some help from your cell phone you can be on track to a slimmer you.
There are a a lot of great apps on the market to help you track and maintain your fitness progress.
Lose It!
Lost It! is an amazing app that lets you keep track of the calories you consume in a day. It allows you to set a goal weight and tell's you your progress throughout each meal. Of course there can may be a lot of apps that do the same thing, but Lost It! shines in a more practical application:
On this app, common restaurants are listed so you can see how many calories are in their food. Sure we'd like to wave the thought off and think it's sometimes better not to know, but we're trying to shed those calories.
In order to start fitting in those jeans you wore back in college, we need to watch what we eat. And Lose It! helps you do this just that by letting you enter how many calories you are and worked off that day, letting you have a better picture of how much you can actually eat the rest of the day.
There are plenty of apps that provide quick and easy recipes to keep your diet filled with the fruits, veggies and lean proteins that will keep you full and thin. There are even workouts that can be on an app:
Women’s Health Magazine has an app to keep your body in tip top shape. This app provides step by step instructions and photo examples to make sure you know how to complete each workout.
It's like having a personal trainer in your pocket. We highly believe it's an app to take advantage of.
With all these great cell phone apps, it's going to be hard not to lose weight this fall. Try a few and see which combination keeps you on track.
For now, we believe these two are the best to get that summer body by Winter. And since we have quality cell phone chargers and excellented extended-life cell phone batteries, we're ready to keep track of our progress all day.
For some of us, when we leave our locked cars in front of the house, we always assume all our belongings will be exactly where we left them the next day. Our lipstick will be on our seats, and our wallets in the cup holder secure and ready for you in the morning. Sure, you understand that there could be a burglar hiding in the trees of your front lawn, and that he could bash out your back window and steal your sound system some time in the middle of the night, but what's the use of stressing over a small what-if? Most Americans like to keep the idea of being robbed far back in their head.
Unfortunately, we live in a new era where technology is making everyone's job easier--even thieves:
Now people can break into your car a lot easier then you would have hoped using a laptop, and as time goes on, maybe even a phone app.
Security consulting firm iSec Partners warns drivers that there is now the potential risk of thieves exploiting smartphones with newer cars that use remote entry systems, allowing them to unlock and start their cars from anywhere there's internet.
Researchers Don Bailey and Mathew Solnik were able to hack the protocols some of these system use to demonstrate how tech-saavy thieves can take advantage of flaws in it with just a few clicks on the laptop.
The iSec researchers pointed out that it's not a simple short-term issue, suggesting a more widespread problem was created through the adoption and sale of cheap mobile networking technology.
When apps are created on limited budgets, the security measures taken to protect both identity, and in this case, your car, are not fully thought out. They're too busy trying to sell a feature, not excellent security, while these novel new unlocking systems seem convenient and continue to gain popularity.
You have to wonder if an app can unlock your car via a computer in a completely different state, who is stopping someone else from unlocking your car from across the street?
Obviously, these types of apps should have developed security measures to prevent auto theft, but until it proves to be a large issue, some (car) companies won't fix the problem until they're forced to.
Security behind apps needs to be diligently planned and needs adequate financial funding. If app security does not get stricter while adoption for new wireless technologies continues, it may not simple be a matter of car theft at hand, but much more far-reaching consequence.
Still, it's no use to worry too much about it. Bad security is bad for business, and we're sure most companies would rather not lose customers. For now, we'll just focus on the present and grab our cell phone chargers and cell phone holsters and take on the day.
As summer days begin to wane, and the fall season approaches, it's time to start thinking about the ever-dreadful back-to-school shopping trip. When we think of the traditional way to go about shopping for school, we can easily imagine Dixon pencils and black-checkered notebooks--not bedazzled pencil cases and iPad accessories, but in this modern age, there are now a lot more items on the list to keep track of than back in the easier days before the internet.
When you walk into your local mall you will find T-Shirts in every color of the rainbow, there will be 400 different types of flannel shirts and more jean brands than stars in the sky. With all these choices, making a decision on what to buy can be the most time-consuming thing on the planet. What makes back-to-school shopping even harder is the time it takes. People just lack of hours these days to even worry about so many things on the list.
In a world where eating and sleeping can feel like mini-vacations, we're lucky to have one option: the cell phone app.
We know we're grateful for cell phone apps that have been created to try and simplify our lives.
A great app for back-to-school shopping is called RedLaser. What makes this great go-to is its free scanning application for the iPhone and Android, allowing you to take advantage of one of the most useful key features: This app can compare prices, making back-to-school shopping a simple wave over a barcode. Once a product is scanned by the app it compares the prices of that product online and in stores. RedLaser searches for the best prices with TheFind, Google Product Search, eBay, and Half.com. Let's face it, if you have the option to buy what you want at a cheaper price it will always make for a good day.
At least for us.
Another very cool feature of this app is the ability to email yourself items you want to check out later. All you have to do is send barcodes as an email attachment--making for a convenient way to remind yourself of what you wanted to buy without the hassle of shuffling around for a receipt of piece of paper. This great feature is a game-changer, since most people like to sit on the idea for a while before swiping the plastic and buying expensive items.
This cell phone app really helps in locating available products and helps find these products at the consumer’s desired price range.
Since it does use the camera though, you may want to invest in a new Cell Phone Charger to give it that extra juice, so you can save time and money to recharge your own batteries.
Yes, gossiping is just a natural part of what people do.
I'm sure everyone has worried about the person being talked about overhearing whatever was being said on our phones... Especially when it comes to those we're close to--like my best friend--who's around all the time.
I am paranoid that somehow she could tap into my phone and hear everything I say. I mean, let's face it: She probably does not need to know what I think of her latest haircut, or that the skirt that she should have bought a size up in, and I wouldn't want her to hear me saying it either.
To be safe when I am critical about her, I leave my phone on the table to make sure I don’t pocket dial her by accident. Everyone should, right?
As much as I am paranoid that someone could listen in on my calls, I strangely would love to listen-in on someone else’s. Imagine the possibilities:
It would be enlightening to hear what your boss really thinks about you, and even better to find out if he’s having a situation that can help you 'suggest' to him that giving you that raise is a great idea.
We kid of course.
Either way, your boss and all of us may want to watch our backs now, and say goodbye to our privacy because with the rise of smartphones, these scenarios are becoming more and more possible.
For Android users who become infected with the latest generation of Trojan Malware, we can kiss gossiping without the risk of losing a friend adieu.
CA Security Advisor has found a new type of malware that has a 'neat' configuration tool once in your phone, letting it fully record your phone conversations and then save them to your SD card.
The virus only kicks in when the call is initiated from the infected phone, and not on incoming calls, thankfully, so only half of your calls would be recorded.
It is still unclear if your call will still be recorded if you don’t have an SD card installed, but for now, we advise everyone to keep their eyes open for any apps that ask for permission to access your phone calls and system tools.
If we all think back, how many times have we all seen an app ask for access to sensitive information and simply clicked yes?
...I probably have this virus on my phone already.
This unnamed Trojan Malware might be desirable for some nosey people out there--including me--but after some thought, I can also see it as many people's--including my--biggest fear come to life.
It's not yet clear how widespread this virus is yet, but if you plan on making any risqué phone calls off your android today, you may want to use a payphone instead, or grab an extra cell phone charger with a back up memory card to keep your information safe and swappable.
A recent study by the Mitre Corporation suggests the information posted through your tweets can tip people off as to whether the message is coming from a man or woman.
You might think of it as easy to tell the difference between the expressed thoughts of a man vs. a women, since each gender typically is more likely to talk about one topic over the other, but there hasn't been any recent study in regards to how guys and gals write differently.
Obviously while messages containing phrases such as 'my gf' or 'muscle building' are more likely coming from that of a man, the study did find some interesting keywords that are used more by one sex over the other(Did you know that ladies are more likely to post messages involving the words 'chocolate', 'wait' and 'yummy' while men are more likely to talk about their 'zipper(s)' and the ever-nerdy 'http'?)
So why is it important to distinguish between who is saying what?
Well, apparently the answer is quite simple: Businesses that have people following them on twitter are looking deeper into what their followers want and how they express their opinions about things like products and services. They want to know who you are by how you feel, and if a business or company can tell if a comment is coming from a man or woman then may be able to better accommodate and improve upon how they serve that particular community.
A test of Mitre Corp's gender-distinguishing 'machine' showed it could correctly identify the tweeter’s gender 76% of the time. If a machine could predict this information correctly with that much accuracy, imagine how a real person would manage?
And yes, yes, we know there are some dense people out there.
With social media sites becoming more and more accessible (especially with cell phones being more like portable computers), businesses need to stay connected if they want to thrive in an ever-changing economy, and that means getting to know you better by your social cues.
We're not quite sure what that means for privacy, but in general, we think it might mean much better customer service--unlike the casual boyfriend or girlfriend, at least a company would listen to how you feel, and respond the correct way.
That makes us check to make sure our cell phone batteries are charged and our phones well protected with a cell phone case for when Corporation XYZ gives us free things whenever we tweet about how we feel about them.
And you never know--whoever reads it might just take it to heart and try to act on it...hopefully in a good way.
He'd discovered her hiding something forbidden in the home: A personal cell phone. Outraged, he used his fists and whip to punish Maryam for defying him.
When asked whether she would buy another phone, Bloomberg quoted Maryam as simply stating,'My husband said he would divorce me.'
It can be easy to overlook the potential of modern technology Stateside, but in developing nations, a simple thing like the cell phone can literally be the one thing that separates a person from life and death. Having a phone can mean freedom from traditional violence, and a legacy of potential vs. one of constant hardship otherwise
Luckily development agencies, companies and programmers have noticed the possible impact of the modern phone, and have come together to deliver services and devices to those who need them the most: Women.
As stories like Maryam's continue to be unfortunately common throughout the developing world, different groups are working to provide women with the resources to bring them up to the same status as men, empowering women to communicate outside the circles they've been allowed to by local societies, and giving them avenues to discover important information and share crucial knowledge.
Programs like mWomen are working in developing nations to deliver access to phones for more women, and lives are already changing thanks to such efforts:
Mobile banking has allowed women to pay for services that they wouldn't have had access to, mobile payment systems allow non-profit hospitals to send travel funds to women who would have otherwise not been able to receive the money without it being skimmed or taken whole by their husbands, and separate phone-manageable bank accounts have prevented women from falling victim to prevalent violent cash robberies in places like Kenya. Even local governments are participating: India has opened a program that sends phone notifications about nearby water taps that the government has opened up to provide the life-giving fluid.
The biggest hurdle at the moment, is cost for services and access to money. In patriarchal societies, the man holds control over the purse strings, and as with Maryam's case, they'd rather not spend it on paying for a way to have their wives rank socially higher in their communities.
The CellphoneAccents family looks forward to a solution. Every woman deserves to express themselves and live a fuller life.
Wireless is the future, and in most towns and cities across the country, payphones are being removed in large swathes, leaving the once scruffy-looking phone booth bare and tinged with a hint of lonely nostalgia.
Though we're sure most people don't miss the strange stains and smell of sweat and general unpleasantness that once pervaded the now stale phoneboxes of old (we're already reaching for our hand-sanitizers, Cell Phone Chargers and Cell Phone Batteries just thinking about it), some people are finding creative ways of reviving the former cultural icon by re-tooling them.
Skip across the pond and we land in Shepreth, England where campaigners have redressed a very-British red telephone box with a new reason for being: As an outdoor bar called the Dog & Bone.
Outfitted with a locally-built triangle-shaped bar, and serving beer by the 'thimble-full' along with sodas and chips, organizer Louise Barrell was cited as saying it was a 'great success'.
As to why this fun community novelty happened, the campaigners had setup shop during the summer weekend to protest the closing of something called 'The Plough'. Whether this means a piece of land or a building eludes us - we assume it's something like the 'Commons' we've read about in textbooks - but at least we can say the campaign was a great success in building awareness for their cause.
Whatever it is.
More creative uses of old phones booths below:
Phone Booth Aquarium - Benoit Deseille and Benedetto Bufalino
It's no surprise that people are more likely to keep in touch with others living closer to them, but a recent project by the MIT SenseableCity Lab and AT&T called the Connected States of America has finally put it in a visual form, using data collected from calls and texts (image at the bottom of the post).
For places with sufficient call-data the project reveals a large amount of cross-border contact between neighboring states, making it impossible to differentiate their interactions.
If state lines were to be redrawn by these colored indicators, America would be an interesting new nation with a single Carolina, a Kennessee, the separation of Northern and Southern California and... well, you get the picture.
But what does this all mean outside of the pretty colors and the fun exercise in 4th-grade geography?
That's simply up to interpretation.
It does show a good indicator of how far our interactions go, seemingly zipping past the thresholds of our normal concepts of community - out of sight doesn't mean out of mind apparently - as long as the people you know are still within 250 miles or so.
Whether this has always been the case, or a result of the information age is something this blogger would not know, but one can postulate (that's a fancy word for 'guess') that we are in the era of staying connected and cultivating relationships more so than ever before.
For those who have been in the dark about recent phone news, corporate bully Microsoft has been grabbing hold of a few new patents with the aim of bleeding Android's marketshare. During the last few weeks, the company has been ecstatic to announce bits of news about their recent patent acquisitions - from buying Nortel patent portfolios to agreeing with Nokia on patent sharing deals, using them to force Android device makers to shell out for royalty fee's.
...Or pay the price by fighting against Microsoft's well-funded army of lawyers.
Going for smaller companies first, Microsoft has attacked both long-time partners and companies that would be hard-pressed if they attempted to defend themselves against the costs of fighting the megacorp, forcing them to concede payments that range from $5 to $15 per device sold.
This may not seem like much, but when you consider that the profit margins on cutting-edge electronics are a bit on the short end, Microsoft's overblown demands are a huge swipe at Android manufacturers' bottom-line, killing some incentive to keep developing products for the platform.
Cultish favorite, Apple has also fallen into the practice of aiming at Android device makers: Purchasing patent portfolios, making sure to keep their own patents vague and suing companies using Android left and right.
Recently Samsung has proved the Galaxy S-series was a hit, gobbling up a huge portion of smartphone marketshare with their devices. With the arrival of the Google Nexus S, Samsung has now become the flagship Android phonemaker to code for.
The competition hasn't been too happy about that.
Though its true both Apple and Microsoft have been targeting multiple Android device makers, their combined aim is without a doubt focused on specifically crippling Samsung and Android through means outside of fair competition. Apple has recently requested the International Trade Committee to ban Samsung's sleek smartphones from entering the US market, seemingly afraid to deal with the upcoming Galaxy S II. Microsoft, with their patent trolling, has demanded an amazingly high $15 per phone sold.
Google has been relatively silent about the affair, attempting a quiet strike back by also vying for the available patent portfolio sales only to lose out to Apple and Microsoft bids.
What this means for Android phones is yet to be seen, but we wouldn't be surprised if prices do go up for devices.
In that case, it's not a bad idea to keep your current Android phone running smooth with our Cell Phone Cases and dependable Cell Phone Chargers.
A great comic to illustrate the mindset of the three companies below - via Manu Cornet :
From cell phone charms to cell phone cases, our great customers have proven that accessories are a great way to Express Your Cell, while providing some much-needed protection for your phone. Well, it looks like tech-clothing company Alphyn has taken the concept to a whole new level, releasing a new product called the Alphyn Tee: A shirt designed to show off your slick smartphone with a see-through pocket.
Made with the serious phone fashionistas in mind, this 100% American Cotton shirt comes with two pockets and a shoulder strap. The clear polymer left-pocket allows for quick access to your phone when you receive emails or texts without having to worry about slippery fingers, and has a 'quick draw' pouch for those times when you need to answer calls. The other, side pocket, allows for basic storage which Alphyn suggests you use to store your 'mic/earphones wire or a Bluetooth headset'. That's not all, the Alphyn Tee has a left shoulder strap that allows you to hold your earbuds/mic for full integration, making your body a great desk for your phone.
At $45, this shirt isn't something anyone would call economical, but it is without a doubt the ultimate geeky fashion dream come true. We're certain that a new definition to what a 'hands-free' kit means has just been born thanks to Alphyn. Our biggest question is what would happen if this turned into a trend. Clear-pocket hats, mittens and doggy sweaters immediately come to mind and stretch out into infinity. For now, we'll wait and see if it takes off.
As summer continues to roll-on and our tan-lines become more defined, the world will notice a lack of mismatched bronzer in one place: The wrist.
With every passing season, we are seeing our phones drastically take up the duties that were once exclusive to wrist-watches, and the centuries-old companies that have forever been making them are feeling it - once again falling to the tech-wayside except for a select few:
Swiss company TAG Heuer hopes to change the game with their line of Tag Heuer Link Android smartphones at the going rate of $6,728.
Sporting Android 2.2 Froyo, an 800x480 screen and 5mp camera, the Link Android won't be an iPhone or HTC-killer, but as is with all novelty luxury phones, stats aren't the important thing, it's the premium design that will turn heads.
Coming with different luxurious materials from surgical steel to diamond-studded rose gold, and sporting leather options that range from alligator to lizard, the concept behind the phone seems to simply be 'skin-deep' – outside of the airtight internals that TAG Heuer watches are known for.
By now a luxury phone isn't rare news, and proponents state that the luxury phone market is always open for a takeover. This could simply be TAG Heuer's attempt at becoming a smarter company, or showing that the old tech world can be merged with new technology to create something just as impressive.
Smarter companies, like Seidio, have always retooled; producing excellent products with previous their previous knowledge like our slimeline extended Cell Phone Batteries. Whether the same will be the case for TAG Heuer is yet to be seen. We think that it'd be great if they simply retooled to make designer cell phone cases. It'd be a shame to throw out the material once the phone gets old.
Whether this is a striking example of a paranoid boss or smart old-school thinking is up to debate over here, but either way, German Chemical Company Evonik is making headlines with their new method for keeping information secure: Putting phones in biscuit tins.
As globalization continues to grow larger companies, corporate espionage has undoubtedly been on the rise, and with millions poured into research, being careful seems to just make for good business. Sensitive materials leaking through spies, ex-employees and hacking attacks have been more and more sophisticated in their execution. Security protocols have been ramped up everywhere else, but something simple as a tin container demonstrates how simple tech can be better than overblown alternatives.
Utilizing the concept of a Faraday cage effect, Evonik's use of biscuit tins during sensitive meetings aren't just crumbly science. The effect blocks electromagnetic waves, isolating the phones from any hacking attempts to 'listen in' or access materials that may cost a multi-billion dollar company like Evonik the future of their business.
Plus, when employee's get their phone back, we imagine (and hope!) that their phones smell like delicious buttery cookies.
The future of phone security is a rising issue that will become especially important once our little pocket computers become avenues for real-world transactions through the various mobile pay/charge programs that seem to be popping up everyday. There might even be more private information available on a normal phone than a computer as time goes on. This seems a better time than ever to invest in a privacy screen available within our selection of cell phone cases, and a good sturdy cell phone holster to keep your phone next to you at all times. Who knows when some wandering hand might grab it otherwise.
You won't hear anyone argue against the fact that this year has been a year of trial and tribulation for Blackberry and Research in Motion. The company has been consistently plagued with months of horrible news ranging from government audits to accusations of deceit. RIM's rush to play catch-up with Android and iPhone has shown very little in terms of results, and the blogosphere has been quick to deride any new product or feature.
Finally, some much-needed good news.
A recent study in the United Kingdom collected over 600,000 customer support calls, and found that Android phones had topped the list with around 14% of its calls being about hardware issues. Following behind at 9% were Windows Phones, then iPhone at 8%, and finally; Blackberry with the lowest number of hardware issues at 3.7%.
The implication? Blackberry phones had 4x less complaints about hardware issues than Android phones, and they also beat Apple in terms of hardware dependability by over double. A little bit of great news to lighten RIM's day, at least.
The study shows a bit of an interesting dynamic about quality control in Android phones. We all understand that Google has very little say in what kind of goodies phone companies can put in their products to run the platform - that would require a lot of nosing around. Still, in the end, if one phone maker releases a lemon running the Android OS, then Android itself would get a hit for a complaint along with the company. This could prove disastrous in the future.
For now, we hope people at RIM are a little heartened by the piece of good news.
Outdoor concerts and good, strong vibrations from loud speakers aren't just great for dancing. It has been shown to be a viable recapture of energy. The always edgy annual Glastonbury Festival in England, is pairing with telecom company Orange, to demonstrate a new technology at their 'Spirit of 71' stage: A t-shirt that can use sound waves to charge your phone.
Now that's what we would call absorbing the vibe.
Using something called a 'simple piezoelectric film' that converts sound frequencies (especially bass frequencies) into immediate energy, the shirts have a slot to hold a phone and a cable to send converted sound energy directly to your phone for a little bit of extra juice. The film reacts immediately to any sound waves that come in contact with it, and different frequencies produce different charges.
Some of our readers might have seen a similar application with t-shirts that light up with every sound, but it looks like this long-overdue upgrade on a novelty has finally come. We look forward to seeing how far this innovation will go. We wouldn't mind carrying fashionable shirts that double as cell phone chargers or an alternative to a cell phone battery.
Following our article on the Hitochaja, this is another splendid example of how innovation is coming using recycled energy. We think this would be especially great during sports games to power a portable fan or small, refrigerated drink cozies.
The future looks very exciting.
More information on the project in the video below:
It’s a beautiful night out. You’ve hiked miles on end through verdant trees, rested on cool boulders and passed through babbling brooks. Back at camp, you set your pretty bottom next to a warm, crackling fire, and listen to your good friend, CellphoneAccents, recount a scary story:
One winter evening, in a campsite like this one, a girl named Joanne takes out her phone and see’s an email from work. The presentation she’d been working on was gone – her co-workers had accidentally deleted the file. Using her phone, poor Joanne scrambles to rewrite the entire proposal. One problem, her cell phone battery is running out of steam.
Relax, it’s not Halloween yet, this story ends on a high note.
If you’re a person who craves the digital world even out in nature, MYCOM has the perfect product for you: The Hitochaja HC-5 USB power pot at the smoking hot price of $285.78.
Efficiency aficionados, physicists and engineers understand the loss of energy through heat is a sad but inevitable part of power transfer. It’s time to take the power back (hold your groans) with the Hitochaja HC-5.
Made to recapture energy from the heat of a stove or as the picture seems to suggest, burning wood; you can have your ration pack warmed up, and your phone ready to go… in 3 to 5 hours. Now that’s getting your hard-tack and eating it too (I'm sorry).
MYCOM states when boiling water, the Hitochaja HC-5 will release about 200 to 250 mAh, and is capable of up to 400mAh output. At least if you burn your food, you can still win with this energy-recapture pot.
The price and, really, application make this product more gimmicky than revolutionary, but it points to a very interesting concept: Energy recapture. One day our stoves may store lost heat energy and send it back to our houses.
We look forward to it. And maybe a cheaper version of the Hitochaja HC-5 for camping trips.
The race has begun. Multiple small services as well as large behemoth companies like Google have all started the shift towards implementing mobile phones as a viable replacement for credit cards. So far the proposals laid out to the public have been relatively the same: Use our application, sync with a vendor’s location, and pay by phone or tablet. It looked like we were headed for an era where our charge cards were simply shifting from plastic to different phone apps.
Verizon looks to be taking a much more different approach than what we’ve seen so far: Have a service with multiple payment options from your phone invoice or to specific bank accounts. By utilizing Payfone’s services and coupling it with their millions of customers, the service looks to have the best potential for immediate use. Not much detail was released with the sudden PR Blurb today, but we’re sure to have better details sometime in the future.
The chips have been laid down, whether it’s through grassroots organization, gimmicky programs or automatic customer inclusion, more and more companies seem to be trying to grab at that cell phone charge card vibe – before it’s come around. What we’re looking forward to is the ensuing fervor as more companies push to enter this new arena.
At CellphoneAccents Blog, this makes sense to us. What better way is there to simply buy a cell phone charger or cell phone cover than by having the cost charged to your phone? This just screams absolute synergy. Now the ultimate question: Can a phone to be used to by itself?
Until next time, stay beautiful and Express Your Cell, our dear, gorgeous readers.
About Mobile Money Mobile Money is a new series in CellphoneAccents blog to track the development and maturity of phones as payment options. We will be posting any new updates about turning your phone into a credit card with this series.
Readers of our blog already know how absolutely amazing we think the modern cell phone is, so it should come as no surprise whenever this blog talks about how it’s a whole new era of convergence and creativity since, really, this blogger believes it. When we think of how our lives and habits have been drastically changed since the introduction of smartphones, it can be obvious. In summary, we reiterate it because it’s true, dear reader and our task is to show you how:
Today’s post is about a Wall Street Journal article reporting how phones were replacing the mighty pen and key in a modern hotel located within Stockholm.
Swedish lock-makers Assa Abloy AB and telecom company Teliasonera AB have created a partnership to demonstrate how phones could replace those pesky keys forever. Utilizing a format called near field communications (think something like how Bluetooth Headsets work) to use phones as a simple method for check-in and room key.
Those who travel must understand how convenient this makes things for freeing up space for – ahem – sound souvenir purchases.
We’ve already seen similar applications for phones popping up left and right: There are already apps to start your car, answer your doorbell and pay for your meal at restaurants showing a growing trend of switching from the centuries-old pen and key to a completely merged system through our phones. It seems the possibilities are endless at this point.
Just imagine a purse or pocket having nothing but your phone in it. It would be a simplified world where you can have space to put knick-knacks like candy bars and inspirational poetry. Absolutely wondrous.
Well until the future comes, we’ll be reporting more tomorrow. ‘Til then, Express Your Cell and keep beautiful with our Cell Phone Accessories.
What do a future father-in-law with Parkinsons and a 13-year-old with a twinkle in his eyes have in common? A simple product with a grand result: The modern smartphone and an open market producing life-changing innovations.
Today a Mobiledia article introduced a 13 year-old Laurence Rook, who had invented a product that could literally change our living habits forever. Called Smart Bell, the Rook’s invention allows doorbells to be answered by a user’s phone, shifting the whole dynamic of how post is delivered, how houses are safeguarded and allowing a conversation with that one visitor with bad timing. 20,000 units have so far been produced, and when asked about the £250,000 (around $412,000 equivalent) he would earn, Rook was quoted as saying, “[w]ow, that's a lot of computer games.”
Flash to a BBC Article released the same day, and we hear the story of Mark Wilson, a father preparing for that important speech as he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage. Mark suffers from stuttering due to Parkinsons disease, and had been worried about presenting that picture-perfect wedding speech. A product to relieve his disability was available in the form of a delayed auditory feedback machine, but the price was restricting at around $3,000. Rather than have his patient worry about fees, Wilson’s doctor pointed him in the direction of an application for his phone. Using a Bluetooth headset or cell phone headset, the program was able to work exactly as a delayed auditory feedback machine would. Stating he was confident in giving that perfect speech, Wilson said, '[i]t is a minor miracle and has given me my old self back again.'
The modern cell phone has become a tool for convergence, unlinking ourselves from outlets and walls and bringing different products all within our purses or pockets. Today’s news simply pointed at one thing: We live in an exciting time, and the product fueling our hobbies can also bring innovation and hope.
It’s been a couple of years since the concept of the digital “cloud” was first introduced. Simply put, the cloud was supposed to be a new way of storing and maintain files outside of the confines of the physical computer. Everything was supposed to be online with storage able to synch to multiple different devices without a need for plugs, wires or disks. Still, the idea and reason for needing a cloud have eluded the consumer market. Essentially there wasn’t a viable or easy to use integrated option for the casual user, and thus the market suffered.
This may change.
Among other announcements, Apple released details on their iCloud service today during the World Wide Developer Conference in San Francisco. Meant to integrate important files, schedules, texts and images between multiple iOS devices, the standard cloud offerings were expected, what was interesting came later, the introductions of iTunes integration.
iTunes Cloud comes free with anyone holding an iTunes account. Any products purchased via the iTunes Market will automatically be available for access on Apples iCloud service from up to 10 different devices. On paper this means a possible goodbye to synching via cable, or redownloading tracks if your computer crashes. All of it will be on the cloud if you purchased through iTunes, and ready to listen.
For those holding music ripped from their CD collection, Apple has also intergrated iTunes Match, a service that makes those songs – if Apple has rights to – will also available in the cloud . Of course, this comes with a premium of $24.99 a year.
There are limitation with the service, if your music is outside Apple’s licensing rights, there’s nothing that can be done. You’ll still need a cell phone data cable.
It looks like the iCloud service is looking to make honest people out of all us while addressing the question: Will we need or depend on the cloud in the near future?
All we can say at this point is, with all that synching that can be expected, you may want to take a look at a cell phone battery.
Let’s face it, paying nearly $500 for a phone can be a bit of a daunting experience. Yes, smartphones are shiny, dependable and fantastic; and they are practically handheld computers, but can’t be something be done with the price? According to phone companies and the game of profit margins, the answer would be a resounding no.
…Or that was the case until T-Mobile decided to be amazing and release the Optimus T, Comet, and Motorola Charm last year. These phones all fell under the $100 price mark and are currently going for the unbeatable price of Free-Fifty (that’s $0).
But we’re not here for old news are we?
The growing trend among cell phone makers seems to be a push for faster, slicker and just as good - if not better - Android phones released to the market. Enter the two new stars in this price point revolution: The Samsung Exhibit 4G and Samsung Gravity SMART.
My how we love good news.
The Exhibit comes with Android 2.3, a front-facing camera, 3.2-inch screen, a 1gHz processer and - the best part - costs only $79.99 with contract. That’s right, a 4G phone for almost 1/3 of the price of its nearest competitor. Like we say about any of our Samsung Phone Accessories, we’re sold.
For those who love to exercise their thumbs, the Gravity SMART is an exciting prospect. With a slide out keyboard, touch screen and multiple color options, this gorgeous little beauty can fall into your hands for $69.99 for Red or Blue and a mere $29.99 for gray. Not a problem either way with our much better selection of Cell Phone Covers.
With the rising number of cheaper options and the introduction of budget phone-maker Huawei soon to fall into the fray, to say the next year will be interesting for smartphones is an understatement.
Until next time, Express Your Cell dear readers and look forward to the lower priced phone revolution. We sure will be.
At CellphoneAccents we believe our customers deserve the best products to express their cell. From beautifully designed faceplates to hardy ballistic covers, our large selection was born from a desire to deliver the most comprehensive solution to our clients’ needs. Since our founding, our lines of product have been growing, and we understand with so many choices, selecting the right Cell Phone Cover or Faceplate can become a bit daunting. We’re here to help.
It is our absolute pleasure to present:
The CellphoneAccents Guide to Cell Phone Covers and Faceplates.
Today we’ll be reviewing our main three types of Cell Phone Covers: Snap-on Faceplates, Rubberized Faceplates and Silicon Covers.
Snap-on Faceplates
Protection: Good Design: 5/5
Our most popular type of phone cover, the snap-on faceplate is a great way to add some color while providing your phone with good protection.
Made of a solid, durable plastic and available in a mountain of gorgeous designs, our returning customers have shown us that personalization and security make a great mix.
We absolutely love these faceplates so much that we’ve coupled all of them with our EZ 30-Day Return Policy and 1-Year Warranty. Overall, we recommend them as a great and affordable way of keeping your phone beautiful and protected.
Rubberized Snap-on Faceplates
Protection: Good Design: 5/5
The rubberized or “rubber feel” faceplates are well known for two things: Having absolutely deep and vibrant colors, and having a great, comfortable grip.
Made with hard plastic coated in soft rubber material, our line of Rubberized Faceplates come in Rubberized Designs - similar to our normal Snap-On Faceplates - or in vibrant Solid Rubber Feel Colors.
If you're a fan for a more reliable grip, beautiful designs and softer feel, the rubberized faceplate is an exceptional phone cover for the price.
Silicon Cases
Protection: Adequate Design: 4/5
Made of flexible silicon, our slip-on Silicon Cases are a great quick way to provide your phone with adequate protection. The quality, construction and fit are meant to perfectly match the phones like a glove and have very minimal slippage.
With lush colors and easy storage, a Silicon Case will do well in helping to Express Your Cell without sacrificing purse or pocket real estate. For phone users who have to swap out their battery, this is the highly recommended option due to its ease of removal.
Conclusion:
Whether you're looking for a more serious design, great texture or a completely flexible cell phone case, our great selection will be sure to suit your needs. For greater protection a Snap-On Faceplate would be better recommended due to having a more solid-body, but the Silicon Case does not fall far behind when it comes to supplying the protection your phone needs. Whether you go with one or the other, make sure you Express Your Cell.
As time goes on, this list will expand so stay tuned and keep that phone - and yourself - beautiful with CellphoneAccents.
Lovers of beautiful and shiny luxuries rejoice! The days of cell phones being available with gorgeous bling are still alive and well - at least according to Nokia. In what seems to be the first interesting announcement from the Finnish company in ages, Nokia presented their special Gold-Plated Oro phone. Better grab a towel, this kind of thing can have a lover of luxury drooling.
With 18-Karat Gold, a fine Scottish leather lining and a draped-in-sapphire home-key, the Oro has the best “specs” we’ve seen in a while. The price, is actually one of the most interesting surprises about the Oro so far: Setting a diva of pageantry back a mere $1,100, this is one of the cheaper luxury phones we’ve seen. We understand practical readers might immediately write the Oro off as another gimmicky news-maker, we’re hard-pressed to urge you to rethink: When you take into consideration this elegant smartphone has an 8 mega-pixel camera, fantastic battery life and a beautiful 3.2” screen, the numbers don’t look so bad. At least we think you’re worth it.
The Oro is slated to be sold specifically in Eurasia: European, Chinese, Russian and Middle-Eastern markets to be exact. No words on a state-side release, but we would like to petition Nokia on this blog: Bring it over! Come on fine employees of Nokia, have we, Americans not proved ourselves to be the biggest supporters and purchasers of bling? Why must you make us suffer?
Ahem, sorry about that.
As for the team here at CellphoneAccents, we love bling! Love it! That’s why we make sure the company carries shiny and adorable cell phone charms and absolutely gorgeous full-bling cell phone covers.
The internet can be full of shady players in every nook and cranny. We’ve by now all heard about the countless horror stories of lost identities, random charges and the like come up on slow news days ever since dial-up first arrived at our doorsteps, in those glistening installation disks. No matter, the growing numbers of successful online retailers like Amazon, Zappos and – ahem – CellphoneAccents show that Americans are confident: With the rise of better options for secure transactions, and safer browsers becoming available every day, internet purchasing isn’t going anywhere – Especially online purchases made over our cell phones.
JiWire has just released a poll of 5,000 people in regards to purchases made over their cell phones. The result? 79% of us apparently don’t mind making a purchase over their phone’s mobile browser. The numbers have been counted, and the future set in stone: Online Markets are here to stay, and they’ve gone mobile.
If you think about it, cell phones may be a safer option over a spyware-ridden computer – it’s not like we download as many apps on the cell over the good old PC, and we certainly don’t get affected by popups with Android and Apple phones. Making an over-the-air purchase sounds rather sensible with that in consideration.
Regardless of the type of transaction, from face-to-face to mobile, there will always be a risk, but it can’t stop us from moving forward, that wouldn’t be within the spirit of progress we’ve always had. Still, it would be horrible to have your phone turn off while you process a payment. Better grab that cell phone charger and an extra cell phone battery for those mobile shopping sprees.
No, we’re not talking about just dialing 9-1-1 when you need help.
There have been mountains of articles lately about how cell phones have been used in under-developed areas to provide the basic necessities we take for granted: From teaching life-changing instructions. basic medical advice and doctor check-ups; cell phones have changed the lives of billions of people. You read right, billions.
With an estimated 4 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide, having an ability to communicate with the outside world has become much easier in our era, and despite the rise of news about monetization, profits, mergers and giant conglomerates pacing within this industry, there is still that very important element that connects it all together: The human connection. Being social isn’t simply about having friends and sharing pictures; it’s showing another face of humanity that loves being connected with other people, making the lives around us better in one way or another by keeping that constant connection.
In Honduras, researchers are using cell phones to check up on diabetes patients, and the results have just absolutely fantastic: Those patients who received calls were much more likely to stick to the diets that would keep them healthy and save them from losing a limb. A similar program in Kenya reminding HIV/AIDS patients to take their medication has also proven to be effective, and over in Sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare workers are using cell phones to contact otherwise unreachable mothers about the status of their health as well as their children’s.
The application of this kind of method to improve health hasn't been lost in America where experiments are being carried out to see if these kinds of methods would work with young patients suffering from obesity.
The information coming in so far has been clear in what they're showing about contact through cell phone use: Being social and staying connected can be that little, beautiful, and compassionate extra push that can make an absolute difference in the lives of billions of people fortunate or not. So take a look at your phone, make sure it has a working cell phone battery, and make keep it ready to stay connected by plugging it in to your cell phone charger. It may make all the difference.
Outside the US, some nations have made the cell phone a great replacement for the time-honored wallet, setting up systems to work with vending machines, subways and retailers in an effort to replace the credit card for small-line items. Stateside, the option has just begun with services like Paypal mobile, but for the most part the methods and availability – to put it generously - have been less than minimal.
Thankfully, the future just keeps on creeping closer.
Square has just released a consumer-side application called Card Case to compliment the growing number of companies that already use their free card reader. This possible game-changer would rather have you take out that shiny Smartphone over that dull wallet, letting you pay through the use of an application and your name.
The concept is pretty easy to understand: First, go shopping with a company that uses Square’s Card Reader, and upon your first swipe have the retailer send an e-receipt to your phone with a link for the Card Case application. With that you should have yourself a nice little app that can be opened whenever you need to start and pay a tab with a Square retailer, but that’s not all, this is wallet is social. Card Case can help you find places that use Square, see daily specials and check the menus and products offered by that retailer. Well that’s convinced us! Let’s all download, install, register and toss that wallet! …Or so we’d say if this was bigger. The system is currently only active in five major coastal cities so our readers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, D.C and St. Louis can have some fun sampling the future. Regardless, it’s easy to see where the wallet might be headed in the not-too-distant future.
I know, I know… It might be hard for a lady to drop that beautiful Bvlgari wallet, but if the cell phones are the future of purchases, then the cell phone cover could be a fun and beautiful replacement. For those who can’t let go of that gorgeous leather, then think how nice a cell phone case would look when you have to pay that next dinner bill.
To say it’s been an interesting couple years for mobile phone consumers would be an understatement. Since 2010, we’ve witnessed a mountain of fantastic products being released, the rise of 4G, revelations regarding privacy concerns, phone company buy-outs and now, bandwidth throttling. The field has been tumultuous to say the least.
After more than a couple months of silence since the first warning issued by Verizon was released to the public, we at CellphoneAccents have all been waiting with bated breath to see how they would approach throttling of web usage.
Unfortunately the time has come, and it looks like the wait seems to be over.
The mobile community has been abuzz with the news that Verizon Wireless is planning to finally go through with throttling their data plans this summer and the release of a possible option the phone service giant might be headed towards: Tiered Family Data-Plans also known as “Mega-Plans”.
Outside of the very loose projected time stamp of mid-summer, there currently is no further information available on when the slash and burn of online usage for Verizon customers would begin, but with smaller carriers being taken over left and right by the Big Four, this looks to be an inevitable common trend for phone service providers.
In terms of options, we really don’t have much to say besides recommending greater use of your cell phone data cables, and an extra or larger cell phone battery for your phone – since it looks like wifi will increasingly become our best friend.
As of now, all eyes are pointed at Sprint and some have even stated that they’re looking for the rise of MetroPCS to balance the playing field.
That’s right folks, though we’ve been repeatedly hearing concerns over user-privacy voiced by representatives in D.C., following the recent revelation that both the Android and iPhone collect a heavy amount of location and personal data on its users, it seems as though things inside the Beltway are switching from discussion to action.
On May 9th Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced a bill to force companies to allow for users to opt-out of data collected by the big three, and had the Senate Commerce Sub-Committee call for a panel to investigate the data-mining practice of the three companies today.
Representatives of Google, Facebook and Apple testified before a panel in response to the data-mining practices that the three online behemoth companies have continually engaged in. The focus today was simple: Their policy on privacy and minors.
The big three were quick to assure the sub-committee panel that they have been committing to best practices in regards to protecting data collected anonymously, instituted penalties for activities by third-party developers, and barred youth under the age of 13 from registering with their services.
Sen. Rockefeller pointed to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Protection Agency’s as being responsible for maintaining privacy concerns, but it looks like until more money is invested and a bill is passed to ensure legal recourse in these situations, we’ll have to be patient and simply enjoy our services while data is continuously collected.
Though this is not necessarily a case of “big brother” companies dictating everything you do, for readers who are worried about privacy, we would suggest using cell phone data cables for transmitting any sensitive data, and a cell phone holster if you feel you need to be quick about throwing your phone in case of an emergency.
Let’s go on another beautiful journey: Picture a perfect world where mobile phone calls, online video chats and your conversations on a home phone can all be transferred through to a single, sleek, adjustable, and hassle-free little headset.
Plantronics, one of our favorite Bluetooth headset manufacturers are working hard to make that perfect world a reality: Enter the new Savi 700-Series of integrated headsets.
The Savi 700-Series comes in two main parts: A wireless station that connects to your computer and phone lines; and an edgy little headset designed to make you look fabulous in case you’re having that important video conversation. The station – which doubles as a charging dock for your earpiece – connects your different devices back to your headset for seamless integration, and the earpiece itself can be paired with your mobile device. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the arrival of absolute convergence, a perfect bridge between three devices we use the most for communication. How wonderful is that?
It took long enough.
With a suggested price-tag of up to $400, we won’t be calling this nice hot piece of machine pie as consumer friendly, yet. The focus is, without a doubt, more business-oriented, but rest-assured that we will be more than likely be seeing cheaper models aimed at a more normal market sooner than later now that the concept is running around in the wild. The possibility to provide you with such an amazing product gets us really excited over here at CellphoneAccents.com.
For our more pragmatic readers out there, it’s true, you can definitely do the same with any of our wired cell phone headsets, some minimal plugging-in required - at least you’ll never have to worry about keeping it charged.
Oh, the memories! How fantastic was that one, single moment when you’d received that brand new cell phone? I remember mine; it came in an absolutely picture-perfect box, making unpacking it feel like Christmas.
How nice it looked! That sleek and shiny form full of cell phone case possibilities, an amazing screen that seemed lush with color, and features you couldn’t even think about living without nowadays – yeah, but one problem - the service from the phone company has always been just terrible.
If you feel the same, we’ve got some good news for you: T-Mobile will be introducing their knight wrapped in a shining new contract, giving you up to $300 to trade-in your old phone in exchange for one in their current line-up.
On paper, the process looks kind of simple: Just walk into any T-Mobile store to have your phone valued, receive a convenient prepaid label, and send the old phone out. Give the process a few days, and you should receive a nice little check for trade-in.
Of course we’re not talking some all-inclusive promotion. Your phone has to be in workable shape with no water damage or corrosion, but it beats having to take the time and money to dispose of your phone properly – because we’re all responsible people here, right?
For the rest of us still stuck in our contracts, we can only cheer on our sisters and brothers taking a step forward to a different carrier, and dream about when it’ll be our turn.
I guess that just means another reason to buy more cute cell phone accessories - er, I mean buy products to keep our phones safe for the next trade in opportunity.
By now we are all familiar with the numerous distracted driving laws. You know that ones that require you to use a hands free headset or a Bluetooth device while driving to avoid getting a ticket. Well what would happen if laws were passed banning cell phone use while walking down the street?
As ridiculous as that may sound, at least two states have broached the subject. A New York lawmaker proposed the law earlier this year, suggesting that distracted pedestrians are a danger to themselves and motorists. And in Hawaii, a similar bill, making it illegal to cross the street while using a cell phone has already made it over the first hurdle.
The laws aren’t as ridiculous as they sound. A man in New York was run over by a truck after walking out into traffic while using his iPod earlier this year. And that wasn’t an isolated incident.
Several other states, like Oregon, California and Virginia are also exploring whether or not to extend distracted cell phone usage to bicyclists.
According to statistics, accidents caused by mobile device distraction are on the rise in both pedestrians and bike riders. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why these laws are being aggressively pursued.
But statistics have also shown that using a Bluetooth headset doesn’t significantly reduce the risk of distracted driving. Which begs the question – what’s next? Will lawmakers ban car stereos? Will it become illegal to talk to the passengers in your car while driving?
I’m all for safety measures, but if statistics don’t show any marked improvement, what’s the point?
By now, it really should be no secret that Apple has been caught collecting location data from all iOS devices (iPhones, iPods, iPads) running iOS 4 or later. Basically every device purchased since last June. While it has also been revealed that Google’s Android devices are collecting similar data, at least Google has come out and at least tried to explain why their devices are tracking your every movement.
Apple on the other hand has been pretty quiet on the subject, despite letters from multiple Senators demanding to know what the Cupertino, CA based company was up to. Steve Jobs himself even responded to a customer’s concerned e-mail saying “We don’t track anyone. The data circulating around is false.”
Either Jobs is the most uninformed CEO on the planet, and everyone knows he isn’t, or he’s a bald faced liar. Just last month, Apple filed a patent application regarding the technology required to track location based data. You know, the exact thing that Jobs is claiming Apple doesn’t do.
The patent application even outlines how Apple can use data compression software to reduce the amount of storage space required to keep extensive records of user locations dating back years. What’s worse is that even with the phone’s location based software turned off, it is still keeping a log of everywhere you go.
Most likely the data isn’t being stored because Steve Jobs has a secret crush on you. Rather the data is likely being used to compile users spending habits (where and when they spend their money) to bolster Apple’s bottom line.
People who chose to go the prepaid route with their mobile technology tend to have to make a few sacrifices. These prepaid carriers are typically owned by larger postpaid carriers, who aren’t too interested in bringing the best phones available to their prepaid cousins. The tradeoff typically is a cheaper bill and a little bit more freedom to come and go as you please. But things are starting to get a little bit better, if not perfectly equal.
Virgin Mobile (owned by Sprint) has introduced the ZTE Peel. It is a mobile hotspot built into an iPod case. For $100 for the peel and an addition $20/month prepaid, it will allow users to access 500 MB of data anywhere. It’s not a lot of data, but people generally don’t use their iPods to stream movies or television so long as they have a smartphone that they are carting around too. And people who aren’t carting around smartphones probably aren’t interested in a an exorbitant amount of data usage anyway.
The main drawback is that Virgin’s Peel is only compatible with 2nd and 3rd generation iPods Touchs
Break out the waterproof sunscreen, your goggles and a pair of floaties, summer is right around the corner. And while you’re at it, don’t forget that Aqua Skin for your phone.
Scientists at the Institute of Useless Studies have discovered that 1 in 4 people have been the victim of a water based phone tragedy. Whether it be getting thrown into a pool at a barbeque with your phone in your pocket or dropping you phone of the side of your yacht or innertube, water based phone tragedies are 100% unavoidable.
Aqua Skins are here to help though. It is a thin film that stretches around your phone, much like a screen protector or a gadget guard. The only difference is that it is completely waterproof. Even with the Aqua Skin on the phone remains completely functional, including the touch screen. So in addition to protecting your phone, it opens up the possibility to take some underwater pictures, which are always fun.
The white iPhone 4 is real. It’s really going to happen. It’s an Easter miracle.
According to sources pretty much everywhere, the white iPhone 4 is expected to arrive at Verizon and AT&T before the end of the month. This comes after numerous delays that have pushed back the release by more than 6 months. During that time we’ve seen numerous explanations as to why the white iPhone 4 has been delayed, and even saw an enterprising high school student buy white iPhone parts from China and sell them online as conversion kits before Apple made him take down his website.
But now they are here. And the first thing that all the people who have waited all these months specifically for the white iPhone are going to do is slap on an iPhone case to prevent the glass back from cracking. You have to love the irony.
How much would you pay for an iPod dock that can wirelessly stream your iTunes or internet radio using Apple’s airplay? Well if you want this particular model from JBL, it’s going to cost you $350.
Let s get the obvious out of the way. It looks really awesome. From specs standpoint, does it actually live up to that price tag?
Like pretty much every iPod docking station, it will also charge your device. It comes with an LCD screen that syncs up with your device, or presumably, your iTunes on your computer or the internet radio station that you are listening to. Cool, but not revolutionary.
It uses a whole bunch of proprietary sound technology to deliver rich full sound. Again, so do a lot of high end iPod speaker docks that do the same thing but cost a lot less.
It has a built in alarm clock. O.K., that’s not that impressive.
The only really unique aspect of this dock is the integration of Apple’s airplay. But is that really worth the price tag attached to this particular model? For some, I’m sure it is.
The iPad 2 has been flying off the shelves faster than retailers can keep them stocked. And slowly but surely we are starting to see several iPad 2 accessories from third party manufacturers that creeping into the marketplace.
This iPad 2 case from G-Form is offering up some pretty bold claims. Most notably, you can drop a bowling ball on top of it, with your iPad 2 inside of it, and it will still survive the impact.
Barring any trick photography in that video, it looks legit. That’s beyond impressive, and $60 might be a worthwhile investment to keep such an otherwise fragile device safe.
We’ve seen some very strange things in our day, especially when it comes to cell phone accessories. But this might take the cake.
This isn’t a prank. It’s a real product. It is a screen protector in “chapstick” form. We all realize that screen protectors can be difficult to apply if you’ve never put one on before. But can you really trust that some magical gel is going to offer up the same protection.
It’s from a company called NuScreen, and the only thing missing from their website is the ShamWow guy screaming into a microphone hanging off the side of his face.
I have a hard time imagining that this product does anything other than ruin your phone. But maybe we’ll see if we can get some samples and force an intern to use it on their phone to test it out.
Barbeque season is upon us, which means, inevitably, one of your friends is going to toss you in a swimming pool with your phone in your pocket. At least, this seems to happen to me at least once a year.
A company called Clever Wraps has come up with a cell phone accessory that can protect your phone from potential water damage – should you have the foresight to assume disaster.
They are disposable and cost $5 each, which is a small price to pay if you are accident prone and around standing pools of water on a regular basis.
Clever Wraps also boasts their items ability to protect against sand and sunscreen, which leads us to believe that their offices are located in an abandoned lifeguard stand somewhere.
Manufacturers of third party cell phone accessories tend to get their products to store shelves the instant a new phone hits the market. But it’s not just third party manufacturers in on the accessory game. OEM products tend to set the bar.
This cell phone case for the yet to be released HTC EVO 3D is no exception. It’s coming with a kickstand. Why would an HTC case need a kickstand when HTC phones come equipped with kickstands already you ask? Well it’s because the EVO 3D doesn’t have the signature kickstand. There simply wasn’t room for it.
While the case solves one problem, it creates another. The way the kickstand is positioned, the charging port faces down, meaning you won’t be able to charge your phone while using the kickstand feature. The HTC Thuderbolt has the same problem. It’s a minor design flaw, but one that is sure to frustrate users.
It’s kind of surprising that it took this long for someone to come out with an iPod accessory that not only carries your iPad, but also all of the accessories to go with it. It makes sense when you think about it. A lot of people with an iPad have some sort of Bluetooth keyboard, or a cable for charging the device. Yet most iPad cases aren’t big enough to carry anything other than an iPad.
The iPad Travel Express bag is about the size of a laptop bag, and has room for anything and everything you could possibly accessorize your iPad with.
For example, this Spider stand from Breffo. The stand is actually universal, but it is a pretty convenient way to keep both of your hands free while viewing your iPad.
Or perhaps you will want to carry along this 5-in-1 connection kit for your iPad. It has a USB port, connections for a keyboard or TV cable, a Micro SD card slot and a full sized SD card slot. Whatever your needs are, this connecter has the port for it.
Have you ever tried to read War and Peace on your iPhone? It’s really hard, and it takes a long time. In fact, reading anything of any length on a phone’s screen is pretty much a futile effort. It’s nice that most phones come with a Kindle app, but if you go blind before getting past the first paragraph while trying to read 1 pt. font, I really fail to see the allure.
At least one guy was a strange French sounding accent agrees with me, which is why he invented the Tarsier.
As you can see from the video, it is a hybrid screen protector slash iPhone case that magnifies the iPhone’s 3.5 inch screen to about 6 inches. For $25, it’s definitely useful if you do a bunch of E-reading. I can even see it being pretty useful for general web browsing.
Aside from that, I really don’t see that much use for the Tarsier. But it definitely serves a purpose for those interested in using their phone as an e-reader that also want to not go blind.
Surprisingly, third party iPad 2 accessories have been slow to leak out. Typically manufacturers get their hands on specs well in advance are ready to hit shelves within minutes of a products release. But that hasn’t been the case with the iPad 2.
Apple did unveil their own iPad cover specifically designed for the iPad 2 called the smart cover. It features a series of magnets both in the cover and in the iPad 2 that make it work. While the design is certainly very functional, it only really protects the screen.
We finally have our first knock off from a company called Speck. There are no magnets in their version, instead using micro-suctions to stay firmly in place on the screen. But Speck’s version also provides protection for the entire iPad not just the screen. It is also about $30 cheaper than Apple’s smart cover.
It’s only a matter of time before third party accessories flood the market. Speck has definitely set the bar pretty high.
Are you sick of the white iPhone 4 yet? Too bad, because we have more news straight from the mouth of Apples SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing – sorta.
Phil Schiller recently took to Twitter to announce that the white iPone was coming in the spring. That’s kind of an ambiguous timetable, and for the record, white iPhone cases have been available since the launch of the phone, but that’s beside the point.
What’s funny, at least to us, is that people who have waited specifically for the white iPhone 4 would probably be best served to not even bother picking one up. If Apple stays true to form, the iPhone 5 will be released in early summer. That would mean about a two month window at most between the time the white iPhone 4 comes out and the time that the white iPhone 4 is obsolete.
As further proof that the elusive white iPhone will be a waste of money this spring, it’s already been confirmed that the iPhone 5 will be available in both black and white from day one.
Third party accessory makers have really cashed in on Apple’s dominance in the cell phone and tablet market. And until Apple decides it doesn’t want to make billions upon billions of dollars, these manufacturers will continue to churn out Apple accessories to enhance performance and protection.
For example, a company called Concord Keystone is pushing an iPhone case that doubles as a battery pack. According to them, it can double the talk time on your iPhone 4 (nearly 7.5 hours), while protecting your phone should you drop it. At $80 though, do you really need to go 15 hours before charging your phone?
Then of course there is the Dodocase, which is an iPad case that makes your iPad look like the Q volume of Encyclopedia Britannica. The original case was widely popular, and a case specifically designed for the iPad 2 has been released. You can get the limited edition case for $90 or the unlimited edition for $60. In either case, nobody will realize you are carting around an iPad. They’ll just assume you are carrying around an Atlas or some sort of reference book.
A new app has hit the Android market that is cool, convenient, and really great for someone lazy like me that likes to keep button pushing to a minimum. It’s called Plug In Launcher and it does exactly what the title suggests. Plug in a hands free headset and it automatically launches your favorite music player. Plug in a data cable to the USB port and it automatically can launch a different app.
You can customize which apps gets launched with which port. You can also customize the auto launch feature. If you want, the app will ask you if you want it to launch the designated app connected to whichever port. This feature can be turned on and off as well.
It’s a fairly straight forward and simple app, and it doesn’t do much more than what we just described. But it’s free, so you can’t argue with the price. And it’s functional.
Over the years there have been fashion dos and fashion don’ts. MC Hammer pants come to mind. I’m fairly certain that the world will look back at skinny jeans and do a face palm as well. While the iPad suit won’t likely accomplish as widespread popularity as other fashion faux pas, it’s equally hideous.
You read that right – the iPad suit. Is it a suit made from iPads you ask? No, that would just be silly. It is a suit with one gigantic pocket specifically tailored to fit an iPad. Thankfully the pocket is sewn into the inside of the jacket. But you would have to imagine that carting around an iPad would completely ruin the fit of the suit.
And I understand that is a stuffy thing to say, but the whole point of spending hundreds of dollars on a suit isn’t to have it hang on one side because you are carting around a tablet in your inside pocket. A suit isn’t meant to be an iPad accessory. It’s supposed to be a suit.
Everyone knows how much we love extravagantly overpriced cell phone accessories that serve no extra purpose other than status symbols. So naturally we are going gaga over these Bentley themed luxury iPad cases, iPhone cases and Blackberry cases.
The luxury car maker’s leather partner has made these cases for the three gadgets, all emblazoned with the signature Bentley logo. The phone cases will run you $75 each while the iPad case comes in at a cool $145. All things considered, that is actually really cheap compared to some of the other cases we’ve featured here on the Cell Phone Accents blog.
The design for the cases was inspired by the interior of the Bentley Continental. The price tag on one of those starts at $182,000
So while you most likely can’t afford a new Bentley, and never will, at least you can wrap your gadgets in the same leather that rich people sit on. That’s got to count for something right?
There are more and more super tough, “military grade” cell phone cases hitting the market each and every day. Otterbox seems to be the most recognized of the bunch, however Balistic is making a bit of a name for themselves recently too.
Another company called Griffen has released a line of military tough cases guaranteed to keep your phone from breaking under virtually any circumstance, and they have the video to prove it.
The inner layer is made from a shatter proof polycarbonate frame and is wrapped in shock absorbing silicone. It also comes with a built in screen protector that completely seals the phone in the case. According to Griffin, the cases have met both US and UK department of Defense standards.
It’s extremely unlikely that you will ever put your phone through any torture test even remotely similar to what you see in the video, but it’s nice to know that your phone will pretty much never break. Ever.
One of the more maddening things about technology is keeping them charged up and running. Cell phone accessories are no different. Your cell phone itself requires regular charging. I need to fully charge my phone up at least once a day. I have a cell phone charger in my office and in my room. And of course there is my Bluetooth headset. While this doesn’t peter out nearly as much, I have a separate charger for this as well, which I’m not even sure where it is right now because I don’t keep it plugged in 24/7 and I’m not exactly what one would call organized.
My power cords are cluttered to say the least. However, a company called Idapt is looking to change all that with their universal charging dock, that will power up anything from an iPad to a Blackberry phone to a wireless video game controller.
The company claims that the IDAPT i2+ can actually charge 4,000 different electronic devices. You will not be able to charge all 4,000 at the same time. That would be silly.
You can charge up to three devices at once, which is still pretty darn nice. What is probably more impressive is the price. At just $39.99, that isn’t a bad investment, especially if you are as careless as me and misplace the power cords for most of your electronics devices that you aren’t charging on a daily basis.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a world with no cell phone batteries and no cell phone chargers. A world where your phone magically powers itself using invisible beams fired from a giant power generator in the sky.
Imagine no more, because this solar powered Android smartphone is very real. It’s called the Apollo (Greek God of the Sun) and is made by Chinese Manufacturer Umeox. While there is no indication that this phone will ever see the light of day (pun indented) in the US, it appears as though at least one model supports AT&T’s GSM bands. That leaves open the possibility of picking up one unlocked online and using here in the States.
The specs for the phone aren’t exactly the most impressive. It has a fairly small, fairly unimpressive display with a 3.2 megapixel camera, and not much else. But all you have to do is leave it in the sun for a few hours and it never dies. Unfortunately, if the battery runs out completely, it can take up to 17 hours to recharge. Moral of the story – don’t let the phone go completely dead without sticking it in the sun for an hour or two. Shouldn’t be too hard unless you live underground.
One of the cooler cell phone accessories to come with a phone is the built in camera. As time has gone by, cameras have gotten more and more sophisticated, now packing as much as 12 megapixels and the ability to shoot HD video. You would think that the technology has advanced about as far as it can for the foreseeable future. You’d think wrong.
A company called Pelican Imaging has developed a new kind of camera phone that is based on a pre-existing technology used in astronomy. It is called a plenoptic camera. Without getting scientific, it essentially places several extremely small lenses on a surface that take a picture at the same time and piece together the images into one large picture.
In addition to taking sharper images, the new cameras would allow for thinner phones. Below is a picture of the old style, and the Pelican prototype. The Pelican prototype is the one on the right.
It’s cold and flu season all over America. Around this time of year, hand sanitizer sales blow through the roof as people rub their hands together slathering alcohol infused gel all over themselves in a futile attempt to avoid getting sick.
We’re all taught that things like doorknobs are germ factories. One thing that we use every single day and touch to our faces multiple times a day that we don’t regular connect with germs are our touch screen phones. It makes perfect sense that these death displays are breeding grounds for cold and flu germs. We touch them hundreds of times a day, transferring germs, and then put them right over our mouths so we can breathe in those germs.
With that in mind, you’d think that a whole new line of cell phone accessories could be developed to combat the common cold. How hard would it be to make an anti-bacterial screen protector? I can’t imagine it would be that hard, and germaphobes the world over would snatch these up like candy.
So get on it world. Develop a healthier screen protector. I’ll be waiting on my 10% royalty fee for the idea.
We all knew the Verizon iPhone was going to be big. I don’t think that anyone quite anticipated what happened in the early hours of Feb. 3rd – not even Verizon. The iPhone 4 officially went on pre-sale online at 3:03 A.M. E.S.T. Within a few hours, it was no longer on sale. It had sold out, breaking every single day sales record in Verizon history. The rush for this phone was so great, that Verizon’s servers actually couldn’t handle the strain at one point.
What’s crazy is this pre-sale was just open to existing Verizon customers. We don’t even know how many AT&T customers will flood Verizon stores on the 10th when the iPhone 4 officially hits retail shelves. For those not in the know, the two iPhones are virtually identical. It’s the carrier that will be the big differentiator.
The only difference between the two Apple devices is that there is a new CDMA antenna in the Verizon version which pushes the mute button down about 2mm on the side of the phone. What this means is that anyone who already owns an iPhone 4 on Verizon will pretty much be able to use the same cell phone accessories that they already have on their old phone on their new one. The only accessory that might not be universal to both carriers are certain types of iPhone cases with holes specifically cut out for the volume controls. Other than that, everything should work just fine.
There was a time not too long ago when different phones all had different ports for their various cell phone chargers. I can remember a time when I upgraded from one Samsung phone to a newer Samsung phone and had to buy a completely new car charger because even within the same manufacturer, the ports weren’t always compatible.
That is very slowly coming to an end thanks to the GSMA (GSM Association). They have managed to persuade virtually every mobile manufacturer in the world to conform to the micro-USB charger by 2012. As it stands right now there are very few phones hitting the market that don’t utilize this type of port. And of course if you have an older model phone, it is going to be more difficult to find chargers for your phone moving forward.
Apple is currently the only major manufacturer that isn’t using a micro-USB port on their mobile devices. However, Apple has signed a memorandum of understanding stating that they intend to adhere to the new standard. While it’s not a legally binding document, it is more or less a pledge to make the switch. Don’t be too surprised if the iPhone 4 become the first Apple device that doesn’t use the now all too familiar 30 pin charging port found on everything from the original iPod to the newest iPad.
It’s not just cell phone accessories that are getting universalized. The micro-USB standard is going to cross over to other forms of electronics as well. Imagine a world where one cord plugged into one outlet will be able to charge all of your small electronics devices.
The American dream used to be to work hard, get an education, and improve your station in life. Today, the American dream is to sue the pants off of a major corporation and get a settlement payment because it would be more expensive for the corporation to pay their lawyers to try the case than it would be to just pay you. Ah, progress.
One man’s quest for his slice of America involves suing Apple because his daughter broke his iPhone 4. Basically daughter dropped his phone and the glass panel on the back shattered. The man is claiming that the breakage is the result of a design flaw that Apple is aware of and that Apple doesn’t warn potential customers about said design flaws. Apparently this man is unaware that dropping glass on concrete could result in the glass breaking. Whoda thunk it?
By now everyone is aware of the especially fragile nature of the iPhone 4. Individual grains of sand can get caught between the glass backing and certain iPhone cases causing scratches that eventually lead to full on fractures. That’s really lame, and clearly Apple took an aesthetics first approach when designing the iPhone. But there is a such thing as buyer beware.
The man claims that he had dropped previous versions of the iPhone in a similar fashion and they didn’t break, so ipso facto, he was led to believe that the GLASS iPhone 4 would be just as durable because Apple didn’t warn him that it wasn’t. That’s kind of like suing Jack Daniels for a design flaw in their Single Barrel whiskey because you got a DUI even though you had gotten home safely when drinking previous bottles of regular Jack Daniels.
Apple definitely does some backhanded stuff to make sure their customers can’t do anything to alter their devices in any way shape or form. But this particular lawsuit has frivolous written all over it, and I hope Apple not only fights this, but countersues for their legal fees.
True story – a good friend of mine used to be a professional ping pong player in Europe. He even won the Junior Australian Open of ping pong as a kid. Another true story – I once saw him hustle a guy for a pitcher of beer at a bar by using his cell phone as a ping pong paddle. Had he pulled out this iPhone case, he probably would have had a harder time convincing the guy to make the bet.
It’s true, cell phone accessories come in all different shapes and sizes. Typically, they serve no purpose other than that of an aesthetic appeal. These cell phone cases definitely would fit that bill unless of course you’re a former professional ping pong player that hustles people for beers at local bars. I’m sure that is a very small segment of the population. Possibly so small that my friend is the only person that would actually get any practical use out of something like this.
The cases are made by a company called Incase, in case you were wondering (man that was awful). You can buy them from their website for $30 in either red, green, blue or black. While the iPhone 4 is notoriously fragile, I’d highly unlikely that a ping pong ball is going to crack the back with one of these suckers on there. So pong away people and be happy that you aren’t the only guy in the bar that brings their own paddle to the bar. This is far less conspicuous.
Quick – without turning to Google, who is Franck Muller? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t know either. Apparently Franck Muller isn’t even a person; it’s a company that makes watches. Really really expensive watches. Now they’ve branched out to the wonderful world of cell phone accessories.
For a paltry $1,270, you can own a limited edition Franck Muller iPhone 4 case. You also have to live in Japan to get one. In total there will be 6 different versions to choose from, all of which look like cheap plastic and don’t appear to offer any sort of actual protection for your phone.
But then again, when has anything that costs 100 times more than normal ever served a practical function? Again, don’t bother turning to Google, the answer is never. Only 500 of each model will be made, meaning if you want to be one of the luck 3000 people who are rich enough to waste their money on something like this, you’ll have to scour Japanese specialty stores to find one.
News alert for parents and kids alike on a T-Mobile family plan: Kids, it is going to become increasingly difficult to sneak out of your house, miss curfew, and ditch school. Parents, it’s going to be a lot easier to spy on your kids and know exactly where they are at all times.
T-Mobile has launched a FamilyWhere App, which uses the GPS functionality in smartphones to provide updates as there where there kids are at all hours of the day. Parents can receive the alerts via text message or on the internet, and the app will even provide a history of locations visited over a set time period. So the next time little Suzy says she’s going to a sleepover at Jenny’s, mom and dad will get a text message when she actually shows up at the Viper Room
The bad news for kids is that they are going to have to get a lot smarter about tricking their parents into believing they are angels, or just ditch their phones when they head out. The good news is that there is a better chance that they will be getting a new smartphone from their parents – maybe even the new Sidekick, which is making a return to T-Mobile as a 4G Android phone.
There have literally been hundreds of startup companies that have made bundles of cash spitting out third party iPhone accessories. One of those companies is Fresh Fiber, known for making iPhone cases. The boys over at Fresh Fiber have an idea that they’d really like to turn into a reality, but they need your help to raise the capital.
First things first – the idea. Fresh Fiber would like to create an e-commerce website where users can design their own iPad case and have it made with a 3D printer. Pretty cool huh? Well Fresh Fiber needs to raise about $20 thousand samolians to turn this fantasy into a reality. As of right now, they have raised less than a grand. They have turned to fundraising site Kickstarter to raise the cash. You can see a sample of what you’d be designing to stick on your $700 tablet.
Definitely more of an aesthetic function rather than a protective one, but not everything needs to be practical. Considering the capital hasn’t even been raised to make this a reality, it should come as no surprise that pricing hasn’t been figured out yet. But it would be hard to imagine that a one of a kind, personally designed case isn’t going to cost a pretty penny.
This Christmas, I bought my nephew a lego Star Wars X-Wing Fighter. Once again, I was the cool Uncle, as he tore apart the packaging and started building it right then and there. After seeing this iPhone case, I hope I haven’t crippled him to a life of dorkyness.
Yes folks, that is a Lego cell phone case, that can actually be used to build Lego creations on. Why anyone old enough to actually own a cell phone would want something like this is beyond me, but it’s probably a geeks dream come true. I’m not here to judge. In fact, based on some of the crazy stuff I see, it really isn’t a huge surprise that childish…errr childhood cell phone accessories are extremely popular with 20 and 30 somethings.
Exhibit B would be this case designed to look like a Nintendo Game Boy.
Made by Incipio, this case will actually never see the light of day due to copyright laws. That didn’t stop Incipio from cranking one out and showing it off at CES last week. The moral of the story is that so long as there are geeks and nerds out there, nostalgia laced items like these will always be extremely popular.
Visor mounted Bluetooth speakerphones have been becoming more and more popular, especially since more and more states have been passing strict distracted driving laws. The concept is really simple. Attach a garage door sized device to your car’s sun visor that syncs to your phone through blutooth and allows you to answer and reject calls with voice commands. It really is the most hands free option available.
Blueant has thrown their hat into the ring, recently adding a Bluetooth speakerphone of their own. Revealed at last week’s CES convention, Blueant’s offering will retail for $79.99.
For those looking for a Bluetooth device that brings a sense of nostalgia, Native Union would like to present this.
The MM031 harkens back to an old landline handset, and the dock doubles as an iPhone charger. It comes in both white and black, and while the concept is beyond cool, the $150 price tag makes this a bit more probably places this outside the price range of everyone but the most diehard apple fans looking for something unique to one of their friends.
Jabra is already a well established name in the world of Bluetooth headsets, and they are doing everything but sitting on their hands. Synching perfectly with the start of the CES convention in Las Vegas, Jabra announced a slew of new Bluetooth devices.
The highlight might just be the release of four new headsets at different price points all designed to work with Skype. Before the Steve Jobs fan coalition gets too excited, it is important to note that as of right now the headsets will only work on PC formats, with no impending plans to write software compatible with Mac.
In addition to the four headsets, Jabra also introduced an item called the Cruiser 2, which is essentially a Bluetooth speakerphone for your car. It also serves as an FM transmitter to stream music from your phone to your car stereo. It can also communicate with your phone’s contact list to announce who’s calling you when your phone rings. Seeing how distracted driving is becoming more and more of a front burner issue, this device definitely arrives at an opportune time.
Aside from Bluetooth, Jabra also released three wired hands free headsets designed primarily for listening to music.
Apparently using your iPhone to determine just how unhealthy and out of shape you really are is the theme for January 2011. Yesterday we introduced you to a cell phone case that also doubled as a ECG heart monitoring device. Then today, this little guy makes its way into our inbox.
This iPhone accessory is made by a company called iHealth and it is designed to let you check your blood pressure from home. It comes with a free accompanying app, and it works with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. In addition to giving patients an opportunity to stay on top of their blood pressure, the app allows for the patient to also instantly share their results with their doctors.
As an aside, the dock also serves as an iPhone charger, but that’s hardly the selling point for this device. Right now the iHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System will retail for $99.95, which falls in line with some of the higher end digital blood pressure monitors on the market today. The difference is that this device can sync with your doctor, making it a great preemptive tool for individuals with heart conditions.
It’s officially 2011, which means people all over the world are making horrifically unrealistic promises to themselves in a already doomed attempt at self improvement. I personally intend to add 10 pounds of muscle and run a marathon. However, if this hasn’t happened by January 10th or so, I’ll most likely give up and return to eating JujyFruits for breakfast.
Actually, January is officially about to be renamed, “sign up for a membership you’ll never use month, thusly flushing $30 a month down the toilet.” The calendars are having a hard time fitting all that in at the top of the page though. I too will be forking over my $30 a month starting in the next couple of weeks, with the very real intention of getting myself back into some semblance of shape. To be honest though, I do fear for my life in the short term. That’s how out of shape I currently am.
Thankfully a company called Lifetone Technology has developed an iPhone case that doubles as an Electrocardiography device. For those that don’t know what an Electrocardiography device is, it is that cool machine on House that tells the doctors when someone is flat lining. The device will officially be unveiled this weekend at the CES convention in Las Vegas, so no pricing is yet available. But for guys like me, there really is no price tag for knowing exactly how many tenths of a mile I need to walk before inducing a heart attack.
Every year IBM releases a list called the “Next 5 in 5.” It is a list of futuristic technologies that will be a part of our everyday lives within the next five years. It should come as no surprise that cell phones, and the technology that surrounds them has a major presence on the list.
Two of the major predictions involve the cell phone accessories that go with phones. IBM is predicted that cell phone batteries, as well as batteries for other devices, will learn to breath oxygen, allowing for up to 10 times the current battery life. However, if one of their other predictions comes true, we won’t need batteries or cell phone chargers at all to charge our phones. For smaller devices, IBM believes that we will be able to use static electricity to power up our phones. Simply rub a device on your shirt or pants and it will use the static electricity build up to power the phone.
Possibly the most fantasy based prediction is that cell phones will be able to project 3D holograms in real time. Think R2D2 beaming a hologram of Princess Leia. This is taking video calling to the next level. This particular technology seems the most farfetched. However, glassesless 3D technology already exists, so perhaps we’re not that far away after all. Now if scientists can figure out how to make a light saber, and teach us how to move things with our minds we’ll all be Jedis.
It wouldn’t be America if somebody somewhere wasn’t suing someone for something. In this case, the lawsuit has a bit of merit. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple for sharing personal information gleaned from App use to advertisers.
In case you weren’t aware of it already, using that app on your phone may be sending out personal information to advertisers. For example, where you live, your sexual orientation, income, what your Aunt Jenny bought you for your 10th birthday (maybe not that last one). Needless to say, it’s pretty all inclusive, which is why your phone somehow knows to inundate you with ads for dating websites featuring female lumberjacks from Brazil.
If you’re like me, the extend of your privacy protection is slapping a privacy screen protector on your phone so the guy sitting next to you on the subway can’t see what YouTube videos you are listening too.
That’s exactly what 3rd party app developers want. They can gather your personal information based on how you had to register for the app, how you use the app, and basically anything else. They then sell that information to advertising and marketing firms, who then send targeted ads to your phone.
The lawsuit states that the app developers don’t tell consumers that their information is going to be shared, they don’t ask permission to do this or provide an opt-out choice. As far as Apple is concerned, the lawsuit further claims that their hardware doesn’t allow users to block the sharing of personal information.
Apple has since changed their developer agreement banning applications from being able to transmit personal information to outside networks aside from the information needed to make the app function.
The reasons why Apple was singled out as opposed to Google (Android) is twofold. First, Apple approves each and every app that is made available in their App Store, and profits from their apps, whereas the Android market is more open. By having total control over what goes into the App Store, Apple is then liable for the activities of their 3rd party developers.
Apple also issues each phone a UDID (User Device Identifier) which is basically a social security number for each and every iPhone, iPad and iPod. Third party apps that use these UDIDs are able to then create a profile of the people using those phones, which is how personal information is able to be gathered.
In addition to Apple, popular apps like Pandora, Dictionary.com, the Weather Channel and Paper Toss.
It’s already well documented that AT&T’s customer service, how can I put this lightly, sucks. It has been rated as the works US carrier in terms of customer service since pretty much the beginning of time, and this story sure isn’t going to be changing perceptions any time soon.
Apparently a US soldier stationed on the front line in Afghanistan misunderstood his contract and racked up a $16,000 phone bill calling his wife and newborn baby. The Private First Class speaks English as a second language and thought that his contract said that international calls would cost an additional $5 a month. It was actually $5 per minute. If you calculate that out, our lonely soldier spent nearly 2 hours per day on his phone back home.
AT&T supposedly isn’t willing to budge on the bill. This is hardly the first time that AT&T has blasted people will massive cell phone bills. When the iPhone first came out, users were flattened by bills as thick as a telephone book. These sorts of practices by AT&T and other carriers have even caught the eye of congress, which is trying to pass a cell phone sticker shock bill. The simple fact is, with one warning text message sent out to let people know that they have exceeded their minutes, texts, data usage, or are racking up huge roaming charges and this would have all been avoided. But I suppose gauging customers and dealing with PR nightmares is AT&T’s preferred practice rather than protecting their subscribers.
It stands to reason that so many third party manufacturers tend to focus on iPad accessories and iPhone accessories. It’s one device with one set of specs for every iPhone on earth. Compare that to Android, which has hundreds of different incarnations around the world, and it just doesn’t make economic sense to manufacturer dozens of different products to reach the same number of consumers as you could by making one product for one device.
That is why you see so many i-dominated products out there. But at least one manufacturer has decided to venture out and start making products for the Samsung Galaxy tab. A company called Griffen has put out a very basic case, without very many frills, but hey, it still looks classy.
Samsung’s tablet is currently the only challenger to the iPad’s supremacy, though several more tablets are expected to hit the market in 2011. But the for now the Galaxy Tab is available on all of the major US carriers, so the market is large enough to entice at least one or two third party accessories to get churned out. So far all we have is one case, but at least it’s a start. It should be interesting to see how things shake out moving forward.
If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t even listen to the radio in your car. You connect your MP3 player into your car stereo in some way shape or form and rock out like that. Most newer cars have MP3 jacks that you can use to plug your phone or player into. Or you can use an FM transmitter. Neither one is really a true car stereo experience, and both usually require you to constantly take your eyes off the road to switch songs.
Oxygen Audio has come up with a solution. It is an actual car stereo deck that has an iPhone docking station. You literally dock your phone straight into the face of the car stereo. They are calling it the O’Car and in addition to playing your music, it is a full on car stereo packing a 4x55 W amp for what Oxygen claims to be perfect car stereo sound.
Sadly for Android lovers, this is an iPhone accessory only. Pricing has yet to be released, but this likely isn’t going to be cheap, and will require professional installation. Still, for people looking for the ultimate way to integrate their iPhone into their car stereo, this definitely will get the job done.
There literally are dozens of startup companies that have emerged since the introduction of the iPhone that have made millions in creating cell phone accessories specifically for Apples smartphone. Some favor opulence, other serve a functional purpose, and others are completely ridiculous and awesome at the same time.
The latter is where iDevice comes in. They have yet to release a single product on the masses yet, but there first is coming soon, and it is the most unique iPhone accessory ever in the history of mankind. iDevice has invented a Bluetooth meat thermometer called the iGrill with an app to go along with it. Here’s how it works.
First you stick the probe into the roast/turkey/leg of lamb etc. The probe is tethered to an optical reader that sits outside the over and tells you the current internal temperature of whatever it is that you’re cooking. If there were nothing else to it, this would be nothing more than a typical meat thermometer that you could pick up at Bed Bath and Beyond. Where the iGrill takes it one step further is through the miracle of Bluetooth technology and the wonder that is the Apple app store. Download the iDevice app and sync the meat thermometer to your phone through Bluetooth and you can check the internal temperature of your pot roast from anywhere in the house.
So how much for this device you ask. A million dollars? One thousand dollars? The iGrill meat thermometer will set you back a cool $100.
We can all expect the iPad 2 to hit shelves sometime in early Spring 2011. The second generation iPad is coming with a few major upgrades, most notably a front facing camera that will allow video chatting. The new iPad 2 will also be thinner lighter and have an upgraded screen that will supposedly put its display on par with the iPhone 4’s brilliant retina display.
Just in case you are still skeptical over the rumored release of the iPad 2, you can buy these iPad cases direct from the manufacturer in China. The minimum order is 1000 cases, so clear out some space in your garage.
As successful as the iPad has been (its estimated that 8.5 million will be sold by the end of 2010) 2011 is going to be the year of the tablet. Industry experts are forecasting that tablet sales are going to increase by 147% next year as compared to 2010 with the iPad dominating that market. Right now Apple doesn’t have a lot of competition in the segment. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is available on the four major networks, while the iPad is only on Verizon and AT&T right now.
That marketplace is going to get a lot more crowded. Motorola has announced plans to put out a tablet in 2011, while RIM, the makers of Blackberry devices, is putting out a tablet of their own next year called the Playbook. LG is another cell phone manufacturer that has confirmed they are developing a tablet. T-Mobile and Sprint have both announced that they will be releasing 4G tablets next year.
That phone you see there looking pretty in pink is the schizophrenic HTC Shift 4G. You might also know it as the HTC Knight, or the HTC Speedy. This phone has had quite a few name changes recently, and is much anticipated, and now at least we know that the cell phone accessories for this bad boy/girl are already out there.
That pink cell phone case is legit, according to tipsters at HTCpedia, and they also claim to have a couple other colors and a phone holster for the Shift as well. Where and when the Shift/Speedy/Knight will eventually land remains a bit of a mystery though. Common belief is that the Shift 4G is going to land on the Sprint network here in the US, but when exactly that will be is anyone’s guess.
In fact, not a whole lot is really known about this phone. What we do know is that it is a slider phone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re talking keyboard. The HTC Surround recently came out under the Windows Phone OS sporting a slide out speaker. Some are speculating that this is the CDMA version of the HTC Desire Z.
Almost as soon as the iPhone 4 came out it was embroiled in the biggest scandal to ever rock the earth. Slight exaggeration? Maybe. But the iPhone 4’s “death grip” is a very real thing. For those not in the know, the folks over at Apple chose a very interesting location to place their internal antenna, so when people held their phone a certain way, it caused said phones to drop calls. Cell phone cases and cell phone covers solved the problem, but it was still a bit embarrassing for Apple to have to admit a design flaw.
Well, the good folks over at HTC decided they wanted to make Apple feel a little better, so they designed the HD7 with a similar design flaw that caused a similar “death grip” scenario. A paraphrased version of HTC’s response goes a little something like this. “We test our phones a whole bunch and put the antenna in a place where only weirdoes would hold their phone. Normal people should be just fine.”
The HD7 death grip is another hardware issue for a Windows Phone 7 device. Not too long ago it was revealed that Microsoft never intended for the micro SD memory cards to be user accessable or interchangeable. Unfortunately, several of the handset manufacturers placed the memory cards right next to the SIM cards, causing users to erase all their saved files upon removing the memory cards. Whoops.
Considering the lagging early sales for Windows Phone devices and the fact that Microsoft is already entering a crowded marketplace, these little hiccups certainly aren’t going to help win over any potential customers sitting on the fence. Apple could get away with the death grip on the iPhone because it already had a loyal following. Microsoft is trying to build a new audience and putting out phones that don’t work the way that audience expects them to isn’t a great way to go about things.
If you’ve noticed that a lot of the stuff we tend to blog about here concerns the iPhone, there’s a really good reason for that. We aren’t Apple employees, or Steve Jobs groupies. The fact is, because the iPhone is the most popular selling phone, there are literally hundreds of start-up companies out there trying to make a buck off of iPhone accessories. As a result, most of the new stuff that hits the shelves is geared for the iPhone.
Imagine trying to do a start-up based on Android. There are how many dozen different Android handsets out there? The overhead involved in included that many different models of phones would be prohibitive. With the Apple, there is just one model at a time that you have to design for. So yesterday, when we mentioned on our facebook page that the PCD Bigstream will allow you to beam video from your phone to your TV without any cords, we thought here we go again.
Well it didn’t take long for news to get out that Android users, or at least Motorola Android users, will be getting a similar cell phone accessory of their own. It’s not exactly the same. O.K., it’s actually completely opposite. The device will stream video from a television to a mobile device like a tablet or smartphone. In short, you can watch live TV on your phone or tablet anywhere in the house. Motorola plans on releasing this product on the masses sometime next year. It will be a set top box that you have to purchase and the accompanying app is free. Eventually Motorola sees this technology being integrated directly into new televisions, but as far as the near future is concerned, we’ll settle for the magic box.
It really doesn’t matter if you are a car person or not. When concept cars hit the web, you can’t help but stare and wonder. Concept phones are pretty much the same way; and RIM has come out with a doozy of a concept Blackberry. It looks like a huge black diamond, and comes with one of the coolest cell phone accessories ever – a mood ring.
This phone literally can sense and track your mood and display that mood map on your phone. It also can supposedly track the emotional state of your contacts. This comes in handy when you are out for a night on the town with the guys and your girlfriend sends you a cryptic text message. A mood map might tip you off as to whether you are sleeping on the couch or good to go for another round. The phone is called the empathy, playing into the whole mood sensing technology, but no word on if this will every leak its way into our pockets.
Japanese phone maker Mobiado knows all about taking concept phones and releasing them on the market for obscene prices. The Mokume Gane certainly has help up to tradition.
On initial assumption we figured that Mokume Gane translated into “ridiculously overpriced dragon phone with 1993 technical specs.” Turns out it is actually an ancient style of Japanese weapon making where different metals are folded into one another to create a wood grain look. This phone most likely won’t be available at your local Best Buy anytime soon, though I’m sure if you wanted to contact Mobiado they would be happy to tell you just how many of your organs you need to sell on the black market to afford one.
So the lesson learned here today is that ancient Japanese decorative weapon making is expensive and impractical, while knowing the mood of the person calling you before you answer the phone can be immeasurably valuable.
Today we are going to talk about cell phone accessories. You seem shocked. This is what we do. With the holidays fast approaching you may be out looking for that last minute gift to stuff in someone’s stocking. And there are literally thousands upon thousands of choices out there. There are some that are probably better left on the shelf.
One such device that we aren’t sold on is Tunelink Auto Bluetooth to FM transmitter. The good is pretty awesome at first glance. It plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and then syncs with your phone via Bluetooth. When a call comes in, it transmits the call over your car’s FM stereo for a hands free experience. The bad is what makes this product one we can’t recommend. First things first, products like this have been around for a long time, granted without the Bluetooth capabilities. If you happen to live in a city with a lot of radio stations – basically any major city in the US – you are going to have a really hard time finding an FM frequency that this device will work with. The fact that it will set you back $100, and you can get Bluetooth capable speakerphone adapters that clip onto a car visor and don’t require an open FM frequency to work for way cheaper makes this an item that just isn’t worth it.
However, if there is a gamer in the family, there is one particular cell phone case that pretty much is required. It’s called the Game Gripper and they make them for multiple models of phones. Essentially, it slides onto your phone’s keyboard and the buttons are strategically placed to coincide with the buttons on the keyboard typically used as game controls for your smartphone. It basically turns your slider phone into an old school remote control. For $15, it’s well worth the investment. Right now there’s only a limited selection of phones that have custom fit adapters, so check out their website for the complete list.
We’ve all seen those OnStar commercials where a person gets in an accident and the OnStar system alerts emergency services, or a car gets stolen and OnStar can remotely shut off the engine. Unfortunately that cool tech is only available in certain cars. Well now, thanks to one of the coolest cell phone accessories ever, pretty much every car made since 1996 can be turned into an OnStar-esque equipped vehicle.
A company called Mavizon has come up with a device that plugs into the OBDII port of your car and can sync up with your cell phone or any other numbers that you program into it. Some of the more mundane things it does is send maintenance updates to your phone, like oil levels and diagnostic information. Now you’ll know why your check engine light is on rather than just driving around hoping your car doesn’t break down before your next paycheck.
But in addition to that, it can tell you exactly where your car is via GPS should your car ever get stolen, or you forget where you parked after a long night out. It can also send an alert to emergency services like the fire department and police should you be involved in an accident that causes the airbags to deploy.
Mavizon is calling this device the AutoBot - they’ll probably get sued over that – and are hoping to release this little guy onto the market sometime next year. Initial pricing places the AutoBot in the $300 range, but considering there are designer iPhone cases out there that cost that much, a device that can potentially save your life or help police recover your stolen car for that price seems like a bargain.
Let’s face it. The holiday shopping season is upon us. I know, standard media will have us believe that the holiday shopping season hasn’t started until a Walmart greeter has been stampeded by a rush of bargain crazed shoppers at the stroke of midnight on 11/26. But smart shoppers are getting some of the small stuff out of the way now.
Cell phone accessories make for pretty good stocking stuffers. And in some cases, they can be a full on gift for the tech obsessed in your family. But not all are created equal. Take this iPhone case as an example.
It comes equipped with a slide out Qwerty keyboard that connects to the phone via Bluetooth. The upside is that it is pretty freaking cool. The downside is that it costs $70 and turns the ultra sleek iPhone 4 into a rather bulky mess.
While a $70 case with a slide out keyboard might fall on the extravagant side of your holiday shopping, it at least serves a practical purpose that the iPhone currently can’t meet. This next item really isn’t any more practical than selling an Eskimo an ice maker.
Some clever fellow has invented a handkerchief that not only is capable of wrapping around any cell phone on the market, but also blocks cellular signals from getting to your phone so it doesn’t go off when at dinner or in the movies.
It’s very cute, but of course you could just switch your phone to silent mode and it would probably be a lot less of a hassle. I’m also guessing that anyone who can’t be bothered to press a couple of buttons on their phone out of common courtesy to the other people in a movie theater aren’t likely to carry around a specially made handkerchief everywhere they go and then take the time to wrap their phone up inside of it.
It wasn’t that long ago that people were clamoring over the white iPhone 4. Then supreme disappointment followed as it was announced that manufacturing the white iPhone was proving to be more difficult than Apple had imagined and the release of the iPhone was pushed back. That’s what tends to happen when you make a product almost completely out of glass where a simple slide on iPhone cover can shatter an entire phone.
Well the HTC EVO, which coincidentally isn’t made from glass, has officially released a white version of the hit 4G phone for Sprint. Imagine that. It makes me curious if people are getting geeked up of the color white for a phone in general – most are black these days – or if they are just geeked up about a different color iPhone.
Regardless of which camp a person falls in, there is actually a really affordable alternative. They actually make cell phone accessories that go on your phone that allow you to personalize it anyway you can think of. You want a white faceplate to make your iPhone 4 look white? We have the technology. Trust me on this one. It’s not nearly as difficult as you might imagine.
Perhaps I’m just being cynical. OK. I’m absolutely being cynical. Maybe there really are people that are so desperate for a white iphone they'll go to any length to get one. Just don’t do what this kid did and start selling white iPhone 4s yourself. While you have to admire the kid’s moxie and be a bit jealous of his current bank balance, Steve Jobs tends to frown upon this sort of thing.
It’s not every day that you see a pimped out Blackberry. RIM, the Canadian company that makes Blackberry, is better known for catering to the business community. So when photos of these limited edition Blackberry Bolds hit my inbox, I just had to share them with the world.
My sharing them with is actually probably the only way you’ll ever get to sneak a peek at them. They were designed by Bill Amberg for Selfridges, a British department store. Only 10 of each color was made, and they are selling for about $1,600 each. But they do all come with a matching phone case, so that definitely justifies the extra expense.
Sadly, this is hardly the most opulent cell phone we’ve seen. A $4 million iPhone definitely takes that prize. At least the Blackberry Bold 9780 retails for around $500 bucks, so you’re “only” paying an extra $1,000 for a leather case and some dude’s name you’ve never met on the back of the phone. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to brands like Vertu – which is basically a glorified Blackberry running on an antiquated OS that will cost you $20,000.
Obviously these phones aren’t geared to normal ordinary guys like me, but I have a hard time understanding why anyone would get jazzed up over a different color phone when a few cell phone accessories can offer the same effect. Granted, I haven’t cashed my winning lottery ticket in yet, so perhaps when I have gobs of money coming out of my ears I’ll be easily excited by shiny things and multicolored phones.
You really have to hand it to Sprint. At no point has the carrier ever offered any Apple devices in their stores. There are no future plans of carrying iPads, iPhones, or iPods in their stores. Yet they have somehow managed to make a decent chunk of change off of the trio of devices. Their most recent phone accessory is a special phone case that fits on an iPod, and turns it into an iPhone. You read that right.
Sprint has introduced the ZTE Peel. It is an iPod touch case that is also a mini WiFi hotspot. You pop it onto your iPod touch and you can make voice over IP calls and browse the web, from your iPod touch. The device is being sold for $80 without a contract, and the corresponding data plan will set you back $30 a month of 1GB of data. Granted, that’s an underwhelming amount of data for a rather pricy billing statement, but you still have to hand it to Sprint.
Sprint has another mini WiFi device called the OverDrive that has been selling quite well thanks to another Apple product. The OverDrive offers up 4G speeds to connected devices, and only costs $50. In order to boost sales, Sprint packaged the OverDrive with an iPad case that it sells in their stores.
Sprint is currently the third largest cellular provider in the US, and while the Peel and the OverDrive aren’t going to suddenly catapult Sprint into the realms of AT&T or Verizon, the fact that they have figured out a way to canabalize a little revenue from their rivals is pretty intelligent for a multi billion dollar entity.
No, that isn’t a faux wooden faceplate on a curvy phone. That is the newest Sharp phone released on Japan’s NTT Docomo network.
The phone will be a limited release; only 15,000 units are being made. That might have something to do with the fact that the phone’s housing is made out of real wood – Japanese cypress to be exact. Because the grain of the wood is like a fingerprint, each phone will be completely unique from an appearance standpoint.
What isn’t unique are the specs of the phone itself. A 3.4 inch touch screen and a 5 mp camera are somewhat underwhelming, but I guess that’s not the real point of this phone. In fact, Sharp is also releasing another phone for the same carrier that looks a bit like a stale graham cracker. Like the wooden phone, Sharp is only making 15,000 of the graham cracker phones. We’ve chosen to not picture this phone as the wooden phone is way cooler looking. Although the graham cracker is waterproof and has a better camera.
Staying with the Japanese motif, but switching from the aesthetically pleasing to the pleasingly practical, comes an origami inspired iPad case. It’s actually a really cool design. It’s a two in one case that protects your iPad. However, once you pull your iPad out, you can fold it up into a stand so you can kick back and watch movies or TV without having to hold it up. It’s pretty ingenious. Although We’d be more impressed if it folded up into a swan or a seal too.
Jawabone headsets are widely considered to be the best Bluetooth headsets on the market. Made by a company called Aliph, they are equipped with some of the coolest features in the game. My favorite is dubbed the noise assassin, which is just a cool name for noise canceling technology that cancels our background noise like hurricane force winds and nuclear explosions.
So what would happen if the leader in Bluetooth headsets decided to expand their product line? Well, you’d get the Jawbone Jambox – a portable Bluetooth capable speaker about the size of a stapler, but way cooler.
You can sync this puppy with your phone to play music or it can even double as a device to amplify the volume of your speakerphone. All in all, this is a great concept, but at $200 a pop, it seems to be more of a luxury item to show off than a must have.
However, as phones are quickly replacing MP3 players (and they are) we really should see an evolution of portable Bluetooth speakers and other phone accessories that will improve the sound of these devices. We’ve already seen the first slider phone that has a slide out speaker rather than a slide out keyboard. It’s called the HTC Surround and it’s a Windows 7 phone that will be available on the AT&T network later this month. With Aliph now on board developing Bluetooth speakers, there is no doubt that they’ve raised the quality bar, which is nothing but good news for working stiffs like you and me looking to get the best possible portable music experience.
For those of you who didn’t know, our home base of operations is located in sunny Southern California. While the rest of the country is gearing up for winter, most of the locals here will be whining about temperatures in the mid 50’s, and how that isn’t good beach weather. I know, we’re a bit spoiled, but it isn’t all fun and games. We Californians have to worry about natural disasters like earthquakes and Lindsey Lohan on a daily basis. We don’t really have much need for mittens or gloves out here. But on a recent trip back home, I definitely needed a couple of extra layers, which is when I realized that my touch screen phone is completely useless when wearing gloves. They do make phone accessories like a stylus pen to help, but it isn’t exactly easy to dig around a purse or pocket for a little pen just to answer a call.
Quick science lesson: Your screen is made of glass, coated with a thin layer of an electrical conductive material called ITO. Your body is a natural conductor of electricity. When your bare skin touches your phone’s display, your screen can recognize the natural electric field of your body and figure out where on the screen you are touching. That’s a very dumbed down version, so scientists please don’t e-mail me with any thesis papers on the subject.
Anyway, for all you folks that actually experience four seasons a year, I’d like to introduce you to one of the most practical products that has ever hit my inbox. A company called Agloves has developed a pair of mittens that will work on a capacitive screen. How do they do this you ask? They have sewn silver right into the gloves. As a nice side effect, they also keep your hands warm. At $18 bucks they seem like quite the bargain. This means no more finger amputations from texting while in sub freezing climates, which I think we can all agree is a good thing.
I realize it can be a little difficult to get geeked up about cell phone accessories. But one particular add on is probably the source of about 95% of all frustration experience by cell phone users. Of course I’m talking about your battery. We’ve all been there before. We’ve had a call dropped, or haven’t been able to make a call because of a dead battery. We’ve missed important text messages or Facebook posts because our phone wasn’t charged up. And with smartphones sucking up battery power faster than a Dyson vacuum can suck up carpentry nails, frustration is only growing.
But there is hope. A group of scientist in Switzerland are working on a technology that could extend the battery life of your cell phone by up to 10x. How exactly they are doing this extends a bit beyond what I learned in my high school physics class, but here is a really dumbed down version.
By using nanowires and nanoscience these scientists are creating technology which would allow devices ranging from cell phones to computers to use “negligible energy” when the device is in sleep mode. Right now, your phone still sucks juice from your cell phone battery, even when it’s not in use (that’s what the standby battery life rating is). If this new technology is successfully developed, that could mean a massive upgrade to battery life in cell phones, and a huge savings in energy consumption worldwide.
For people who are literally on their phones 24/7, this probably wouldn’t change your batteries lifespan all that much. But for people who use their phones intermittently throughout the day, you would definitely notice a difference and spend less time charging your battery. The term revolutionary gets thrown around way too much, but this would definitely qualify.
Now might be a good time to pick up a screen protector for that huge AMOLED display on your new smartphone. According to reports, the magic substance that makes your touch screen work is in limited supply. In fact, estimations say that we could run out completely by 2020. Obviously, 10 years is a long time from now, and at the rate that technology progresses, a solution will likely be found well in advance of any rioting at the local Verizon store. But it’s still disconcerting to know that science is up against the clock.
Without getting all Bill Nye the Science Guy on everyone (because quite frankly, I’m no chemistry major) a compound of two metallic oxides called indium tin oxide (ITO). It’s the indium part that is apparently in short supply, as it isn’t even a naturally occurring mineral, but rather a byproduct of zinc and lead mining. What makes ITO so darn special is that it is not only transparent, but it also is able to conduct electricity. In science jargon, they refer to that as extremely friggin rare.
So what does this mean exactly for bands that use their iPhones as instruments? Is this the end of music as we know it? Will this compel Steve Jobs to start poking things other than Apple products? Probably not. In fact, science is already furiously working on new technologies and has come up with some early solutions that are showing some promise. The biggest problem is that most of the solutions require materials that are even more expensive than ITO. But considering the dwindling supply, it is only a matter of time before ITO costs surpass any alternative materials.
We could end up with interactive 3D displays somewhere down the line. In fact, they’re probably already in development somewhere. But in the meantime, protect that phone. Get a cell phone case or something. Because the next time you crack your phone’s display, you’ll know that you’ve just ruined things for the next generation of Tweeters.
You’ve got to love the holidays - especially if you are a gadget junkie. There are about 2.3 bajillion phones coming out in the coming weeks. Halloween is first up, and while some people will drop some serious coin on a fully functional Iron Man costume, other will tape random socks to their outfit and go as static cling. These days cell phones are following the same all or nothing pattern. Some phones are equipped with the latest and greatest phone accessories in the universe. Others are more quirky and gimmicky. I for one am waiting for someone to reprise the Zack Morris giant block-o’-radiation phone. But until that happens, at least one French company has decided that retro is in.
A bunch of crazy French guys at a company called Lekki have decidedto re-release the Motorola StarTAC, which first debuted in 1996. To up the nostalgia, they are releasing it in a bright yellow color. Retro pricing, however, isn’t as en vogue, as this dinosaur will set you back $150. While this Motorola cell phone covers the low tech contingent looking to pay 20 times what their phone is actually worth, folks waiting on the Motorola Droid Pro might want to get a paper route and start saving up. Unlike most of the new smartphones to hit the market at $200 on contract, the Droid pro will set you back $300 on contract. For those not in the know, the Pro is Motorola’s attempt to capture the business minded customer that tends to choose Blackberry. That probable explains why this phone looks like Dr. Frankenstein’s vision of a business device that runs on the hippest OS in town.
On the bright side, the Motorola Droid Pro would probably be a great device for kids out trick or treating. You can message your friends to tell them where the houses are that are giving out the good candy, take pictures of the houses handing out apples and granola and post them to Facebook so everyone knows which houses to toilet paper and egg later, and you can even check in with foursquare so your parents know where you are at all times. Kids have it so easy these days.
In addition to the latest and the greatest, cell phone manufacturers are putting out some pretty unique mid range phones as well. Two such phones are set to hit shelves soon. The first is the Motorola DEFY, which comes to T-Moble on November 3rd for $99.99 on contract. The Blackberry Style will head to Sprint in the coming weeks, also for $99.99 on contract. Both phones have individual qualities that make them interesting, if unspectacular.
The DEFY is being geared as a rugged smartphone. This Motorola cell phone covers just about every natural disaster you can think of. Caught in a sandstorm? The DEFY is dust resistant. Has biblical flooding hit your hometown? The DEFY is water resistant too. Couple that with a pretty nice 3.7” display that also happens to be scratch resistant. It even comes with a 5.0 megapixel camera so you can take hi-res photos of all your friends phones not working the next time you get caught in a hurricane.
From the world of the outdoorsman to the world of the businessman comes RIM’s newest offering the Blackberry Style. This is a flip phone with two LED displays – one on the outside and one on the inside. It has Blackberry’s signature QWERTY keyboard, but also features a 5 megapixel camera, which is much better than what you typically get with a Blackberry. Clearly RIM is trying to marry the business side with a more sociable personality in their new phones, and this particular Blackberry covers just that.
Whether these mid range phones fly off the shelves or not remains to be seen, as a lot of new consumers hold out for the fastest phones with the biggest displays and the most features. But there should be a niche for both of these phones, which could spell success.
If there are any mineralogists out there that want to tell us exactly what cerite, allanite and monazite are, feel free to enlighten the audience. What we do know is that these minerals are known as rare earth minerals and are vital to the production of cell phones. Exactly what part of the cell phone is made from these minerals is a mystery to me, but apparently China holds the key the 95% of the world’s supply, and they aren’t too keen on sharing.
I shudder to think of a world where phone accessories have no phones to go on. What am I going to do with my Hello Kitty faceplate? Who am I kidding; phone production isn’t going to stop or even slow down. Granted, if some sort of resolution isn’t achieved, phone prices will undoubtedly increase as the minerals become scarcer. And if countries were smart, they would have already stockpiled a bunch of monazite alongside their baking soda. I know I have. And so has Japan.
The crazy thing is that these minerals aren’t actually all that rare. They can be found all over the planet. What makes them rare is that China is the only country that has bothered to build the infrastructure required to mine them, hence the 95% controlling stake. Considering that these minerals are also used to make cruise missiles, if the US government really saw this as a problem they would figure out a way to mine these mystery minerals pretty quickly, and they wouldn’t hesitate to spend a lot of money doing it. As far as cell phones that can be used as a cruise missile in addition to being used as an MP3 player and a WiFi hotspot, those are currently on hold. Apparently none of the wireless carries’ insurance will cover a replacement should you choose to blow up your neighbor’s mailbox with your iPhone.
It’s already been widely reported that the glass backing on the iPhone 4 is more fragile than Glass Joe from Mike Tyson’s Punchout. A well placed jab from Lil Mac would shatter your phone faster than you than the gangly animated boxer would hit the mat. Well now you can turn your glass phone into an Iron Mike impersonator with this metal case.
So long as you are handy with a screwdriver and have a minute or two to spare, this iPhone case is pretty simple to install, and at least will save your phone’s backside from damage. We fear that sticking a metal case on the front of the phone might diminish the brilliance of that 3.5” display just a tad. At least it’s a step in the right direction, and it provides an alternative to a phone cover, which in some cases can be the cause of the phone’s backing to shatter in the first place.
It really is a shame that a phone that rivals any phone on the planet in terms of software seems to get more and more fragile from a hardware perspective with each new generation. At least we are starting to get some solutions, making us a bit more confident that iPhone 4 users won’t be having to purchase new phones if the leaver their phone on the coach and the family Chihuahua sit down on it. This metal case seems legit though. We still don’t recommend using your phone as a clay pigeon replacement for your skeet shooting championships, but at least it now should withstand a little more punishment than Don Flamenco.
Distracted Driving is a hot button issue these days. Heck, Dr. Phil even did a show on it not that long ago. States around the country are adopting laws that ban people from using a cell phone without a wireless device. Eight states have already banned both talking and texting, and should you be caught, it’s considered a primary offense. That means you don’t have to be committing some other traffic violation to get pinched for distracted driving. A cop can pull you over simply because you were ordering a pizza while in traffic or because you are sending an apology text to that hotty you drunk dialed the night before.
Bluetooth technology was already a popular alternative, and with so many laws being passed that require it, more companies are looking into making branded devices. Even Ford is looking to improve its Sync technology to help reduce distracted driving. One of RIM’s newest Blackberry accessories is a Bluetooth headset they are calling the HS-300. We are still waiting on official world what the HS in this new HeadSet’s name stands for.
It won’t be too long before the technology being integrated into our phone accessories is going to make it so easy to not actually hold our phones we’ll point at and mock individuals who still hold their phones to talk and text. That day is really right around the corner, but until then, replying to that “wat u doin 2nite” text can wait until you get home.
There is a smartphone for just about everyone out there. Some specialize in taking care of business. Others concentrate on organizing an active social life (at least on a virtual level). Smartphone use is on the rise too. It won’t be too long before the majority of cell phone users in the US will be using smartphones rather than basic feature phones. So how do you choose what phone is right for you.
First you need to identify what you are looking for. If you are looking for a replacement for your MP3 player, the HTC Surround might be the phone for you. It comes with one of the cooler cell phone accessories we’ve seen – a slide out speaker. If you are a texting champion, then an accessory to look for is a full QWERTY keyboard. There are dozens of phones out there that come with this feature and can really speed things up should you ever have to write a term paper from your phone via the G-mail app. Don’t smirk, we’ve all been there.
Of course Blackberry covers all of your business needs. Research in Motion, the Canadian company that makes Blackberry, has cornered the market on business savvy smartphones and seems to be expanding its philosophies on both form and function. The new Blackberry Oxfory – coming to Sprint – will be a flip phone. The Blackberry Storm has moved away from having a physical keyboard altogether. Make no mistake, these are business machines first and foremost, but it is interesting to see where things are going.
Motorola is releasing an Android device designed for business called the Droid Pro and Windows 7 Phone seems at first glance to be attempting to marry business and social phones into one operating system. For now, if you want a phone that does everything, you are going to have to be willing to sacrifice a bit here or there. But with the way technology in phones is emerging, it won’t be too long before our phones are smart enough to do our homework and TPS reports for us while updating our Facebook status automatically.
So with Apple’s iPhone 4 antennae issue resolved wine is flowing from fire hydrants, skateboarders are busy helping little old ladies cross the street and all is right in the World again. Right? Not exactly. Ignoring the fact that Apple really didn’t do anything to fix the death grip design that caused calls to be dropped when held a certain way; a new design flaw has been found that is even more troubling. Apparently certain styles of slide on cases can cause some serious scratches if any foreign particles get trapped between the case and the phone.
While these sorts of problems have been around for some time, what makes these scratches so serious is that they have been cracking the back panel of the iPhone 4, and even full on shattering said back panel. Thankfully there are plenty of cell phone covers and cell phone cases that aren’t of the slide on variety, but once again the designers of the iPhone 4 have to be called into question. With a patent lawsuit against Nokia in the British courts, let’s hope this isn’t one of the designs the Finnish company allegedly ripped off.
The spate of design flaws with the iPhone 4 come as a surprise as earlier generations of the popular Smartphone haven’t had similar issues. There is nothing wrong with reinventing the wheel so long as the smooth edges don’t crumble off and create a square. Word is that the iPhone 5 is already in development, so hopefully these issues are being addressed. Time will tell, but in the interim those new Samsung cell phones that everyone has been talking about are looking even more attractive considering the Samsung accessories that go with them don't destroy the phone.
Listen up adventurers. Those of you who like the challenge of surviving a week in the Sahara wearing a parka and fur lined boots with no water, but still want to update your Facebook status and check your Twitter feeds, you’re in luck. Motorola is releasing a new phone called the DEFY (all caps because they mean business) for T-Mobile, which is not only an Android Smartphone, it has been “ruggedized” to withstand extra ordinary wear and tear. This particular Motorola cell phone covers just about every climate condition your average Indiana Jones might find himself in.
Not to be outdone, Casio is releasing a new version of their popular G’zOne line called the Ravine for Verizon. Like the DEFY, the Ravine is rated to resist altitude, dust, water, shock, fog (?), extreme temperatures and solar radiation. Its name isn’t in all caps though, so no word on how it actually stacks up against the DEFY. While this phone is also designed for the outdoorsman, it does lack a few cell phone accessories that could come in handy like a canteen. While you can snap pictures with its 3.2 megapixel camera, you still might have to squeeze water out of elephant poo a la Bear Grylls to survive.
For those of us who don’t often find ourselves trekking through the Amazon or wearing Speedos at the North Pole, the comfort of being able to take a phone call while in the shower or the steam room at the spa might be reason enough to get these two phones. After all, you don’t have to be a survivalist to have a need for a cell phone on steroids, because you never know where your day may lead you.
The Blackberry covers just about every business need you can possibly have. Need to check your e-mail? Does it. Want to review a document? Done. Want to secretly message your terrorist cell buddies to see who’s hosting the next pot luck without the government being able to intercept the message? Wait, what was that last one?
Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian company that manufactures Blackberry devices is currently trying to convince the Indian government not to ban its phones. The hang up lies in Blackberry’s encrypted e-mail service that the Indian government can’t monitor. Apparently the terrorists have gone more high tech than just privacy screen protectors. The Indians fear that terrorists will be able to communicate freely with one another without the government having the ability to listen in. RIM tried to supply a solution to the problem but there have been so many bugs, the Indian government has rejected the solution outright.
This isn’t the first time that a country has been at odds with RIM over their encrypted e-mail service. Multiple countries in the Middle East have also pressured RIM to come up with a solution for the same reasons. For those domestic readers who fear that the US government might try and force RIM into making concessions here, fear not! The CIA likely doesn’t need any help intercepting the e-mail RSVP you sent to your bestie regarding his/her birthday blowout bash.
Here’s tidbit from the color me not so shocked department. Apparently state bans on texting while driving have no impact whatsoever on actual distracted while driving accident rates. Currently 30 states have such bans, but a recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute in five of those states actually showed an increase in accidents caused by distracted driving.
The theory behind the results is people are still texting, they are just trying t be more discreet about it, causing themselves to be even more distracted than normal. It really shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. The posted speed limit on highways is typically interpreted as the lower limit in terms of how fast you’re supposed to drive. Recent bans on holding your phone while talking also have had little impact. People still make and take calls while driving. The difference is that there are cell phone accessories like Bluetooth headsets and hands free devices which are perfectly legal to use.
Technology is going to have to catch up with texters before any real impact will be seen. That’s why yesterday’s news out of Korea that LG’s new Optimus phone will have talk to text capabilities could be a monumental leap forward. Essentially you would speak what you wanted to text and the phone would type it out for you. Sadly the use of emoticons like ;-) would die a sad death, unless you actually said “last night was epic semicolon dash closed parentheses.”
So you love that purple leopard print faceplate on your new Samsung Captivate? Apparently you aren’t the only one. According to a report put out by ABI research (warning, technical jargon), cell phone accessories is a $26.5 billion a year business. That’s nearly 4 Mark Zuckerbergs. Eat your heart out Facebook.
What gets really mind blowing is that according to that same report, the industry will nearly double over the next five years to a $50 billion a year in 2015, although the Mayans might try to throw a monkey wrench in there a couple years from now. That’s a lot of Hello Kitty.
The report suggests that faceplates remain the most popular accessory to put on your phone, but it also predicts a steady growth in memory cards now that Smartphones do everything short of making coffee, but an app for that is probably in the works. Screen protectors have also become a popular choice amongst the accessory crowd again thanks to the advances in technology and the insane displays that most phones come with these days.
It really should come as no surprise that people are willing to spend a few extra bucks to make sure that they are getting everything out of their phone that they possibly can. These days you can listen to MP3s, surf the internet, and even stream movies and TV. We’ve even heard rumors about some phones actually being used to make calls. But when so many people have one hand held device that can pretty much do everything, why wouldn’t you want to make it even better?
When I was a kid I had a Swiss Army knife that I thought was the coolest thing that I also never used. I was in the boy scouts, so I whittled plenty of sticks into sharp points, but that was about it. I rarely found myself in some MacGyver like situation that required mini-scissors, a toothpick and a flat head screwdriver. Usually when a need arose that called for Swiss Army action I was at home where I had a bigger pair of scissors, my toothbrush, and an actual screwdriver longer than 1 inch.
Not too long ago, phones were like that too. They did a lot, like take pictures, play music, or check e-mail. But they definitely didn’t outperform digital cameras, or MP3 players, or a laptop. Those days are long gone. With a simple pair of headphones my phone is all of those things wrapped into one, and quite frankly performs better. Now I don’t have to look like a Japanese tourist when I go to Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunts place, with a phone in my pocket and camera around my neck and a video camera in my hands.
These days you can get a phone with a 5.0 megapixel camera, that plays all your MP3s, and records HD Video as well. The debate these days isn’t whether your phone can replace one of your other devices. The debate is which phone replaces all of your other devices the best. And so long as that debate rages, manufacturers are just going to keep stuffing cooler and better stuff into our phones until we all have a bunch of Swiss Army Smartphones on steroids.
If you are planning to buy cell phone faceplate to personalize your cell phone, here are few things you may keep in mind to make the right buying decision:
The cell phone faceplates are available in an exhaustive range. You would find the cell phone faceplates in over thousand attractive designs, images, themes, and colors. Before you step out to buy the cell phone faceplates or begin to search them over the Internet, determine your individual needs and requirements. Do you wish your cell phone to look subtle and elegant, or do you want to make it appear cool and trendy? By deciding what you want, you can narrow down your search and find the right cell phone faceplate in a rather quick and simple manner.
When buying the cell phone faceplate, do check its quality. The cell phone faceplate should be durable in nature. The design or images should not peel off, or rub off from the faceplate. Buy high-quality cell phone faceplates to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your cell phone.
Cell phone accessories like skins, faceplates, covers, chargers etc. are available in various price brackets. By shopping around, you can assure yourself of affordable, yet good quality cell phone accessories.
For impressive and inexpensive cell phone faceplates, you may visit www.cellphoneaccents.com, Here you may also buy other cell phone accessories like cell phone skins, cell phone covers, cell phone car charger, cell phone headsets, bluetooth headset, cell phone data cable, cell phone memory cards, and iphone accessories.
I don't know about others but for a clumsy person like me, Cellphone Accents is like a blessing in disguise. My cell phone falling from my hand or my bed or office desk is a common thing for me. This clumsiness has already led to the breaking of my cell phone's screen more than once. Had it not been for Cellphone Accents, I would have never been able to continue using my favorite Motorola set till now. I decided to buy a Motorola faceplate to prevent further damage to my phone.
When I first read that Cellphone Accents is the largest online distributor of original mobile accessories, I cannot say I believed it completely. But once I purchased its product and availed its home delivery service, I had no more doubts. Why wouldn't it be the largest online store when it sells 100 percent original cell phone accessories at the cheapest price and offer efficient home delivery service. I have joined the list of permanent customers of Cellphone Accents. If you want to try it too for any of your mobile accessory needs, log on to www.cellphoneaccents.com.
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short length radio waves) from fixed and mobile devices. The reason it has become so popular is because it creates personal area networks (PANs) that are highly secure and that can connect several devices in a network overcoming problems of synchronization
Born as a result of a breakthrough invention in the field of cell phone headsets, Bluetooth headsets are both a necessity and style statement for the modern day and thus quite a craze amongst cell phone users all across the world. However, at the end of the day, they are only machines and susceptible to damage or complete breakdown due to more than a few reasons. But does that mean that's it for the users of Bluetooth headset users? No, not at all.
You want another original Bluetooth headset for your Nokia or Apple iPhone or any other big brand, you can get them with just a few clicks with your mouse. How? Well there are a number of online distributors of original Bluetooth headsets of every international cell phone brand. In fact not only headsets, they sell all other cell phone accessories of your cell phone as well, like batteries, car chargers, cases, skins and others.
These online stores not only stock for accessories for normal cell phone models but also for PDAs like iPhones & Blackberries and what not. The options available are numerous - so just go ahead and start clicking.
One of the most popular distributors is CellphoneAccents.com. For 100% original products at cheapest costs, you can visit this store at www.cellphoneaccents.com.
We are humans and we are clumsy. We can't help it. It's common for our cell phones falling from our hand once in a while. But for many of us, any incident of our cell phone dropping from our hand can be bad enough to spoil the mood for the entire day. This is because we worry that if the faceplates or covers of our cell phones get damaged, we wouldn't find another original one for our expensive Apple, Nokia or HTC phone. But it's likely that those of you who belong to this lot are not aware of online stores selling original faceplates or covers for every cell phone brand. The testimonial of their credibility are the large number of customers who have already purchased their products.
In fact I can tell you about one of the most popular online stores which sell them-- Cellphone Accents. It is the most popular and largest online store for not only cell phone faceplates and covers but all other cell phone accessories including skins, headsets, car chargers and others. Apart from their unquestionable credibility for original accessories, they also have an edge over competitors with respect to their prices. They sell their products at one of the lowest prices in the market.
See? There's no need to spoil your mood over petty issues like falling a dropped cell phone. Now you can protect it before it gets damaged with accessories from Cellphone Accents at www.cellphoneaccents.com.
Don't you think that your sophisticated iPhone needs protection from dust and scratches? Well, now you can protrect the bright appearance of your iPhone with the help of iPhone cases! These cases not only protect your phone but also lend it a colorful appearance. What's more, you can even retain the original look of your iPhone with the help of the next generation scratch guard!
While iPhone cases are available in bold and exciting colors, the invisible gadget guard is an exciting new discovery which clings to your phone and protects it from scratches. The transparent guard acts like an invisible shield thus retaining the original looks of your iPhone! It sticks to your phone easily owing to the water activated super adhesive and is guaranteed to last the life of your device!
iPhone and Blackberry accessories also include various exciting accessories for cell phones like Bluetooth headsets. These are exciting gadgets which offer you wireless capabilities allowing you to use your hands freely. Their aerodynamic design will accentuate your personality and lend you a sharp and smooth look! It is simply the best way to amplify the capabilities of your iPhone.
Cellphone Accents offers iPhone cases and various other accessories for cell phones. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com offers complete information about the company.
Don't you think that your sophisticated iPhone needs protection from dust and scratches? Well, now you can protrect the bright appearance of your iPhone with the help of iPhone cases! These cases not only protect your phone but also lend it a colorful appearance. What's more, you can even retain the original look of your iPhone with the help of the next generation scratch guard!
While iPhone cases are available in bold and exciting colors, the invisible gadget guard is an exciting new discovery which clings to your phone and protects it from scratches. The transparent guard acts like an invisible shield thus retaining the original looks of your iPhone! It sticks to your phone easily owing to the water activated super adhesive and is guaranteed to last the life of your device!
iPhone and Blackberry accessories also include various exciting accessories for cell phones like Bluetooth headsets. These are exciting gadgets which offer you wireless capabilities allowing you to use your hands freely. Their aerodynamic design will accentuate your personality and lend you a sharp and smooth look! It is simply the best way to amplify the capabilities of your iPhone.
Cellphone Accents offers iPhone cases and various other accessories for cell phones. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com offers complete information about the company.
Apple's iPhone 3G is one of the best breakthroughs in modern day technology that is gaining immense popularity around the globe. Irrespective of you being a first-time user or an old user of this hi-tech gadget, you will definitely need some essential iPhone accessories that are made especially for your iPhone 3G. These iPhone accessories have been specially designed to further enhance the utility of various features provided by the famous Apple iPhone unit. Some of these accessories have been specifically developed for providing protection and storage to this hi-tech, expensive, and very popular gadget, including cell phone covers, cases, and the like.
With rapidly developing technology, you should forget about the old days when you had to spend much of your precious time in the market for purchasing a couple of your essential needs. Now, the Internet has made our lives much simpler by gifting us the most sophisticated and convenient way of shopping online. If you are looking for purchasing iPhone accessories, visit some of the reputed and popular online stores where you can do shopping for your requirements. These online stores are far better than most of the high-street outlets for buying any iPhone accessories for your precious iPhone.
CellphoneAccents.com is a renowned online store that brings accessories for iPhones and other cell phones at highly reasonable rates. Some of the popular cell phone accessories being sold by the store include cell phone covers, cell phone car charger, cell phone headsets, Bluetooth headset, and more.
Do you wish to give your cherished cell phone a unique look so that it stands out from the crowd? If yes, cell phone accessories are a definite solution to all your problems. And among all cell phone accessories, cell phone faceplates are one of the most exciting and useful accessories that will lend your phone an attractive and appealing appearance.
Cell phone faceplates allow you to personalize your cell phone as per your personal style and preference. These faceplates offer a very personal touch to your phone's appearance and make it a true reflection of your personality. Nowadays, having a customized cell phone is considered a great style statement and speaks a lot about your attitude. These cell phone faceplates are available in a variety of vibrant colors and interesting designs that further increase the value of these amazing accessories.
Cell phone accessories like faceplates create an ideal first impression on the onlookers. Available across a broad spectrum of colors and designs, these accessories are worth adorning your phone with! Cell phone faceplates offer great protection to your phone besides making it look better. Other accessories like cell phone headsets equip you with hands-free comfort for your phone. Bluetooth wireless headset, for instance, will capture the attention and imagination of every user with its sophisticated design and high utility.
One of the well-known and reliable online stores that offer a wide range of cell phone accessories at the lowest prices is www.cellphoneaccents.com.
Everybody will agree with the fact that the cell phone has changed the way we live and communicate with each other in today's tech-savvy society. The cell phone has also changed the way we conduct our businesses and carry out our day-to-day activities. It is an amazing gadget that has been designed to completely complement our modern day lifestyle. And the advent of cell phone accessories has taken cell phone technology to a new level.
Most of the popular cell phone accessories are now easily available to users on the Internet. These accessories not only make the cell phone very attractive, but also a lot more productive and useful. You could purchase almost all wireless cell phone accessories from reputed and reliable online stores. By equipping your cell phone with these cell phone accessories, you would be able to boost its performance and at the same time, make it look even better than before. For instance, you can provide your cell phone with a variety of batteries, holsters, cell phone covers, cases, data cables, cell phone car charger, memory cards, cell phone headsets, Bluetooth headset, and a wide range of iPhone accessories.
If you are looking for a company that offers the best quality cell phone accessories at highly reasonable prices, visit www.cellphoneaccents.com.
Don't you think it's time to enjoy a unique cell phone experience? Well with Bluetooth headsets you can have a completely new experience of using your cell phone. These headsets allow you to keep your hands completely free while using your phone. Bluetooth headsets also have very trendy designs and offer you a sharp look.
Bluetooth headsets offer tremendous capabilities as far as using your cell phone is concerned. It connects to your phone without the use of wires and can be easily and comfortably placed in your ears. Gone are the days when you had to strain your arms while holding your phone against your ear. You can now enjoy long hours of uninterrupted conversation with the help of Bluetooth headsets.
Along with the Bluetooth headsets the cell phone covers and faceplates can also help you to enhance the overall appearance of your phone. Even the headsets serve a great purpose by allowing you to stay connected with your favorite music all the time. So, lend your phone a completely new design and appearance with the help of cell phone accessories!
Cellphone Accents offer Bluetooth headsets. The website www.cellphoenaccents.com offers complete information about the company.
An iPhone is your one-stop-shop for all your entertainment purposes. You can further enhance the amazing looks and capabilities of the iPhone with the help of iPhone cases. These cases are available in an exciting range of bold colors and exciting designs to capture your imagination. So just go ahead and pick up your favorite one!
You can choose from a wide variety of iPhone cases depending upon your preferences. The most popular cases include the leather cases which lend a very distinguished appearance to your phone. You can also choose from a wide range of faceplates which lends a brand new appearance to your phone. These faceplates are available in various exciting colors and bold designs.
You can also enhance the capabilities of your iPhone with the help of Bluetooth headsets. These headsets offer you hands-free comfort and are also available in exciting designs which will help you to look sharp and smooth! You can also choose accessories for your Blackberry phone to make it look really special.
Do you love to experiment with the look of your cell phone? Well, then the cell phone faceplates can prove to be the perfect choice for you! These accessories can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your phone and lend it a very sophisticated look. So get ready to give your cell phone a complete makeover!
The cell phone faceplate is an exciting concept which aims at enhancing the appeal of your phone. These faceplates are available in various exciting designs and colors and are perfectly suitable for all models. Cellphone faceplates enhance the appeal of your phone and give it a brand new appearance every time.
Along with the faceplates you can also use headsets to enhance the overall experience of using your cell phone. The headsets offer you amazing voice clarity and are also very portable. Thus now you can carry your favorite music along with you wherever you go! Bluetooth headsets also offer you tremendous freedom and allow you to use your hands freely!
Cellphone Accents offers cell phone faceplates. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com offers complete information about the company.
Are you a proud owner of an iPhone? Well, now you can enhance the charming looks of your beloved phone with the help of iPhone accessories! These accessories will not only protect your phone from scratches and dust but also enhance its capabilities. Cell phone covers and headsets prove to be perfect accessories for you cell phone.
Cell phone accessories enhance your overall experience of using the phone. The iPhone accessories enable you to enjoy the various features offered by the iPhone. Cell phone headsets will help you to enjoy all those lovely songs and videos stored on your phone!
A Bluetooth headset is also a perfect enhancement for your iPhone. It offers you wireless capabilities allowing you to enjoy your iPhone without your hands. Even the cell phone car charger can prove to be very useful as it ensures that your cell phone never runs out of life! The iPhone leather covers will also lend your phone a sophisticated look!
Do you love to add a lot of zing to your cell phone? Then cell phone accessories will prove to be simply perfect for you! With a range of exciting designs and unique concepts these accessories will lend a brand new appearance to your cell phones!
Cell phone accessories have evolved as a style statement that provide an undertone of elegance to your cell phone. The most famous accessories include covers and faceplates. They protect your phone from dust and damage and also allow you to experiment with various looks. The bold and exciting colors further enhances their capabilities. There are some covers designed specifically for the high end models of iPhone and Blackberry. These iPhone cases are specifically designed to protect the phone from any damage and scratches.
Apart from the covers and faceplates, headsets are also an exciting tool which helps you to enjoy your cell phone. These headsets offer you a chance to listen to your favorite music on your mobiles and even communicate without the use of your hands! Bluetooth headsets also lend you a very sophisticated appearance!
Cellphone Accents offers cell phone accessories. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com offers complete information about the company.
Do you want to feel the freedom of your hands while driving your car? Well, Bluetooth headsets will surely help you in achieving this! Now you can use your phone without the hassle of holding it against your ear all the time. The exciting Bluetooth device also has a very sophisticated look.
Bluetooth devices are designed to fit perfectly in your ear. The new generation Bluetooth headset are technologically advanced and offer amazing sound clarity. These devices are designed in a way to ensure minimum interference with external sound. This feature helps to offer superior call quality.
Bluetooth devices let you use your hands freely and offer tremendous capabilities. You can even buy a Bluetooth headset online. The online stores offer you the latest discounts and also allow you to choose from an exciting range of models. The package will be delivered to you only in factory fresh packages and all your important personal information is kept strictly confidential.
Cellphone Accents offers Bluetooth headsets and other exciting mobile accessories. The website www.CellphoneAccents.com provides complete information about the company.
Are you a proud owner of an iPhone? Well, then you can further enhance its appearance by using attractive iPhone cases. These cases have a very bright and colorful appearance and provide the perfect protection for your phone. These cases also lend a glittering appearance to your phone.
Leather iPhone cases have a very sophisticated appearance. These cases are very portable and protect your phone from any possible damage. The iPhone case protects your phone from scratches and keeps your phone in brand new condition. You can choose from a wide range of iPhone cases.
Bluetooth headsets are also an exciting iPhone accessory which lets you communicate with your near and dear ones without the use of wires. The wireless Bluetooth headset also lends your personality a sharp and smooth look. The next generation Bluetooth devices are designed to eliminate background noise and other disturbances to offer amazing sound clarity.
iPhone cases and other similar accessories will give you a truly unique experience of using your cell phone. The website www.CellphoneAccents.com provides complete information about the company.
Do you want to give your iPhone a touch of elegance? Well, then go ahead and buy a few iPhone accessories. These accessories will make you phone look like a princess and also enable you to do so much more! Enjoy a brand new experience with your iPhone accessories.
Cell phone covers will protect your iPhone from any possible damage and also lend it a brand new appearance. The most exciting iPhone cases are leather cases which offer holistic protection for your phone. Leather cases ensure that the phone does not slip out of the pouch and also keeps it in brand new condition.
You can also buy a Bluetooth headset to enjoy wireless networking capabilities. The exciting Bluetooth device cuts out any unwanted background noise and provides amazing sound clarity. Cell phone headsets allow you to enjoy your favorite music peacefully. The capabilities are simply endless with these accessories!
Cellphone Accents is an online store offering iPhone accessories. The website of the company www.CellphoenAccents.com provides complete information about the company.
Do you want your phone to look really classy? Well, cell phone accessories can surely help you lend a glossy appearance to your phone! These accessories enhance the appearance of your phone and also increase its functionality. There are various accessories available to lend your phone an elegant touch.
The cell phone cover is an exciting gadget which protects your phone from all possible damage and also makes it look truly admirable. The exciting range of designs and bold colors make cell phone covers very desirable. A cell phone cover is the perfect style statement! Even cellphone faceplates can help you give your cell phone a new look every day.
Celll phone headsets and Bluetooth headsets are capable of taking your experience to the next level. Bluetooth offers you superior wireless capabilities and eliminates the necessity for carrying your phone all the time. It allows you to use your hands freely at all times.
Cellphone Accents is an online store which offers cell phone accessories. The website of the company www.CellphoneAccents.com provides complete information about the company.
Want to enjoy a high octane musical experience? Your cell phone can prove to be the perfect disc jockey with superb musical capabilities! The cell phone headsets can provide you with an out-of-this-world musical experience and give you an adrenalin rush. The cell phone accessories like cell phone headsets offer a truly exciting experience.
The cell phone headsets offer you a very simple and easy way to enjoy your favorite music. It gives you a lot of privacy and lets you enjoy your favorite music in peace. Even the Bluetooth headsets are a technological marvel, which offer you hands free comfort for a truly mesmerizing experience. Now you can do so many things without even using your hands.
Online stores prove to be the perfect place to buy cell phone headsets. These stores provide you with superb discount offers and various attractive models. The safe transaction procedure ensures that all your details are kept totally secure and the delivery is made only in factory fresh packages.
Cell Phone Accents offers cell phone headsets. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com provides complete information about these products and the company.
Isn't your iPhone truly exciting? Well, now you can make it even more enjoyable with the help of iPhone accessories! These accessories provide the perfect enhancement for your cell phone and give it a completely new look and feel. The accessories can surely enhance your experience of using the iPhone.
iPhone accessories include Bluetooth headsets which offer an exciting deal. These gadgets free up your hands, thus allowing you to enjoy a holistic experience of talking on the cell phone. The hands-free comfort provides you with new freedom in the field of mobile technology. The headsets are also very exciting as now you can easily enjoy all your favorite music.
Blackberry accessories also offer an exciting prospect. The cell phone covers ensure that an expensive phone like the Blackberry is not damaged by dust or scratches and lends it a very radiant look. Memory cards and data cables provide a free mode of interface between various devices thus allowing you to freely exchange your favorite music and pictures with your friends.
Cell Phone Accents offers iPhone accessories. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com provides complete information about these products and the company.
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Don't you simply love your cell phone and think of new designs to make it look attractive? The cell phone accessories provide the perfect way to lend your cell phone an undertone of elegance and charm. The cell phone accessories are specially designed to enhance the various features of your phone and enhance your experience while using it.
Cell phone accessories like cell phone covers protect your cell phone from scratches or dust and prolong the life of your phone. The cell phone headsets and the Bluetooth headsets provide an unimaginable hands-free comfort to free you from holding the phone for a long duration of time. They also help you to enjoy a superb musical experience.
The iPhone accessories help you to accentuate the features of your exciting iPhone. You can listen to all your favorite music on the iPhone with the help of your headsets! The memory cable allows you to freely exchange data between your iPhone and other exciting gadgets.
Cell Phone Accents offers cell phone accessories. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com provides complete information about these and other products.
Do you want to look like a someone who is in total control? Well, the Bluetooth headsets with its exciting designs and cutting edge technology can surely help you to do so! Not only will it lend you an attitude but it also provides hands-free comfort. A Bluetooth headset is capable of offering unlimited capabilities.
Bluetooth headsets are an exciting cell phone accessory which eliminates the need for holding the cell phone for long stretches of time. Now all you need to do is to connect the device to your phone and plug it in your ear. It offers an amazing clarity of sound which will completely mesmerize you.
Cell phone headsets are also an exciting gadget which enables you to forget the world around you and tap your feet to your favorite music. The portable design helps you to carry it along with you everywhere and enjoy all your favorite activities to the core. You can buy all these accessories from an online store and avail exciting offers. These stores provide very safe and secure modes of transaction.
Cell Phone Accents offers Bluetooth headsets. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com provides complete information about these products and the company.
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Are you a proud owner of a Blackberry phone? Well, Blackberry accessories are surely a must for you! These accessories will not only enhance the appearance of your phone but also ensure that you can enjoy all the features. The various Blackberry accessories can be purchased easily from an online store.
Cell phone covers are an exciting enhancement, which give a beautiful look to your phone. The exciting designs and luminescent colors fit perfectly into your Blackberry phone and give it an attitude. These covers decorate your phone and give it an artistic appearance. The faceplates also allow you to experiment with new designs!
The Blackberry accessories like cell phone headsets and Bluetooth headsets offer you hands free comfort to have a great experience while using your phone. The powerful headsets provide a great opportunity to indulge in a truly musical experience while the Bluetooth devices lend you a sophisticated look. The cell phone car charger can also prove to be very helpful as it ensures that you never run out of battery!
Cell Phone Accents offer Blackberry accessories. The website www.cellphoneaccents.com provides complete information about these products and the company.
Despite setting astounding launch sales records, iPhone 4S owners are plagued by battery drain that even Apple engineers are having difficulty solving.
Supermarket apps are making use of the power of mobile technology to give shoppers a 'smarter' experience, offering discounts and other benefits with each visit. Having a smartphones in hand, shoppers can now engage in a mobile experience with their favorite foods and products as a result of supermarkets' push for more customers.
Health Canada has developed 
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It's that familiar ringtone that's been interrupting your favorite movie since 1994.
Texting while driving, as efficient as the feat may seem to be to some, has obvious fatal consequences and repercussions. AT&T, as part of their It Can Wait public service campaign, has released DriveMode through which customers 'can manually enable the app prior to driving, activating the text auto-reply feature. The app also allows disabling of emails, incoming and outgoing calls and Web browsing. When the app is turned off, user can view the calls, messages, and emails as they normally would.'
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Now that fall is approaching it's time we at Cellphone Accents put down the margaritas and the tortilla chips and get our butts back in the gym. With work from 8-6, chores around the house, and a dessert truck parked up the street, being healthy can be nearly impossible. Or so we thought. 
For some of us, when we leave our locked cars in front of the house, we always assume all our belongings will be exactly where we left them the next day. Our lipstick will be on our seats, and our wallets in the cup holder secure and ready for you in the morning. Sure, you understand that there could be a burglar hiding in the trees of your front lawn, and that he could bash out your back window and steal your sound system some time in the middle of the night, but what's the use of stressing over a small what-if? Most Americans like to keep the idea of being robbed far back in their head.
As summer days begin to wane, and the fall season approaches, it's time to start thinking about the ever-dreadful back-to-school shopping trip. When we think of the traditional way to go about shopping for school, we can easily imagine Dixon pencils and black-checkered notebooks--not bedazzled pencil cases and 
Yes, gossiping is just a natural part of what people do.
A recent study by the Mitre Corporation suggests the information posted through your tweets can tip people off as to whether the message is coming from a man or woman.
Wireless is the future, and in most towns and cities across the country, payphones are being removed in large swathes, leaving the once scruffy-looking phone booth bare and tinged with a hint of lonely nostalgia.
