iTechAge

Apple iPhone 5 Review

2012-09-27T09:25:00.001-07:00

Guest post by sara, tech enthusiast and blogger. Currently contributing to many tech blogs such as bestiphone5apps.us

Over the past year we’ve seen a galaxy of all-singing, all-dancing smartphones, but there was only one launch that could stop the whole planet in its tracks. If they’d sold tickets to the iPhone unveiling, they would have been snapped up quicker than the canapés at a piranha convention. Thinner, lighter and more powerful, the new iteration of the world’s most influential gadget is unmistakably Apple – because it’s also restrained, shunning pumped-up specs for style, simplicity and a build quality that puts the competition to shame. This 7.6mm thin, 112g gadget is so important that we felt its presence long before it arrived. Mostly in the form of rumours on the internet.

As hot as… the sharp end of a lightsaber

iPhone 5 Features:

Screen Star

The new screen is still a dazzlingly crisp 326ppi Retina display, but it’s now a 4in, 1136x640, 16:9 window. More space for app icons and films, but there’ll be black bars down the side of some apps until the developers catch up.

Graphic art

The new A6 chip has a CPU and a graphics processor claimed to be twice as fast as the A5 chip in the 4S and iPad 2. Apple says this allows for ‘console-quality’ graphics – and we’re pretty sure they don’t mean a SNES.

The need 4 speed

FaceTime gets a 720p camera and the option to use your network connection as well as Wi-Fi. Fortunate, then, that the iPhone also gets 4G wireless – more on that overleaf. Siri, meanwhile, gets improved local search skills.

iPhone 5 has a new connector.

Lightning, as it’s called, is a digital only system, whereas the old 30-pin set-up hooked up to a lot of analogue audio connections. To keep from rendering all those old speaker docks obsolete, Apple has made an adaptor. It’s £25. Ouch. But, it has squeezed a DAC into it – so it should work with your existing dock, in your car and everywhere else your old iPhone worked. So there’s that.

Hands – on with iphone 5

First impressions

It’s fair to say that the initial post keynote vibe was that of mild disappointment. But, you have to touch the iPhone 5 to really get it. The handset is improbably light but impressively solid, all diamond-cut aluminium edges, gently textured anodized surfaces and glass inserts fitted to within microscopic tolerances. It feels more luxurious than any luxury phone I’ve ever held, and thanks to some new screen tech, the pin-sharp image seems closer than ever. If the Galaxy S III is an American muscle car, the iPhone 5 is an executive Audi.

Dock issue? Lightn’ up

A quick play with the Lightning connector had me feeling a little better about that controversial dock change. It’s a microUSB small, tough-feeling connector that plugs into the iPhone either way round, eliminating nighttime scrabbling . In a way, it’s as sensible as the SCART to HDMI upgrade.

Smooth as silk

Maps, the iOS 6 headline feature, shows off the new power on offer. There’s no slowdown when you zoom and pan, and only the data heavy ‘flyover’ mode buffers. The camera app fires up almost instantly, while tweeting and facebooking direct from Siri or the photos app is every bit as polished as you’d expect from an incremental iOS upgrade.

But is it the best?

The 5 makes no game-changing tech leaps – no quad-core chip, no NFC, and only a minor screen extension – but for iOS users, usability, build quality and software are the things that will really make the difference.

Be smart with your smartphone abroad

2012-08-27T04:32:00.004-07:00

It's easy to run up a huge bill holidaying overseas - here's how to avoid roaming costs on an Android

We've all heard the nightmare stories of going on holiday abroad only to come home to a massive phone bill, often due to data charges incurred while overseas. Fortunately the EL) has capped data roaming charges at €50, and operators such as Vodafone and Three are offering fixed roaming packages, but despite all of this expensive roaming could still lead to a grey cloud being cast over the sun.

Savvy smartphone users can save a packet by preparing their phone before their trip. The latest phones include the ability to turn all data settings on and off, and even tools to monitor how much data you're using. There are also a few little tricks that can save you even more.

We've concentrated on Android phones for this tutorial, but much of this information and advice is applicable to other devices.

Check your contract

Before you do anything, check your contract with your mobile network. Often these include free data abroad, or bolt-on packages that give you data access for a small daily or up-front fee. If you're in doubt, give your network a call and see what you've got or what you're eligible for.

Maps

Google Maps now includes a handy offline mode so you won't incur data costs - or get lost. Fire it up, enter your destination, hit the menu key and choose 'Make available offline'. Pan and zoom the box around the area you're travelling to and tap 'Done' to download it.

When in roam

'Roaming' allows your phone to connect to mobile data services when you're abroad, but fortunately it can be turned off. From the home screen, press the menu key, then go to 'Settings'. In older Android devices you'll find roaming settings in 'Wireless & networks' followed by'Mobile networks'.

Roam sweet roam

In newer Android devices roaming settings are accessed by going into 'Settings', and then tapping on 'Mobile network'. Different devices have quick ways of turning the mobile network on and off - on new HTC phones you can pull down the notification bar and find it under 'Quick settings'.

Wi-Fi? Why not?

The majority of modern hotels include Wi-Fi access, either in your room or in the lobby. Sometimes there's a fee for this - but we'd recommend paying as it usually works out a lot less than connecting via a mobile network. If you thinkyou'll be using a lot of data it's worth checking before you book.

Holidata

New Android phones have a data usage monitor. Under 'Menu', 'Settings' and 'Usage', set 'Reset data count' to the first day abroad, then drag the green and red lines down to your holiday data limit. Next, drag the green line below the red line. You'll be warned when near your limit and data will turn off if you hit it.

Sun, sea and sims

Buying a pay as you go sim in your destination country is guaranteed to save you cash on calls and data, but it can be complicated - you'll need an unlocked phone, as well as the linguistic ability to ask for a sim and top-up. In most cases it's easier to visit www.roamingsims.com and order one there.

Enjoy your trip

Your phone should now be set up to use when you're abroad - more importantly, without incurring huge costs. One final tip: don't fret too much if you lose or forget your phone's charger - often nowadays hotel lobbies have loads of spare ones so you can fill that battery to your heart's content.

The Best Wireless And Portable Speakers

2012-08-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Giving Your Music Some Extra Clout No Matter Where You Are

Are looking for some of the awesome wireless and portable speakers for you iphone and ipad? bestiphone5apps.us recently posted reviews of unique accessories for iphone and today we’ve decided to post 5 unique wireless and portable speakers for iphone.

Jawbone Jambox

The JAMBOX's packaging pitches it as the successor to the boombox, and given the instantly eye-catching look of this speaker you wouldn't bet against that one day becoming the case. The JAMBOX is a powerful speaker set-up wrapped in meshed aluminium, available in four colours. The sound that rumbles from the product is fantastic, as are the space-age noises that it emits each time you turn the JAMBOX on and off. To keep it at the cutting edge in every sense, the JAMBOX can in fact be updated by plugging in to your computer, where you can download new preferences and software updates.

Cost: $199.99 Where to Buy: jawbone.com

Veho M4 Bluetooth Wibeless Speaker

Lightweight and stylish in design, the Veho looks like the perfect portable speaker to throw in your travel bag. It can also back up its looks in sound quality, with an output that will surprise you given the size of it. Over Bluetooth you can get two hours of battery life out of the Veho, although this is extended if you use either the microSD or line in cables that come with it. The built-in controls illuminate when the device is turned on, which is a nice aesthetic touch on top of the quality you get from the product.

Cost: £59.95 Where to Buy: veho-uk.com

Desa A Beat Box Bluetooth Speaker

Packs a very good audio punch for it's diminutive frame, the Beat Box has great bass and comes with a built lithium battery which promises to give five hours of music when fully charged, You can control volume from your device as well as the speaker, although it should be noted that the volume controls are combined with the track skipping buttons and can become frustrating if you forget to hold down to change audio levels. But this is nonetheless a very easy-to-use speaker, and it's stylishly designed as well. A solid booster for your device via Bluetooth or output cable.

Cost: £49.99 Where to Buy: desaia.co.uk

Gear4 Houseparty Portable

The only piece of gear here that requires an app to complete the wireless connection, the Gear4 is still a very potent music amplifier, hence the HouseParty tag. You can also use the speaker as a docking station thanks to the hidden port behind the Gear4 logo on the front of the speaker. There's a handy kickstand to keep the speaker steady, and the whole package is very lightweight so you can easily move it without any hassle. The speaker has customisable power settings, so you can go completely wireless if you wish thanks to the lithium polymer battery, or plug it in to keep power levels up.

Cost: £129.99 Where to Buy: gear4.com

Braven 625s Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The BRAVEN speaker certainly looks the part, with the polished metal speaker covers and ridged silicone wrapping. You can connect your device to the speaker via Bluetooth or by using the line in or USB connection that come with the product. The sound quality is also good, though with a caveat. The BRAVEN's sound levels are dictated by the levels on your device, and this feels like it's restricting things slightly. But the rugged look and nature of it do balance it out, as you feel confident about taking this to the park or beach without fearing for it's safety. A balanced if slightly compromised offering for the price it's asking for.

Cost: £149.99/$179.99 Where to Buy: braven.com

Best Free YouTube Video Downloaders

2012-07-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

YouTube Downloaders enable you to “save” your preferred videos to your “local hard disk”, letting you quickly watch them another time, also while you are not even linked to the net. Furthermore, even when the video is removed because of certain cause, you can even now watch it ever again, or present it to other people, in case available. We have dealt with plenty of applications, in addition to web extensions, that enable you to download videos from “YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, Metacafe”, and plenty of other “video hosting sites”. In this article, we provide you with 10 best YouTube video downloaders, each one with its have unique group of features.

Direct YouTube Downloader

Direct YouTube Downloader is a devoted grabber regarding YouTube, that not just enables you to download single videos through copying their URL, however you too can download all the videos of a particular Person, Channel, or any kind of Playlist. The application facilitates downloading high-resolution videos up to “Ultra HD 4K” quality. Downloading a complete playlist doesn't need any further function rather than copying its URL. All the videos of any Person, Channel, or Playlist are listed in the primary interface prior to downloading, and you can take away the ones you don't need to download. You are able to save videos in “WebM, MP4, FLV” as well as “3GP” formats, and also audio just streams in “AAC”.

Wondershare vDownloader

Wondershare vDownloader permits you to download videos from a number of sites, such as “YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, Metacafe, Facebook, Vevo, Hulu, Blip”. tv and so on. Apart from the standard “360p” as well as “480p” resolutions, in addition, it lets you download videos in the total “1080p”. The application gives you 2 methods to download the video: you are able to download the video through pasting its URL in the main interface of the software, or you can utilize the incorporated download option in your web browsers, that enables you to download a video in numerous resolutions simply by hovering your computer mouse over it. Wiondershare vDownloader additionally includes a built-in video player with complete screen along with repeat function. By indicating the program priorities, you can also decide to disable internet browser integration for certain browsers.

Best Video Downloader

Best Video Downloader is the software that I myself make use of whenever I have to download any kind of video from YouTube. The reason behind making use of this specific YouTube downloader is that you don’t need to hold and operate separate software program each time you need to download a video. Subsequent to installation, the software simply adds an extension to the chosen web browsers (it right now supports “Mozilla Firefox”, “Google Chrome” as well as “Internet Explorer”), and as a video is playedon YouTube, a switch appears down the video window, enabling you to download the document in numerous sound as well as video forms. The software enables you to download the video in “M4A, AAC, MP3 (128K, 64K), MP4 720p HD, MP4 360p, as well as FLV (480p, 360p. 240p)”. Furthermore, it's also possible to download the album art “(thumbnail image)” of the video from the same collection.

NoVirusThanks YouTube Video Downloader

NoVirusThanks YouTube Video Downloader is movable software that allows you to download one video each time from YouTube. Nevertheless, where the device is lacking in regarding catching numerous streams, it makes up in its capability to convert videos straight soon after downloading them. The application enables users in order to convert the downloaded video to MPEG, FLV, Apple QuickTime MOV, WAV and plenty of various video formats. In addition to the conversion following download, the software likewise permits you to switch the file formats as well as extract just the audio layer from a video saved in your local hard disk.

yMule

yMule is YouTube downloader it doesn't depend on the clipboard to be able to download videos. In its place, it features its very own browse functionality, which allows you to search the YouTube database for every motion stream. The search results are posted with the title, length of video, number of vistas on YouTube, upload time period, supply in HD, and also Description of each one that meets the search standards. It's also possible to fix a number of filters to be able to narrow down the lookup, for example display just HD videos, do a search for songs, arrange standards of the outcome list, upload data, as well as length of videos. Double clicking a video includes it into the download listing, as well as for songs videos, an option can be found in order to download just the audio track. Default settings can be selected with regard to permitting the highest range of parallel downloads, in addition indicating the download quality for the chosen videos.

RealDownloader

If you are searching for trusted video downloading software which receives frequently updated, attempt RealDownloader. It's a video downloader from the designers of Real Player which allows you to download videos from video hosting websites including YouTube, MetaCafe, Facebook and so on. The application lets you download videos in MP4 and FLV. Following installation, an extension is installed to your internet browser that adds a Download this Video switch onto the presently playing videos. Click on this switch to include the video to the download listing. You are able to select when the download switch should show up on a video, from options such as on load, on mouse over as well as don’t display (download using right click).

ClipGrab

ClipGrab is video downloader which supports not only YouTube, but in addition Vimeo, College Humor, DailyMotion and plenty of various video hosting services. This software enables you to convert videos right after downloading them into Original, WMV, MPEG4, OGG Theora, MP3 (audio), OGG Vorbis (audio) file forms. ClipGrab can download high definition videos from all website that provides HD videos, for example YouTube as well as Vimeo. The application also lets you seek out videos straight from in the main interface. Videos could be downloaded while using clipboard choice (by pasting their URL in the application), and also the automatic site-recognition permits it to operate on a huge number of on-line portals. You can also elect to maintain metadata in audio files, as well as link this software to the net when utilizing a proxy server.

Freemake Video Downloader

Freemake Video Downloader is one more application which supports several websites - in this instance, 10,000+. Together with YouTube, it lets you obtain videos from the kind of Vimeo, Facebook, TubePlus, DailyMotion, Vevo and so forth. Videos can be downloaded in each accessible video resolution, for example 360p, 480p, 720p (HD), 1080p (HD) as well as 4096p (4K). Prior to downloading the video, Freemake Video Downloader shows all of the accessible formats, their particular resolutions, sound quality, and also the file size which will be downloaded. You are able to choose to extract the sound from the file, or convert the chosen video to AVI, MKV, MP3, iPod/ iPhone, Google android, PSP, as well as 3GP formats. This software attributes both a desktop client, along with plug-in for Mozilla Firefox plus Google Chrome.

Orbit Downloader

Orbit Downloader is yet another really well-known device for downloading videos, along with other content from the net. It gives you much more versatility regarding where the content is hosted. The classic of Orbit Downloader is that it functions on any kind of sound or video Flash content. Therefore, you aren't limited to download the videos just from YouTube, Vimeo or other large video hosting websites; you are able to get any kind of video or sound that can be found within a Flash container. Orbit Downloader holds the video when it’s playing as well as makes a download link, helping you to save the file inside your local hard disk to a area of your selecting.

YouTube Downloader HD

YouTube Downloader HD is among the most well-known instruments accessible which permit you to effortlessly download videos from YouTube by simply copying their URL. The application facilitates downloading the video in several resolutions, from a variety of 240p around videos having a 1080p Maximum HD quality. In case you are downloading the videos at a lesser quality, you will find available options to convert them to AVI and also MP4, making these compatible with the majority of portable video players, such as iPod along with Quick Time. You are able to save the video in a customized locale and stop the download operation, in case necessary.

Printer Networking, Connect Your Printer To A Wireless Network

2012-05-21T05:08:00.001-07:00

It’s a good idea to choose a laser printer with built-in wireless networking, but even printers with wired networking can process print jobs from PCs on a wireless network.

Before you can enjoy easy access to loads of high quality prints, however, you need to connect the printer to the network. It’s easy to do, and this article will give you some tips on how to cut out the fuss and make it happen.

Step One

If you have a printer with built-in (or added-on) wireless networking, then you’ll want to install and set up the printer in a location that is easy to access for everyone who needs to pick up prints. You’ll also want to make sure the printer’s location gets a decent wireless signal.

If your laser printer only supports wired networking, then you’re a little more limited in where you install and set up the device. You’ll want to put it near the wireless router, access point, or gateway because you’ll need to run an Ethernet cable between the printer and the networking device.

Step Two

Find your laser printer’s documentation and read about how to connect your printer to your wired or wireless network. This article offers some generic tips, but you should follow the setup guide that came with your device first as it may offer additional tips or rearrange the order of some steps included here. If you don’t have access to a physical copy of the manual, check the printer manufacturer’s website.

Step Three

If you’re installing a printer with wired networking, skip to step four. Many wireless printers that can be installed independently of a router or direct PC connection often have a built-in wireless networking wizard that you can access from the printer’s menu. Find the LCD screen and press a button marked Menu or Setup; a wrench icon is also a common menu key indicator. Navigate the menu options looking for any that deal with connecting to a Wi-Fi network or setting up a wireless connection. Using the printer’s menu navigation controls and number pad/keypad, you should be able to launch the setup process and perform the necessary steps to detect existing Wi-Fi networks, input passcodes, and connect your printer.

Another way to connect a wireless printer is to choose one computer on the wireless network that you can set up first and then proceed to install the printer driver software on that computer. Like the printer manuals described above, the printer driver software will vary depending on your printer model and may ask you to perform additional steps or perform the steps in a different order. Follow those instructions to the letter.

Step Four

With your wired laser printer up and running near your networking device, the next step is to connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the RJ45 port on the back of the printer and the other end to one of the available ports on the back of the router, access point, or gateway.

Step Five

As above, you will need to first configure the connection with a computer connected to the wireless network or directly wired to the router, access point, or gateway.

Install the wired printer’s driver software and follow the instructions. If no driver software is necessary or included with your printer, click Start, Devices And Printers, and then Add A Printer. Select the option to Add A Network, Wireless, Or Bluetooth Printer. On the following screen, highlight your printer and then click Next to complete the setup process.

Top Tips For New Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Tools

2012-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Our team of experts show how to make the most of the new tools in Android 4.0

Create App Folders

With all the great apps that are available for Android, your phone can quickly become cluttered with icons, making it difficult to find what you want. Bring organisation to the chaos by grouping similar apps, such as all your photo apps, in a single folder.

Press the menu button to go to the All Apps launcher, then press and hold an app. After a second or two, you'll be taken to your home screen, where you can drop the apps icon. Drop it on top of another app to create a folder Drag and drop more apps onto it to add them to the folder.

To move an app out of a folder, tap, hold and then drag it. Drag it to the top of the screen to remove it from the home screen.

Add widgets

Having your most frequently used apps on the home screen is useful, but even better are the widgets with live content that let you access handy elements of an app without having to launch it or leave the home screen.

From your home screen, swipe to the right to get to a blank screen, then tap and hold on the background. Browse through the widgets by swiping right to left. Try the Gmail one, for example. Tap and hold the widget and you can then drag it to one of the screens at the top.

It will display a title bar and the first couple of messages in your inbox. Swipe down to browse the 25 most recent messages. You can create a new email by tapping the icon at the right of the widget title bar. Tap the email icon in the title bar to open the full version of the app.

Resize widgets

Widgets placed on the home screen can be resized. Tap one and hold, then let go. A box is drawn around the widget with handles on each side. Tap and drag the handle to grow or shrink the app and make it the size you want.

Multitasking

Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" can handle multitasking (running more than one app at a time), so you can switch between apps easily. On new Android phones, you'll notice a Recent Apps button, which looks like a box with another box behind it. Tap the button and you'll get a view of all the apps that are currently running in the background, so you can quickly switch between them.

Look to unlock

If you don't want prying eyes to access your personal information, you can use Android 4.0's face-recognition tool to protect your phone, SO that only your face can unlock it. To set up face recognition, go to Settings and then Security. Select 'Screen lock' and find Face Unlock among the options. There are several screens, so tap through them and take a snapshot of your face when prompted. As a back-up, in case you can't be recognised, you are also asked to choose a pin or pattern lock.

To outwit someone holding a photo of you in front of the phone to unlock it, Samsung has tweaked this feature by requiring you to blink when unlocking, to prove it's really you!

Email quick responses

Typing on a mobile phone is awkward, but the email app's Quick Responses can help by storing sentences that can be entered with a tap or two. For example, you might want to store something like "I'm out right now, but I'll mail you as soon as I get back".

Start the email apps press the menu button and tap Settings. Tap your email account and then Quick Responses. Tap Create and then enter the text and save it. Add other messages in the same way. When you are writing an email, tap the menu button and select Insert Quick Response to see messages you have stored. Just tap one to insert it.

Quick phone responses

Sometimes you can't or don't want to answer a call. You can slide left to ignore a call or right to accept it, or select a Quick Response text message. For a Quick Response, tap and slide not to the left or right, but up to the icon above. You'll see a list of ready-made responses, such as "I'll call you later,a' and "I'll call you right back". Choose one. You can edit these responses by going to the Phone app, Menu button, Settings, Quick Responses, Tap one to edit it.

Start A Video Chat On Your Tablet

2012-05-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Videoconferencing on your tablet

With many of today’s tablets now offering front-facing cameras, it’s possible for you to use a tablet as a face-to-face videoconference tool.

In this article, we’ll explain what you’ll need to create a video chat and how to start one with a client or friend.

You’ll need a front-facing camera, such as the 2MP (megapixel) camera on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (starts at $448.99), to videoconference face-to-face.

Tools Of The Trade

You’ll need a tablet (top android tablets) that has a front-facing camera, which is a camera that is located on the same side of the tablet as the screen (so that it can capture images of you while you look at the screen).

You may be able to use the rear-facing camera; however, you wouldn’t be able to see the person you’re trying to video chat with. Next, you and the person you plan to video chat with will need to decide what videoconferencing application you will use. There are wide variety of apps for tablets that operate on the Android, iOS, and PC platforms, including Skype (free) and Fring (free). If you both own an Apple device—whether it is an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, MacBook Pro, or new iMac—you can chat using FaceTime (free). Similarly, Android tablet users can use Google Talk to videoconference with someone who’s installed Google Talk on his PC or Android-based tablet or smartphone. Besides using the same video chat program, the person you want to video chat with must also have a front-facing camera on his tablet or smartphone, or own a PC with a Web cam.

With Skype’s video chat service, you can videoconference with several people at once.

Web Connection

Some video chat apps, such as FaceTime, require you to be connected to Wi-Fi when running the application. Others will allow connection through a 3G or 4G cellular signal, but you’ll likely get better results with Wi-Fi, because a Wi-Fi connection will generally offer a stronger signal (makes for a more reliable connection) and faster downloads (better speed makes video appear less choppy) than mobile broadband.

Create A Video Chat

Both you and the person you want to chat with will need to create an account on the service that you’ve decided to use. Once you’ve created the accounts, email or text your username to the person you want to video chat with, and ask him for his username. After you sign in to the video chat app, go to the section of program where you can add contacts and enter the username that your friend provided you. A request will be sent to the person (to verify that he knows you), and when he accepts, you’ll be able to view your contact list and see when he comes online. Alternatively, you’ll receive a friend request that you can verify. Once you’re both online, click the button on the app, likely listed as “video call” or “video chat,” that will start your face-to-face conference.

With Google Talk, you can video chat with other Android tablet and smartphone users, as well as people with Google Talk installed on their PCs.

Videoconference Tablet Tips

If you’re using your tablet’s front-facing camera to remotely join a business meeting, you’ll want to ensure that you present a professional appearance, which may be difficult when you’re working on the road.

Before you join the call, examine shot composition from your front-facing camera. In a properly framed shot, you should at least see your head and shoulders. You should also ensure that you’re clearly visible.

You'll also want to check the video quality. Web cams in tablets aren’t always the best at adjusting to low light, so you may need to turn on a light or move to a location where more natural light is available. Also, avoid placing yourself in front of a window or other bright location because it may cause you to appear as a shadow in the video.

Find a quiet area. If you're in a nosy location, such as an airport, the person on the other end may not be able to clearly hear you.

HTC One X Review

2012-05-15T23:30:00.002-07:00

Quad-core power and a huge screen make this a must-buy

HTC had signalled its intent to streamline its Android offerings earlier this year and the first fruit of that objective - the HTC One X - is now available (Buy HTC One X Sim Free). And what exceptionally juicy fruit it is too - a flagship device boasting a spec sheet that surely makes it one of 2012's biggest smartphone launches.

But, does the One X live up to the hype? Absolutely: this is an absolute monster of a phone that can quite rightly take a seat at the upper echelons of the smartphone hierarchy. In fact, we'd go as far as to suggest that the category has a new leader.

Let's start with the display because it's the first "wow" moment that you'll have after booting up the One X. It's a huge 4.7 inches with a super-crisp, super-bright, 720p high-definition resolution. We say huge because 4.7 inches doesn't seem to do it justice. Boasting a pixel per inch density of 312, and made out of contoured Corning Gorilla Glass, it may not rival the iPhone's 326ppi but, as the panel is based on Super IPS LCD 2 technology, it equates to one of the best display that we've ever seen on a mobile device.

Thanks to its 1.5GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, backed up by a 1GB of RAM, the One X smashes through demanding processes with efficiency and aplomb. The only lag you'll notiee is from your eye balls trying to keep pace with the action on screen. It really is that fast.

We couldn't find a android game on Google Play that troubled the One X and 1080p HD video, from a number of different file types, was played back with smoothness akin to a real-time HD broadcast. Sound, with Beats Audio in place, is also top-notch, both from the precision drilled speaker grill, or courtesy of the 3.5mm jack that is almost swallowed up by the One X's gorgeous curved edges.

Those edges, combined with the matte back plate finish, piano-gloss sidewalls, arched profile and minimalist buttons helps to make the One X one of the best looking handsets that we've seen in a long time. Its definitely a return to form from the company that blew the competition away with the HTC Desire a couple of years back.

Vital statistics

Measuring in at 134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9mm and weighing 130g, the HTC One X isn't going to make much of a footprint in your bag or pocket.

The finish also means that it's a very comfortable handset to hold, as well as one that won't slip easily out of your hand. We also love the way that the rear-facing camera emerges from the back panel, circled in an almost vinyl-like pattern, and protruding just enough to make the phone sit at an angle when laying Hat - a feature that also makes it easy to pick up in one fell-swoop.

The camera isn't just a pretty face either. It's one of the strongest features of the handset - according to HTC that is, who is marketing the One X with the less than modest tagline "Amazing camera. Authentic sound."

In truth, although the camera features are ubiquitous (auto focus, smart LED flash, BSI sensor, F2.0 aperture, 1080p HD video recording, image stabilisation, slow motion video capture and more) it isn't the One X's strongest point. The images are crisp and shooting is incredibly fast, but low-lighting provides a problem and the HD video is not quite at dedicated camera level. Still, the continuous shooting burst mode and the fact that you can shoot images while recording high definition video is fantastic.

Battery life is good, despite the quad-core action - 241 minutes of streaming HD action full-screened and comfortably a day's normal use. There's also NFC, Wi-Fi Direct and HDM1 options on board.

Making Sense

The inclusion of HTC Sense 4.0 on top of Android 4.0 means that you're not quite getting the Ice Cream Sandwich experience that Google intended. Bat leathers of HTC's skin will be relieved to hear that a lot of the failings of previous versions have been removed and it, like the OS it sits atop, is much lighter than before.

We weren't too keen on the Sense 4.0 keyboard, however, with its seemingly unneeded cursor arrows taking up precious real estate. And we're also not sure that HTC has made the correct decision by employing hard buttons rather than capacitive ones.

Despite these minor qualms, the HTC One X is certainly the Android heavy hitter that the Taiwanese company needed to get it back on track with the likes of Samsung, and stake a claim once again as the Android market leader.

It's not cheap to buy SIM-free, however, and you'll most likely need to sign up to a two year contract costing at least £36 per month to get one free. Other gripes include the clamped and muddled keyboard and the inclusion of Sense (even more senseless with the stripped down Android Ice Cream Sandwich platform on board). But, without a doubt, the HTC One X is a Goliath of a smartphone that signals the arrival of the quad-core Android era with some intent.

It's the top smartphone of 2012 so far and we wouldn't be surprised if we still held it in such high regard when Big Ben chimes to signal that the year is up. So, if you're in the market for a colossal ICS handset with seamless HD media and gaming capabilities, and a top camera to boot, then there's really only one solution.

Visit bestappss.com for best HTC One X apps and games.

8 Reasons To Upgrade To Microsoft's Windows 8

2012-05-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

With Windows 8 on the way, here are eight reasons why you should upgrade to Microsoft's new OS

Microsoft is only a few months away from launching Windows 8 and you're probably wondering what to do. Here we've put together eight reasons why you should upgrade. It's worth noting, though, that the new operating system is a major redesign, so you'll want to consider carefully before taking the plunge.

Touchscreen support

The most obvious change is that the Metro interface has been designed with touch control in mind, making it an appealing upgrade for those with an existing touchscreen device such as an all-in-one PC. If you don't have such a machine, then you might want to get one specifically for Windows 8 even though it means a hardware purchase on top of the operating system Traditional keyboard and mouse input is still supported, though, so you don't necessarily have to shell out for a new computer immediately.

Metro user interface

The Metro interface represents a radical redesign for the operating system. It looks similar to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 interface, and instead of the normal desktop with icons there are live tiles. These will launch an application like an icon, but also have the ability to show live information such as new emails and up-to-date weather. Overall, the interface is easy and intuitive to use, especially with a touchscreen. Different gestures, either with touch or a mouse, will do clever things such as close applications, access menus, and more.

Apps

The operating system takes a more mobile approach when it comes to apps, with the Windows Store, This is where you can browse, download and install apps designed for the Metro interface. The selection on offer is currently limited, but it's expected that the number will be significantly higher as time goes by after Windows 8's full launch. A lot of apps will display in full screen, with one example being Maps. This uses Microsoft's Bing Maps service to provide locational search and directions on a global scale. Windows 8 also comes preloaded with a number of Metro apps including People, Calendar, Photos, Music, Messaging and Video.

Cloud services

Windows 8 has a cloud focus to it, which Is a tempting feature, Microsoft stores all your settings in the cloud, so whenever you log on to a Windows & machine you will have it looking and working the way you like. Other elements of the cloud system include pulling your email from Gmail and viewing all your photos from Facebook.

Lock screen and picture password

With this version of Windows you have the option to use a picture lock screen similar to that of a smartphone. To login you'll need to make three gestures; choosing from straight lines, circles and taps. The lock screen can also be customised with your own photo, time, date and app notifications.

Device compatibility

Microsoft has designed Windows 8 to work on different devices - it's not just for your PC, No matter whether the device is a 27in PC, a 15in laptop or a 10in tablet, the new operating system should work flawlessly. Furthermore, the Metro interface will scale to that device's screen size and resolution to provide a uniform experience. If you want consistency across all your computing devices, then Windows 8 is a great reason to upgrade.

Backwards compatibility

If you're worried about things being too different, then the good news is that the operating system Is backwards compatible with Windows 7. Microsoft has included the Classic desktop alongside the Metro interface. This takes you to a traditional desktop where you can use all those applications that weren't designed for the Metro interface. The only difference is there's no Start button. You get the best of both worlds by upgrading, bringing you the new features of Windows 8 without taking away the familiarity of the traditional desktop.

Task and file management

A couple of smaller but handy tweaks have been made to the Task Manager and the File Manager. The latter consolidates multiple file operations into one window, with the option to pause or cancel each one individually. There's also a real-time graph that displays the transfer speed. The Task Manager has also has been enhanced and is split into Apps and Background processes. A new tab called App History includes a Metered network section that shows which apps have been using the most data.

How to Remove Swizzor Malware with Bitdefender Total Security 2012

2012-04-23T09:46:00.001-07:00

Unlike traditional malware that often ends up crashing the computer or displaying telltale signs of infection, many modern threats run stealthily and keep computer resource usage to a minimum, which will prolong the period of exploitation. Many of these threats, such as the family of Swizzor Trojans, enter your computer when you download and execute files, and some even come with fake “antivirus” modules that infest your computer with malware. Swizzor Trojans, once installed, can use your Internet connection to download more malware onto your system. You may notice a slight increase in CPU usage, a reduction in Internet bandwidth, and see new shortcuts appear on your Desktop.

First, you must identify if Swizzor is affecting your computer. Because the Trojan is designed to run in the background, you’ll need to scan your PC to find any infections. Bitdefender recommends that you run its 60-second QuickScan utility (free; quickscan.bitdefender.com), which installs a temporary add-on for your Web browser. Once installed, the Bitdefender Quick-Scan tool will immediately scan your system. When it finishes scanning, the utility will present you with a list of threats that have been identified on your PC, if any are found.

With Bitdefender’s QuickScan tool, you can determine whether there are any hidden threats on your PC.

How To Remove Swizzor

To get rid of the Swizzer Trojan, you’ll need to install security software, such as Bitdefender’s Antivirus Plus 2012 ($49.95 for one year and up to three PCs), Internet Security 2012 ($69.95 for one year and up to three PCs), or Total Security 2012 ($79.95 for one year and up to three PCs). All three Bitdefender products are built using the same anti-malware engine that uses a database of signatures, so they can successfully remove the Swizzer Trojan and other malware. After you install the antivirus software, the product will automatically update its signature database and initialize a scan of the critical areas of your PC’s operating system.

The Bitdefender utility will provide you with a full report of the threats found. If the infection is caused by a Trojan, such the Swizzer Trojan, the malicious files will be either deleted or quarantined, based upon the preferences you set. To ensure that all of the viruses and spyware have been removed from your PC, Bitdefender recommends that you run a full system scan, which will help to ensure that the malware isn’t located on additional system partitions and other storage devices.

Bitdefender Total Security 2012 provides you with antivirus, antispyware, antispam, and a two-way firewall for complete protection.

Protect Your Tablet From Drops with Wrapsol Grip Pad

2012-04-23T07:54:00.001-07:00

Wrapsol develops protective films for mobile devices, and its new Grip Pad is a non-slip material that’s designed to hold your tablet in place, such as on your thigh when you’re sitting down, to help prevent drop damage. The Grid Pad itself is constructed from Wrapsol’s tactilla technology that provides you with a non-sticky, micro-textured gripping material made with durable polyurethane, so it’s not sticky or gummy. Wrapsol indicates that the Grip Pad helps secure your tablet when placed along most slanted surfaces, which gives you the freedom to use two hands to type responses to emails and create documents.

Wrapsol indicates that the Grip Pad can be installed in seconds.
Grip Pad is available in both medium (for 7-inch tablets and e-readers) and large sizes (for 10-inch tablets, such as the iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1).
The Grip Pad helps protect your tablet from damage caused by accidental slips and falls.

Le Pan II: A Powerful Dual-Core Tablet

2012-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

This Le Pan II tablet features the Android 3.2 operating system, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 8GB of memory, and a 9.7-inch touchscreen.

The dual-core processor’s power helps you to effectively multitask on the tablet and run applications, such as mobile presentation and spreadsheet apps, that seem sluggish on tablets with a singlecore processor. Le Pan also provides plenty of built-in connectivity features, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and up to 32GB of additional storage via the Micro SD port. There’s also a high-resolution front-facing camera and a built-in microphone for convenient video chat capabilities.

The Le Pan II offers a lightweight 1.6-pound design that’s ideal for travelers and those looking for a tablet that they can take anywhere.
The tablet features 8GB of internal memory and 32GB expandability for storage of apps, email, text, documents, music, and videos.
A brushed aluminum finish provides a professional look.

How to Protect your Android Phone or Tablet From Malwares

2012-04-18T01:24:00.001-07:00

The Android OS is fast becoming a common target for malicious operations that could have an adverse effect on your device. This article will discuss why we need to start fighting back

Many of you would have felt the pain upon finding out that your computer has been infested with a malicious piece of software that has rendered It near useless. Nowadays, our phones share a lot of similarities with desktop computers, and while most of these are things which have given users a better experience when using their Android device, unwanted components have also managed to squirm their way on to certain devices. Malware is one of these very components.

Malware is software that has been designed to gather sensitive data, slow down the operation of your device, or gain access to unauthorised settings. But the question has to be asked, why the sudden rise of malware being distributed through the Android OS? "The Android platform was the main target of malware developers over the past months, both due to the platform popularity and the open distribution system," said mobile security expert at BullGuard, Claus Villumsen. He continues: "It mostly spreads through spoofed apps where malware developers download legit applications, unpack them, Inject their malicious code and then republish them."

The security issues regarding Google Play, and if it needs more stringent regulation policies regarding the apps that are being uploaded onto it has been an ongoing issue for a while now, and with the rise of malicious software now being distributed through it, something surely needs to change. Last year saw several high-profile attacks launched on Android devices with the distribution of malware-infested apps.

One of them that instantly hit the headlines was the DroidDream fiasco, an Android Trojan discovered in March, and as chief technology officer at Lookout Mobile Security, Kevin Mahaffey explains, it had a devastating effect on a lot of Android devices. "After the initial discovery of DroidDream, additions variants were found, totaling 80 unique apps. Once the malware exploits a device, it attempts to contact a remote server and accept commands. People don't know their phones are connected, but these systems (networks of infected computing devices that are all connected to the same third-party server) can be activated at any time."

One of the problems that many people have in recognising if their device is infested is that malware can take on a variety of functions when it has found its way into a device. Certain malicious apps: especially ones that were recently found in the recent Android Counterclack infestation, message premium-rate numbers. In other instances, you may find that a malicious app has several push notifications that It'll constantly send you. In the worst case scenario, malicious software could potentially brick your phone, steal, and then sell, any sensitive data you have.

So what can be done to protect yourself against the threat of malware? Although many aren't aware of it, there are a series of sophisticated mobile antivirus suites that users can install, and in any case, you should have one installed regardless of your thoughts on malware. Two of the most popular suites, Bull Guard and Lookout have had to constantly change the way in which their suites work to combat this new wave of malware threats. As the versions of malware have evolved, so has the technology to combat it, as Kevin Mahaffey explains: "threat detection that would have previously taken days now happens in minutes; effectively protecting users before they even know a threat exists."

Whatever your stance is on malware, it's quite clearly an issue that is slowly becoming more of a problem on the OS. In some instances we need to look at ways that Google Play can be improved, and especially how it deals with app permissions and regulation. But a lot of it boils down to you. Use your common sense, install an antivirus suite, and stay safe while browsing.

Top Tips to Protect Your Android Phone Or Tablet Malware

Only use credible sources such as the Google Marketplace (Google Play)
Install antivirus on your phone. You wouldn't run your home computer without it so why leave your mobile wide open? There are free versions available so cost isn't an excuse
If it's your work phone, don't install anything unless your IT manager knows about it and has approved it
Back up regularly
When installing an app, check the permissions it asks for. Ask why it needs to know your address. It can be innocent but it can also be that the app wants your personal details for another reason
Try before you buy. Try the free version of an app before you buy it If it does something unusual you can always uninstall it
Don't download anything if you don't know what it is
Only download apps that are relevant to you
If in doubt, don't do it. If you smell a rat there probably is one

Why you should be aware of malware

We take a look at how the threat of malware has increased on Android devices since the beginning of last year

January 2011

Geinimi shows upon various third-party application stores, mostly in Asia and Eastern Europe, it tends to spread through spoofed apps where malware developers downloaded legit applications, unpacked them, injected their malicious code and then republished them.

February 2011

ADRD was used and distributed to artificially increase site ranking by sending commands to infected Android devices.

March 2011

DroidDream shows up and is the first widespread malicious software to exploit flaws in the Android platform, allowing it to gain root access on the smartphone, and install malicious packages on devices without the users' knowledge or approval. DroidDream affects more than 50,000 users.

May 2011

Droid Kung Fu is released and gives access to a remote tracker on certain infested devices.

Summer 2011

Two more iterations of Droid Kung Fu appear in the Android ecosystem. These two versions are better at hiding their tracks and communication with the attacker's server and follow the same goal - full control of the infected device.

September 2011

Droid Deluxe is released and its main purpose is to harvest user accounts and credentials.

Dragon Go! Voice Control Without Siri

2012-04-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Dragon Go! Brings Voice Control to the masses

Search the web, your phone and various media outlets with nothing but the power of your voice with this fantastic new app

If you thought that only iPhone 4S users were going to be able to experience the pleasures of voice control on their smartphones, then think again, because developer Nuance has now brought Dragon Go! to the US on iPhone and Android, and continues to perform almost all of the same cool tricks. Probably best known for its Dragon Dictation app. Nuance has applied similar voice recognition technology to Dragon Go! in order to allow you to verbally search for information online, make calls and locate media from your various accounts.

Thanks to the integration capabilities with Last.fm, Spotify and Netflix. you can now use Dragon Go! to instantly find and enjoy news-related media from wherever you are. The latest headlines on multiple subjects can sourced from CNN, The New York and USA Today, as well as from Twitter or Google. What's more, the right phrasing can instantly make calls for you or begin downloading apps that you want to buy. It’s a fantastic new app from a developer with huge amounts of experience in this field, and while it may not enjoy the rounded edges of Apple's Siri system, it is nonetheless a very impressive new app we hope to see spread.

Download Link for iPhone

Download Link for Android

Buying Your First Smartphone

2012-04-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

If you're worried about getting started with smartphones, try one of these low-cost, easy-to-use handsets

Buying a phone can be a minefield. There are a great many contracts to choose between, then when it comes to the handset itself you're not only choosing between manufacturers, but between different software platforms too.

While there are plenty of low-end phones you could get your hands on, featuring low-resolution and low-size screens, the real bargains are to be had where phones have been replaced by newer models at the high end of the market. For pay-monthly phones, that means paying between £15-£20 a month will give you the best of all worlds; you can use apps on a bright, speedy handset with a good camera, rather than having to compromise and buy something that you might not want in a few months' time. For example, at time of writing you can get a HTC Wildfire S for £10.50 a month. But the screen is small, the processor a little sluggish, and taking video is pretty poor.

Here we've picked out three contenders that can hold their own, with great screens and access to the best app stores. One of them uses Apple's iOS, another comes with Microsoft's Windows Phone and one using Google's Android. Operating systems are a matter of personal preference; all three have their benefits and drawbacks, but we reckon you'd get to grips with any of them quickly enough.

Apple iPhone 3GS

LAST September saw the introduction of the iPhone 4S, but it also saw another launch from Apple - a cheaper version of the older iPhone 4, which joined the older iPhone 3GS, so there were three iPhones on sale. The 8GB 3GS model has less memory and far lesser specifications than the 16 or 32GB inside the iPhone 4S, but this means you can get it on some decent tariffs. Now, while the price is good you are compromising on the handset in order to get a cheaper deal. One option is to pay upwards of £20 per month for an iPhone 4. Or you could bite the bullet and get one of the other handsets on these pages, that are mere months old, rather than the best part of three years (the age of the iPhone 3GS), or more expensive like the iPhone 4 and 4S. The processor, for example, is half the speed of the Nokia or Sony Ericsson handsets here. While this doesn't matter a great deal in general use, it means you're getting a handset that's distinctly old hat. Where the iPhone does excel is in ease of use and sheer variety of apps, available from the Apple App Store. There's some tremendous stuff out there at the moment.

If you're determined to go with an Apple smartphone, we'd recommend spending a little more a month and opting for the iPhone 4. It's a great phone - the only downside is the inferior camera.

Nokia Lumia 710

IF you've had a Nokia before, chances are you loved its ease of use. For their smartphones Nokia use Microsoft's new Windows Phone operating system, which is not only easy to use but also easily integrates with your online accounts such as email and Facebook-the Windows Phone Facebook app is one of the best around. The user interface impresses with its speed of response - Windows Phone isn't the most instantly intuitive phone operating system we've ever used, but you get used to it fairly quickly and you rather like it.

This handset also features Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, Nokia Music (with Mix radio and gig info) and Nokia Pulse. At 3.7-inches this screen sits in between the two other choices we've got for you on these pages. The Lumia 710 has a lovely bright display, but does feel a little cheap. Like older basic Nokias, this handset is definitely designed for the lower end of the market and has an interchangeable rear cover. It's got a generous 8GB of memory included, much more than the Sony Ericsson phone, but doesn't have expandable storage. There's also a removable battery so you can carry a spare, while the camera is a respectable 5 megapixels. We really like the Lumia 710 and, while it's not as desirable-looking as the other two handsets here, it's a budget option to be reckoned with - Windows Phone will surprise you.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

THE Arc S is a high-end phone now available at some great prices. The handset is one of the fastest released last year and it runs Android 2.3.4, but you'd hardly recognise it. Although there's full access to the Android market app store, there's a Sony-designed skin over all the other features. This simplifies things for first-time users and gives you access to the important stuff. But the big story of the Xperia Arc S is the display - it's a 4.2 inch capacitive touchscreen with a good resolution of 854 x 480. Colour reproduction is terrific, meaning it's great for showing off photos while reading text is a really great experience. What's more, it has an anti-scratch coating.

The camera is designed for both photo and videos at 8.1 megapixels and is enhanced for low light capture - though we found the photos aren't always the quality you might expect. You can record video at 720p hi-def, though again it seems a little fuzzy. There isn't a great deal of storage on the device at just 1GB, but you get expandable memory up to 32GB via a microSD card. The handset is also available in several colours. We really like the look and feel of the Arc S, although the slim design means the buttons are a bit thin and fiddly to use. But overall, this is a great handset for the money.

Why The New iPad Will Shine

2012-04-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

There are four main reasons why the new iPad will be an instant success and each of them ultimately boil down to the new Retina display. With such a huge pixel density it's clear that Apple are onto a winner. While the update itself isn't revolutionary, it is clearly resolutionary...

Games

Without meaning to, Apple created one of the most versatile game platforms on the planet. With the new display and greater performance things will only improve.

Books

The reading experience on the new iPad will be second to none, with razor sharp text being rendered wherever it is displayed, especially in books.

Photos

Your photo collection will never look better than on the new iPad. What's more, Photo Stream and iCloud mean you don't need to attach a cable to see them.

Videos

While it may not feel like a great video camera yet, we're pretty sure the stunning results will eventually make grabbing video on an iPad feel like second nature.

Spec Ops: The Line

2012-04-02T20:11:00.002-07:00

The Spec Ops franchise has seen eight games being released since the original PC title in 1998, so it has established itself as a favourite game with the many fans it gathered over the years. This year sees the release of the ninth title, Spec Ops: The Line, and will take players on a modern day journey through an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness.

The FPS will also have something special for long-time gamers, as it does not take any story elements from previous titles, and rather focuses on its own plot. This is great for gamers who have never played a Spec Ops title, and it brings returning players a fresh story.

The Line’s plot will revolve around Captain Martin Walker and his elite Delta Force bravo team as they investigate a post-apocalyptic Dubai. Walker is voiced by every gamer’s favourite voice-over artist, Nolan North.

The player and his team are dispatched to Dubai to rescue U.S. Army Colonel John Konrad after the city got choked by a terrible sandstorm, burying everything in its path. The Colonel was thought to be lost, but after a weak distress signal, the military decides to take action. On the mission to rescue the Colonel, players will encounter outlaws, have to survive more sandstorms and figure out what happened to Konrad and his men. But naturally there is a twist in the tale…

Spec Ops: The Line should be highly-enjoyable for new players, and will prove to be an exciting challenge for gamers who are familiar with the franchise. From the trailer it is clear that the graphics will be brilliant, and that a lot of action is in store for wanna-be Spec Ops members.

The trailer also provided gamers with a glimpse of the third-person perspective, the dynamic terrain elements, as well as the setting. It should be very entertaining.

Verdict:

With a new setting and storyline, it should be great fun.

Developer: Yager Development

Publisher: 2K Games

Distributor: Megarom

Release Date:

June 2012

Platform:

Xbox 360

PS3

iPhone Insurance

2012-03-18T02:53:00.002-07:00

Some people may be interested in your iPhone when you're out, and some may be a little too interested

If you got your handset free on a hefty monthly contract, it's easy to forget that it's an expensive piece of kit that could cost up to £700 to replace. And should your phone go walkabout, if you're only a couple of months into long contract, the depressing fact is that you'll still have to stump up the monthly payments even if you've no longer got an iPhone to show for it. Networks don't give you a shiny new handset because they're nice - they plan to make the cost of the handset back over the course of the contract. This means making you stick to your monthly payments, no matter the excuse. With this in mind, you should always make sure your handset is insured.

Most networks offer insurance, but it's quite expensive. Still cheaper than a whole new handset, but at £10 -£15 per month, it could be an extra £360 over the length of the contract. Specialist third-party insurers will usually offer you a better deal. Protect Your Bubble (uk.protectyourbubble.com), will cover you for just £5.99 per month.

Before you take out dedicated cover, it's worth checking whether your iPhone is covered by your home contents insurance. Most policies include basic cover as standard, but you're probably limited to a maximum claim of £200 - £300 for unnamed items. You can also add your phone as a named item, and some insurers make sure you're insured, in case you're not the one who takes your iPhone from your pocket -will cover this for no additional premium while others will only charge a nominal fee. Some bark accounts also offer mobile phone insurance as a premium option.

There's no replacement for being vigilant, but if the worst comes to worst, it's better off to be covered than face a huge bill for a replacement handset.

How To Remove MalwareWipe/PestTrap

2012-03-16T03:31:00.003-07:00

DESCRIPTION: Few malicious software infections are more annoying than adware and spyware. MalwareWipe and PestTrap are classic examples, as they pepper you with urgent instructions to pay money to remove alleged virus and spyware infections.

These “infections” are actually files that have been falsely flagged as malicious by MalwareWipe and PestTrap. To better drive home these phony sales pitches, both programs have the ability to pester you with false warnings about the malware infections on your machine, sometimes using an “always on top” alert window that you can’t minimize. MalwareWipe and PestTrap are also capable of sneaky background activity, such as monitoring your Internet access, hijacking your Web browser, and changing system files—all without your knowledge or permission.

How To Remove MalwareWipe/PestTrap

You’ll need to use an Internet security suite that offers virus and spyware protection, such as ESET’s Smart Security 5 (price starts at $59.99 per year for one PC; www.eset.com). If you suspect your system has been infected by either of these programs, simply run a scan with ESET Smart Security, which will identify the threat and automatically remove the malicious software from your system.

To launch an antivirus scan with ESET Smart Security 5, go to the ESET Smart Security control panel and select Computer scan. You can select either Smart scan or Custom scan.

If you need to run a scan immediately and don’t have an antivirus program installed, you can use ESET’s Free Online Virus Scan (www.eset.com/online-scanner) that works through your Web browser. Companies experiencing persistent and widespread infection by MalwareWipe, PestTrap, or any other malware may want to consider ESET’s Malware Removal service (www.eset.com/us/business/services).

Essential Things To Know About Vacuum Cleaners

2012-03-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Depending on your cleaning needs, you’ll find a variety of vacuum models built to tackle particular types of grime. They also use different technologies and features to get the job done. Below are the answers to common questions about vacuums.

What are the major kinds of household vacuum cleaners?

A traditional vacuum catches dirt in a disposable bag. A bagless model accumulates debris in a chamber called a dust cup.

What do amp ratings such as 12A mean?

These tell you how much current the vacuum’s motor requires. It’s a general indicator of the vacuum’s suction strength, if not its specific cleaning effectiveness.

What is cyclone or cyclonic filtration?

Many bagless models use this technique to spin the airflow in a chamber. This flings dirt toward the outer walls, where it falls into a dust cup.

What’s a HEPA filter?

It’s a replaceable or permanent (reusable) filter that catches allergens an ordinary vacuum may not, including pet dander, pollen, and mites. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air.

What is a carpet cleaner?

This specialty vac sprays cleaning fluid and/or steam on your carpet, agitates it with a brush, and then vacuums it back up. You’ll sometimes need to buy replacement cleaning fluid. They can also be called steam or deep cleaner vacuums.

What is a garage or shop vacuum?

Also known as a wet/dry vacuum, this type of model typically lets you clean up wet messes as well as dry ones. They’re better able to handle chunky debris than household models, too.

ZipList - Makes grocery shopping and meal planning fun and easy

2012-03-14T04:48:00.000-07:00

ZipList

get.ziplist.com

ZipList makes grocery shopping and meal planning fun and easy. Sign up for a free ZipList account to organize your grocery lists, create weekly meal plans, receive coupons, and sort your favorite recipes. Search the database of more than 300,000 recipes and save your favorites to your personal recipe box.

ZipList partners with several popular food and chef sites, letting you save recipes with one click. You can also search recipes added by the ZipList user community, so you’ll have no trouble finding whatever you’re craving.

Once you save a recipe, you can click to add all the ingredients to your shopping list. You can edit the list and remove items you may already have. Free apps for Android and iPhone let you take your grocery lists, checklists, and recipes wherever you go.

WOWee One Portable Speakers

2012-03-08T19:56:00.000-08:00

The WOWee One certainly has bass. Sporting a gel coating on its bottom, the speaker - which is roughly the size and weight of an ancient mobile phone (circa 1999) - can render a surface into a large bass transmitter. It essentially vibrates whatever it is on, using that material as an amplifier. Bass speakers are notoriously analog beasts - they want physical space, which is something no digital tomfoolery can replace. Hence this workaround - and it works pretty well.

Stick the WOWee One on a table or against a window pane for maximum effect. The manufacturer does not recommend the latter, as the gel base is technically not adhesive. But glass does work well, so if you have a glass table at hand it’s even better. A shoebox proved just as potent.

The mid and high-range notes are not that impressive, at times giving a tinny performance. It still sounds better than your laptop speaker and could probably hold ground against other portable speakers. But the bass is quite strong and at times betrays the shortcomings of the other tones. Let me put it this way: the WOWee One gives reasonable bass and somewhat lesser everything else. But that bass counts for a lot - you won’t get as much out of anything this size.

Powered by an internal battery that charges through USB, the box claims 20 hours uptime. I’d put it closer to ten, maybe fifteen. The full twenty is apparent if you don’t actually use the speaker, so take that as the total charge capacity. Fifteen hours is still a lot, but the USB charging makes it tricky if you got this for an iPad or smart phone.

Power is controlled by plugging a 3.5 mm jack into the audio port. It’s a nice touch, but also makes storing the audio cable a problem - you cannot leave it dangling in the audio jack, as it will drain the battery. Had a pouch or something similar been included, it would have added to the appeal. But as long as you have a bag of some sort, the unit and its cable will fit comfortable in anything bigger than a pocket. A mini-USB port handles the charging and it is a standard fit, so your other cables will work as well.

There are no other plugs or buttons - volume control and such is left completely to the device you will play sound from. So, the golden question: should you get this? The WOWee certainly works well with a cooler box, so it’s a nice fit for a picnic or any other outdoors excursion. It certainly also adds the oomph needed when watching movies on a laptop and the higher-range sounds are easier to hear, so it makes for a nice travel companion. But don’t bother if you want something small for your office. Small speakers that require their own power source still outperform this. But the WOWee ticks most of the boxes for a mobile speaker solution.

Sadly its asking price, which local retailers list at around £79.99, is a lot and at nearly twice what you’d pay for other battery portables, a bit too much.

Verdict:

A good choice if you need a speaker that can travel with you and provide some added bass. But it’s not perfect and won’t match cheap desktop speakers. Also, a pity

PROS:

• Great bass

• Very portable

• Sturdy design

CONS:

• Iffy high range

• No cable storage

• Expensive

Tech specs:

• 16.1 megapixel

• 10x optical zoom

• Face detection

• Smile detection

• 80 – 3200 ASA

• Panoramic shooting

Manufacturer: Wowee

Online: woweeone.com

Price: £79.99

Mario Kart 7 Review

2012-01-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you, never again, once enough
Talking about this game as the new Mario Kart in the series seems to ‘downgrade’ it to just an upgrade or extension to the story; there is the upgrade, but of epic proportions… more than just some new tracks.

There are 16 new tracks and 16 revamped tracks. The revamped ones got updated to cater for the new features but it’s a good feeling as a veteran player to find that the good old short cut that I always take to beat my friends is still there! Some of my favourites, like Waluigi’s Pinball, old N64 Rainbow road and online favourite Maple Treeway, are because most people don’t know of the excellent short cuts. There is a good effort in the new tracks, especially the Wuhu Island track, extended into long single lap riding around the island, and taken from Wii Sports Resort and both Wii Fit Games. There is even a nice long Gliding section to give you the feel of Pilotwings.

New tracks are easily predicted in Mario Kart but no one guessed the addition of a kart customisation option. We are not talking F1 engine tuning but more simple stuff, like frame, wheels and glider option to change the speed, handling and acceleration of the kart. Yip if you are just being out-run online maybe play some more single player and collect more coins to unlock those other parts for your kart.

The same number of cups and bonus games are there to make it a very entertaining single player game but the extra modes are where all the fun is to be had. Friends can download play with 8 players, as long as one of them has the game! It not a new thing but still fantastic! Take the game online and there are a lot of new upgrades from the Mario Kart Wii system. Finding out if your friends are online is easy and even displayed on the native 3DS friend’s list with a “Join in” option. There is also a friend competitive score that is not only updated if you race against each other alone, but in the group as well. There are also community groups created for web sites, forums and races with custom rules. This means that the standard Tuesday nights of Mario Kart from the Nintendo ZA boys are very easy to organise, as the members can just join the group and play. No one needs to be the host or befriend everyone and be there every night.

These communities are also shared and suggested to others, I found an excellent “bananas only” group but it’s mostly the fastest in the front that wins as there are no power ups other than bananas. It took me a long time to figure this out because I was in front most of the time. I did, however, feel violated by the inclusion of the Miis that I played online appearing in my Mii Plaza. If the Invitations option is on then all the player you race with online are seen here. This is great if you don’t have StreetPasses but I personally did not like this.

All this would have still made me buy and enjoy the next version of Mario Kart but I have not even mentioned the fun improvements. With the Gyro sensor in the 3DS you can now drive like the console is the steering wheel. This will not give you the fastest times but make the game a lot of fun in the cockpit view. Mario Kart can fly and swim too, with gliding and underwater racing sections added to new and old tracks. This adds a great change to the short cuts and general track design and I feel is marked out well in most tracks, unless it’s a secret. Mario Kart Wii was a long investment for the Wii and the price did not drop for years so getting a copy of Mario Kart 7 is a must and even a reason to get a 3DS, if you did not get it from Christmas.

Verdict:

Mario Kart landed on the Nintendo 3DS and uses all of its features: online, gyro and portability.

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

Distributor: Core Gaming Systems

Platform:

3DS

FIFA 12 vs. PES 2012

2011-11-26T20:41:00.001-08:00

Here's our comparison of FIFA 12 and PES 2012.

Graphics

FIFA is top of the (able when it comes to football visuals. The player models, while not as eerily realistic as those in the full console versions of the game, are recognizable versions of their real-life counterparts. And, this being FIFA, all the team strips are accurate.

Not quite the spectacle you get with FIFA 12, but the players and stadiums are impressive enough, though animations aren't as subtle and varied as FIFA's. The various menus and stat screens are slightly friendlier for novices than FIFA's.

Play Mode

For the full experience, play the career mode in which you manage your team and play in the games. In addition, there's a new daily challenge to test your skills every 24 hours, quick matches and penalty shootouts. A limited but satisfying palette of play options.

This is where PES 2012 scores highly. The full experience includes Exhibition mode, UEFA tournaments, league cup matches, me Super Challenge (essentially a career mode} and various individual challenges - the Free Kick Challenge being particularly good fun.

Controls

FIFA 12 is now the undisputed king of iOS footy games, thanks to its straightforward yet comprehensive control options. Three buttons control passing, shooting and sprinting, but then gesture controls can be used to pull off the more advanced moves.

PES 2012 has three control options, but the two-button setting is the winner, with players using a stick to move and two buttons for passing and shooting. Other moves can be accessed through combinations of presses, holds, button/stick combas and swipes.

Multiplayer

No online multiplayer still and there's no easy way for two players to hook up for a quick match locally, either. But if you have two iPhones and an iPad, you can play head to head using the iPhones as controllers and the iPad as a screen, or hook the iPad up to a TV.

There's no proper online play here, but tike-minded footy fans can at least use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to go head-to-head. You can also persuade friends online to try to beat your achievements in the match challenge leaderboards and Free Kick Challenge.

Realism

Authenticity was always FIFAs strong hand, now that the gameplay is world-class too, this is the most realistic footy sim available. Real players, real team, real leagues, superb animation, solid commentary, an ecstatic crowd… it's full of big-game atmosphere.

The Achilles' heel of PES. Konami has done its best to make this an authentic experience, and in terms of graphics and gameplay it does a decent job. But the relative scarcity of licensed player and teams, and the outdated kits, dilutes the experience.

Verdict

FIFA 12

The best footy experience on iOS by a considerable margin, and a step-up from last year's offering.

PES 2012

A perfectly playable and enjoyable footy game with plenty of options, but it just doesn't have the style or substance of FIFA12.

Top Ten Google Plus Apps You Can Use Right Now

2011-11-20T22:00:00.001-08:00

As of this writing, Google has just released a formal developer Application Programming Interface (API) for building Google+ applications. Although Google has allowed a few select gaming developers to build games for its platform, not many other developers have created apps yet for Google+.

By the time you read this, of course, I fully expect this to change — there may be a good chance that many of these apps will even use that new platform. Because the Google+ developer API just barely launched to the public, until very recently developers worked around the previous lack of an application platform by building browser extensions that you can install in Google’s Chrome web browser (and in some cases other browsers). In this article I share ten of my favorite Google plus apps. Because until very recently Google+ had not previously released a programming interface for applications to be created, to create many extensions developers used a technique called scraping, which means to read the HTML of the Google+ site and modify the site based on that HTML. So, use caution as you try these extensions, because if Google+ ever changes its interface (and it will) and thus the HTML of the Google+ site, all of these extensions are prone to break until they implement Google’s new developer API. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Klout

Klout indexes the social networks that you use and determines what areas of interest you have “Klout” in. It then produces a score that you can compare against your friends. Klout provides “perks” (real life products they mail to you) to those that have clout in given areas. Shortly before this writing Klout also added Google+ integration so that you can now measure your influence on Google+ in addition to the other services Klout offers. You can sign up for Klout at: https://klout.com

Reader to Plus

If you’re a Google Reader user like me (Google Reader is a site that allows you to subscribe to updates on other blogs and websites; try it out at http://reader.google.com), you may want a simple way of sharing to Google+ from Google Reader. At this writing, there is no native way to share from Google Reader to Google+. This extension makes that possible by adding a little Share to Google+ link at the bottom of each post in Google Reader.

Extended Share for Google+

If you want to share your posts on Google+ to Facebook or Twitter or another social network, this is a great extension to install. It adds a Share On link at the bottom of each Google+ post (next to the Share link), allowing users to share to their favorite social networks.

Google+ Hangout Check

This extension places an icon in your Chrome browser that turns blue if any of your friends on Google+ are having a hangout. Click on it and it shows each of your friends that are hanging out currently. If you’re looking for people to hang out with, check out Google+ Hangout Check at the following site:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mbgdijeginmoajogfmogadhnfbbcflfd

Replies and More for Google+

Ever participate in a conversation with a lot of comments and find it hard to figure out who you’re responding to? Rather than pressing the plus (+) key and trying to spell the name right, you can just click Reply, which appears when you mouse over the comment. Then the name of the individual you’re replying to automatically populates the comment box.

Plus Minus

If your main stream is getting too noisy or is filled with users like me who post a lot, you can use this extension to clean up your stream a little. This extension allows you to collapse all posts, with a little comment notification icon specifying the number of new comments on the post. You can also specify which circles you want to appear in your stream. You can configure it with what you want to appear in your stream.

Surplus

Surplus puts a Google+ notification on top of your Chrome browser, so no matter what website you’re visiting you can see how many notifications you have. In addition, you can respond and post without ever leaving the sites you’re visiting.

+Photo Zoom

This Chrome extension makes all the pictures shared on Google+ show up bigger when you mouse over them. You can use it as a shortcut to seeing full-sized images rather than having to click them.

SocialStatistics.com

SocialStatistics.com is a website (not a browser extension) that shows you how people rank in Google+. You can find out which users are being circled the most and where you rank on Google+ in that regard. Visit this website at: http://socialstatistics.com/

Be careful measuring your success based on rankings for SocialStatistics.com; the site only tracks those users who add their names to their list manually and are therefore only tracking a small sampling of Google+ users at the time of this writing.

G+ Stream Pause

Is your Google+ stream moving too fast for you? As I write this, if my stream updates while I am writing a comment my comment will gradually move down the page as I’m typing.

This can get quite annoying! The Google+ Stream Pause Chrome extension allows you to pause your stream. Any new updates that occur while it is paused will appear in a counter at the top of your stream and will not update until you unpause the stream.

Go for More!

Looking for more apps or extensions to try out for Google+?

There’s a great website at http://googleplusapps.tumblr.com that you can subscribe to in your favorite RSS reader (such as http://reader.google.com). The site shares newly found apps and provides a review of each. It’s a great resource for people passionate about Google+, like me!

Please visit iDigitalBlog.com for more information on Goolge plus.