Tag: smartphone

by James Adam

5 Important Things To Remember While Buying a Smartphone


Technology

With an annual growth rate of 30%, India boasts of the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The fact that individuals can access a wide range of smartphones under different price segments and specs further bolster the growth of the market.

While there are several options to choose from, individuals need to consider a few points while buying a smartphone. Doing so, they will be able to choose the best smartphone that matches their needs. For instance, individuals who are looking for the best 4GB RAM mobile may also find it helpful to check the internal storage in advance for a hassle-free experience.

Things to consider before buying a smartphone

These details below help gain an idea about the points that individuals should factor in before purchasing a smartphone –

  1. Processor

Typically, the processor power of a mobile device depends on multiple factors. The most prominent one includes – UI, bloatware and OS version, among others. A fast processor comes handy for those who play online games, edit photos or videos or stream videos.

  1. Display

Individuals must take into account the size and resolution of a smartphone. However, one must identify how they intend to use the device to pick an ideal screen size. For instance, those who wish to edit photos and videos, stream or download movies may find a display between 55.5 inches and 6-inch ideal. Also, one may pick a screen with QHD or HD resolution.

  1. Battery life

Individuals who like to multitask may consider availing a smartphone with long battery life. Streaming videos, playing gaming or using multiple apps simultaneously drains the battery faster. This is why individuals should select the best 4GB RAM mobile with extended battery life and fast charging feature.

  1. Camera

Most smartphones are targeted towards millennials and gen Z these days, which is why special attention is paid to camera-related specs. For instance, an ideal smartphone under 15000 comes with a 12MP or 16MP camera and enhanced selfie features like night mode, beauty mode, etc.

  1. Storage

A smartphone with ample storage comes in handy for storing media like photo, video, music and apps, among others. Ideally, for the best 4GB RAM mobile internal storage or ROM of 64GB and above would suffice. In fact, a phone with a good RAM and ROM combination may allow a phone to perform efficiently.

Also, individuals should factor in the build and user-interface of smartphones before proceeding with the purchase. Besides, these individuals should also take into consideration the security features and speaker that accompany a smartphone under 15000. One may even consider getting a premium quality smartphone on finance if they are looking for quality specs and more features.

They can use Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card and get the cost of the smartphone, or other consumer durables converted into easy to pay monthly instalments. Such a card allows users to purchase consumer durables from partner stores on finance.

With the help of Bajaj Finserv EMI Network facilities, consumers can make the most of the pre-approved credit limit of Rs.4 lakh to avail a wide array of gadgets, lifestyle products, appliances and such.

This NBFC also provides customised pre-approved offers to its customers to facilitate a hassle-free experience of availing the said card. Such offers are available on multiple financial products, including credit cards and personal loans. Check your pre-approved offer online by providing your name and contact number.

Be it the best 4GB RAM mobile or a smartphone with the latest specs, one should always look for the accompanying features before buying it. Also, they may consider using the facilities of the EMI Network to make their purchase affordable.


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by James Adam

Reasons for the Success of Chinese Smartphone Giants like MI, Vivo & Oppo


Lifestyle, Technology

The market share of Chinese smartphone brands such as MI, Vivo, Oppo and others reached a whopping 66% in the Indian smartphone market in Q1, 2019. MI is currently the industry leader that’s driven by new product launches. 

If you wish to know the reasons for the success of Chinese smartphone companies along with leading phones from them under Rs.15,000, then here is a post to read. Here you will get to know about their marketing strategies and which are their latest models which are performing best in India under the budget of Rs15000.

 

  • Aggressive product launching 

 

One of the foremost reasons for Chinese smartphone players getting extraordinary success in India is their aggressive launching of new products. Yes, by the time their competitors could respond, they are ready with another product. MI especially has been very dominant with the launching of back to back quality products. 

 

  • The availability of many features at a lower price  

 

It has been the mantra of almost all Chinese mobile phone manufacturers operating in India to provide its customers with more features for lower prices. It has helped them beat the competition and add more people to their loyal bases. 

 

  • Many flagship models in a price bracket 

 

While other companies strive to have at least one flagship model in a price point to attract the customers, Chinese companies provided more than one option. The biggest example is of MI – it launched Redmi Note 7 Pro, Redmi Note 7S, Redmi 7, Redmi 7A. 

These phones became overnight successes as catered to customers looking to buy a phone from a lower to higher price points. It killed the competition from other brands as people could bump to an MI phone in almost all price points. 

 

  • Opening factories in India along with 750+ service centres 

 

MI controlled its manufacturing costs and passed on the benefits in the form of lower prices by settling factories in India under the Make in India initiative of the Center. It also opened more than 750+ service centres across India to help its customers resolve their queries as well as repair phones quickly. These aspects helped the company spread its base all over and acquire new bases of even other brands. 

Now that you are aware of the reasons for the overwhelming success of Chinese players like MI, Vivo and Oppo, here are their top models under Rs.15,000. 

Best MI phone under 15000 

 

  • Redmi Note 7 Pro 

 

Redmi Note 7 Pro is the top MI phone under 15000 in India that is a blockbuster success owing to its excellent features at a lower price. 

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM, expandable up to 256 GB 
  • 6.3-inch FHD+ display 
  • 48MP + 5MP dual rear camera + 13MP front camera 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor 
  • Quick Charge 4.0 Support
  • 4000mAh battery 

The price of this MI phone under 15000 is Rs.14,000. 

Best Vivo mobile under 15000 

 

  • Vivo Z1 Pro 

 

Vivo Z1 Pro is a stylish and sleek mobile phone loaded with all features to take your smartphone experience to the next level. The features of the Vivo Z1 Pro are as follows: 

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM, expandable up to 256 GB 
  • 6.53-inch FHD+ display 
  • 16MP + 8MP + 2MP triple rear camera 
  • 32MP front camera 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 AIE processor 
  • Triple Card Slot 
  • 5000mAh battery 

The cost of this Vivo mobile under 15000 in India is Rs.15,000. 

Best Oppo mobile under 15000 

 

  • Oppo K1 

 

If you want to own a smartphone with the in-display fingerprint sensor at an affordable price, then the Oppo K1 may be the phone that you can go for. Let’s have a look at its features.

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM, expandable up to 256 GB 
  • 6.41-inch WaterDrop AMOLED display 
  • 16MP + 2MP dual rear camera 
  • 25MP selfie camera 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor 
  • In-display fingerprint sensor 
  • 3600mAh battery 

You can buy this Oppo mobile under 15000 at only Rs.14,000. 

You may buy any of these successful Chinese smartphones by dividing their prices over an appropriate tenor and paying only fixed EMIs and nothing more. The facility is available on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network in India.

       

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by Incredible Planet Staff

Latest Rocking Mobile Gadgets You Should Own


Technology

It is human nature to get the best achievable out for themselves in every walk of life. The urge for this satisfaction paves way for recent break-through in the technology sector. Gone indeed are those days of carrying up and down the cumbersome devices or accessories around, all in the name of connecting or knowing what is going on around the world. Today’s tips come from an Hungarian online ecommerce site Azolcsosag, specializing in gadgets and cool electronics, so we’re sure you’ll like these ideas.

With the latest mobile accessories out there, believe me, you are just not alone. And in actual sense, your mobility is free because you can be right in a corner of your home, and at the same time be connected to the world in few taps. These gadgets come in handful with Smartphone and can easily be integrated with its components. Let’s dive in mentioning some of the latest mobile accessories to watch out for in the recent technology.

Wireless charger

It is widely known that wireless charging is gaining its rapid growth since Apple included the wireless facilities into iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. There has been a rise in the adoption of the wireless charging because users feel more comfortable with it. The rise in its demand could probably also be because Smartphone brands are having this new feature.

Wireless chargers provide users the ability to charge their Smartphones, tablets and smartwatches without going through the stress of finding a USB (Universal Serial Bus) Cord or plug to connect to their devices. It is absolutely convenient to just drop your phone, and giving your battery a little boost every time you drop it.

Power banks

Power banks come in different sizes. Some are tiny and portable as mobile phones are. A higher capacity power bank can serve the owner hours, depending on the power capacity. A power bank with dual-outputs can simultaneously charge two devices together. Power bank has become a requirement for people who could probably be in an isolated area with no electricity supply, or for very busy people.

Protective Screens and Phone Cases

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Phone screens and cases preserve the overall outlook of phones. They offer protection from scratches, dusts, and water damage. The demand for both screen and case protectors goes in line with the strong demand for these pricey Smartphones.

Virtual Reality Headset

VR headset is widely used in computer game. It is 360-video based, with additional functionalities to simulate experience through senses and perception. The device is head-mounted, and it provides virtual reality for the wearer.

That’s it for this time, we hope you enjoyed the read and if you have any comments or questions, let us know!

by Incredible Planet Staff

Mobile Accessories You Should Own In 2018


Technology

A Smartphones have become a life necessity and fashion statement. It is the essential gadget in everyone’s life. You always keep your cell phone with you whether you are at your home, out of the house, sleeping or eating. It just improved the calls and text messages, but it also connects you to the world like you can access facebook or twitter in few taps and can see what some else has posted from the other corner of the world.

Although the Smartphone is an unbelievably capable gadget itself, still there are thousands of accessories that can be used with it to make life much more convenient.

Technology never fails to surprise us; from wireless headphones to the Bluetooth speakers there is a handful of tech accessories that are must to own in 2018.

Do you know what the best part is? There are number of sites on the internet like PennySaviour that allow average folks to get their hands on these accessories at affordable prices. Below are the accessories that you should own in 2018.

Wireless Chargers

We cannot deny the fact that wireless charging has been around for years. But in the past few years, the rapid adoption of technology is seen after the iPhone X, and iPhone 8 Plus introduced with wireless facilities.

Wireless chargers allow customers to charge the Smartphone without going through the hassle of finding a plug. When heading out of the house, you do not know that whether your cell phone battery will survive till night or not. So it better to keep a lightweight wireless charger with you to avoid any stressful situation.

Power banks

Powers banks are all-time favorite equipment. If you are always tight on schedule, then you must have a one in your bag. In 2018 power banks have become slimmer, lighter, and portable (you can even carry them in your jeans pocket). They are also achieving high-capacity; a single power with multiple slots can charge several devices at once.

Type-C Chargers

Soon after the introduction of USB-C tech, USB-A, USB-B gone out of fashion as the world’s most recognized manufacturers like Samsung and some more adopted this technology widely. Type C-chargers provide faster data transfer and charging.

The future devices equipped with USB-C port are predicted smaller, lighter and thinner as it is smaller than USB Mini-B.

Smart Wearables

Wearable tech accessories are smart and stylish, and I would be safe to say that if you want to show off your social status, you should add a layer of wearable accessory to your Smartphone.

Fitness tracker and smartwatches can keep the record of your daily activities, store and transfer data. There is a Wi-Fi connectivity options in it; you can also connect these devices to your cell phone through Bluetooth.

Virtual Reality Headset

Many VR headsets options are available in the market like Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR and more that let you push the fun to limits. You can play games more interactively and watch 3D videos for fun.

Protective Screen

Your expensive phone like iPhone X that closes on $1,000 worth a protective screen because you cannot risk screen damage. It is better to pay less for a high-quality screen protector than to pay heftily for a repair in future. If you are too late, and instead of a protective screen, you are looking for phone repair Singapore, then you should still consider protection for once you get it fixed.

There are several screen protectors launched in 2018 that do not only protect your phone screen but also add style to it.

Photo Accessories

For good picture, two things matter the most a good camera and a lens. It’s now easy to add a real lens to your Phone camera for your needs. In 2018, you have a wide selection of lens attachments in the market to choose from like Xenvo iPhone camera lens, Smartphone lens kit by the pocket lens and more.

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by Incredible Planet Staff

Here’s why mobile QA automation is important for your business


Technology

Let’s imagine you decided to build a mobile app. You’ve already chosen a platform, decided what features you will be adding, thought about design and user experience. Did the coding part. But you have to test your app before launching it, right? Or check the existing app to find and fix the bugs? So what will you choose – manual or automated testing?

What’s the difference

Let’s quickly review both testing methods just to make sure we have the same definition in mind. Manual QA testing is when there is a real tester pretending to use an app as the end user would. This kind of testing is time-consuming and cannot reveal all the issues an app might have. While automated QA is a written test script that runs tests numerous times aiming to find as many flows as it’s possible. Automated testing seems to become the new black in software development – there aren’t many companies left who prefer to test manually (and a lot of QA testers want to switch their careers). And here’s why:

  1. Cost saving and time effective

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If you wanted to test your app among 1000 users, you’d have to spend a lot of time and money to implement it. A person who would be responsible for testing, would have a limited working schedule and need breaks to keep their mind lucid. Notwithstanding the fact that it would probably cost you as much as an app itself. Automated testing would be much easier to put into action – you would just have to code a test script and could use it numerous times. You do it once and use as many times as you need to.

  1. Automated QA can get anywhere, where manual testing cannot

With the help of QA automation, you will be able to test every feature and path that the end user will ever use and take. Flows and issues are easier to find when you can run hundreds of complicated tests throughout the development process. And you can start debugging as soon as all the problems are revealed.

  1. We are just humans, after all

And we all make mistakes. It’s not just a quote from a song, but a harsh reality. Therefore, manual testing is a more accurate way to check an app’s quality. Can you imagine a programme get sick and therefore lose attention while searching for bugs? Or feel bored and go out for a smoke? That’s the point.

  1. There is always more: knowledge base

Since automated testing is rapidly developing, there are always updates and improvements you can find out about. Developers and QAs love to share their experience on blogs and forums. So you always know about the latest trends and efficient QA automation practices and tools.

  1. Faster development cycles

Time is money, you know it. Everything should be as fast as possible in development, and manual testing is not. So when you go for automated quality testing, you speed up the development process. The development team doesn’t need to wait for a tester to perform all the needed tests – they can do it themselves.

So, automated testing is really important for your business – it is cost and time effective, has more opportunities for test coverage, more reliable than a person, and speeds up a development process. Additionally, a lot of companies use it and share their experiences. Remember, you end product’s performance depends on how well you did a testing part. Automated QA will surely help you to make your app product closer to perfection and satisfy the end user.

by Incredible Planet Staff

What Will 5G Connectivity Offer to Users?


Technology

When it comes to telecommunication technology, there’s always big talk every time there is a breakthrough on better and more reliable services. While technology has yet to fall under the category of ‘all talk and no show,’ the 5G which many are waiting for simply serves as the icing on the cake. The initial development of 5G technology was undertaken by NASA and M2Mi Corp in April of 2008. Today, we see this technology being deployed by South Korea during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Let’s take a sneak peek at what it will offer users globally once the technology is introduced on a full scale.

Main Transformations

So what will 5G do for us? Well, to be exact, 5G will deliver an increase in connectivity that’s never been experienced before. Wireless connectivity will see a rise in speed that reaches a mind-numbing 6,400 Mbps. Essentially, this will make downloading an 800 MB movie achievable in the blink of an eye. Websites could feature HD images and videos on their pages where the total size of one webpage could reach 3.2 GB without any page loading issues. Just imagine where this will take online gaming, let it sink in and let your imagination do the rest.

Transcending 4G & Other Variants

When compared with other technologies, 5G stands out through its sheer performance capabilities and figures showing it to be the fastest internet connection. Here are some of the numbers which reflect its staggering probability:

  • Energy efficiencies to increase by 100 times.
  • Data rates will exceed present technologies by 10 to 100 times.
  • Latency for networks will be reduced by 5 to 10 times.
  • The number of connected devices for the service will increase by 10 to 100 times.
  • Increase in traffic capacity in a particular area will jump by 100 times.

Creation of Brand New Ecosystem

If the facts above about 5G technology isn’t enough then you’ll just have to wait until the technology finally takes effect around the globe. 5G is much more advanced than the one we experience today. The following is a glimpse at what users will get once 5G technology becomes mainstream:

  • Cellular devices will receive 4K streaming services.
  • Maps will offer augmented reality elements.
  • Remote areas will be capable of receiving e-learning through the use of augmented reality applications.
  • Technicians and repairmen will be able to provide better assistance through enhanced virtual reality software.
  • warehouses will become highly automated with little to no human activity required to manage them.
  • Further developments and integration with IOT will create Smart Cities. These will feature connected homes and offices which are all managed through the exceptional networking tools offered by 5G.

Change in Lifestyles & Humanities

The distribution of 5G networks on large scale will dramatically alter the way we interact with technology. There will be a gradual change where the world will become more adept with new and improved gadgets. Here are some of the most popular assumptions being tossed around so far:

  • Emergency first aid for an injury will be administered by medical drones and drone ambulances which will reach even the most remote locations.
  • Medical equipment in hospitals will feature smart cabinets for storage of items, syringes, and smart med-beds with various new and advanced features.
  • Cloud networking will enable robotic nurses to manage the daily needs of patients through complete control and monitoring.
  • Traffic signals and vehicles will be integrated with virtual and augmented reality elements for better management that will reduce rush hour traffic jams.
  • Each manufactured product on the planet will have its entire value chain tracked from beginning to end, removing all discrepancies in between.

Though progress is being made on a daily basis to achieve 5G networking as quickly as possible, major telecommunication companies in the U.S. still proclaim that it’s underway. The expected date on the induction of 5G technology for the general public is around 2020. We certainly wish this could be sooner than later, but only time will tell what will happen when this hits worldwide.

by Varsha Shinde

Top 5 WordPress Push Notification Plugins for Web and Mobile in 2018


Technology

Over the past few years push notifications have proved to be a great marketing means for myriads of businesses. WordPress Push notifications plugins are appearing more effective to boost visitor engagement and drive more frequent traffic on the WordPress sites.

As of now we are well acquainted with the remarkable business benefits of WordPress push notifications plugins, as we all have discussed lots about it. Due to these enormous benefits, more and more online businesses have started to embrace the trend of integrating WordPress notifications plugin with their WordPress site, and the year 2017 is the best witness of it.

No doubt, in 2018 also, there will be a profusion of such sites and the WordPress notification plugins as well. Thus it’s going to be confusing to choose an appropriate WordPress notification plugin amongst this profusion. Here in this blog, we have listed out some most excellent WordPress push notifications plugins for mobile app and websites, to diminish your confusion.

Check Out The List:

PushCrew

PushCrew is one of the best push notifications plugins that you can add to WordPress with a simple plugin. PushCrew has the least number of supported devices. At present, it supports Chrome on desktop and Android and Firefox on desktop only.

Supporting this small set of devices, PushCrew offers certain best features like:

  • Scheduling: With this, you can schedule your notifications in order to send them at a particular time in the future.
  • Segment Creator: It is a tool that helps you to divide your visitors using custom conditions.
  • CTA buttons: This allows you to display a couple of CTA buttons in your push notifications.
  • Expiry Notifications: It will help you to ensure that your subscribers don’t get a notification when the deal has already finished.
  • RSS support: This allows you to automatically notify subscribers of the latest posts the moment you publish them.

PushCrew offers a free package that includes unlimited notifications for around 2,000 subscribers with a few feature limits. For more than these numbers, you will have to select from plans starting at $18 for a month.

ePush

ePush is a push notification service plugin for WordPress websites, blogs, and all sorts of the business websites. It is a complete push notification system that supports all type of devices, like mobile phone, desktops, and even the tablets. Among all the WordPress push notification plugins mentioned above, ePush is one that comes with several remarkable business benefits.

Some Preeminent Features Incorporated In Epush:

  • Customized Notifications: Permits you to create a unique and personalized notification for every user or group.
  • Multi-lingual: You can optimize and send notifications in any major language.
  • Unlimited Subscribers: Allows sending push notifications to as many users as you desire.
  • Tailor-made Segments: Set your own attributes for specific visitors and send customized push notifications to them.

You can get a free trial of ePush and afterward can choose a precise package suitable to your business model, starting from $19 per subscription.

OneSignal

OneSignal is a standalone and best push notification service that conveniently integrates with WordPress. OneSignal’s supports chrome on desktop and Android, Safari on Mac OS X and Firefox on desktop only. With OneSignal you will obtain the Safari notifications, however, miss out mobile Firefox notifications.

OneSignal possesses a list of great features like:

  • A/B testing: This is quite a unique one. It lets you conduct split tests to find out the high performing messages ahead of sending them to all subscribers.
  • Scheduling: helps you to schedule your push notifications to send them at right time in future.
  • Automatic Notifications: Based on set criterion you can send reminders. For instance, if someone has visited your site over the last few days or whether or not you’ve published a new post.
  • Segments: Segment and target your visitors based on various user attributes.

OneSignal is absolutely free of cost with no limits, though there are some indefinite premium plans.

PushEngage

PushEngage is another standalone push notification service for both web and mobile push notifications. Though, it provides a dedicated WordPress plugin that simplifies the integration of push notification functionality to WordPress.

PushEngage facilitates you to send notifications to both mobile and desktop versions of Firefox,   Chrome and Samsung Internet Browser.

Moreover, PushEngage comes with a number of effectual features like:    

  • Geotargeting: Allows you to send notifications to the visitors according to their specific geo-locations.
  • RSS to Notification: Immediately alert users with RSS feed whenever you publish new posts.
  • Automatic Responders: Lets you send push notifications related to customer’s actions with marketing automation for email.
  • Segmentation: Easily segment your audience according to the URL from which they received browser notifications in order that you can send them posts that probably they will like.
  • Customized Cart Abandonment Notifications: Especially useful if you’re having an online store on WordPress.
  • CTA buttons: You can include one or more call to action buttons.

With PushEngage you can send up to 120 notifications to about 2,500 subscribers at free of cost. For more, you’ll have to choose other plans starting from $25 per month.

PushAssist

PushAssist is another standalone push notification service that offers a dedicated WordPress plugin to simplify the setup process. PushAssist supports Chrome on desktop and Android, Safari on Mac OS X and Firefox on both desktop and Android.

PushAssist consists of a number of useful features like:

  • Scheduling: Lets you schedule notifications for particular dates and times.
  • Segmentation: You can segment users based on their interests, location, and other data.
  • Personalization: Allows you to send personalized messages, but needs some setup as well.

PushAssist offers a free plan supporting up to 3,000 subscribers with limitless notifications. Paid packages start from $9 per month.

Conclusion

There are the most helpful and easy to integrate WordPress push notifications plugins that you must try out for your WordPress site. When it comes to choosing a precise one among the all, we suggest you to first determine your exact requirements and according to them make your wise selection. If further, you have any doubt about getting the Best Push Notification Service for your precious WordPress site, just contact us we will guide you with exact solutions.

by Incredible Planet Staff

4 Things to Know About Your Phone’s IMEI Number


Technology

Most mobile phone users have never heard about their international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, let alone considered what it means and what it does. Every big-ticket electronic gadget has some kind of identifier that sets it apart from all others like it, so in that way, the IMEI on a mobile device serves a function similar to the VIN on a vehicle. There’s no way to erase or obscure an IMEI number, and knowing it is essential in case you misplace or lose your phone, someone steals it, or you buy a used or refurbished device.

It’s Like Your Social Security Number

Your phone’s IMEI number functions in much the same way as a person’s Social Security number. Your personal SSN helps to prove that you are who you say you are. You’re issued a number at birth, and it sticks with you throughout your entire life. That’s true for your smartphone’s IMEI number as well.

Any mobile device that’s capable of connecting to a network has an IMEI number. It can reveal a world of information about your phone, even if you lose it or if someone steals the device from you. That’s critical, given that tens of millions of iPhones, for example, go out into the world every year a new phone debuts. They all look alike, and they function in the same way. A unique way to identify and differentiate each mobile device from all the rest is more than necessary.

It’s Easy to Find

You shouldn’t have to search all over your phone or tablet to find its IMEI number. The easiest method of discovering the number is to pull up your phone and keypad, then punch in *#06# and hit “Call” or “Send.” The phone’s number should automatically show up on the screen.

On both Android and iOS devices, you can also discover the IMEI number in the settings. On iOS devices, try Settings > General > About. The IMEI is one of the numbers displayed. For most Android devices, you can go into Settings > About Phone > Status.

The number usually appears beneath the battery of a device, too. However, since removing the battery is tricky for most phones and tablets, it’s better to save this as a last-ditch effort. If you saved the box your device came in, then the IMEI number should appear somewhere on the packaging, too.

Safety First

Where did your phone come from initially? Are you confident of its origins? Did you buy it used or refurbished? There’s nothing wrong with that, but because you have a way to identify the device, you can take the time to ensure it hasn’t been blocked on your network and confirm that you can use it with your current carrier. For example, you can use T-Mobile’s IMEI checker to find out if everything’s copacetic with your phone. Once you confirm that it is, you will have access to the carrier’s 4G LTE network and all the benefits that come with it.

It Can Track Stolen Devices

Are you bummed about a lost or stolen smartphone? These days, smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets are among the most frequently stolen items. People often lose, misplace, or forget their devices as well. Finding a device may seem like a lost cause, but the IMEI number offers a way to track your phone.

With your IMEI number in hand, call your provider. The provider can typically block that particular number, which prevents anyone else from jailbreaking the phone and attempting to use it on your network. Some providers also contact other carriers and request that they place a block on your IMEI number, too. Even law enforcement officials can use the number to recover stolen phones.

Knowing what you know now, why don’t you take a minute to pull up the IMEI numbers on all of your devices? It’s one of the first things you should do when you buy a new phone, too. Have you ever lost your phone? Perhaps having the IMEI number could have helped minimize related losses.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Ditch The Plastic Case and Make A Knitted Phone Cover


Lifestyle

Save The Planet In Style!

By knitting your own phone cover, you are reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfill.

We are all looking for small ways in which we can be environmentally friendly, and cutting down on our use of plastics is one of the best ways to do this. When we look at how often we use plastic in our day to day lives, it quickly becomes apparent how incredibly reliant on it we are. While carrier bags, water bottles and other single use plastics are some of the most obvious culprits, things like plastic phone cases are things we can live without too. Instead, protect your smartphone and save the planet with a stylish knitted cover.

Cutting down on plastics

You may think that your phone cover isn’t making too much of an impact on the environment. After all, you don’t buy a new one every week do you? Well, even if you only buy two or three in the space of a year, that soon adds up over the course of, say, five years. With millions of other smartphone users doing the same, it soon becomes clear just how many discarded smartphone covers are ending up in landfill. Ditching these plastic covers is one of the easiest ways to become a more environmentally conscious tech user. All you need to do now is get creative with some Deramores knitting supplies!

Sewing your cover

When you make your own phone or tablet cover, you are in total control of how it looks. With an endless combination of colours and finishes for you to choose from, the only limit is your own creativity. Perhaps you’ll opt for classic monochrome, or go all out with some bold rainbow hues. If you’re looking for some patterns to get you started, then the Tech Covers in Stylecraft Classique Cotton are your best bet. With the patterns showing you how to make a tablet cover, an e-reader cover and a mobile phone cover, you’ll be able to kit out all of your devices in no time at all.

Getting started with knitting is easy

New to knitting and crocheting? Then don’t worry! There are so many online tutorials out there, as well as knitting blogs, books and magazines for you to read through and take inspiration from. Social media is full of knitters keen to show off their creations and expand their knowledge, so don’t be afraid to strike up conversation. If you want to learn with the guidance of a teacher in a group environment, do some research to see if there are any classes being run in your local area. You’ll soon be an expert, however you choose to learn.

A stylish and green option

Knitting your own phone covers won’t just allow you to get in touch with your creative side, but it will help you to lessen the impact you have on the world around you too. Once you have built up your confidence, why not knit some covers to give to your family and friends as gifts? They make great Christmas and birthday presents; and all the while you’ll be improving your skills, which will massively boost your confidence. What’s not to love about that?

by Incredible Planet Staff

4 Ways You Can Strengthen Your Cell Signal


Technology

The invention of cell signal technology is a game changer in the way people work, communicate, and exchange information. This generation has become so reliant with instant communication that everywhere, there’s always someone who needs to check if there phone has a four-bar signal strength.

However, cell signals can be unreliable at times, even in urban areas.

Two common reasons for not having a good cell signal are: (1) the phone or device is out of range of a cell tower, and (2) there are signal interferences, like the weather.

These two problems can easily be fixed by:

Relocating to a Better Coverage Area

If a phone signal is not detectable in one place, the easiest remedy is to move to another area where there is better signal.

This shouldn’t be a problem in dense urban areas as most major phone carriers have multiple cell towers in one city.

For those living in the countryside, they can check with their phone provider for a map of their cell tower coverage. Or better yet, one can use their own cell phone to locate the signal by turning on their phone’s dB display.

Users can do that through these steps:

iPhone*

  1. Activate Phone Mode
  2. Dial *3001#12345#*
  3. Enter Field Test Mode
  4. Check the notifications bar to see the dB reading

*Note: This method won’t work on an iOS 11 phone and models that use Intel modems.

Android

  1. Access Settings
  2. Go to General
  3. Select About Phone
  4. Then click Network or Status to show the dB value

After the dB meter is on, one can just trace the signal and find the best spot with the strongest reception.

Adding a Phone Signal Booster

Of course, if moving out is out the question, another way to strengthen the cell signal is by installing a signal booster, which can also double as a secondary cell tower inside a home.

A signal booster is used to extend the area of a cell network. It works by amplifying what signal it receives from the original cell tower then covers its own area of transmission.

For devices that rely on 3G or 4G networks, there are boosters, like the WeBoost Connect 4G, that are specifically made to increase phone signal and wireless Internet.

Signal boosters, signal repeaters, and signal extenders all work the same way. Getting a booster may mean spending some money for it, but it’s the best option for those who regularly have connectivity problems due to weak cell signals.

Remove Obstructions

Electronic appliances and other metallic objects, not to mention concrete walls, can disrupt cell signals. The signal is strongest if it’s out in the open and away from television, computer, or any electronic devices.

What others fail to know is that the reflective part of a mirror is a metallic sheet, so it also blocks cell signal if a device sits directly in front of it.

Devices that use signals also heavily affect its strength. Examples of these are microwave ovens and wireless telephones.

Do Not Block the Phone’s Antenna

All phones have an antenna to pick up cell signals. It’s obvious with old phones, but new models have theirs tucked inside the phone.

Usually, phone antennas stand upright with the device. Holding the phone in a horizontal, landscape grip may block the antenna and dampen its reception.

So one should keep their phones up if they want to get a good signal.

Stay Connected

According to Pew Research Center, 95 percent of America use a phone. Whether people use it for personal or professional reasons, there’s no denying that mobile technology has become a necessity to almost everyone.

Knowing these simple ways of improving cell signal will come in handy in keeping one constantly connected to the world.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Three Ways to Use your Smartphone More Safely


Technology

You only need look along a train platform in any modern city to see just how attached (quite literally) we have all become to our smartphones. In some parts of the world, smartphone use has come close to actual ubiquity. Taking the UK as an example, 96% of 16-24 year olds now own a smartphone.

After putting aside the well-trodden debates about whether smartphones and social media are proving detrimental to “real” human relationships, it’s hard to deny that the devices offer us fantastic functionality that makes life easier. Thanks to GPS, navigating around a new place is simplicity itself; high resolution cameras make it easy to capture and share memories; and widespread Internet connectivity means constant access to knowledge.

However, it’s not all good news. Smartphones can sometimes prove almost too clever for their own good, creating situations that can potentially compromise the privacy and security of the user. Some of these needless risks are easily avoided, but smartphones are not necessarily set up by default to work in the safest way.

This article discusses three ways in which you can easily make your smartphone a little safer:

1.   Look at the permissions you are allowing to your apps.

Often, when you set up a new app on your phone, it will ask for certain permissions when you first launch it. These permissions can range from camera and microphone access (for a messaging app, for example), to access to your location (perhaps for an app concerned with navigation).

Frequently, however, the permissions an app requests are way out of step with the minimum permissions they really need to work. Why does a social network need access to your microphone if you’re not going to make voice calls? And why does an app that identifies music need to know your location?

In many cases, the app developer offers an (often spurious) reason to need such permissions in return for certain functionality. However, it’s usually possible to run apps without giving away such unfettered access to your phone’s features. It makes no sense to give a whole raft of apps permission to listen to what you’re doing or know where you are – so try to allow these things only by exception, and not as a rule.

2.   Exercise caution with public Wi-Fi.

Everyone loves free Wi-Fi! Access to decent Internet connectivity in hotels and cafés is seen as a must nowadays, and everyone is quick to take advantage of their nearest hotspot. This is particularly relevant during international travel where data roaming charges can still prove prohibitive.

However, free Wi-Fi can sometimes come with a sting in the tail. The problem is that it’s alarmingly easy to hack other people on free Wi-Fi networks. It’s quite straightforward for a hacker to sit on another table or in another hotel room, making a sneaky note of such information as your bank password or Facebook login.

If you frequently use free Wi-Fi on your phone, it’s well worth considering subscribing to an inexpensive virtual private network (VPN) service, which, when activated, will encrypt your online communications. You will find a wide range of services for iPhones and Android devices. Once you have subscribed a Vpn service it is also good how efective the service is, by tunning a Leak Test as Anonymster explains here. If you choose not to use a VPN, it’s best to ensure that you don’t do anything remotely private on your smartphone when you’re on public Wi-Fi – but with a VPN, you’re much more protected.

3.   Ensure you have a backup regime.

The smartphones we all carry around are essentially very compact but fully-featured computers. They often hold a huge amount of information, including (for many of us) vast libraries of precious photos and videos.

Unfortunately, phones are easily lost, and memories can be lost with them if there’s no backup regime in place. It’s easy to use services such as Dropbox and iCloud to ensure data is kept safe, but statistics suggest that plenty of people don’t get around to it, and risk losing irreplaceable records of special moments. This is despite a third of people already having experience of losing data on a mobile device.

Smartphones can be life-enhancing gadgets, but it’s important to harness their power appropriately. These tips should help you gain a little more control over these tiny but sophisticated devices.