Jul 12
Cheating during exams is a concept as old as time itself. Almost everyone has done it or has had a friend who has done it when they were younger. Unfortunately for today’s teachers, mobile phone technology is making it a bit more tricky to catch cheating students and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Because smart phones double as a web capable device, it is always easy to go online to search for the correct answer to exam questions. Since there are existing sites which are meant to be review material for specific subjects in school, students have instant access to exam answers as long as there is a live internet connection.
Storing formulas on the mobile phone is also common practice for cheating students. It would be easy to install apps which help speed up computing as well.
Texting friends is also a common means of cheating. For Bluetooth headset users, chewing gum may be used to disguise talking to friends on the phone while taking an exam. Those 5 megapixel cameras can also be used to take pictures of the exam to pass it along to the next batch of students who are set to take the same exam. Some business minded students even manage to sell these photos to others who are too lazy to study before the big test.
Since schools have to adapt to this tech savvy age we are living in, policies such as a ban on mobile phone use during school hours, restricting the use of chewing gum and keeping an eye out for students who brag about their cheating techniques through social networking sites are common. Some schools even install security cameras to minimize cheating during tests and some utilize computer exams.
The only problem with these is that students are usually more tech savvy than their professors, giving them the upper hand when it comes to discreet mobile phone usage.
Jul 12
While it would not be wrong to state that Smart phones allow people to get in touch with others in a deeper way despite being separated by both time and distance, the mobile phone technology is also doing some not-so-epic changes in the way people live their lives as well.
In a recent study by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research, they found out that at least 21% of women would actually go online and check Facebook the moment they get up. This activity precedes everything else from eating, washing the face, brushing one’s teeth or simply even getting up from bed.
Obviously, these women are not dragging themselves up to sit down at a desktop computer nor are they flipping open a netbook –these gals are checking their social networking status through the smart phone. A smart phone makes web access fast, easy and very convenient. While it is true that not everyone makes use of a handset (there are some that would use a tablet or an actual netbook), but for the most part, it is the smart phone’s accessibility that makes it all possible.
Size is just one of the many factors that make a smart phone a truly unique device –and one that is perfect for communication. First off, it is easy to carry around. This allows users to understand and learn how to use a smart phone better than a computer. Second, it is almost always on. Provided that a little energy management is put into use, a fully charged battery can get you through the day.
The most important feature of the smart phone is the fact that the device is convenient to use. No need for chairs, tables, power outlets and for those with 3G, no need for WiFi either. Women use their phones to check Facebook because it is the device that will get them online the fastest.
Jul 07
The fact that smart phones come with GPS features is a pretty well established fact, and the fact that Apps such as Tom Tom’s GPS navigation feature exists for the Apple iPhone means that even the established sat nav service companies recognize the value of the hardware that a typical smart phone offers.
But when companies such as Nokia and Google announce that they will be offering sat nav services for free, it certainly changes the perspective on what technologies people should be investing in.
Just several years ago, GPS was still in its infancy and having a dedicated device in a vehicle was a sign of luxury. Now, it is a near requirement for people who need to get to locations fast without having to spend much time learning new directions (or having to stop and ask for them). GPS is slowly becoming a basic necessity. And just as companies such as TomTom and Garmin have started growing, the advancement of sat nav services also grew for smart phones.
More than just location based services Nokia and Google are able to offer full, voice guided turn by turn navigation with additional features such as live traffic updates, weather conditions and even points of interest.
This however is not going to kill companies such as TomTom and Garmin. But they will have to turn to other markets. Unlike Google, sat nav companies compile their own maps. While community based maps often contain plenty of great local information, their reliability is not one that Google is able to assure –unlike that of a professional GPS service.
Of course, while the average person does not need that much accuracy, professionals do. This means that people who seriously need sat nav –such as delivery personnel, emergency volunteers, law enforcers, fire fighters and the like will still need devices such as TomTom’s onboard GPS units.
Jul 06
What was once a highly anticipated smartphone now enjoys worldwide popularity right after its recent release. It is no surprise as the Samsung Galaxy S i9000 has loads of superior functionality and technological advances within its aesthetically designed casing.
Almost at the speed of thought
The mobile CPU that beats at the very core of the system is a powerful and efficient ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor. A fast CPU is rendered useless without an equally powerful operating system to run, in this case, the Android v2.1 (Éclair) OS. The combined effect of these two components is felt on the phone’s enhanced user interface, the TouchWiz 3.0.
Having these three fundamental components work synergistically and you have one superior mobile phone capable of handling even the most demanding application or function. Navigating through the user interface’s multiple home screens on the phone’s generous 4-inch display is so fast and intuitive, you’d swear it operates at the speed of thought.
Lightning-fast display
The Samsung Galaxy S i9000 is equipped with a large 4-inch capacitive touchscreen utilising Super AMOLED technology which makes images and videos so vividly real and viewable even under bright sunlight. The screen delivers 480 x 800 pixels of screen resolution with the capability of displaying a stunning 16 million colours.
The Samsung Galaxy S has an accelerometer which automatically adjusts the UI according to the phone’s orientation and a proximity sensor which shuts down the device when the user is away. The i9000 has touch-sensitive controls as well which quickly responds to multi-touch input method.
Rapid connectivity
The CPU, OS and UI on the Samsung Galaxy S are not the only fast performers on the device. Class 12 versions of GPRS and EDGE provide the phone with its primary channels of cellular network connectivity. With its fast 3G coverage, HSDPA connectivity provides internet access with speeds of up to 7.2 mbps as well as HSUPA connection running at 5.76 mbps.
Jul 06
While Nokia is still sorting out what to do with the whole Symbian-MeeGo thing on the N-series, the development of the Nokia N9 smart phone continues. And from what we have seen in the initial leaks and videos, no matter what name Nokia decides to give to the N9, it will be one smart phone to look forward to.
The biggest thing about the Nokia N9 that we are certainly excited about is that focus on HD video. The device supports not only an HDMI output port, but it can even hook up to a component cable (which is not as nice as HD, but a welcome feature for anyone who has yet to upgrade their living room telly). Of course, the onboard 8 mega pixel camera is able to take high quality images and more importantly, video is 720p HD quality too. No details yet on how big the internal memory will be for this smart phone, but regardless of the memory space, users would certainly want to use the more versatile microSD cards instead.
The screen is reported to be a 4 inch capacitive touch screen display using nHD 640 x 360 pixels (not quite the 800 x 480 pixel screens on other handsets, but the nHD is a nice touch). For those wondering what nHD means, it refers to the fact that the aspect ratio is exactly proportionate to that of a 1080p display –in this case, one third.
As with most N-series devices, the N900 sports a nice, flat, slide out QWERTY keyboard. The buttons seem even better spaced than before and this would certainly improve the typing experience for many users.
The big clincher in the latest update is that the N9 might just be a MeeGo handset after all. Despite the initial videos showing the device running the Symbian^3 OS, it is possible that Nokia might decide to turn the phone into the very first MeeGo smart phone.
Jul 01
Swype is quite a revolutionary step for touch screen input. While some people may prefer simple tap gestures to get their message across, there are still those who prefer to keep things fast. And that happens to be the biggest asset of Swype. After you get past the learning curve, you will be able to type over 50 words per minute.
That is a lot of time saved collectively. Even teachers are happier when younger smart phone owners use Swype because it totally eliminates text speak. This means that kids will not grow up writing things like “c u l8r” on their formal messages. Or it will, at the very least, encourage proper spelling and better grammar.
If you have not yet gotten hold of a Swype compatible device, this technology allows users to sort of trace through individual letters to form words. You do not have to lift your finger while typing so it at least saves the time spent lifting your digit up. Also, since the system was developed by the same guy who made T9 predictive text input, the technology is able to integrate that system to help determine what word you are trying to type.
Any new lingo that is not already a part of the system may be saved for future use. That being said, it is still going to be able to recognize proper words such as “Froyo” or “YouTube”.
This technology has been available for Android users for quite some time now, but according to reports, iPhone owners may also be able to use Swype on their devices soon. That is, if Apple gives the thumbs up to the technology and gives it support once the Swype team is done with their iPhone version. Apple has been known to set the bar high for third party developers but how can they resist Swype? T9 has become an integral part of the industry, and Swype may soon follow for touch screen devices.
Jun 28
It is not surprising that most of the smart phones that we see these days are of the same mold. While we see the occasional unique looking handsets like the Motorola Flipout and Backflip, the fact is that there has been no significant change in the layout of the smart phones we see today.
The trend is quite easy to spot. Thanks to the emergence of better touch screen technology, there has been more and more focus towards the use of capacitive touch screen displays that take up most of the front face of a modern smart phone. The addition of a keyboard or keypad usually comes in a slide out or flip-open format. Other handsets are designed somewhere in between these two types. While this is not a bad thing, eventually, the technology will move forward and these design will become archaic.
So where does the trend move to now? There are some who are talking about having a dynamic camera which can be made to tilt forward or back depending on the user’s need -which helps eliminate the whole back and front facing camera as well as the awkward feeling of waving a handset around a like a lunatic when using an augmented reality app.
There are also talks about checking the keyboard into a full touch screen display with haptic feedback as well. This would give a smart phone two screens –with the other serving as a secondary input device. However, since haptic technology is still in the early stages of being able to simulate the real feedback of buttons, many might find the transition from physical keyboard to another virtual keyboard (which does sound quite redundant), to be an unwelcome prospect.
While 3D is fast becoming the new in-thing for video playback, the technology is seeing less use in mobile devices. Despite advances in parallax technology which would enable 3D without the glasses, there is more importance in providing better touch screen performance.
Jun 25
If it is that time of the week for you and your friends to spend some quality time down at the local pub, then it would be hard to avoid leaving behind your mobile phone. After all, having a handset around will be pretty handy when you need to call the local cab service to pick you and your otherwise indisposed drinking buddies back home.
One of the nicest suggestions that we could give is to download a pub-search app. There are plenty of these kinds of apps that focus on various locations in the UK; there are several that will give you a quick rundown of suggestions for the coziest and most impressive places to catch the World Cup Matches or simply a nice quiet pub where you could talk your worries away with friends.
Another great feature about these pub search applications is that they not only provide you with the names of pubs, but also how to get there. By using a phone’s GPS features, users will be given the fastest routes to the desired location. Some apps will even provide transportation options as well, with various cab services that can be called upon when needed.
Another important tip is to bring a small bag that you can sling around your shoulders or tie around your waist. This provides people with a means to store phones and other things without having to worry about losing track of the items. As long as the bag is on your body, you can be sure that you would not be leaving anything behind.
Lastly, keep an alarm. As fun as nights out can be, nothing is worse than lacking moderation. Set an alarm on your mobile phone to remind when to call it a night and start heading back home. And before you do, it would be wise to schedule next week’s meet up and decide whose turn it is to pay for the rounds.
Jun 24
There are plenty of pubs that men would recommend to each other. Maybe for its great ambiance, or the friendly and personable bartender, or maybe for having some of the lowest prices in town or simply for having the tastiest shrimp available; whatever it may be, these places tend to get by on word of mouth and while this an effective form of advertising, the accessibility of the internet and smart phone technology has moved the concept of personal recommendations into a whole new field.
Before, word of mouth simply meant that the friends and family members who would actually listen to your recommendations would actually try it out. But with today’s technology, even a complete stranger might be heading off to your favorite tap on account of a properly posted Tweet.
Good customer reviews, combined with easily usable references such as recommended items on the menu, location directions and the use of technology such as GPS makes things a whole lot easier –and more encouraging for people to try out new places that they have never seen.
The presence of location based applications also affects plenty too. Foursquare not only keep track of the number of times people go to a location, but that are also ways for people to leave their virtual remarks and reviews of a store.
Of course, reviews can go bother ways. As many stores have seen how valuable getting good internet rep can be, criticisms can also mean bad news. As many of you might realize, it is far easier to discourage than to actually encourage others and if people originally had not known of a location, the less they would care about it if all they hear are complaints.
In this regard, stores these days find themselves being more rewarded and successful for being the best that the can be. Gone is the notion of having to cut down on services to save costs –the small time and energy investments to improve a store are paying themselves back more than twofold.
Jun 22
So you own a mobile phone, almost everyone does, and while each mobile phone model has its own unique features, brand and style, there are some basic necessities that people should not do without. Here is a quick checklist of things that you might want to keep handy if you want to make the most out of your smart phone.
First up, a micro fiber cloth; these things are best recognized as eyeglass cleaning cloth. They are great for wiping out oil and grime from the large screens used in many smart phones. They also tend to be small, so anyone can carry one around without too much trouble.
Next are battery and power accessories. Simply put, you need these when you travel or go out of the house. As expected, smart phones come with at least one charger. But it would better if you bought a spare charger for work and if you have a vehicle, a car charger. Some might want to consider bringing a spare battery in the event that charging is not available outside. For those planning several days of being out, a portable charging station is also a good idea.
Another great item to have is a Bluetooth headset. Now this is a prime piece of accessory, and they come in different forms and styles too. Since almost all smart phones support Bluetooth devices (even some basic 2G handsets do so too), this will help you keep your hands free while making a call –of course, if you rarely make phone calls, then this might not be a good investment.
While not an accessory, a screen protector is always a great thing to invest in. These thin clear plastic stickers will keep the very surface of your device protected from basic scratches. And if you are not too sure of your own abilities to stick it on, some of the stores that sell these will also offer to apply it on your phone for a modest fee.
