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.
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 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 23
Google knows that people struggle with keeping their smart phones from running low on power. But with internet access, voice guided navigation, media playback and a whole host of other features, the device tends to lose plenty of energy from use. While this is understandable, having power drain when the phone is on standby is a waste. Here are some valuable energy saving tips that should keep the lights shining on your new HTC Desire for a bit longer!
The first thing that is recommended is to turn off the auto updates. This will keep you from seeing the latest tweets and Facebook updates, but these can also be checked manually. Unless you are already plugged into a charger, leaving this setting turned on will eat up energy.
Auto sync is another feature that will drain you battery when left on its own. This is very important especially for users that do not make use of the Google Life applications such as the Google calendar. Since the service auto syncs every now and then, shutting it off will save plenty of power.
From Android 1.6 Donut to the latest 2.2 version, Google has provided the Android with tools and functions for monitoring the battery drain of individual apps and functions. Check the “battery use” option to see a quick log of apps that take up plenty of energy.
Creating switch off widgets will make the task of moving a phone into low power mode much easier. While creating the widget itself will take several minutes, it turns all processes into a single screen tap command.
Of course, non Android tips also apply; keeping the screen lights low, using darker wallpapers, shutting off GPS, WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth when not needed. Also, the WiFi settings on the Android have an auto shut off feature that users might want to check out.
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.
Jun 18
Smart phones store plenty of information. With all the features and capabilities of the average smart phone, users can store thousands of important personal information –information that can be lost or even stolen if the device is not taken care of properly. And while it takes careful preparation, awareness and vigilance to keep a device safe from theft, the same cannot be said from other dangers such as software issues, viruses, and the occasional phone accident that often ends with a smart phone soaked in beer, soda or some other liquid.
This is why it is important for anyone with a smart phone (and uses it often) to consider coming up with a data backup plan and sticking to it. One might think that simply running the data sync function to a computer is already enough, but unless this is done regularly, the measure is pretty much pointless (much like restoring data that is several months old).
Having updated, regular backups gives anyone the confidence to wipe clean a mobile phone for repair or other similar uses. This cannot be afforded for anyone without backups –as the pangs of worry regarding data loss would prevent anyone from fully wiping clean a phone’s memory.
Software issues are also plenty. Many operating systems rely on patches and updates in order to bring new features and capabilities to smart phone users. Sadly, some of these patches could possibly wipe a phone’s memory clean with the installation of an all new operating system. While developers would add in a warning with the update installer, it would save everyone plenty of time and energy to have backups ready.
The last great reason to back up data is when you want to retire your mobile phone. Most stores offer great deals for trade-ins, even some network operators have similar deals. Of course, transferring data from one handset to another will be a whole lot easier if all your phone data is already backed up.
Jun 15
Mobile phones are important, even children need it these days. Having a handset means that you can contact your child at any time and be sure of how they are doing and where they are. A single text message is discreet and unobtrusive, and children feel at ease answering these digital notes.
Of course, having a mobile phone is much more than that. While it is easy to control what calls a child can make (some phones can be locked and some network operators have special family plans –as well as the ability to cut off call functions once the duration goes past the monthly allowances), there are other phone functions to consider, most importantly, the ability to access the internet.
What makes mobile phones –smart phones in particular a bigger issue than computer is the fact that children do not always have access to the home computer at a very young age, and adding a password is quite easy. Mobile phone access on the other hand gives the child warrant to go online almost anytime, anywhere, and this, if stopped abruptly, could prove to be a difficult decision to bear with.
Teaching children about using web access properly starts with teaching them to have a conviction of their own, and the strength to stand up for their own belief. With their peers most likely on social networks that they too will be joining, it is important that a child understands that the web is not a place that will tell you what is right and wrong, and that it is up to each user to determine what should be done.
Of course, a little guidance along the way help, but over surveillance could lead children to start hiding things. The most important thing to do after teaching a child is to actually trust the child to follow what was taught.
Jun 03
Smart phones are pushing technology forward, thanks to the fact that handsets, by nature, are devices that people will tend to carry around the most; it also provides the biggest room for feedback, study, analysis and direct user-reactions. Even the manufacturers themselves have one or two smart phones in their pockets all the time.
For the past couple of years, the emergence of better WiFi and 3G network technology has allowed the growth of the internet thanks to continued access from smart phones, and social networking sites such as Facebook and microblogging site Twitter has grown to new heights thanks to instant access from mobile phones.
Now, the smart phone-internet combination is getting another important new addition; GPS. Location based services for smart phones are not new, but in the past few months, they have been growing a lot. Apps such as Foursquare have become major hits as they not only allowed people to connect online, the level of interactivity also begun to involve the places they visited.
Some location based services are even taking the service one step further. While Foursquare and other similar apps offer virtual rewards, Looptstar promises actual, real life rewards to users. Ranging from free downloadable content to store discounts, Looptstar has made plenty of store deals that would make anyone’s daily errands a whole lot more rewarding.
At this point, location based networking is still at its early stages, and not many people are too keen about checking in to have this presence logged. But as the services begins to get more and more ties ups with actual establishments and more people start using it. Peer pressure is actually a lot more powerful than what one might imagine. It will have the same pull as Facebook – people have to join because opting out equates to being left out.
Jun 03
Technology provides plenty of conveniences, with the emergence of smart phones, 3G networks and better web browsers; it takes little more than a few button presses to get online and find any bit of information that you may need. The same goes for sports, whether you are sitting at home or in a packed stadium, all you need to do to see the current stats would be to take a quick glimpse on your mobile phone.
However, as impressive as technology may be, it still comes at a cost. While the cost usually entails staying within the allotted bandwidth allowance, this consideration changes plenty when people leave the country –just a quick visit to Paris without minding the web usage will net you serious charges, and this gets even worse if you are planning to head to South Africa for the upcoming World Cup.
Sure, it would be great to get a quick streaming video of that last goal you missed, or if you simply need to get a closer look at the action that is happening. The more common things to look up for are player rosters, stats and current game specifics, but viewing just a few pages get easily reach up to 1MB in just 20 page views –and that will get your bill up by about 8 GBP.
If a user fails to keep track, the overall bill could reach hundreds in just a span of a few hours.
Anyway, anyone planning to see the World Cup better make a quick trip to the closest office of your network provider (or just make a quick call) and ask about the international rates so that the bill will not surprise you when you get back home. Of course, the event is expected to be fully optimized for the many expected attendees, so it would be really tempting to hook up to an online network.
