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Beware of smartphone failures

Monday, November 09, 2009

Smartphones are 50 percent more likely to fail compared to simple cell phones, says SquareTrade, a leading independent warranty provider. Since 1999, SquareTrade says it has provided more than 100,000 warranties covering cell phones. The company finds smartphones such as the BlackBerry, iPhone and Treo -- each offering advanced email, web browsing, bigger displays and PC-like functionality -- are twice as likely to conk out over regular cell phones.

SquareTrade says one in three smartphones malfunction within the first three years, compared to about one in five basic cell phones within the same amount of time. These findings do not include accidental damage, such as dropping the handset.

The report also says these phones are not only more expensive to buy compared to regular cell phones and tend to cost more each month for data fees, but they also offer lower reliability than regular cell phones.


Early adopters have plenty of self-esteem

Monday, October 05, 2009

You know that guy in your office who bought the iPhone on Day One? He's ambitious, but he thinks he's "all that," right?

According to the results of a new survey of 25,000 Americans conducted by Nielsen Online and Internet ad research firm Mindset Media, early adopters who buy first-generation technology scored well in personality traits such as leadership skills, self-esteem and assertiveness but were low in modesty.

"If you look at those with qualities of a modern leader, they’re often forward-facing and interested in what's next," said Sarah Welch, lead researcher at Mindset Media, in an interview with Reuters. "Those who are really assertive are the types to grab life by the horn, so it also makes sense that when they see something they want or like, they go straight for it."

Those who buy consumer electronics early, or spend more on luxury brands, can be perceived as arrogant or conceited by others, says Welch. "There's an element of pride in being able to have the latest and greatest, not just in the realm of technology but in all other areas."

In a similar study published earlier this year, Mindset Media found that those who owned Macintosh computers were more liberal and open-minded but exhibited traits of superiority. Gee, that's a shocker.


Eight ways to improve battery life for iPhone, iPod touch

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Mobile music lovers know all too well a portable player is only as good as its battery life. But many who purchased the iPhone or iPod touch have voiced their concerns over the device's relatively weak battery life. If you love your iPhone or iPod touch but doubt you have enough juice to make it through an extended remix of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," take heed to the following tips to maximize your battery life -- without having to buy one of those snap-on battery packs.

Keep in mind many of these tips apply to other MP3 players and cell phones as well.

1.    Dim the brightness on your iPhone or iPod touch using the slider, as the brighter you keep your screen the faster it'll eat away at your battery.

2.    Built-in radio technology, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, can be draining on the battery when in use, so if you don't need it, turn it off in the Settings options. That said, iPhone users who like to surf the Net might extend the battery's life by using Wi-Fi instead of EDGE.

3.    Disable push mail on your iPhone if you don't need it. Go to Settings, then       Mail, Advanced and then set Use Push Mail to Off.

4.    Using the equalizer (EQ) settings for your music can decrease battery life, so turn this option to Off (Settings > iPod > EQ), if you can.

5.    Don't leave your iPod touch or iPhone in the heat, such as in a car on a hot day, which could compromise the battery life for your iPod (and its overall longevity).

6.    Always download the latest software upgrades for the iPod touch or iPhone, as Apple engineers try to find new ways to extend battery life.

7.    Load up your iPod with compressed songs (e.g. AAC or MP3 files) as opposed to larger or uncompressed songs (including WAV or AIFF files).

8.    Make sure you lock the touch screen before putting your iPod touch or iPhone away into your pocket, purse or backpack, as you may inadvertently drain the device of its power by hitting the Play button.

Video game industry sees record year

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Led by the incredibly popular Nintendo Wii, 2008 was a record-shattering year for the video game industry.

Total sales for game hardware, software and accessories soared to more than $21 billion, up 19 percent from 2007.

These figures are provided by the NPD Group, an organization that tracks retail sales only, therefore revenues generated by downloadable PC and console games and subscription-based computer games (such as the online-only World of Warcraft role-playing game) aren't included.

When it came to the bestselling games of the year, Nintendo Wii titles occupied the top four slots: Wii Play (5.28 million units sold), Mario Kart Wii (five million), Wii Fit (4.53 million), and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (4.17 million), followed by Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, which finished 2008 with 3.29 million units sold on Xbox 360 and 1.89 million on PlayStation 3.

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