10 Best Gifts for Smartphone Lovers this Christmas

Christmas should be a time for mince pies, warm fires, and family fun, but in this modern world, the most exciting thing about Christmas for some people is upgrading their tech. One of the most popular gifts to give at Christmas time is a new smartphone, and this is a great idea for children and adults alike.

If you’re someone who doesn’t know an iPhone from a Samsung, then buying the perfect gift can be hard but you don’t need to worry, because we’ve done the hard work for you. Let’s take a look at the best gifts to buy for the smartphone addicts in your family this Christmas.

 

1. A Phone Case

If your loved one has just received an expensive new phone for Christmas you can be sure that they will want to protect it from damage anyway that they can. Although a phone case may seem like an inexpensive and thoughtless present, you would be surprised at how much thought you can actually put into choosing the right case. There are lots of different types available, some with backlights for taking photos, some that have a ring on that makes them perfect for selfie-takers and some which are super durable for the clumsiest among us.

 

2. Headphones

Headphones are always a great gift that are well received and you can really tailor them to any budget. If you have loved ones who love their music then you could try a high-quality pair of full headphones which they can use around the house. If your loved one uses their headphones on the go, then a smaller pair of earbuds might be better suited. Pro Tip: Be sure that the person your buying for has a phone with a headphone jack, if not, you may have to opt for wireless headphones.

 

3. A Power Bank

One of the biggest drawbacks with modern phones is battery life and smartphone lovers tend to be the people that are most affected by this. For someone who is addicted to their phone, there is no better gift to give than battery life. With a portable power bank, your loved ones can recharge their phones on the go and make sure that they never miss a Facebook update or an Instagram post.

 

4. Mobile VR

Mobile VR is still in its infancy, but it’s becoming more popular, and better. Devices like the Samsung Gear for are extremely popular for Samsung users and give access to over 800 VR apps. If your loved one loves VR and likes playing games and watching movies using their phone, this could be the perfect gift. Whilst devices like the Samsung Gear don’t come cheap, there are mobile VR devices at a range of different price points.

 

5. A Phone Tracker

If you or someone you know has spent hundreds of dollars on the latest smartphone, the worst fate imaginable is them losing it. The good news is, you can ensure they always know where their beloved phone is by treating them to a tracker this Christmas. Trackers like the TrackR Pixel are an affordable gift which can be attached to a smartphone case. The device works via Bluetooth and can help users to track down the location of the phone and it can even make the phone ring when on silent mode.

 

6. Car Accessories

For extreme phone addicts, putting down their smartphone when they are driving is a hard task, but you can help keep them safe this Christmas by decking their cars with smartphone accessories. Accessories like car phone mounts and chargers are a smartphone lovers best friend, as it means they can stay connected whilst on the road without sacrificing their road safety.  

7. App Store Vouchers

It can be really hard to get smartphone lovers gifts because it often seems like they don’t do anything but play on their phone, but the truth is that they probably spend a lot of money on the various apps that they use on a daily basis. Whilst some people feel it’s impersonal to give cash for Christmas, vouchers are a more acceptable present. It’s easy to find vouchers for all the major app stores, but be sure to find out which operating systems your loved ones are using, to avoid any disappointment on Christmas day.

 

8. A Smartphone Camera Lens

This gift is perfect for the selfie kings and queens among us. With the growth of social media platforms like Instagram, a lot of different products have become available to help us to capture the perfect snap. One of the better products is the detachable lens for smartphone cameras. Popular models such as the Moment Tele Lens make a great mid-range gift for Christmas and are sure to be a hit with young social media moguls.

 

9. Smartphone Remote Control Toys

These are gifts that are more exciting for the younger generation of smartphone lovers and are sure to sufficiently annoy everyone on Christmas day. There’s a good selection of robots available that link up and can be controlled using a smartphone. Popular models include tanks, planes and the Sphero BB-8 for the star wars lovers.

 

10. Bluetooth Speakers

This is the perfect gift for smartphone lovers who enjoy a good party. Bluetooth speakers link to smartphones easily and can provide a great backing track to any event. You may find that you’re Christmas day is overrun with cheesy Christmas tunes if you buy this as a gift, but they are sure to be a hit with the music lovers in your family.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/10-best-gifts-for-smartphone-lovers-this-christmas/

The 10 Best Smartphones for Seniors

With Christmas fast approaching, it’s almost time to make one of the hardest decisions of the year: what to get granny for a present. Year after year you buy useless tea selections and pajamas, but you may feel like these gifts just aren’t worth giving. The best gifts to buy right now are tech items, but you may feel like buying tech for your older relatives is not an option.

Unfortunately for the older generation, rapid technological development has meant that some of them have struggled to keep up. Smartphones are now bigger, better and more complex than ever. Whilst this is good news for the younger generation, it can be hard to adapt for the older crowd.

The good news is, there are some devices available that are perfect for the older people.  Why not give the gift of technology this Christmas and buy one of these 10 smartphones for the technophobic oldies in your family.

 

1. Jitterbug Smart

The younger crowd may not have heard of this smartphone, because it was designed with older people in mind. The phone runs on a simple-to-use system, which is perfect for seniors that have yet to make the move across to a smartphone device. The system works in a much simpler way than android and iOS and whilst it offers fewer features than a top end smartphone, it still lets users access the internet make use of apps and make calls and texts. The price of the Jitterbug Smart is also very affordable, coming in at around $200AUD

2. ZTE Blade Z Max

If your granny or gramps struggles with vision, then the ZTE Blade Z Max could be the right device for them this Christmas. Of all the smartphones on this list, this device offers on of the biggest displays. At a whopping 6-inches, seniors can zoom in as much as they need to on text and view images clearly. The price is nothing to grumble at either, coming in at around $160 AUD

3. BlackBerry Key2

If typing using touchscreen is your Achilles heel then the BlackBerry Key2 is what you need. The device combines the large screen associated with most modern smartphones but also features and easy to use keyboard to reduce the likelihood of you sending incoherent texts by accident.

4. iPhone 7 Plus

If you’re hoping to get you granny or grandpa up to speed with you and your siblings, then an iPhone may be your only option. If this is the case, the iPhone 7 Plus is probably the best model for older people. Whilst it’s not the newest iPhone available, it’s still a good option for seniors, due to its large screen and powerful operating system. It’s also one of the cheaper iPhones available right now, coming in at $450 AUD less than the iPhone X.

5. PowerTel M9500

The PowerTel M9500 is perfect for anyone who is hard of hearing. The model offers users ‘loud and clear’ speakers that are compatible with hearing aids and features ringtone capabilities that are as loud as a train horn. There would be no more missed calls or broken conversations with this device, and it also has a simple-to-use system that even the biggest technophobes could master.

6. Emporia Smart

This smartphone is one of the most unique designs on the list. This smartphone is perfect for anyone that is transitioning from an old-fashioned handset and a smartphone. The device features a touchscreen that can be overlaid with a detachable keypad if needed. This is also perfect for people who are uncomfortable with a touchscreen as it also comes with a stylus and features a simplistic operating system.

7.  Doro Liberto 825

This phone has been made simple for users that are still getting used to how smartphones work. The main benefits of the device are large icons and in-depth tutorials on how to use the phones different features. This device can also be remotely accessed, so if your grandparents are having trouble using the phone, you can give them a hand, even if you’re not around.

8. Samsung Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S8 is one of the more affordable options in the Samsung range and could be a great choice for a senior. The device itself is powerful modern and packed with features, but it also has an easy mode which can help older people to navigate the device. The Galaxy S8 also has some more modern features that senior citizens might enjoy such as a great camera and good storage, perfect for storing 1001 pictures of your grandkids.

9. LG G7 ThinQ

This phone makes the list as it would be great for anyone who suffers from visibility issues. The device features superior brightness capabilities, which means the screen will be clear and visible, whatever the weather. The phone is also modern and easy to navigate, making it a good choice for a smartphone newb. The main drawback with this device is the price, as it costs considerably more than some other devices listed here, but if you have the money and you think the features would be advantageous, it could be worth the investment.

10. Unnecto Air 4.5″ Senior Phone

This phone has been designed specifically for seniors and has a ton of features that older people can really benefit from. The main advantages of this device are its large buttons, one-touch dialing and speed dial for emergency and SOS numbers. Although it runs on a basic system, it still has options to integrate with social media apps like Facebook and Whatsapp, so you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun. The phone also has features that help users to save pictures from different apps on the phone for easy viewing at a later date. In addition to this, if you have a loved one that is more vulnerable, you can also take advantage of the geofencing features, so you are alerted if they are wandering off into places they wouldn’t usually go.

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/10-best-smartphones-for-seniors/

The 4 Wackiest Cell Phones of All Time

Smartphones these days seem to all follow the same basic design format. They have a huge touchscreen that takes up the whole front, a slick minimalist design, a rectangular shape, smooth rounded edges – I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture.

And indeed, it seems that this formula works.

There must be a good reason for this design, as phones like the iPhone X which embody all these features have seen huge success. It may be the case that modern smartphone designs have now reached perfection. Perhaps we’ve simply reached the pinnacle of mobile phone design, and all modern phones have achieved the ideal of exactly what a smartphone should be.

However, it does mean that the current mobile marketplace is a little less colorful. Currently, there’s very little variety when it comes to smartphone design. it’s all gotten rather boring.

But let’s not forget that it wasn’t always like this.

Once upon a time, mobile brands which sought to innovate and stand out in a saturated marketplace frequently ventured into weird and wonderful territories. This led to some mobile phone releases which probably seemed a little weird back then, but now… they seem downright crazy.

So, in the interests of indulging our nostalgia, let’s look back at some of the wackiest cell phones of all time. Get ready for a blast from the past!

1. Siemens Xelibri 6

Remember back in 2003, before the selfie revolution, when people still used compact mirrors to check their appearance rather than their smartphone front-camera?

Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it. Compact mirrors were still very much a thing, so it’s only natural that Siemens thought, “hey, let’s make a smartphone that looks exactly like a compact mirror”. And this, the Xelibri 6 was born.

This phone was totally round, just like a mirror, and of course, had a flip screen. It also had two mirrors inside it so that you could do your makeup and text at the same time. However, it also meant that the keypad was weird and round, and the display was absolutely tiny so that it could be crammed right into the center of what was essentially a mirror.

It seemed more like a mirror and less like a phone, but there’s no denying it was interesting. It was also aimed almost exclusively at women, something which I can’t help but feel might be considered a little sexist now, 15 years later.

2. Nokia 7280

The Nokia 7280 is another fashion-centric design intended to appeal to women. Sticking with the makeup theme, this phone was meant to resemble a stick of lipstick – and it kind of did.

The best description I can give you to help you visualize it is to imagine a USB stick. But not one of those modern, slick, thin USB sticks. No, imagine a chunky, heavy, clunky USB stick. Now stick a tiny screen on one side of it, and a touch-spinner on the other side. You’ve probably got a pretty good image of what this phone looked like.

Just like lipstick, you could slide the end out to reveal the display. It also had some of what were – at the time – cutting-edge features, like FM radio and Bluetooth.

It was weird, it was pretty impractical, but boy was it interesting.

3. BlackBerry Passport

Blackberry’s day may have passed, but let’s not forget that a few years ago it was one of the most popular brands on the market.

Most of us associate Blackberry with models like the Curve. However, a much more interesting creation was the lesser known BlackBerry Passport.

The Passport, true to its namesake, looked a lot like a passport. It was as short and as squat, for sure, and was probably one of the widest, shortest phones of all time. It was somewhere between a square and a rectangle and, as you might expect, was difficult to operate one-handed.

You needed two hands to use it successfully, but it was still pretty difficult on account of its laggy performance and square touchscreen which didn’t run videos very well. However, what it lacked in substance it made up for in style – a certain kind of style at least.

4. Nokia N-Gage

Personally, I’d say the design of this phone was more awesome than it was wacky, but it was so out there that it definitely deserves a place on this list.

The N-Gage was designed to compete with the main handheld game consoles of the moment, such as the Game Boy Advance, and took a lot of inspiration for its design elements from such consoles.

It was wide and meant to be held the same way you’d hold a Game Boy Advance, with two hands. On the left was the multi-directional buttons and the call button, on the right was the keypad and the end call button, and in the middle was the display screen.

Unfortunately, while it might have looked a lot like a game console, it really couldn’t match them for gaming performance, and as such, it had a pretty short lifespan on the mobile market. Still, it was, and still is, an interesting and wacky mobile phone design that deserves our number 4 spot.

What Did We Miss?

We know this list is definitely not exhaustive. There’s plenty more wacky and wonderful mobile phones out there, but we just don’t have the time to cover them all, so we had to pick our favorites.

What wacky mobile phones do you think we missed? Let us know!

Thanks for reading!

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/the-4-wackiest-cell-phones-of-all-time/