Why You Should Repair Rather Than Replace Your Smartphone

Gadgets don’t last forever, smartphones included. Whether you spill a liquid on it or accidentally drop it from your hand, your smartphone will finally succumb to damage at some point in time. The big question is, “will you choose to fix or replace your gadget when its day of reckoning comes?” Yes, the smartphone world is growing bigger by day due to technological advancement, and if you have seen the sexy and sleek curves of the latest handsets, then you probably understand what this means. But you don’t have to purchase every new device that comes on the market no matter how appealing it may be. Certainly, you have other needs to meet, and saving your cash may just be “smart.”

Unless your phone is due for an upgrade, it’s more advantageous to repair than replace it. The advantages of a smartphone repair include the following:

1. It Is Cheaper to Repair Than Replace

Consider this scenario: you just bought a smartphone that you have been admiring for many years. The handset accidentally falls down after only three months of use. You pick it up, but the screen has sustained a crack. You examine the phone and realize that other features are intact. Yes, the gadget does not appeal to you anymore, but do you have to ditch it and acquire a new one? You don’t have to. Typically, it will cost you more to replace your damaged handset than repair it. The truth of the matter is that no one wants to spend money unless it is necessary. Some smartphone damages are so minor that you don’t have to spend your cash buying a new handset. For instance, a cracked screen can easily be replaced without compromising the quality of your phone.

2. Data Preservation

Your smartphone is as good the data contained in it. Remember, you just don’t want to lose the video that was taken on your wedding day. If you took a photo with Leo Messi, one of the most talented, if not the most talented soccer player to ever kick the ball, you probably understand that some events happen once in a lifetime. Losing such a photo may mean more than you can imagine. And yes, many people may argue that phone data is something that can be recovered, but let us get real here- the recovery is possible if you have the data backup. If you don’t have the backup, then losing your gadget means losing your data. Even if you have a backup, you will still need to spend the better part of your time transferring the data to your new gadget if you chose replacement over repair. But is the transfer worth the time? Time is a scarce resource that should be utilized wisely. It is never recovered once it passes.

3. You Don’t Have to Learn Using Your Repaired Gadget

If you decide to replace your damaged handset with a new one, chances are that you may purchase a different handset. Remember, phone technology is so dynamic that new phones with more improved and admirable features are coming up every day. From a psychological point of view, an unknown stimulus object raises the curiosity of a human being more than a known one, and this is the nature of the human mind. However, a completely new handset comes with some responsibilities. It is not the phone you are used to. Probably, the phone has new features that you have never seen or used before. You will need time to study, understand, and use such features. It is a different story when it comes to repairing your phone. The repair does not come with any new features or functions, meaning that you will continue using your phone as you have always done.

4. Choosing a Good Smartphone Repair Service Provider

Repairing your smartphone can be the best choice for fixing your gadget problems if it is done right. Remember, repairing your handset means entrusting someone else with the gadget that means a lot to you. You just don’t want your phone to spoil any further. But how do you choose the right service provider that suits your needs? To answer this question, there are several qualities you need to look for in a good smartphone repair service provider. They include:

5. Reputation of the Service Provider

When choosing a suitable repair service provider, go to a credible provider with a good reputation. You can establish if the service provider has a good reputation by looking at the comments that people make about his service. If the service provider had a forum where clients post comments, be sure to access such forums. If you know of any person who has had his phone repaired by the service provider you are just about to hire, be sure to ask that person about the service provider.

6. Convenience

Do you have to travel 100 miles just to have your phone repaired? If your smartphone has a problem, you probably need it fixed within the shortest time possible. Go to a repair service provider who is near you. However, you don’t have to compromise the quality of the service because of distance.

7. Price

This is probably the most important factor to consider. Why not purchase a new smartphone if the cost of repair is almost equal to the cost of a new gadget? Some service providers may take advantage of your ignorance and charge you more than it is necessary. You need to be careful here. Compare repair prices from various service providers to ensure you end up with a fair price.

8. Bottom Line

Making a decision to replace or repair your smartphone is understandably not easy. In fact, it is a discussion that seems never to end any time soon. Most smartphones are made of delicate glass fronts. Glass is the preferred material for obvious reasons: it allows for a thinner front assembly and precise use of a touchscreen. These fronts can easily be replaced when they crack. Also, other common smartphone problems, including water damages, can easily be fixed without replacing your entire handset.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/why-you-should-repair-rather-than-replace-your-smartphone/

Is the Galaxy S9 better than the iPhone X?

It’s 2018, and a new Samsung Galaxy phone is almost out. The S9 isn’t a massive improvement over its predecessor, but when its technical specifications are displayed next to those of its closest competitor, the iPhone X, it seems to be the better choice, and with a gentler price tag at that.

When you’re looking to buy a top-tier phone, you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. You want to get the most mileage out of it and make sure that it has the best components available. Apple and Samsung have always been head to head in the smartphone race, but I believe that in this lap, Samsung is taking a clear advantage.

A couple years ago both Apple and Samsung were in trouble. Apple was heavily criticized by its detractors for its decision to remove the headphone jack, a staple of personal electronic devices for decades. Samsung had one of its biggest failures ever when faulty batteries caused some phones to literally explode. In this scenario, Apple stuck to its guns, claiming that the removal of the port was a bold move made in the name of progress, while Samsung had to admit their mistake, apologize for it and correct it.

Apple has now taken a new bold move. They have removed the Home button from the iPhone X, and with it the fingerprint scanner that once gave us access to our phone. No headphone jack and no button on the front sure give the iPhone X a slick, clean look, and yet I can’t help but feel that instead of streamlining the experience, Apple is taking away options from its customers.

Samsung, on the other hand, has not only kept, but enhanced previous features. Accessing by fingerprint is still an option, and the sensor has been placed farther away from the camera lens to avoid mistakes. Facial recognition has been merged with iris recognition to produce a more reliable identification mechanism.

While some may argue over which method, fingerprint or facial recognition, is more secure, in the end, both features can be bypassed with a PIN number. Thus, the issue is not one of security, but of convenience. The differences are subtle, but having to pick up your phone and having to put it in front of your face is a little more effort than just placing the right finger in the right position. You would think that every time you need your phone, you’d be staring right at the screen, but this isn’t always the case. What’s worse, you’re no longer able to register another person for access to your phone, as you could with Touch ID. If your significant other wants to use your phone, they’ll have to use the PIN, and all the convenience of biometric identification goes out the window.

Time will tell if the decisions taken by Apple are revolutionary, or just aimless attempts at innovation by removing features. If the phone itself were superior to its competitors it wouldn’t matter much. But the fact remains that the Galaxy S9 matches most of the iPhone X’s features and exceeds many others.

The S9 boasts an eight-core processor (4×2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 and 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55), where the iPhone X has only six cores running at lower clock speeds (2.39 GHz 2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral). The S9 has 4 GB of Ram, compared to the iPhone’s 3 GB.

With regard to storage space, Samsung offers three different models: 64, 128 and 256 GB internal storage, which can be enhanced with a microSD card up to 400 GB. Apple offers 64 GB and 256 GB models, without any possibility of adding extra storage. Of course, one may say that Apple offers its iCloud service, but that won’t do you any good when you need the space for a few extra apps or games.

The resolution of the screen is higher on the S9, achieving 1440 x 2960 pixels with a 570 ppi density, whereas the iPhone X stays at 1125 x 2436 pixels with 458 ppi density. Both devices have OLED screens, a technology that Samsung has been using since their first Galaxy phone.

Samsung is not without blemish, though. The S9 is a meager improvement upon the previous installment, giving Galaxy users little incentive to upgrade this year. The screen is precisely the same; size, resolution and pixel density remain unchanged. The improvements include a dual camera setup, superior storage space, and a slightly faster processor.

Both the S8 and the S9 are compatible with the Samsung DeX, a device that can turn your smartphone into a workstation. The DeX is a dock that connects to your TV, to give you a desktop environment where you can comfortably work with office suites, modify documents, edit pictures. All with mouse and keyboard support. This addition gives extra importance to the powerful processing capabilities of the S9, as it allows it to rival laptops and even some desktop computers. And it’s not all business. The S9 Mali GPU allows for mobile gaming that can also be transferred to your TV via the DeX.

I can see two kinds of people buying a Galaxy S9. The first are those coming from lower tier experiences, finally getting their hands on a top of the line product. These guys are most likely very familiar with the Android environment and will very seamlessly migrate to Samsung. The second kind are the people coming over from Apple products. For some reason or another, now that the time has come to upgrade their phone, they no longer feel identified with Apple. They might be puzzled by the changes made to the hardware, or are simply tech-oriented and can no longer deny that Samsung is giving them a better deal for their money, at least spec-wise. The change from iOS to Android might be trying for some of them, but they’ll eventually adapt.

Unless you are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, this might be your chance to give Samsung a try.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/is-the-galaxy-s9-better-than-the-iphone-x/

Here Are 10 Things to Consider When Buying a New Smartphone

If you’ve been reading smartphone reviews over the last few years, you might have noticed that some features on one phone outweigh others when it comes to a phone receiving a good review or not. It can be stressful purchasing a new phone, especially with prices going over the $1,000.

Fortunately, you don’t need to spend as much; all you need to know is what you should be looking for as you shop for your next smartphone.

Below is a list of what you should be paying attention to:

Display

Like most people, you will probably be spending hours every day staring at the phone’s screen. Make sure that your purchase is bright enough outdoors and sharp enough to offer you a clear view of texts while surfing.

If you opt for a large screen phone, its resolution should not be anything less than 1920 x 1080 p. You can splurge on a sharper 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution phone for sharper images and texts.

At the same time, consider the phone’s screen size. Make sure that you can reach across it quickly. Take note that larger screens are great for movies, while smaller ones make it easy to handle the phone without dropping it.

IPS or AMOLED Display?

Instead of looking into the technical aspects of each display, the visual features will help you choose what type of smartphone display works best for you. While both have their advantages, each display type also comes with its disadvantages.

OLED, Super AMOLED, and AMOLED smartphones give you brighter colors, and more deep blacks as well as more viewing angles. In some cases, unfortunately, colors may appear over saturated.

On the other hand, IPS displays produce less color saturation than AMOLEDs. However, black levels are not as good, but viewing angles are excellent.

Storage

Many people would instead save money by purchasing cheaper smartphones, but they are usually shipped with little onboard storage space. Choose a phone that offers you at least 64GB storage if you will be downloading movies and music.

Plus, today’s apps are significantly bigger, and your pictures and videos will take lots of space if you are not using cloud backup. Services like Google Photos and Apple Photos allow you to send images to the cloud without storing them on your device. Also, a couple of Android smartphones have microSD card slots that you can use for boosting storage space.

Phone’s Age

Older-model or refurbished smartphones are a big temptation if you want to save a couple of bucks, but there are a few things you need to consider before purchasing such a phone.

If the phone is 2 to 3 years old on the market, the chances are high that it will stop receiving critical software updates and security patches. Moreover, the phone might be incapable of running newer version apps that require more processing and memory power.

However, if you will only be sending texts or checking e-mails, an older or refurbished smartphone will do you right.

Design and Functionality

While choosing a new smartphone, one of the biggest decision makers is personal taste regarding outward appearance and software. While some prefer rounded lines and a flowing design, others prefer a sturdy look with straight lines and sharp edges.

However, each month sees the introduction of smartphones that are increasingly looking alike due to trends and marketing campaigns. However, choose the phone’s design based on its functionality.

For instance, a trendy and stylish metal unibody looks great, but it might prevent you from using functionalities like a removable battery or microSD card. Before purchasing, make sure you check on the device’s quality to be sure that you can use it comfortably and conveniently.

Battery Power

Before purchasing any smartphone, make sure that you’ve read reviews or talked to people who already own the particular model you want. Obviously, you want a phone that will last a full day.

One of the biggest complaints from smartphone owners is that they have what they call “always dead” phones. If you count yourself as been among these phone owners, its time you consider purchasing a phone fitted with fast charging capabilities.

In addition, many Android phones have special chargers that can juice up the battery to half charge in a few minutes. iPhone owners should consider purchasing an iPad charger for better charging performance.

Camera

If family and friends photos are your passion, you need a phone that’s fitted with a good quality camera. Phones within the expensive range – iPhone X and Galaxy S9 – are capable of taking great photos in low light situations without the flash. In most cases, budget phones will not offer you such great pictures; so, consider paying a bit more if photos are important to you.

Manufacturer Reputation

If possible, spend some time researching a bit more about the company behind the phone. Some safe bets include names like Samsung, Apple, and LG. A few other companies have come under fire for numerous reasons including sending of private user data to third parties.

Know When to Buy

It’s tempting to purchase a smartphone as soon as it’s released to the market; however, be patient. For starters, you will likely pay a high price, and while you will end up with a new shiny phone, your wallet will frown.

It is best if you could wait a couple of months and watch out for phones that do not sell well. Such phones will eventually drop prices by almost 50% in a couple of months.

Your Current Smartphone

If you have been using smartphones, the chances are that it’s either an Android or iPhone phone. The market is mostly (90%) served by Apple and Google operating systems, and these companies are working hard to ensure you stay with them.

If you have used a particular platform for several years, you might have purchased movies, TV shows, and music that’s inaccessible if you decide to change platforms. For instance, a diehard Apple fan with hundreds of Apple Music and iTunes movies is better off purchasing an Apple phone. If you are not tied to a particular smartphone operating system, you can always buy a phone based on the most value and innovation.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/here-are-10-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-new-smartphone/

Smartphones of the Future: What Revolutionary Features to Expect

Smartphones are nearly ubiquitous, as even the most budget-conscious shopper can likely find a smartphone at an acceptable price. Even though most smartphone changes seem incremental, there have been major breakthroughs, and there are good reasons to think they’re going to advance dramatically in the coming years. Here are some of the ways smartphones are likely to change our lives in the future.

Computer Replacements

Even older laptops and desktops are perfectly adequate for most needs. Aside from gaming and a few processor-intensive tasks, even the lowest-cost budget laptop will likely function adequately for browsing the web and performing work-related tasks. Smartphones, in general, don’t yet have quite the same performance capabilities, but it’s only a matter of time before they catch up.

Instead of having a separate smartphone and laptop, why not use a laptop shell with a keyboard and touchpad and plug your phone in? When working at home, why not simply place your phone in a dock and use it with a connected keyboard and mouse? As demand for smartphones continues to rise and demand for laptops and desktops falls, smartphones might become the most popular means of performing traditional computing tasks.

Virtual Reality Devices

Smartphones are already being used as virtual reality and augmented reality devices. However, more powerful standalone devices, which are typically paired with a powerful computer, offer far more features. This will change as virtual reality works its way into the mainstream.

Because smartphones have an integrated screen, adapting them to virtual reality tasks is fairly straightforward. Furthermore, accelerometers and other sensors are already found in nearly all smartphones, so manufacturers have ample experience using them. Mobile graphics chips have improved dramatically over the years, and it won’t be long before they can match or exceed those in today’s most popular standalone virtual reality devices. Being able to run virtual reality programming regardless of your location is a major boon to smartphones virtual reality, and it’s likely to make them the standard virtual reality devices in the future.

Streaming Devices

Many people use standalone devices for streaming media to their televisions. However, smart televisions will make it easier to connect smartphones, especially Android devices, to their televisions, rendering these streaming devices all but obsolete for most users. Furthermore, wireless video streaming capabilities will provide even more flexibility, making it easier to mirror content from smartphones to televisions. When paired with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, television screens and smart devices might replace more traditional computers and make it easier to perform computing tasks while in hotels and at other locations.

Furthermore, smartphones will increasingly be used as remote controls for various devices. The sensors in them mean they work as motion controllers for a wide range of games, and their touchscreens can adapt to various standalone devices. Instead of having to search the couch cushions for lost remotes, users will be able to simply pull out their smart devices.

Home Automation Tools

Slowly but surely, home automation is becoming popular. Already, various companies offer smart doorbells, which allow homeowners to see who is at their front door by looking at their smartphone screens. Microphones in phones allow two-way communication, and mobile connectivity lets homeowners lock and unlock their doors regardless of location.

In-home cameras have dropped in price significantly, and more and more homes are now monitored using an array of cameras. In the past, the only way to view this data was to watch it live on a television screen or review recorded tape. With smartphones, this data can be sent live, and the ubiquity of mobile connectivity means users will always have access to their home cameras. For those with children at home, these cameras will provide more comfort. Furthermore, law enforcement agents can be forwarded information about potential problems, increasingly the likelihood of criminals being caught and, perhaps, making criminals less likely to target homes in general.

Instant Projectors

Micoprojectors and picoprojectors have gained a considerable amount of attention over the years. However, they’re still standalone devices, and they still offer somewhat limited functionality. This will inevitably change as components become smaller over time. Projectors allow users to set up a large screen nearly anywhere, and they let users bring their content with them while traveling. If the lights in these phones become bright enough, they might even replace typical television screens for most people.

Furthermore, white projector screens available for use by the public might replace televisions and monitors. If all passengers have a device capable of projecting a bright image while in flight, for example, airliners might offer small screens for passengers to use. Hotel rooms can provide pull-down projector screens that allow users to enjoy media on a large screen.

Professional-Quality Photography, Video, and Audio

It’s remarkable how much smartphone photography has improved over the years. Despite the small size of the lenses they use, high-end smartphones can create photographs that even experts have trouble differentiation form professional-grade photography. With dual lenses becoming standard recently, it’s clear that manufacturers are still experimenting and will continue investing in new technology.

These lenses also translate to better video quality, and devices can record at 60 or even 120 frames per second. Furthermore, some films have already been shot exclusively on smart devices, and audiences sometimes struggle to see the difference in quality. Digital video has already made filming content more accessible, and this trend will likely continue going forward. Audio recordings will improve as well, and the act of purchasing a separate microphone for podcasting or recording music might eventually become a thing of the past.

Smartphone adoption has exceeded nearly all expectations, and they’ve proven tremendously popular even in some of the world’s poorest regions. While we can continue expecting incremental upgrades over time, users can also expect to see truly revolutionary changes as technology improves. Furthermore, users shouldn’t expect to pay a premium for these features once they’ve become established.

Even today’s lowest-cost smartphones can do far more than flagship devices from only a few years ago, and those shopping on a budget should expect to have access to revolutionary features only a few years after they become available on the most expensive devices. Visit our Telstra store in Melbourne to learn more about the latest and greatest features available on most available smartphone models today.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/smartphones-of-the-future-what-revolutionary-features-to-expect/

Most Common Causes of Phone Problems

For as much as we use our smartphones, it’s amazing they don’t break more often. Nevertheless, most people will eventually need to have a phone repaired or replaced. Although there are plenty of edge cases, most phone problems fall into a small group of categories. Here are some common issues and steps you can take to deal with them.

Cracked Screen

Smartphone screens have become incredibly rugged over the years, and dropped phones are far less likely to have cracked screens than in the past. However, dropping a phone at certain angles and above certain heights can still damage even the toughest of screens. If the touch sensors in the screen continue to work, phones with cracked screens can often still function adequately. However, cracks also spread over time and can lead to further cracking in the future. In addition, a cracked screen can cause your phone to flex if put under pressure, leading to more problems.

Fortunately, nearly all popular phone manufacturers sell replacement screens, and they aren’t as expensive as many people imagine. Furthermore, repair technicians have extensive experience replacing screens, so you can expect good service when receiving a replacement.

Battery Problems

Battery technology has improved significantly over the years, and most people can make it through their day without having to track down a charger. Unfortunately, the nature of batteries means they degrade over time, and it’s common for batteries to drop below adequate levels. Furthermore, a certain percentage of batteries will have manufacturing flaws, causing them to degrade prematurely.

One feature to look for when buying a phone is user-replaceable batteries, which many Android manufacturers offer. However, Apple and other companies install batteries in such a way that users can’t replace them on their own. If your battery can’t be swapped out easily and you aren’t looking for a new phone, repair technicians can replace them. Again, most manufacturers provide replacement batteries, so experts will be able to track a replacement down should you need one.

Water Damage

Even phones that aren’t advertised as water-resistant can typically handle rain or brief immersion in water. However, water will eventually seep into the phone and cause problems. Furthermore, water-resistant phones are only designed to handle immersion for a certain period of time and at a certain depth, and small cracks or other problems can render their water-resistance useless. Often, phones with water inside will simply shut off and refuse to turn on again.

Fortunately, phones will often spring back to life after they’ve been allowed to dry thoroughly. The exception to this is salt water, as any salt that remains can cause irreparable damage to parts of your phone. Note that storing your phone with dried rice is a myth, as it isn’t believed to dry your phone any faster. Furthermore, small particles of rice can enter your phone and cause further problems. If your phone has fully dried and still won’t turn on, an expert may be able to repair damaged parts.

Slow Performance

At first, new phones generally seem fast. Over time, however, performance can drop, leading to a frustrating experience. Often, the cause of the slowdown is the RAM becoming full. Take a look at your apps and try to uninstall some of them. Often, apps run in the background even when they aren’t in use, leading to a constant slowdown. In some cases, simply restarting your phone can have it running better. If all else fails, performing a factory reset on your phone and reinstalling your apps might restore its performance.

Unfortunately, manufacturers often provide updates to phones and place less of a priority on older devices. After all, updates that slow down a phone might lead the user to seek out an upgrade. If your phone’s operating system becomes slow due to updates, there’s often little that can be done.

Bad Connectors

People typically plug in their phone’s chargers about once a day. Although USB and other technologies provide a robust connection, mechanical wear can eventually lead connectors to wear down and eventually break. This is often a fairly slow process; you might have to wiggle the cable to get it to connect, for example. This can occur in other parts of your phone as well, including headphone jacks and ports for connecting SD cards and other devices.

While some connectors are relatively simple to swap out, others aren’t. Furthermore, such replacements typically require expertise with specific phone models. If your connector is degrading or has failed, make sure to seek out expert help to get your phone back up and running properly.

Bluetooth Failure

Being able to pair a phone with a speaker or headphones can be wonderful, and Bluetooth can also be used to transfer data to and from your phone. When pairing fails, however, your phone can be a source of frustration. Test out your Bluetooth peripherals on other devices to ensure they work properly. In addition, try pairing your phone in another location, as interference can be difficult to detect but lead to failures.

The Bluetooth radio in your phone is typically on the same chip as your WiFi radio, so if one fails, the other often fails as well. Unfortunately, it’s typically difficult or impossible to replace a broken chip on most phones. Still, talk with experts if you’re having Bluetooth or WiFi issues before paying for a new phone.

Although phones keep improving at a steady pace, people are using their phones for longer periods of time, as even older phones are more than adequate for most people. With this extra use, however, comes additional wear and the increasing likelihood of parts of the phone failing. While repairs aren’t always possible, phone technicians now have extensive experience handling a wide range of mobile phone repairs, and you might be surprised at how many problems experts can handle. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that some problems can be expensive to fix. If you’re planning on purchasing a new phone at some point in the future, it might be worth using the money you would otherwise spend on repair work toward the cost of a new device.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/most-common-causes-of-phone-problems/

10 Amazing Things To Know About Android Oreo

Android lovers can always expect something different from successive releases of the operating system. To whet their appetites, the name given to each release, if nothing else, is typically mouthwatering. Tasty from the beginning, Android users have enjoyed nice ‘bytes’ of Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich even to its latest iteration, Oreo. While there have been many versions in between, rapid improvements are indeed a staple of the Android OS. Today, Oreo is the latest kid on the block and users have every cause to be excited about its features.

Of course, Android fans are no dinosaurs, yet they seem quite hesitant about migrating to the latest version on the device. This trend is already evident in the January 2018 developer statistics which indicate that just about 0.7% of Android devices are on Oreo. Putting this in perspective is a complementary statistic showing that Nougat (the version just before Oreo) has a total share of 26.3%. Sounds good, but it still falls short of the 28.6% market share occupied by Marshmallow, the version before the Nougat. Industry watchers readily opine that Android’s fragmentation is the chief cause of these disparate statistics.

Oreo is still rocking the Android airwaves with scintillating features that should arouse the interest of any smart-phone lover. Imagine being able to use apps without installing them….if you ever wanted that, expect Google to make it happen pretty soon with its Instant Apps. Here are just a few features of the Android Oreo.

Power Savings

This has got to be one of, if not the most, important feature of Oreo. Why? Power ranks as one of the most raised complaints about smartphones (Android is not exempt!). However, the geeks responsible for developing Oreo have taken that into consideration in this version. By placing automatic limits on the activities of background apps, the developers took out the gremlins responsible for draining battery juice. Activities affected include implicit broadcasts, background services, and location updates. This version even lets users see if an app only consumes battery power while in use or through background activities. So, for users still shy about biting into Oreo, this is certainly a compelling reason to go for it.

Wi-Fi Aware

This feature is also tagged Neighbour Awareness Networking (NAN). When devices with compatible hardware are within close proximity, this function allows them to communicate efficiently and effectively. The amazing thing about this feature is it does not necessarily rely on internet connection. Collaboration is obviously one of Google’s key thrusts with the Android O.

Rescue Party

Anyone who has experienced bootloop will testify to its deeply frustrating effect on the user. Resolving bootloop is typically a headache and serious pain, but again, Android O developers have come to the rescue with Rescue Party. It is configured to ensure recovery once the OS detects repeated app crashes. If recovery fails, the OS will boot into Recovery Mode and give the user an option to carry out a factory reset. There is no specific hardware required for this function to operate. The only thing is, it works with phones running Oreo.

Adaptive Icons

The app icons in Oreo have been designed to automatically adapt to the User Interface (UI) of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). While the icons have typically appeared different in conformity with the brand and manufacturer’s skin, Oreo now provides the opportunity to for a standard format for adapting icons across the board.

Notification Channels and Dots

This is yet another change that is available in Oreo as an innovation from Google. Named Notification Channels and Dots: this feature provides users with the new categories for notifications as well as control over the notifications too. Users can now use channel or even topic to block notifications. In summary, there is more power in the hands of the user to control the use of the smartphone.

Easy Widget Integration

Integrating widgets into the smartphone home screen just got easier with Oreo. While previous versions only permitted the user to trawl through an alphabetical list of widgets to make a selection, Oreo makes it swifter and hassle-free. Simply press the desired app icon and select one of the available widgets from the options provided. As previously mentioned, Oreo makes life simpler and easier for the user.

Picture-in-picture

Ok, there would have been times when users wondered if they could have a feature similar to a split screen. Only, it should not interfere with the working app. So, Oreo has the Picture-in-picture function that allows users to view a video, for example, in a small window unobtrusively. It is expected that several apps will support this function very soon with Duo, YouTube, Netflix and Maps among those on the list.

Animated Clock Icon

Developers noticed in the Android Oreo Beta version of the OS that Google was apparently going to add an animation function to its Google Clock icon. According to the developers, the icon will be able to display current hour, minute and second. This may be new to Android but not to iOS. So, it may be concluded that Android is not prepared to allow iOS continue having a field day with that feature. Perhaps, the thinking is to stop Android lovers from looking with envy at the iOS animated clock icon.

Enhanced Audio Performance 

Users can also get ready to enjoy a better audio experience with the native support that Oreo provides for Sony’s Hi-Res Bluetooth audio codec, also known as LDAC. There is obviously a lot of tweaking going on with the bitrate for audio. Given the degree of adjustment and options for sound improvement, the future of sound for Android may be revealed quite evidently in Oreo.

New and Novel Emoji

Did the Google developers consider the rounded shape of Oreo cookies in changing the traditional shape of Android emojis? Perhaps but more importantly, there are so many options to choose from. Looking for star-struck shaped, giraffe, wizard, or even fairy emojis, among many others–Android O apears to have users covered. Stop by our Samsung Melbourne shop to learn more about the different phones on the market and to compare features.

 

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source https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/10-amazing-things-to-know-about-android-oreo/