Monday, December 29, 2014

Best Android Apps for Small Business Owners on the Go

Coffee shops, hotel rooms, planes, cars and trains have become common workplaces for business owners who need to travel. But since your cutting-edge VoIP phone system has to stay at the office, what can you do then? How can you get the most of out of your smartphone? Fortunately, you can stay in touch with your clients and monitor your employees (as well as keep up with the endless number of tasks you need to compete), even if you’re on the go.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Asus Zenfone 5 Specification and review

A brilliant innovation that hit the markets last July was the ASUS Zenfone series. Although it’s a little late to review the product I only got a chance at a recent meet, to explore the brilliance of this technology. The Zenfone 5 body has an amazing feel, equipped with an interchangeable back casing.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 Vs. iPhone 6: Which One Should You Buy?

Samsung Galaxy S5 Vs. iPhone 6: Which One Should You Buy?

First World Problems: I want a new mobile for Christmas but there are too many options. Yeah, I know. I have 600 bucks to spare and I’m still whining. The thing is I’m not alone. I struggled a lot when I helped my boss to choose a phone system for the office, but I got help from these expert providers in the end. They were neutral, they were helpful. That’s not the case when buying a new mobile.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Is The Heart Rate Sensor On The Galaxy S5 Really Useful?

With the unveiling of the Galaxy S5, Samsung boasts that it is the world’s first smartphone with a dedicated heart rate sensor. While there is no assurance on the accuracy of the reading, this feature is simple to use and a useful tool when it comes to keeping track of your pulse during an intense workout session.

How It Works

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The Instant Heart Monitor is a simple and user friendly tool. All you have to do is select the heart-rate monitor icon that is built into the S5’s newly improved S Health 3.0 app. Many users would assume that the bump right below the camera lens is a flash. However, it is a sensor that helps you track down your fitness activities and plan out your workouts accordingly. Just place your index finger on the center of the flash module and get started. The sensor counts the changes in blood flow present in the tip of your finger and then calculates the overall beats per minute. It usually counts for around 15-30 seconds and then does a simple calculation to give you the desired results. Once the data is captured, the heart rate is added to a graph. This helps you plot your heart rate over a period of time and can then be viewed at a later stage in time.

Become Your Own Personal Trainer

The heart rate sensor is integrated into the S Health app that uses it to coach you on your workout regime. It is also compatible with the Galaxy Gear 2, Galaxy Gear 2 Neo and Galaxy Gear Fit. This is highly useful as you can monitor your activity without even having to remove your Samsung Galaxy S5 from your pocket. The same feature has been added to the new Gear smartwatches and the Gear fitness brand. All these accessories work by beaming a light through your skin. This furthermore detects the change in color every time blood rushes past the nanoscale camera. Samsung S5’s heart rate sensor is perfect for monitoring the rate of your pulse during a workout and also seeing the quickness of recovery. However, the heart rate sensor in the Gear range products has an extra use. Since they are strapped to your skin constantly, your heart rate can be monitored at real time. This definitely lets you become your own personal fitness trainer, and in turn, motivates you to either push harder or slow down depending on your heart rate situation.

Not The First, But Not The Worst

While Samsung has boasted that the S5 is the first of its kind smartphone with a built-in heart rate sensor, there are many apps in the Google Play store that are similar in function. The Instant Heart Rate is one such third-party app that can be downloaded onto your smartphone for a small fee. However, this app and others are at times unpredictable and slower compared to Samsung’s built-in solution. You have to be completely still for Instant Heart Rate to work. The only downfall the S5’s heart rate sensor has is that there doesn’t seem to be a way to interact with the app regarding your activities. The Samsung Galaxy S5 allows for a faster and cleaner capture of your heart rate, and allows you to do more in the long run.

Revolutionize Your Workouts

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While the S5 has it’s disadvantages with the heart rate sensor, it can revolutionize the way you workout. When used with the Gear smartwatches or the Gear Fit, the advantages and practicality are abundant. The fact that you can check your heart rate on a constant basis, even while you are exercising, makes the feature far more useful. Along with the S Health 3.0 acting as your personal trainer, this heart rate sensor will definitely keep you on your toes and motivated to make the most out of your workouts.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

When will 4G networks become mainstream in India?

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It has been quite some time since the 3G services were rolled out in India. But it has still not managed to really capture the market. Despite being faster and more reliable than 2G, the high cost of 3G-enabled devices and data plans, have kept people from patronizing it.

However, nothing in this world is constant and change is inevitable. Especially when it comes to technology, things move really fast. Before 3G could even make inroads, 4G, the next generation of wireless networking is here. The fourth generation seems to have become the new preferred choice of cellular operators, and it might soon become mainstream. In fact, Airtel has already started to roll out 4G services in India.

The silver lining is that it’s being offered at the same price as 3G. However, it’s only available in Bangalore so far. To add to the woes, it can only be used on the iPhone 5S and 5C, being the only devices that support the 2300MHz band on which the service is being offered in India.

Other operators are expected to follow suit and may start the 4G rollout soon. Moreover, the devices supporting 4G will definitely increase. That would eventually lead to increased potential for 4G in the near future and will help 4G become mainstream. Let’s explore the reasons why and when 4G networks will gain more popularity.

Availability of existing infrastructure

Experts believe that unlike 3G, 4G can be built over the existing 3G infrastructure, and the operators don’t have to invest in fresh infrastructure for 4G and spectrum. Besides 4G can integrate with the 2G and other existing technologies seamlessly.

It’s pretty obvious that 4G will offer higher data speeds than 3G and will make life easier for people who need higher bandwidth and streaming. Besides the retail customers, 4G will also be a boon for businesses that are highly dependent on the internet. In fact, the e-commerce businesses are the ones who would benefit the most from 4G being rolled out on a large scale. It can create a large customer-base by offering seamless services across multiple platforms to small and medium enterprises.

More profitability may get the carriers to roll-out soon

As already discussed, it is cheaper to invest in 4G infrastructure than 3G, and it could build on the already existing infrastructure. It would be cheaper than 3G, and would be easier for the telecom operators to recover their fixed investment and reach break-even. The telecom companies in India have always been complaining of very tight profit margins. This could be a blessing in disguise for them. They may offer the basic services at a cheaper price to the individuals or retail customers, and charge a premium from the businesses that would be ready and willing to do so for consistent and advanced data services.

3G Vs. 4G

India is still in its early days with respect to 4G, and it would take a while before 4G could offer some serious competition to 3G. The telecom companies have invested heavily in 3G infrastructure and spectrum during the recent years, and would like to recover their costs before they could move on to 4G. It also depends largely on how the consumers and end-users receive this new technology. The recently launched 4G services by Airtel should give a good idea to other operators about the target audience. If people develop a liking for the same, it may encourage Airtel to roll out the services in more circles, and the other telecoms may follow suit.

Some people also feel that 3G and 4G will complement each other and work side by side, as both have different strengths and weaknesses. For the time being, 3G is going strong and is not ready to yield an inch. Despite all the fuss, we cannot predict with certainty about 4G networks becoming mainstream. We can only have a proper idea once the 4G roll-out starts in all the circles in India. As of now, it is uncertain what the future has in store for 4G networks in India.