article About Why smartphones are stupid? - (all-vga-corner)

Why smartphones are stupid?

The Achilles' heel of smartphone

We have moved quite far since Apple introduced the first iPhone on 29 June 2007.  Our world has become different and we have access to knowledge and information faster.  We feel smarter because we have devices that support our search when we are in doubts.

Our total reliance on smartphone to remember the phone numbers, email address, taking notes, calendar schedules and information searches made our brain lazy.  When our smartphone is dead, we are also brain dead and panicked.

What happen to the battery?

Let's review the generations of iPhone.  We use a simple equation: Battery Index = Standby Time / Capacity of the battery.  The higher the index, the better is the battery as it can last longer with the same amount of capacity.

iPhone	Capacity (mAh)	Standby (hrs)	Battery Index
1G	1400	250	0.18
3G	1150	300	0.26
3GS	1219	300	0.25
4	1420	300	0.21
4S	1432	200	0.14
5	1440	225	0.16
5C	1510	250	0.17
5S	1560	250	0.16
6	1810	250	0.14
6S	1715	240	0.14
6 Plus	2915	384	0.13
6S Plus	2750	384	0.14
SE	1642	240	0.15

From the chart above, we noticed that iPhone 3G has the best efficiency among all the iPhones while iPhone 6 Plus has the worst Battery Index.

Why don't Apple make bigger battery to ensure longer standby time?  Well, newer iPhone are more power efficient with smaller CPU and better components.  Bigger battery means more weight and thicker phones which are undesirable.  To maintain its aesthetic, battery capacity is compromised to keep its weight and thickness down to its minimum.

For Android, manufacturers introduced Fast charge, Pump Express and other speed charging technology to compensate for the small battery capacity.  They assume that you always have a stable power point for charging and force you to carry a charging cable and its charger.

The hidden culprits

Applications grow at an exponential rate with many different angles.  For simple route navigation, we may install different applications and we keep all of them because each has their unique advantages.  We install more applications into smartphone and it runs more applications than yesterday.

If we chose not to install any applications, it defeats the purpose of getting a smartphone (You might as well buy a Nokia 105).  Therefore, we install applications to make us smarter and by installing more applications, we are taxing the battery and further reducing its standby time.

Power banks and chargers become our daily must have accessories and we spent more money on top of the expensive smartphone.  The vicious cycle repeats for a new iPhone with a different charging cable.  Instead of charging the smartphone, you are now forced to charge the battery banks.  We are cornered and act so foolishly with a small capacity battery.

Conclusions

Getting a small capacity smartphone is silly.  Instead of charging a smartphone, you have to charge the power bank as well.  You are forced to bring chargers, cables and power bank wherever you go.  If you fail to comply, you become stupid because the smart element (smartphone) of you is power dead.

Be wise: Get a smartphone with a BIG battery capacity.  The same applies to Android phone.

article About How smart people choose smartphone? - (all-vga-corner)

How smart people choose smartphone?

The problem you face everyday

Smartphone makes you smart because it has many apps to help in your daily life, keep you entertained and provides social networking with your family, friends, classmates and co-workers.  Amex's motto of "Never leave home without it" has found a new meaning.  It should be a smartphone company punchline because we sleep with it too.

In Singapore, you are unlikely to encounter no network data connection.  More likely, its achilles heel is the battery power.  Once your smartphone has no battery power, you become stupid.  You cannot recall the mobile number of your coworker or your friend.  You are literally cut off from this digital social world.  The world is doomed unless you bring a charger or there is a power point nearby.

Have you ever wondered why your smartphone run out of juice within a day?

History of smartphone and its battery capacity

To understand this better, we have to see the evolution of smartphone batteries.

The 3 charts tell us that, over the years, smartphone manufacturers are increasing the capacity of the battery to meet the demand of the power hungry applications.  Despite we have the most power saving processor, memory and optimised board designs, the smartphone cannot cope with the power demand because there is little breakthrough in battery capacity.

When consumers want small, light and cute design, manufacturers provide better graphics, nice curves and 2.5D to meet requests.  However, a small form factor means the smartphone can only house a small battery.  People are impulsive creatures who are tempted to buy on emotion.  They come, they saw, they buy...satisfying their short term lust.  Manufacturers believe they can pacify the consumers by providing them with quick charge or fast charge technology.  The latest Samsung S6, Xiaomi Mi 5 and iPhone 6S Plus are stellar examples of compromising battery capacity for a smaller smartphone.  Apple iOS has a more efficient power design and therefore they never bother to provide more than 3000mAh to the market.  Samsung's and Xiaomi's battery capacity are hovering between 2600mAh and 3000mAh respectively.  Why should they give you more capacity if you are buying more power banks to further boost their sales?

The current culture

A dead smartphone is a dumb smartphone.  If you are so much into design, features and beauty of the smartphones, be wise to choose a smartphone with enough juices to last you for a day, no matter whether you are switching on GPS, bluetooth, mobile data, NFC or Wifi.  These top manufacturers are unlikely to give you more because customers are supposed to suck it up and live by their rules with no questions ask.

Two new China players (Oppo and Vivo) have record sales by selling attractive smartphones beating Lenovo and Huawei in mobile sales in 2015.  Together, these manufacturers are promoting a culture of carrying usb cable, chargers and power banks.  Popular tips are shared on how to save more juice by switching off apps and background widget when they are not in use.  Some even suggested you to root the phones and rid of pre-installed apps thereby voiding their warranty... another win to the manufacturers because they do not need to service their warranty.

The obvious solution

The solution lies in the 3 charts.  While waiting for the battery technology to catch up, buy a smartphone with 4000 to 10000 mAh (depending on your lifestyle) to tide over these 2 years if you are not brand conscious or dying for a new feature (such as the useless 2.5D or double touch technology).  These phones cost S$350 top (without contract) and keep you smart the whole day.  Say goodbye to the power bank and rid yourself the trouble to look for power sockets.

article About The Future of Smartphones - (all-vga-corner)

Current Technologies

We have seen the emergence of iPhone in 2007 till the current smartphones we have in our wallet.  These mobile devices have transformed our lifestyle and habits and it is hard to imagine how we can communicate without them.

Some predicted smartphones will be gone in 5 years from now as Internet of Things (IoTs) are replacing how things are talking to each other smartly.  Who will chart the future of smartphones?  Before these visions become reality, what are the things you wish to have in the immediate tomorrow?

Immediate Promises

1. Charging Issues
   During the era of Nokia, this single company itself cannot make a consistent charging port.  Apple shows the same sign when it introduced an upgraded charging port for iPhone 6. Android has embraced USB3.1 Type C as the next standard to phrase out the older USB 2.0 charging port.  Physical contact promises fast or quick charge which is badly needed by heavy duty smartphones as more and consistent current is delivered.  Contactless charging is emerging but acceptance is slow due to the long charge duration.
2. Longer Battery Life
   Many have come out innovative ideas of how to make battery last longer.  One Oppo phone cheated by placing two batteries inside a phone and claimed "5 minutes charging to talk for 2 hours".  The constraint is a special charger which can only use for this phone.  On a daily basis, applications are main causes for battery draining and the battery itself are purposely made small so it is presented light to the user.  If you uninstall Facebook App, study has found that you can extend battery life by 20%.  If you like your Facebook so much, you should look into higher capacity battery (6000 mAh and above) instead of fanciful features (curve?) of your next smartphone.  Unfortunately, battery technology is stagnant unless we can move beyond Li-on or Li-Polymer without any adverse dangers of explosion and heat.
3. Contactless Payment
   Near Field Communication, HotKnox and Bluetooth are the common transfer techniques used.  They demonstrated the ease of data exchange with reasonable speed.  However, moving forward to financial payment are dragged down by the security concerns.  In fact, having these features on will make stealing of data possible.
4. Fingerprint Recognition
   It is the defacto requirements for 2016 as we are anticipating the loss of our phones via theft or robbery.  Protection of personal data and information become an essential instead of a desired feature.  Swiping and password are too simple means to lock the phone and using biological identity makes unlocking harder.  Premium of S$100 is required from users who are dying for such protection.
5. Ear Piece
   Frankly, connecting a ear piece makes the phone less smart.  With wireless bluetooth, ear piece should be obsoleted long ago.  It will make the phone more resistant to water and weather by hiding the 3.5" audio port.

Future Promises

1. Display Technology
   After you have your 5.5" screen, it is hard to imagine going back to your 3.5".  For the current generation of users, they will have serious health issues with their neck, eyes and fingers due to overtaxing their joints for long hours.  Display technology can improve how we see and use the device ergonomically.  Prototype of projection and paper thin displays are available pending the reduction of mass production costs.  But the essence lies in the time spent in using the phone instead of how we use it.  It is the duration that kill.
2. Connecting to IoTs
   IoT is no longer a futuristic term as many are having smart homes as the ultimate goals. We are using bracelets, rings and watches to monitor our health and movement.  Governments are integrating essential services with IoTs to bring forward the concept of smarter nation.  Beside of challenge of good software, the challenge is to lower the cost of IoTs so that it can be incorporated into daily accessories and devices with wireless security in check.  In fact, some predicted that IoTs will completely replace smartphone as the communication elements in smartphone can be integrated with IoTs to provide a hands-free experience.

The Essential

It is nice to have the latest technologies for future proof.  At the same time, you have to know what do you need most.  More often than not, consumers are blindly following the masses and bought phones which have tons of feature with a limited battery capacity (Remember iPhone 5?).  Will you pay for a $800 wireless charging phone (5 hours charging time) over a budget $200 basic phone (2 hours charging time)?  "Never!", you shouted.  The next day, you fall into the same trap when your friends are all carrying the same flagship product.

article About In-Depth: How to select your dream smartphone within your budget? - (all-vga-corner)

Guide of selection your dream smartphone

Participate in the guide at the end of this page and find out what you really need.  Read on...

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Are Reviews and Recommendations Good?

There are many reviews on how to select a smartphone in various websites and we wonder yself if there is a need to write this post.  Some are keen on getting the latest iPhone 6 plus because it is the latest hip thing to get.  Some are unwilling to pay extra for a better smartphone and let the customer service representative decide for them for a free phone. Many of them have little knowledge of the smartphones they are buying and willing to try something new.  The customer representative at the counter will likely to introduce some smartphone which they have the most stocks or can give them the most commissions.  Because the customers have no clue of what deals they are getting.  All are zero cost smartphones with different brand names.

These customers do not research.  Even if they research for a smartphone, more often than not, these websites are only promoting the latest phones to attract eyeballs and provide limited models of phones which are sold in the region or country.  With the emergence of XiaoMi as the 3rd largest player in the world market, USA and Europe seldom include XiaoMi or other China phones in their reviews due to standard compatibility and phone availability.

On the other hand, blame not the reviews as customers are blindly following the mainstream.  The recent saga in Sim Lim Square of a Vietnamese factory operator willing to spend 4.5 times his monthly salaries to buy a iPhone 6 for his girlfriend proved that people are willing to pay.  We have seen clueless customers being persuaded to get Nokia phones when they sign up for 2 years contract based on counter recommendation on durability.  When complications arise, the losers are always the customers.  So, we hope this guide can provide an unbiased and fair evaluation of your needs and more importantly, within your budget and means.

Hold your horses, cowboy! We shall not insist that you should buy our ideal smartphone simply because your needs are different from ours.  We simply show you the direction of where you should  go.

Be Honest With Yourself

Let's begin with some basic questions and make sure you pen them down for reference later...

1. Do you really need a smartphone? Why? Write your needs down.
2. What is your budget for a smartphone?
3. Do you have an Operating System (OS) in mind?
4. Do you care about the aesthetic of the smartphone? 
5. Do you have a manufacturer or brand in mind?

These questions primarily dictate what your smartphone should be.  For instance in Question (5), if you have already decided to get iOS, you can only choose from Apple phones.  Instead of getting the latest iPhone, you can based on your budget and consider a second hand phone such as iPhone 4S or iPhone 5S which are significantly cheaper than iPhone 6.  No one can stop you from selling both your kidneys to buy iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 but you may have no kidney to sell for iPhone 8 which may launched in 5 years' time.

Know Your Current Plan

Ask yourself:

1. Are you currently on prepaid or postpaid plan?
2. Do you have a bundle program with your carrier (or telco)?

If you are on a bundle postpaid plan, you are likely to enjoy some discounts for all your products and services.  It is better to stick to your current plan so you can continue to enjoy such discounts unless there is better offer from other carrier.

The X Factors

There are many features in the next generation smartphone.  For each feature, there is a price premium to pay because they are unique selling points to every manufacturers.  How about selecting 5 top features which you badly wanted and compare against those phones in the market.  If they met all the top 5 criteria, your next smartphone is confirmed.  Else, you may have to look at the open market or overseas for your dream phone.

Guide of selection your dream smartphone

Participate in the guide below and know more about what you really need in your next smartphone.  Good luck and have fun!