What You Need To Know Before Buying A Smartphone

This is a guest post compiled by +Dahunsi Quadri wale  for OgbongeBlog

Buying a new product is always a difficult task regardless of what the product is. Today, I will be discussing the necessary things you need to know before buying any smartphone.



Smartphone is most personal, useful and most used device in our lives. Unlike our laptop that we can't take anywhere with us, smartphone as a mobile device helps with lot of works like instant messaging, browsing the net on the go, sending email easily, taking and sending picture with just a click and the list continue.





Choosing a mobile device that suit your need isn't an easy task because with multiple operating systems, screen sizes and different brand all screaming for your attention, choosing the right one can be difficult but it doesn't have to, that is why you need to know the following factors before buying any smartphone.

1. Mobile Operating System

Choosing an operating system is the most important decision you make when it comes to buying your smartphone. There are many os platform but only 4 of the list dominate smartphone platforms on the market today, Google’s Android, the Apple’s iOS, Blackberry OS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.



==> Android OS : This Google’s OS is now the most popular smartphone platform compared to its close competitor iOS and the rest, with many popular manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, LG, Techno producing smartphone with this OS platform.



Android is more open than iOS, is user friendly so flexible and customizable which means smartphone makers can more easily innovate on top of Google’s software. Android have a lot of apps in their playstore, almost more than a million app which have what you need.



==>  iOS ( iPhone, iPod & iPad ) ; This Apple's OS is much of complexity but more secured than Android and others. It has improved multitasking and a control Center for quickly changing settings. Apple store have the best selection of high-quality apps and games though Android is narrowing the gap. You can't transfer files via bluetooth etc from a non-iOS powered device to an iOS powered device.



==> Blackberry OS : BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system developed by BlackBerry Ltd for its BlackBerry line of smartphone handheld devices. The operating system provides multitasking and is perhaps best known for its native support for corporate email. BlackBerry OS was discontinued after the release of BlackBerry 10.



The new Blackberry 10 support Android apps, allowing you to enjouy Android apps on a Blackberry phone. With a Blackberry smartphone, you can be rest assured that you won't be spending much on data compared to others.



==> Windows Phone OS : Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform debuted a few years later after iOS and Android, though the competition has been so tough and is not as popular as it's Android and iOS competitor, but it has being growing steady. This OS offers many necessary features such as multitasking, quick app resume, and orientation lock, but it's still missing things and like that of iOS, it is not that very customizable as Android.



You can check out the full comparison of mobile operating systems here.



Now the choice is yours to choose which OS platform to go for.

2.  SIZE AND DESIGN 

Some dudes prefer large phone while some like a portable one that will fit in their pocket, this depends on your choice and what you want to use it for, there are varieties of size with different design out there.



Many smartphones, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5s for example are 4.5 inch tall or less, and 2.5 inch wide or less, but if you would prefer watching movies, playing games and other in a larger screen , you can go for a tablet or other mobile devices of 5 inches and above. Samsung galaxy note 3 is an example of a larger screen smartphone with 5.7 inch.

3. HARDWARE  

You need to know that not every smartphone running in the same Operating system will have the same specs or hardware, note these bellow factors and put them into consideration before buying any smartphone.



* RAM : Believe me, the amount of system memory plays a significant role in how well a smartphone performs. Most of manufacturer offer 2GB - 3GB of RAM to most of their smartphone, and some settle for a lower ram of 1 GB - 1.5 GB.  Have it in mind that if you want to load applications from memory faster and switch between them faster, more RAM is better.



* Storage : Since you have to store all your photos, music, videos and apps on your smartphone, going for a much internal memory will be advisable. 16GB of storage is common among many smartphone but now many new smartphone are coming with a 32GB of storage so that you can have enough room to store your data. The 32GB iPhone 5s for example costs $299. But you can also find some cheaper options with that much space, such as the HTC One; it starts at $199 for 32GB.



Also have it in mind that there are smartphone with expandable storage that has a microSD card slot, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Techno Android and others.



* Processor : A phone’s processor is the heart of the device, and a fast one will enable you to open apps quickly, play games smoothly. It determines how fast a phone can multitask—that is, how quickly it can run multiple functions or features at the same time. eg “Dual-core” means two processors instead of one.



* Camera : Don't be freak with the megapixels, the quality of both the sensor and the images is more important. iOS offer most of the best camera experience you can get on a smartphone, many other also offer a high quality camera but the truth is that not all smartphone of same OS have the same camera quality.

4.  Connectivity

You have to know that not all smartphones give you all you need to connect your phone to external devices.



For example, some phones don't support internet sharing via hotspot. You will agree with me that it will make alot of sense if you buy a smartphone with a built-in Mobile Hotspot feature, allowing you to create an Internet connection for up to five wiFi-supported devices with just your smartphone, thereby saving you the stress of subscribing to internet on all your gadgets.



More so, some smartphones have features that will allow you to connect your device to large screens eg a SmartTV via hdmi cable or WiFi. You can also consider this when buying your next smartphone.



And lastly,

5. Battery Life

This is a vital part that need to be put into consideration, most especially in Nigeria here where we don't enjoy a stable electricity. so you have to take a good look at the battery capacity before buying any smartphone.



Conclusion



The variety of quality smartphones can be intimidating, but the best phone is the one that really suits your needs.



What's your take on this?

This post was written by +Dahunsi Quadri wale  aka Dawatech .He is a Computer & Mobile tech Blogger at http://www.techlug.com .  You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Read More

BragnVent Lets You Boast, Complain and Share Photos Anonymously Online

As Nigerians we love to boast (how successful we are)  and complain (how bad everyone else is). Sometimes we cannot do it because we can get fired, it is a social taboo or it is politically incorrect. Guess what? You can now do it anonymously on Bragnvent App.





Brag n Vent is an anonymous social network to get anything off your chest and learn what others are thinking. The app will simply allow you to brag ( say something in a boastful manner) and vent (give free expression to a strong emotion) without disclosing your identity.



You can use it to discover like minded souls as it allows users to browse popular brags and vents, or search tags that interests them. You can also use it to upload and share photos online anonymously, thereby also serving as an anonymous photo sharing app.



Your brags and vents don't last forever, they will be deleted after 10 days.

BragnVent app

Features of BragnVent App

• Share your emotion anonymously


• Browse popular brags and vents


• Search tags that interests you


• Like and comment to your heart's content


• Brags and vents only last 10 days.

Where Can I Download BragnVent?

The app is currently available for iOS and Android devices. Hence, you can download it from the iTunes app store and the Google Play store. If you are using a Blackberry 10 phone, you can download and install the bragnvent apk file.

Go to www.bragnvent.com to download the mobile application now.

What's your take on this app?

Read More

Want To Know What The Government Is Doing For You? Use This App

The amazing Forward Nigeria mobile app is now available for download. This new mobile app is the first of its kind in Nigeria and has a number of exciting features.





Receive development, policy, and project updates via push notifications, watch videos, upload content, and take part in interactive surveys and a host of other things all with the Forward Nigeria app which deploys cutting edge technology and has exciting features.

Some of the Features of this app include:

• News Feed: Stay abreast of happenings about the Government and its efforts to move Nigeria Forward.


• Photos and videos:  View the latest photos and videos.


• Camera Upload: Share you photos showing how Nigeria is progressing for a chance to have them featured in the app.


• Augmented Reality: Watch a video come to life simply by pointing your mobile device at any of our posters.


• Surveys: Share your views through interactive surveys.

Forward Nigeria App Download Links



The app is available as free download at Google Play store, iTunes app store. Also available as web app for Blackberry devices. Below are the download links: 

• APPLE DEVICES: http://forwardnigeria.ng/ios


• ANDROID DEVICES: http://forwardnigeria.ng/android


• BLACKBERRY DEVICES (Web App): http://forwardnigeria.ng/blackberry
   

Read More

WalkiePrep : Nigerian app For JAMB, UTME, WAEC. NECO Questions and Answers

If you are a Nigerian student preparing to sit for JAMB UTME, WAEC, NECO, Post-UTME, NABTEB and other related examinations, I recommend you download WalkiePrep app now and start using it to prepare for your exam.

WalkiePrep is a preparatory mobile study application as well as a stand-alone tutor that lets students study on the go without the need of internet bandwidth (MB). The app is packed with thousands of questions & full solutions and contains all major subjects with diagrams & graphs. The app features a walkie classroom, walkie exam hall and I.Q test game.

Walkie Classroom lets you practice by selecting a subject and year. Each subject year contains 50 questions. To every question, there are 5 answer options out of which only one is correct. You are expected to solve the question before choosing an option. There is a solution button which gives the correct answer and detailed explanation where necessary.



Walkie Exam room is where you will be timed to answer 20 questions from English and 30 questions drawn, 10 each from 3 other subjects chosen by you. The timer is displayed by the left hand side of the screen. You can skip questions to come back to them later if you find them too hard to answer so as not to waste time on them.  After the exam, your result will be displayed for you as well as the explanation to wrongly answered questions.



The Walkie IQ test (Game) section tests how smart you are, how fast you can think and how broad your knowledge is. You score 10 marks if you answer a question correctly and -10 for wrong answers. Tongue Out" smiley will be displayed for wrong answers while you will see a "thumbs up" smiley and hear some applause sound when you answer a question correctly.



WalkiePrep is free to download and use but comes with some restrictions. You have access to 5 questions in the "classroom" until you activate the app. In addition to that, you can only access 20 questions at the "Exam hall" for free unless you activate the app.



To activate the WalkiePrep app, you will have to enter your phone number and activation code. The instruction on how to get the activation code will be displayed to you when using the app and you can also see the instruction on the developer's site.



WalkiePrep app is available as free download for Android and Blackberry OS here.



Kindly share this with your loved ones.



Fantastic...?? Please, let me hear from you via comments.

Read More

BBM for iPhone Download Link

Blackberry has finally rolled out BBM to iOS users. The Blackberry Messenger for iPhone app is already available for download in the App Stores for New Zealand and Australia as at the time of publishing this post. It works with iPhones powered by iOS 6 or later.





Even though BBM Video, BBM voice and BBM Channels have not been included in this version of BlackBerry Messenger, the Canadian company confirmed these features will be available soon via update. Users are encouraged to sign up for updates at www.bbm.com.



With BBM for iPhone, you will get a unique PIN that maintains your privacy, so you don’t have to give out your phone number or email address to a new or casual contact. You will be able to send and receive messages in seconds with up to 2000 characters, and know when messages are delivered and read.



Users of BBM for iOS will also be able to share photos, videos, voice notes and files up to 6 MB, and show others what they are listening to on their smartphone. They will also be able to create groups as well as broadcast a message to multiple BBM contacts at one time.

Where Can I Download BBM for iPhone?

You can get download BBM for iPhone at Appstore here.



NOTE: If it is not yet available in your local App store, you will have to create a new Apple ID using "New Zealand" as your country if you want to download it from the link above. A trick found at sofpedia suggests you choose None in the "Credit Card" window and add in Jacksonville under "Subburb" and 6004 as "Postal Code" when filling the billing address.



I hope it works for you.

Read More

Download Viber : Make Free Calls and Send Free Messages WorldWide

With Viber app for PC and phones, you can now make free local and international VoIP calls to other viber users  over 3G/4G or WiFi connections. Users can also send free text messages, photo messages, video messages and exchange stickers, emoticons with other users.



The app also supports doodling on photos,
letting you draw or paint over photos or on a blank page before sending
them to friends.

How Does Viber Work?

Once you and your friends install Viber, you can use it to talk and message as much as you want.



You don't have to register! No registration or passwords required. Viber uses your phone number as your "identity" and lets you make free Viber phone calls to any of your friends that have Viber - using THEIR phone number.



Once you've downloaded Viber, you will receive an access code via SMS to activate Viber. The access code ensures that you are the real owner of the cellphone number you have registered and prevents others from obtaining your access code and placing calls with your caller ID.

How To Download Viber 

The app works on on iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Windows, Mac, Symbian, Nokia S40 and Bada device. To download it to your device, go to http://support.viber.com/, click on your device and follow the set-up instruction.



You can also get Viber download for PC (Windows and Mac).

How To Make Call From Viber

With the Viber application running , tap on the 'contacts' tab at the bottom of the screen.



Tap on the contact's name you want to call. This will open the 'info' screen and then just tap on the 'free call' button.

Does Viber Work for International Calls?

Yes! You can make local AND international Viber to Viber calls at no cost. It doesn't matter whether you and your friends are in a completely different country, you can talk and text as much
as you want! Just make sure your friends have Viber.

Does Viber Work on Blackberry? 

Yes although you might not be able to make calls with your BIS. I tried it on my BB. I was able to chat with my contacts but couldn't call them.



Guess I will need to use a data plan and configure my BB with my network's APN settings.  I read somewhere that if I use WiFi, I will be able to make calls with Viber on Blackberry. I will try it and share my experience in another blog post.



For now, I am rocking Viber on iPad. 



Add me On Viber and let's keep talking!

Read More

Download WeChat for Nokia, Android, Blackberry and iPhone

With WeChat, you can now find new friends nearby to talk to and chat with your friends instantly via voice messages, texts, or images across platforms. It is a complete mobile communication and social networking app that brings all of your sharing and communication tools in one place.



The We Chat app supports text messaging, group chats, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast (one-to-many) messaging, photo/video sharing, location sharing, and contact information exchange. Video Call is available on WeChat versions 4.2 and later, allowing you to talk to your friends face to face. To fully experience the app, you'll need to get your friends to use it too, just like WhatsApp.

Moments and Shake are WeChat social features you will find interesting. Moments lets you share photos with your friends, set the visibility of photos you’re sharing and @ people (mention) whom you'd like to alert to your post. If you've enabled "location services" on your mobile device, you can "shake" your phone to be matched with others who are shaking too, either right next to you or across the globe.



There is also a "Look Around" tool that lets you find people using WeChat with Look Around enabled nearby. The "Drift Bottle" social tool on the other hand allows you to send out your voice or text message, then wait to see who will pick up your bottle and reply.

How To Join WeChat

To sign up with WeChat, you'll need to create a user ID and password, which requires you to enter your phone number and a four-digit code you will receive via text message after you might have installed the WeChat software to your mobile device. You can also log in to WeChat with your Facebook account.



NOTE:



WeChat ID is your unique name that friends can search for to find you and can be changed once only. WeChat name on the other hand, is your primary name shown to other WeChat users, and it can be changed as often as you like.

How To Download WeChat

The app is available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian platforms. It's free to download, install and use. However, you may need to pay your carrier for internet service.



You can get WeChat download for your device here.



Right on the page, you can also scan the QR code with your mobile phone to install the app to your device. Alternatively, you can open wechat.com on your mobile browser, to download WeChat.



WeChat stands as a good alternative to Whatsapp, 2go mobile chat and Skype.



Have you joined WeChat? Do you like it? Please, let me hear from you via comments.

Read More

Sefan Games Download for PC, Android and Symbian Phones

If you are looking for a site where you can download games for mobile phones and computer for free, you need to bookmark sefan.ru. The Russian wapsite is loaded with free games you can download for PC, Android (Tecno, Samsung, HTC etc) and Nokia Java/Symbian phones.



Some of the featured games include: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Assassin's creed 3, GT Racing 2, Iron Man 3, Monsters University, WWE Smackdown, Real Football Manager 2013, PES pro evolution Soccer etc Apart from games, you can also download free themes for sony Ericsson, Siemens, Nokia and Motorola phones.

The free downloads at sefan are divided into categories which include special categories for Android OS and Symbian phones. The Android OS downloads category includes games, animated wallpapers, apps, widgets and other decors you can download to your Android phone. All you just need to do is to load the .apk files and you are good to go.



You can download the top 100 games at sefan ru by clicking on the "New Java Games" link on the homepage.



Visit www.sefan.ru now to start downloading free games. You will see three flags at the top of the site. Click the middle flag if you want the site to be displayed in English.



Have fun!



Do you know other websites for free mobile phone games download? Please, let me hear from you via comments.

Read More

Download Quickvoice : Free Call Recording Software for PC and Mobile Phones

You can download Quickvoice app if you are in need of free voice recording software for your PC or smartphone. The free digital recorder can be used to record ideas, voice memos, voice email, interviews, meetings and lectures!



It is the most popular, full-featured iPhone/iPad/iPod voice recorder available at the App store. There are lots of other voice recorders in the App Store but am in love with QuickVoice because of the multi-tasking feature.



The Multi-tasking support makes it easy for me to use other apps while still recording in the background. This makes it possible to use Quickvoice app as a call recorder. I use it alot in recording Skype calls on my iPad.



Ringtone recording is also possible with QuickVoice. You can produce your own custom ringtones easily using music recordings on your device, then assign different ringtones tones to different contacts.

Quickvoice recorder app for iPhone and iPad is free for download but there is a pro version which allows you to send up to 20MB of voice recordings via email. The free version offers the ability to send up to 5MB of voice emails.



If you purchase the QuickVoice Pro Recorder for your iPhone, you will get a free bonus copy of the award winning QuickVoice software for Mac and Windows PCs. The PC versions offer a full featured audio editor which makes it possible to use Quickvoice as a music production software.

Get Quick voice recording software free download here.

NOTE: The iPhone version syncs its recordings with the computer version.



You can read about Quickvoice files transfer to computer process here and also check out how to convert Quickvoice recordings to mp3 files.



If you know alternative call recording apps, please let me know via comments.



Happy Recording!

Read More

Download Eskimi Mobile Chat Application

Eskimi chat application is a mobile chat and dating app with 11,000,000+ users worldwide which allows users to find friends, chat, flirt and meet people in their city, state or across the world!



Eskimi is currently one of the top free online dating sites in Nigeria where single meet and have fun chatting with themselves. Personally, I prefer Eskimi to 2go chat for many reasons. At Eskimi, it is so easy to find friends around you, easy to get eskimi jobs in your state as well as enjoy eskimi music powered by iRoKing, while having fun on eskimi website.

The current version of the ESKIMI app download is aimed at existing users of the service. Newbies are welcome to sign up on m.eskimi.com. Registration is free and you can even connect Eskimi to your Facebook account for easy access. You can read more on how to join eskimi chat here.



If you download eskimi chat app to your phone, you will get ESKIMI icon in the homescreen for easy access. You will be receiving real-time notifications about new messages, votes and profile visits. You will be able to take photos with your camera and upload them to ESKIMI straight from the app. Getting Eskimi coins is just a click away and you can update and share your status faster than ever.



NOTE: For now, you can add friend on eskimi at www.eskimi.com but not on the eskimi mobile site. 

Download Free Eskimi App for Android Here.

Have fun!

Read More

Mobile9.com: Download Free Ring Tones, WallPapers etc for Phones and Tablets

If you are searching for sites to download free ringtones to your cell  and many more, you need to visit Mobile 9 website. The site hosts a number of MIDI renditions and funny ringtones, ranging from cat meows to instrumentals. Apart from ring tones, you can also get mobile applications downloads from the site.



Games for mobile phones, themes, wall papers, ebooks etc are all available at the site as free downloads. I have been downloading series of java mobile applications and hiphop ringtones from the site, since the day I discovered it.



Mobile 9 users keep uploading fresh content everyday and you can even post requests at Mobile9 groups where you can also share news, ask questions, and posts about things to buy or sell.



Simply tell Mobile9 the device you use and the site will show you all the compatible downloads for your mobile device. From Mobile9, you can also download audio files straight to your computer, send them to your phone or scan a QR code.



You can get mobile9 apps download from the site for your iPhone, iPad and Android device.



Feel free to check out www.mobile9.com now for your free downloads.

Read More