Gadgets and gizmos » Phones http://givemeknol.com Hard and Soft gadgets Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:03:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Music Phones http://givemeknol.com/music-phones.html http://givemeknol.com/music-phones.html#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:03:14 +0000 bill http://givemeknol.com/?p=527 You sometimes see cell phone manufacturers talk about music phones. What is it then? A music phone is a phone optimized for playing music. The idea with music phones, smartphones and camera phones is that one would have only one device instead of many. A music phone combines a cell phone and a portable music player. Every major cell phone manufacturer has them.

Sony Ericsson introduced the Walkman phones, Motorola launched the ROKR iTunes and Nokia delivers music phones under the XpressMusic phone brand.

More than 100 million music phones were sold in 2005 and that is more than double the number of portable MP3 players and some 12 percent of cell phones sold in 2005 were music phones.

Music Phone Characteristics

Here is some typical characteristics of a music phone. When comparing music phones look at these key features.

- Large memory (hard disk)
- Support for poular audio formats (MP3, AAC…)
- Good sound quality
- Support for the standard headphones 3.5mm jack
- Dedicated music keys
- Good music software (for PC and Phone)
- Easy to upload music to phone (via bluetooth or USB)
- Easy access to OTA (over-the-air) downloads
- Extended battery time
- FM radio

Music Phones 2005

Here is a couple of examples of music phones released in 2005.

Nokia 3250

This phone has dedicated music keys and can store up to 1 GB (Gigabyte) of music and offers 10 hours of music play. You can transfer music with the Nokia Audio Manager. The music player supports standard audio file formats such as MP3, WMA, M4A and AAC. It has a FM radio. Retail price of 350 EUR before subsidies or taxes.

Sony Ericsson W900i

Sony Ericsson W900i is a 3G phone and you can download, transfer, manage and play music from over-the-air (OTA) music download services. Transferring audio files from a PC to the phone is done with the Disc2Phone PC software supplied with the phone.

The W900i’s internal 470 MB memory provides space for between 120 and 240 songs. You can increase the storage capacity with a bigger memory stick (available up to 2GB). This phone supports music files like MP3, AAC, AAC+, MIDI, WAV and XMF. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

]]> http://givemeknol.com/music-phones.html/feed 0 How To Get A Cell Phone Deal http://givemeknol.com/how-to-get-a-cell-phone-deal.html http://givemeknol.com/how-to-get-a-cell-phone-deal.html#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:58:36 +0000 bill http://givemeknol.com/?p=517 According to new studies, more than ½ of Americans now own cell phone. I have a cell phone and so does everyone I know. Modern life would be very inconvenient without cell phones- how could you ever find anyone (or a better question, how did we find anyone before cell phones)? I have used all the major phone service providers over the years and I’ve basically settled on one (different service providers work differently in different areas). However, lets take a look at how to find a cell phone deal no matter where you live.

1) Comparison shopping. Both online and offline. Brick and morter stores and online stores often have different prices for the same phones or phone plans. This is where comparison shopping comes in to play. Find a service provider and visit their store or mall booth. Then check their website. You might be surprised to learn that the prices are not identical. It only makes sense. There is no overhead involved in an online store and if the customer does everything himself, prices should only be lower.

2) Go for the free phone. Some cell phone service providers will give you a free phone if you sign up with their service. Some won’t. We’ve found that getting a free phone can be really cool due to the fact that sometimes the service provider will give you a state of the art phone for no upfront charge just to get you to become their lifetime customer.

3) Use Ebay. Some people sell their slightly used phones for great bargains online if you are willing to spend the time and wait for a good deal to popup. I’ve been in love with a Nokia phone for about 6 months now and am waiting for a real discounted phone to be put up for auction on Ebay. A lot of the service providers will activate your phone if you bring it in to their store (regardless of where you bought it).

There are ton of cool tricks to getting a cell phone deal. These are just 3 basic common sense ones, learn ‘em all today and get a killer cell phone deal.

]]> http://givemeknol.com/how-to-get-a-cell-phone-deal.html/feed 0 Basics of Multi Line Commercial Phone Systems http://givemeknol.com/basics-of-multi-line-commercial-phone-systems.html http://givemeknol.com/basics-of-multi-line-commercial-phone-systems.html#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:43:46 +0000 bill http://givemeknol.com/?p=222 While most commercial phone systems offer standardized features such as voice mail, call forwarding, transferring and hold music, not all are created equal. With three different options for businesses, it’s important to understand that the phone system you choose should be reflection of your businesses size and where you expect to be several years down the road. If your company has a very small number of employees, a KSU-less system might be the right choice. KSU-less systems offer a high degree of functionality for a much lower initial investment. KSU-less phones are not tied together in the sense that traditional phone systems are. Instead, the actual handsets provide commercial phone system features, instead of connecting to a central control unit.

For mid-sized companies, key systems offer more features and are expandable for normally up to 35 handsets. Key systems utilize a central control device called the key system unit (KSU) to manage the connected network of phones within your business as well as any outgoing or incoming calls. In recent years, key systems have become so advanced that many rival PBX systems in terms of standard features and customization.

For large companies with over 35 to 40 employees, a PBX system is the way to go. PBX systems offer the greatest amounts of functionality are highly expandable. A PBX central terminal controls all phone systems in the same manner that a key system does, but can do so for a substantially greater number of phones. Almost all PBX systems come with the standard features necessary for phone system operations as they pertain to large businesses. PBX systems are highly programmable and can be configured to meet the individual needs of any business. The only downside to PBX systems is the overall expense compared to key systems and KSU-less systems. Still, if your business needs over 35 handsets or may in the future, PBX is your only choice.

There factors that will determine the size of the system you need are the number of lines and the number of extensions you will need. Lines are the number of outside phone lines your phone system can simultaneously connect to. Extensions are needed for every handset or other device that the company needs to connect to the phone system. Knowing both can give you an idea of which phone system is right for your business.

]]> http://givemeknol.com/basics-of-multi-line-commercial-phone-systems.html/feed 0 Buying a Cell Phone and Mobile Battery Problems http://givemeknol.com/buying-a-cell-phone-and-mobile-battery-problems.html http://givemeknol.com/buying-a-cell-phone-and-mobile-battery-problems.html#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:48:02 +0000 bill http://givemeknol.com/?p=144 Buying a Cell Phone:

An Overview
Everyday different manufacturers around the world are introducing the models with the new features. This is what needs to be taken into consideration when you go for buying a cell phone. You need to be sure about the features you want that suit your lifestyle well.

The Money Matter

Nowadays there is so much choice for an individual to buy a cell phone. Every company is producing the models with state of the art technology and features everyday. Price is the main thing that makes a difference in these different models. An expensive phone is likely to have more features, reliability and a better technology than a cheap one. Everyone wants a best phone in the market for him but high price of the cell phones comes in the way therefore price is a big thing that needs to be kept in mind while buying a cellular phone. But expensive and sophisticated phones are not everyone’s choice; there are people who just want a simple cell phone which is not much expensive but does its job well only as a cell phone. Also the extra features provided in the expensive phones are not everyone’s need.Therefore the price is a main thing to keep in mind whenever you to buy a cell phone. Do not buy a cell phone just because it is expensive; buy the one that suits your needs.

Choices in Different Vendors and their Models

Lucky for the customers that nowadays there are a huge number of cell phone manufacturers who have a vast number of models for customers to choose from. Every vendor holds certain advantages that the other lacks in. This creates a great competition which is very healthy for the cell phone industry. Also this competition results in the reduction of the price which is beneficial for the end user. Some people have liking for a certain brand but they still have a lot of choice in the models offered by the same brand. Every other day a new model is launched by a company, this is a strategy of companies to keep a customer stick to their brand and attract more.

Research is Always Better

It is always better to research about the phone you are going to buy before you set out to actually buy it. There are number of ways to know about that phone, the best one is internet. You can read the product reviews on the internet for that phone and know if there are any issues with it. You can also know the people’s view about the certain features offered by that particular device on internet. Also try to read the review by some critic about that phone; it will further clarify its view in your mind.

Miobile Battery Problems

Your Mobile Battery is Very Low, you are expecting an important call and you don’t have a c harger”. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate the battery, the key-in *3370# your cell will restart with this reserve and your instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

]]> http://givemeknol.com/buying-a-cell-phone-and-mobile-battery-problems.html/feed 0 A Look At Cordless Phones http://givemeknol.com/a-look-at-cordless-phones.html http://givemeknol.com/a-look-at-cordless-phones.html#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:37:45 +0000 bill http://givemeknol.com/?p=20 Cordless phones, also known as portable telephones, use a wireless handset in order to communicate with the phone’s base, which is connected to a telephone landline. In order for cordless phones to function properly, they must be used within a specified proximity to the base. Most individuals find that they can use their cordless phones throughout the house or in the yard without interruption.

In their earliest days, rotary telephones were common and required nothing more than a connection to a landline. Cordless phones require the same, along with an electrical outlet in order to charge the internal battery. This function is what allows the telephone to operate when away from the base and these batteries are automatically recharged when the phone is not in use. After years of use, the battery may need to be replaced. This can often be difficult on older models, but a compatible battery can sometimes be purchased directly from the manufacturer. In some cases, it may be less expensive to purchase a whole new phone than to replace a battery in the old model.

Years ago, there was growing concern about the privacy related to using cordless phones. The potential for conversations to be picked up by nearby baby monitors, radios and other devices was troubling to many. However, the manufacturers of cordless phones have stepped up to increase their security. In order to receive the best privacy, a 900mhz or better cordless phones are recommended.

The convenience of cordless phones is undeniable. With their invention, it is now possible to have the telephone with you literally wherever you go. This is especially valuable to elderly people who live alone and need to have a telephone nearby. Anyone who needs to have quick access to a phone will find great comfort in the presence of cordless phones. In addition, the clarity is much greater than the previous rotary models. With a clear conversation and the ultimate convenience, cordless phones have quickly become a staple in every household.

Many individuals are selecting the double handset models, which only require one telephone line but allow for two different bases to be located throughout the house. This is especially desirable for the household with only one landline connection, but has the desire for more than one telephone. A dual handset is like having two telephones, but only requires one hookup. With prices starting at $10.00 for basic cordless phones or $50.00 for a dual handset, there is an option for every budget.

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