It’s no secret I am kind of cheering the Windows 7 phone line along. I don’t actually own one, but I am intrigued by Nokia’s big push and sleek phone designs along with a rather sleek new Windows interface. Not to mention integration with my computer and Xbox. So far it hasn’t proven itself to me yet, but it seems it has proven itself to some analysts who make a living off of cellphone business guesswork.
Jan 24
Dec 21
Look’s like RIM is out on the prowl as rumors have surfaced about them talking to various cell phone manufacturers. What are they talking about? Probably selling their entire brand to the highest bidder. RIM has been falling off the market pretty quickly the past few years and, if this keeps up, they may be in big trouble within the next five years, if not out of business.
Oct 28
Windows phones have been having a rough ride lately. It’s safe to say that most people choose iPhones, Androids or even Blackberrys over them. That’s not to say they weren’t good, they just weren’t as good as everyone else. But all of that is about to change. With the Mango release, all windows phones function much much better, and now Nokia has shown off what’s next. That’s right, much like Motorola was Googles phone company of choice with major advancements, Nokia is Windows phone company of choice. The Lumia series looks slick, fast and fashionable, more fashionable then droids anyway, maybe even iPhones. Most of the phones seem to come in different colors which really make the screen pop.
Sep 28
I remember when I was in middle school and I got my first cellphone in 8th grade. It was an old Nokia with a green and black interface, fat antenna on top and was barely able to fit into my pocket. Best of all it had “Snake” built in! I was 14 at the time and seeing a 14 year old with a cellphone back in 1999 was out of the ordinary. During the late 90′s and even the early 00′s, cell phones were considered an adult device. It had the stereotypical attachment to businessmen and soft top sports cars. Now anyone with a few bucks and a prepaid card can get a cellphone from Walmart and be connected instantly. Of course children can’t just go ahead and do that, but the visual of a teenage with a cellphone is now common place.
According to a report done by The Republic, more than 75% of teens going back to school have cellphones and that number continues to grow. but one market is growing even faster, and only recently became an officially named demographic, “Tweens”. Tweens are the ages between 9 and 12, not quite a teenager but not a child either. This market was exploited by businesses the most, with boy bands, MTV and, more recently, romantic vampires. With cellphones getting cheaper, not to mention having gps tracking features, parents are giving their children phones earlier and earlier in life.
But does your child “need” a cellphone? You only need to ask yourself a few questions to know for sure. Do you want to be able to contact your child 24/7, and vice versa in case of emergencies? Can you trust your child with a phone? Or will he or she lose it? How much do you want to spend? Do you want to get a smart phone with GPS tracking and several bells and whistles? Or a simple clam shell phone only for calls. Perhaps buying a used or refurbished cell phone? The National Consumers League has a guide with some of these questions they want you to keep mind when deciding on what phone to purchase for your child.
Next you’ll want to decide on some ground rules. Do you want to set up a limit of texts per-day? Or just accept teens, and tweens, text more than adults and just purchase the unlimited texting plans? You’ll want to explain the dangers of “sexting” and riding a bike while on the phone (just as, if not more dangerous, than driving your car and doing the same). You’ll want to explain strict rules when bringing their phone to school, not just by you as parents, but by the schools rules themselves. Some phones even allow you to set limits to incoming and outgoing phone calls.
The age for cellphone use is only going to get younger and younger. Our phones are turning into more than “just a phone” and soon enough, seeing tweens with cellphones will be just as commonplace as seeing a teenage or adult with a cellphone. The best advice we can give you is to go phone shopping with your child. Just like an adult, you want to be sure they can use the phone, handle it correctly, and like the phone they’ll be getting. Everyone has different opinions on when a child, tween or teen is ready for a phone. But they are your children, so make the decision yourself, and keep the questions above in mind. Happy shopping!
Mar 09
Last week, Nokia filed to patent technology that will charge your new or refurbished cell phone from the motion of the phone in your hand, pocket, etc. The technology is similar to that of watches that are charged from kinetic energy harvested from the movement of the wrist.
From what I’ve read, the heavier internals of the phone (the battery, transmitter, etc.) will sit on a pair of rails, allowing it to slide up and down as the user moves. That energy is then collected and sent into the battery.
Kinetically charged phones should be great for people constantly on the go. Might not be worth it if you’ve got a desk job though.
More at New Scientist
