Best Cell Phones for 2015

With the market for cell phones growing exponentially every year, it's difficult to pick out a few that stand out as unique. Therefore, I've picked out four from different countries. It seems most of them will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress, this year scheduled for March 2-5, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. Here are some of the sharpest phones.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 - This Korean phone has generated a lot of speculation as to the features, both online and in the stores. Samsung has released a number of other models recently but this one seems to be the flagship version for 2015. There are actually to be two versions - one with a metal case and the other in plastic, super-thin with the usual Samsung wide screen. Perhaps this is the correct image. You can pre-order it online or in the stores for only $800 US!
2. Huawei Ascend8 - The Chinese have created this pretty phone with a 5.5" screen and high resolution panel, 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage. The scheduled release in in May and will sell for $800 US.
3. Microsoft Lumia 1030 - This American phone has the same 5.5" screen but with a great high resolution camera and 4 speakers to record and play surround sound.
7. Sony Xperia Z4 - We couldn't finish this review without including the Japanese who use their phones so frequently. Here is what Daniel P. (no last name given) posted in phoneArena.com

"Sony will pull out all stops" and intro a monster with 5.4" QHD panel, to an info one insider sent us that says Sony will keep using 1080p display resolution, but up the chipset to Snapdragon 810. As for the camera, all agree that it will be Sony's newest stacked 21 MP model that allows for real-time HDR stills, and has 192-point AF tech for shooting blur-free fast moving objects.

 

All phones will take top dollar but compared to the price of computers or even laptops or tablets they are still cheaper. For most of the world population their mobile phone is their connection to the internet. It's now several decades since the cell phone was used primarily for calling your friends. It seems from the reviews above that the most popular phones today will have excellent cameras as well as the capacity to take great pictures with increased storage capacity. The other features are yet to be announced. Please return to this column later this year for an update.

Clever Cell Phone Gadgets

Yes, the holiday season is over for 2014 but not in Asia. Besides, January is a great time to shop for bargains. Companies are looking to get rid of leftover goods and you are the one who benefits. Here are some great gadgets that you will find at reduced prices. But hurry - others will see these low prices too.

1. Multipurpose Travel Router - This router comes in handy in that hotel that is charging you an arm and a leg for poor WiFi service or a higher price for using several devices at once. Here's the Hoo Too Trip Mate to the rescue. It can also serve as a power source, a personal cloud (media sharing), and an independent WiFi source.

Here's the link to the router.

2. Selfie Accessory Kit - Today taking pictures of yourself and your friends is very popular. Remember those cameras that used to take remote photos after 5 seconds? No need to do this any more with your selfie kit. Just put your smart phone on the pole, frame or attach to a tripod (tripod not included - only the attachment). It even has a Bluetooth remote control for the shutter.

Here's the link to the selfie kit.

3. Cell Phone Waterproof Case - Like to snorkel, surf or just hang out at the beach? Great for the boat owner as well. It's padded and lined, watertight and it floats! Since most wet cell phones are toast, this is what you need for all water-related trips. Now on sale.

Here's the link to the case.

It's great to accessorize your favorite piece of equipment that everyone carries with them now. There are so many nice cases, holders and desk top stands. Please remember the cell phone holder from StarShine Products available through Amazon.com by clicking on http://net-on-the-go.com/awesomeholders and on this very website.

Cash Back on Computers and Cell Phones

Need a new computer or cell phone, maybe some accessory or other gadget that can go with your media? Here's a company that will help you out with cash back shopping. It's like shopping during Black Friday or Boxing Day - but discounts like these all the time. It's a new system called Dubli Network. It has actually been around since 2003 but it has just arrived in North America. Here's a page from the network under the category of computers and cell phones: How does this work? It's easy. Just sign up as a free, Premium or V.I.P. member and start shopping. What's this V.I.P. membership? You get cash back in three different ways: 1. Get cash back on what you buy and what the people you refer buy. 2. Get paid for referring your friends who Get Cash Back too! 3. Get a higher percentage of cash back as a V.I.P. member. Interested in finding out more? Just click here.

Presents for Techs

While there are a lot of new gadgets and cell phone accessories out there these days, this short video will definitely send you to your online store (try Dubli.com as well as amazon.com) as well as your cell phone to download some awesome and clever apps. OK. Which ones made you take notice? Leave a comment below and you might win one of them!

Cell Phones: The Hope Of Africa

Just over a year ago a well-recognized authority, Seth Berkley wrote an article in the "MIT Technology Review" regarding the improvement of health care in Africa due to the widespread use of cell phones there. Mr. Berkley has been nominated as Time Magazine's“100 Most Influential People in the World.”  and he has been CEO of several key international agencies. He pointed out that with cell phones there is better real-time reporting of disease surveillance and monitoring, much better data collection and thus better allocation of resources such as vaccines.

Further down the line, we can expect other advances through technological developments at the device end. Researchers like Jonathan Cooper at the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, are now developing ways to shrink huge, complex laboratory equipment onto tiny, disposable, acoustically driven microfluidic devices which can be plugged into a cell phone to turn it into a portable lab. Similarly, Aydogan Ozcan at the University of California, Los Angeles, is doing remarkable work enabling the cameras of cell phones to be used to perform fluorescent flow cytometry for diagnostic imaging. Eventually these kinds of technologies may enable health-care workers to carry out on-the-spot diagnostics for diseases in even the most remote of regions.

 

To see more of this article click here.

He ends his article by predicting that even an improvement of 1% would reduce the deaths of children under the age of 5 by 69,000 per year. It's unfortunate what has happened in just the year since Mr. Berkley published his article. The spread of ebola has changed his hopeful predictions in certain countries (see map).

African countries most infected with ebola

Cell phones are still playing a key role. Another author, Amanda Puckett, a technical adviser for IntraHealth International,  has picked up the ball and reports about the use of cell phones after her return from Sierra Leon in September 2014.

Information is power, and cell phone reporting has given everyone a clearer version of the infection rate as well as what needs to be done. In addition, they are using a system called mHero (Health Worker Electronic and Response and Outreach). It has connected 19 African countries including the countries with ebola outbreaks, hopefully to keep it from spreading to other countries. It is also tied into UNICEF's SMS platform to make messaging services faster. It can also send health workers reliable information about treatment and prevention (as much as is known now).

mHero can immediately access health workforce data—including mobile phone numbers—from iHRIS and DHIS 2, allowing Ministry of Health users to create targeted communications for over 8,000 health workers of specific types (doctors, clinic officers, or pharmacists, for example) and in specific locations (such as the epicenter of an outbreak).

 

To read more about this, click here.

 

In summary, cell phones are now being used for  a variety of functions besides communication - diagnosis, data collection, medical treatment procedures, disseminating reliable information to the "front line" workers and finally moral support to those who are risking their own lives to bring this epidemic under control.

Dubli Network Shopping Online Center

Here's a great way to avoid the crowds and find what you want online.Just in time for the holidays! Have you heard of Dubli Network? It just opened up in North America but it's already big - over 4,000 companies and endless products. Check it out your self by going to this link: http://dubli.com/4974821.

Ten Best Smart Watches for 2014

With the holidays fast approaching here's a small but expensive gift for a special someone. A smart watch is designed to work with your phone using Bluetooth technology so that you never miss a call again. Your smart watch will notify you of a call and if set up for it, also who is calling. No need to drag you phone out of your pocket or the bottom of your purse. You can discretely check your watch.

Not all smart phones are created equal. Before you buy, here's some things to check:

• compatibility with your type of phone
• strength of battery and how often it needs charging
• what functions you want. Some include: notification from social media as well as calls, stop watch and calendar, voice alert and water-proof or shock-proof.
• design - do you want something sleek and modern or are you a geek who wants a big watch with every function possible?
• ease of use - Does it easily fit your wrist? Do you need something shock-proof? Can you read the dial easily? Remember that this machine should make your life easier, not more difficult.

Here are the ten best smart watches as reviewed by toptenreviews.com: MetaWatch Strata, MetaWatch Frame, Pebble, Cookoo, i'm Watch, Samsung Galaxy Gear, Martian G2G, Martian Passport, Martian Victory, and Sony LiveView. I'm going to pick three of these to review in detail. Please read the original article to explore the rest.

Ten Best Smart Watches for 2014

MetaWatch Strata - This is a very sturdy watch that can take some knocking around. The band is flexible plastic and easily washable. There is a scratch-resistant face and it is waterproof. The battery can run for a week on one charge. There are several sporty colors for the band- electric blue, pink, orange and lime green as well as the standard grey. There are many more functions and apps that can be added to this phone compatible with iPhones. At $145 this is one of the cheaper smart watches.

Samsung Galaxy Gear - Here is a sleek, steamline watch just made for a woman who likes jewelry. No Samsung S3 or S4 is complete without one of these smart watches. One unique feature involves security of your phone. When you move more than 5 feet away from your phone, the Gear secures and locks your phone, then releases it once you return. The display face is very clear and the battery here lasts for 2-3 days between charges. The voice feature lets you dictate messages, set reminders and even place calls. This one is $337 retail.

Sony LiveView - Here's one that suited to someone on a fixed budget as it weighs in at only $25.86. It can easily be attached to a purse strap but wrist straps are available. For something so small it is amazingly functional with Facebook and Twitter updates as well as the standard functions. You can play and upload music from your phone, and get gmail updates. However, there is not Bluetooth capacity in the watch itself. Once the reception is gone, it renders this phone unusable as it gets its signal from the phone. One really useful function is the "Find Phone" feature. If you cannot find your phone, the Sony LiveView will let you find it by calling it for you.

As you can see, these phones a quite different from each other and from other devices and accessories. Since these watches are so new, it's a good idea to try them out before you purchase. At least try them on and see if all the buttons work. As the author of "Smart Watch Review" in toptenreviews.com states, "If you consider all of the factors above, you will surely find a smartwatch that is a perfect fit for you. Then, you can stop missing important calls or messages while simultaneously checking your phone less frequently."

What will 2015 bring for new Smart Watch technology? Already smart watches have started appearing that do not need phones connections in order to work - essentially a cell phone watch. Move over, Dick Tracy.