iPhone

New iPhone buzz creates discounts for older iPhone 5

Image Leave a comment

While it’s likely that we’ll once again see lines of people stretching around the block, waiting to be amongst the first into their local Apple store or big-box electronics retailer for the new iPhone 5s or 5c, for some people having the absolute latest and greatest isn’t as important.

Just because the new iPhone is about to be released doesn’t mean that the current iPhone 5 is junk. It’s still a technological marvel and will meet or exceed the needs of many people who purchase it. And if getting a quality smartphone at a smart price is more enticing to you, now is the time to get an iPhone 5. Although now discontinued, wireless carriers and retails shops are clearing them out in preparation for the new models, and there are some real bargains available.

If you’re looking for an unlocked iPhone with no strings attached, then EBay is a good place to turn. Depending on the model (16, 32 or 64 GB) an iPhone 5 will cost you approximately $300.00 to $500.00 there, which means you can pick a slightly used one up for half the price it was new.

Walmart iPhone 5 Ad
Walmart iPhone 5 Ad

However, if you don’t want to buy used or you’d rather be cautious and deal with a local retailer, WalMart, Best Buy and Target are offering great deals. WalMart has the cheapest iPhone 5 deal going, with a starting price of just $98.00. They aren’t refurbished products, either.

Best Buy is offering the same phones for $149.00 with reports of further, periodic discounts coming. They have also been running a buy-back promotion. Anyone who brings in a working iPhone 4 or 4s can upgrade it to an iPhone 5 at half the price. Target is also offering the iPhone 5 for $149.00 in their electronics departments.

An important bit of information to keep in mind, however, is that these prices are available to consumers who sign a two-year minimum contract with a participating wireless carrier such as Verizon, Sprint or AT&T at the time they purchase their iPhone 5.

Another nice bonus currently being offered is directly from Apple itself. College students who purchase an iPhone 5 directly from the computing giant will be awarded a handy $50.00 iTunes gift card. That will provide the ability to download many of the latest study aid and productivity apps which will help with school – or perhaps a few movies and songs.

A riskier option that is still popular with many people is looking for an iPhone 5 on websites such as Craigslist. Many people will take the upgrade when it’s offered by their wireless service provider, with the intention of making some money rather than using a new device themselves. They turn around and sell like-new iPhone 5 models online and frequently offer them at great prices. Of course, the protection of purchasing from a retailer isn’t there, so it’s buyer beware. Do your homework and know what the model is going for and whether it actually works before you hand over any money.

Furthermore, it is also possible that further discounts on the iPhone 5 will be offered by retailers now that the September 10th event has come and gone. Now is the time to save even more on an iPhone 5 when everyone else is buzzing about the newest 5s and 5c models. If you currently own an iPhone 5 consider selling it for top dollar now before its value decreases.

OS X

Top 5 features of OS X Mavericks

Image Leave a comment

Anyone who pays attention to the tech world knows that Apple is huge. The company claims that Mac growth is up 100% in the last five years, as compared to just 18% for the rest of the PC industry. Because of Mac’s ever-increasing popularity, they’re looking to distinguish themselves from Windows-based computers even further.

With the new OS X Mavericks, they are doing just that. The new operating system boasts a number of amazing features that are sure to please Mac users, including power-saving technology and easier ways to search.  OS X Mavericks also takes a significant leap with regard to offering features common to mobile computing devices like their iPhone and iPad while still retaining a uniquely “desktop” computing experience.

Here are five of the best features of the new operating system:

  • Better navigation through folders. When you have an organizational system with your documents, a lot of files are in folders three and four times off the root, and when you want to move them around, you’re juggling between levels. A great feature of the new OS is that it makes folder navigation easier. Mavericks folders are styled after web browsers and support tabs, so users can simply open a New Finder tab and start navigating elsewhere without getting completely lost.
  • Better organization of documents. Organization is imperative when you start collecting files. Work documents, personal business items, recipes, you name it, can all get mixed together. What’s worse, when you try to find a file you might not always recall what you named it. Thankfully, OS X Mavericks comes with a new file tagging system. Very similar to popular apps like Evernote, it’ll let you organize and search through all your documents with tagged keywords, making finding files a lot simpler.
  • Better Internet browsing. With the new OS, the Safari browser provides smoother performance and a cleaner interface. It’ll utilize a new sidebar that lets you browse rom your bookmarks on the left side of the screen and a new feature called Shared links lets you quickly see what your Twitter and Facebook friends are sharing. Safari also offers 3.8 times more performance on JSBench JavaScript benchmark, uses less memory and energy than Chrome and Firefox and if you’re on a MacBook, can potentially save you battery life.
  • Better password storage and security.  With so many websites, services and programs that require login information, it can get a bit overwhelming trying to remember all your passwords. With OS X Mavericks, iCloud can help you with that. You can choose to have Safari remember your passwords or even suggest and remember complex ones for you, and the information will sync across all your iCloud-enabled devices. As a result, if you change a password on your iMac, you don’t have to worry about re-entering it on your MacBook, iPad or e. iPhone. Once it’s changed, it’s changed everywhere. This feature works similarly to services like 1Password or LastPass; the iCloud keychain can even store credit card information (except, for your safety, not security codes, making online shopping faster and easier. You’ll just need to remember one secure pass phrase and then you can log in anywhere.
  • Better system notifications. The new OS now features interactive system notifications. This is awesome because it means you can reply to incoming messages or emails and accept or decline FaceTime calls directly from the Notifications alert window. It can also deliver push alerts, whether they’re from eBay or a live sports scores feed you’re following. And just like the iPhone and iPad, the lock screen will show you what notifications you missed since you last logged on.

With changes like these plus all the other features offered, OS X Mavericks will prove to be incredibly useful for both the average consumer and the computer super-user. The new operating system is due out soon and is truly something to get excited about.

Mac

Should I buy a MacBook or iPad

Image Leave a comment

Whether you’re a road warrior or often find yourself leaving on a jet plane in the name of your career, you likely have an arsenal of gadgets you bring along in your carry-on luggage. But is that laptop really necessary, or could you save both space and weight by swapping it out for a tablet? It truly depends on the nature of your job.

A good rule of thumb is that if your job has you producing a large amount of content, you’re better off sticking with your trusty MacBook. However, if it’s more likely you’re just consuming content, then an iPad will certainly be sufficient.

Should there be any possibility you’ll be doing a lot of typing, having a MacBook will definitely make life easier. The touchscreen keyboard on the iPad is not conducive to working on larger documents or lengthier emails, despite the fact that the suite of iWork programs is available as a series of well-equipped iPad apps. Of course, you can also bring along a portable Bluetooth keyboard or use a case with one built in, but they still don’t compare to having a proper computer for document creation and editing.

A MacBook is also a better choice than an iPad if you’re delivering a Keynote presentation and aren’t entirely sure you can connect to the projector you’re using via Bluetooth. While the Keynote and Keynote Remote apps on iPad are great, that stunning presentation you spent hours on won’t be doing you any favors unless you can show it off.

You’ll be glad you have your MacBook handy in a variety of other situations as well. If there’s a chance you’ll be given information via a disc or thumb drive to review, you won’t have to figure out how to get it via email or the cloud instead. If you’re in one of the many hotels worldwide that still provide Wi-Fi only in the lobby and leave you limited by an Ethernet cord in your room, you’ll be glad for your MacBook. Furthermore, it’s a great charging station for your peripheral devices, reducing the number of cords you’ll have to pack and the need to search out enough plugs.

All that being said, there is definitely a lot of merit in taking an iPad along on your next business trip instead. Not only will it allow you to pack a smaller bag and save your back from the added weight, but it’s extremely portable and boasts a number of useful features.

If you’re mainly reading – emails, reports, blogs, you name it – then an iPad is ideal. It’s also more than sufficient for accessing your email, keeping your social media accounts up to date and tweaking a few documents via iWork. With the right app, it can allow you to go paperless, signing and emailing contracts right on it with the use of a stylus. You can also upload photographs with a simple camera adapter kit, and do a little more typing with one of the aforementioned options to bring a keyboard.

The iPad is a great option for anyone concerned with battery life and the possibility of not having anywhere to plug their MacBook in. So long as you have 3G or Wi-Fi, you’ll always be able to get online. And it’s ideal for situations where you have a limited amount of elbow room, like on an airplane or in a crowded press conference.

If you’re unsure of the situations you may find yourself in while traveling for business, taking your MacBook along is certainly a safer bet. It gives you the most options for completing your work, viewing files and connecting to the Internet. However, if you know exactly what you’re heading into and prefer to be extremely mobile, your iPad should certainly cover most of the bases for you.

iPhone

Sell your old iPhone for top dollar at Gazelle

Image 1 Comment

It’s become a part of “Mac culture” – eagerly anticipating and even lining up to buy the latest generation iPhone or iPad. But when new models come out fairly frequently, what’s to be done with the old versions? They can always be passed on to a friend or family member, or even sent to a local electronics recycling depot. But upgrading to the latest Apple “ i device” isn’t cheap, so wouldn’t it be nice to get a few dollars back, easing the expense?

That’s where Gazelle.com comes in. They’ve capitalized on the fact that thousands of people have extra gadgets sitting around the house that are perfectly good but have been abandoned for the newest model. Their service, for which they have earned an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, allows consumers to trade in unwanted devices.

The process is simple. Visit Gazelle’s website and answer a few questions about the device you no longer want. They’ll tell you it’s value, and providing it’s worth more than $1.00 you can ship it to them free of charge. Once received by the company they’ll check it immediately and then send your funds. Customers even have the choice between receiving a check, money in their PayPal account or an Amazon gift card.

Gazelle accepts a wide variety of devices including iPhones and other smartphones, iPads and other tablets and some computers, including MacBooks. They then find new homes for the devices, in part by refurbishing them and selling them on their active eBay store.

Since its inception, Gazelle has become an increasingly popular service and to date have taken in nearly 1 million items on trade. They take their clients’ trust very seriously and guarantee all personal data will be securely erased from devices they receive. With such a great program and commitment to customer service, it’s no surprise nine out of ten clients have reported being happy with the company, or that Gazelle has earned such a prestigious rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Gazelle even offers a referral program for customers – for each friend you refer who sells a gadget, you’ll receive $10.00, and the friend will get an additional $10.00 for their first trade-in.

There is a lot of merit to this creative business solution. It means less waste and clutter, with old devices no longer sitting around the house or being tossed away. What’s more, it also helps subsidize the purchase of new gadgets. Perhaps you’ve decided to clean up around the house and realized getting a few dollars back for your old electronics is better than having them collect dust. Or maybe you’ve got your eye on a new iPad Mini or the upcoming new iPhone and want to take some of the sting out of the purchase price.

Whatever your reasoning, using Gazelle.com is a great way to make the most out of your electronic purchases and save yourself a bit of money. It’s quick, easy, free and definitely worth investigating if you’re still holding on to your first generation iPad and iPhone 3.

iPhone

Apple iPhone 5s release date

Image Leave a comment

“This should brighten everyone’s day.” Apple has recently issued colorful invitations to their September 10th event, at which it’s expected they’ll make announcements regarding features of the new iPhones, iOS 7 and other innovative product developments.

So with the event just days away, when can we expect the rumored iPhone 5s and 5c to be released? Some sources are vague, perhaps playing it safe, by saying “sometime in the latter part of 2013.” Others are speculating as quickly as September 12th. But most sources of Apple news are focusing on September 20th as the day Apple’s new products will hit the shelves.

Apple typically releases their new products quite quickly after announcing them. They’re at their most hyped then, with everyone buzzing about the news. It’s an ideal time to capitalize on that and make them available while they’re receiving so much attention.

On July 9th, an employee at Pegatron, a Taiwanese manufacturing company known to work with Apple, stated that they were busy pasting protective film onto the backs of the new iPhones’ “plastic back cover” to protect them from damage. This, coupled with tales from other sources and the colorful design of Apple’s event invitations all seem to hint at the release of the iPhone 5c, a cheaper model that will have the same components as the current iPhone 5, with a plastic casing available in a variety of different hues.

Popular websites such as MacRumors also seem to feel confident that the new iPhones will be released soon. Their reliable insider sources also seem to hint at a date around September 20th. Confidence in that being the date of choice for Apple has been furthered by reports that wireless carriers such as Verizon have blacked out vacation periods for employees between the 18th and the 20th of this month. It is believed that Apple will release their new iPhones in the USA at this time, with other first-wave countries to be offered them in the days to follow.

Perhaps in the theme of playing it safe, relatively reliable information source KGISecurities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has laid out a predicted release date roadmap which also indicates this fall as the expected time for release of the new iPhones.

Just a few days ago, TechRadar reminded readers that it is around this same time of year that the iPhone 4s and 5 were released, which is a good indication that they will follow suit with their latest smart phones.

While many of the popular websites frequented by Mac enthusiasts have fairly reliable sources that hint at, or even leak, information to the public, it’s important to remember that Apple can have an ace up their proverbial sleeve. It’s not far-fetched to think that the company will surprise the world, possibly with their release dates but likely with the products themselves.

Will there really be a gold iPhone 5s? Or colorful, cheaper iPhone 5c model? Or might the company have pushed ahead right away with an iPhone 6? There is only one way to know for sure – tune in tomorrow for Apple’s Event.