Phones & Utilities Archives | Page 17 of 20

Should You Spend Your Hard-Earned Money On Wireless Accessories?

Many people have been buzzing about Apple’s latest innovation – the AirPods. The AirPods are made to be wireless, effortless, and magical. These will sell for about S$238 a pop by October. The price is certainly outrageous for a simple gal like me!

Before you redirect to a review on Apple’s trendy wireless accessory, let me backtrack to the Bluetooth wireless headsets and headphones. There are many versions of Bluetooth wireless headsets and headphones attempted by different manufacturers. This is ideal as consumers can pick the most suitable device to suit their needs.

Speaking from my own experience, I was recently gifted with a Philips Bluetooth stereo headset. It let me take calls and listen to music conveniently. I was impressed at how easy and smooth it was to switch between music and calls while maintaining the strong connectivity. The cushion of the headset was soft, which makes it perfect for longer use. Its battery life is decent too. However, as I expected, the quality of the sound was not as good as a wired device. It did not live up to its claim of producing “lifelike sound balance quality”. Using this accessory for quite some time made me wonder if investing one’s hard-earned money on wireless accessories is worth it.

To make a solid decision, you will have to consider various factors that interact in this situation. Start by determining what you need. If your audiophile heart has a longstanding love affair with the “noise cancelling” feature then, go for it. Spending hundred dollars on an amazing Bluetooth wireless headphone that you will use all the time is a worthy investment. However, you can get better accessories without spending that much money if you can live without that feature. Some S$50 wired headphones may sound better than a S$200 Bluetooth wireless headphone. Keep this factor in mind.

Second, you must determine what you can realistically afford. A nice trick is to visualize the act of replacing your accessory every month or two. As you visualize this, think of an amount that you can easily work with if you are going thru the constant replacement. Do not spend more money than you can afford in a short-term basis.

Third, you must accept the seemingly opposing sound qualities produced by the wired and wireless accessories. This is one of the major reasons why people are hesitant to invest in one. For people who are sensitive and particular when it comes to sound, wireless accessories may not be for them. This is because Bluetooth accessories manipulate music unlike wired headphones. Brandt Ranj of Business Insider can simplify things for you.

“Wired headphones will sound better overall, but most people won’t be able to tell the difference.” – Brandt Ranj

The fourth factor is the battery life. Wireless accessories have batteries and these die down. They free you from the tangling cables but, you will have to worry about recharging it. The mere act of connecting the wired USB hub when the accessory is not used is such a chore for some people. I completely understand as recharging one’s headphones or earphones is a relatively new concept.

Lastly, you must consider the biggest benefit of the wireless accessories. I am talking about how hassle-free these pieces of technology are. You can leave your tablet at the kitchen counter while you sweep the floors and listen to happy tunes. You can also throw your smartphone in your bag while listening to energizing songs as you workout in the gym.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Do what you want without having to worry about getting caught in a fashion mishap. Let us face it! Getting your wires stuck on a stranger’s coat is never attractive.

Sources:1 & 2

Why The Local Telecoms Are Ceasing The Sales Of Samsung Galaxy Note7

Before its release, people have been clamoring over the great possibilities that the Samsung Galaxy Note7 can bring. Its innovative design focuses on offering better usage with the dual-curved screen and shaping a comfortable grip with the 5.7-inch unit. Continuing the legacy of the preceding Galaxy phones, the latest Note7 along with the S Pen is waterproof. The privacy features went up a notch with the “iris scanning”. The improvements did not stop there!

Samsung came up with a larger battery that minimizes the charging speed and expands the longevity of the phone. However, this turn out to bring more problems than solutions. The battery of several Note7 units all over the world either bloated or exploded. In UAE alone, the Consumer Protection Depart at the Ministry of Economy has removed about 19,000 faulty Note7 off the market.

To control the damage and to address the gravity of the situation, Samsung has taken the full responsibility by issuing prompt recall of these units. All the local telecoms adhered and they ceased the sales of the device. This is followed by the introduction of an exchange program.

As the name suggests, customers who can exchange their defective units from September 16 to October 2. Given that these said customers purchased their Note7 from any local telecom operators, authorized mobile retailers, Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung’s Lazada Singapore online store, and major electronic shops. Self-collection of the new devices in the same color is done by visiting the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre or by having it shipped in your home.

If you are eager to get your defective unit exchanged, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to samsung.com/sg/note7exchange and enter a preferred collection time slot. This link will only be live on Friday (September 9, 2016).

2. Booking period begins from September 9 and extends until September 25. Register yourself if you are eligible for the replacement.

3. You shall return your Note7 afterwards. Worry not about having no means of communication as courtesy devices will be available for loan while you wait for a better unit of Note7.

4. If deemed to be qualified, your warranty period will be extended to commence from the date of the exchange.

May these information ease your worries about your newly purchased Note7!

Source: Vulcan Post

7 Painless Ways To Curb Your Energy Bills

1. ROLL DOWN THE BLINDS

During summer and hot days, roll down the blinds to prevent extra heat from coming in and prevent your air conditioner from running more on energy. Do the opposite during the cold weather to keep your home naturally warm.

2. INVEST ON WINDOW FILM

If the blinds are still inferior with the Singapore heat, consider investing on window film or window tint. Believe it or not, window film eliminates as much as 90% of the heat and about 99% of the UV rays passing through your windows. As lesser heat is accumulated in your home, there is a great chance that you will use your Air Conditioner less (eventually lowering your electricity bills).

You can either have a professional install your window film or save more money by installing it yourself. Get a Korean Solar Film for only S$29.90 at Qoo10.

3. WISELY SELECT YOUR NEW APPLIANCES

As you shop for a new television, refrigerator, air-conditioner, or dryer, consider the ones that are energy-efficient. Energy efficient appliances can help you save several dollars each month on your water and electricity bill. These seemingly minute savings add up quickly to about hundreds or thousands per year.

To check if the appliance is energy-efficient, please refer to the Energy Label issued by the National Environment Agency.

4. LET YOUR DRYER REST

Instead of constantly putting your clothes in the dryer, hang them properly in a clothesline. The dryer can contribute to a major chunk of your energy bill because it feeds on a lot of energy. By letting your dryer rest, you can save about S$103 a year. That is if you regularly have 6 loads per week and take 20 minutes per load.

5. SLEEP IN A COOL ROOM

Like the dryer, the air conditioner eats up a lot of your energy bill. To lessen your Air Conditioner’s (AC) energy consumption, let it run for an hour before you go to sleep and switch to a fan after the room has cooled down. Alternatively, you can set the timer of your AC unit off at least 30 minutes earlier than usual.

6. UNPLUG THE POWER STRIPS

Power strips or otherwise known as power bar, extension block or trailer lead, can spike your electric costs even if you turn it off. Accounting for about 5-10% of your home’s energy bill, the best way to save from this is to unplug it completely. Unplugging your power strips can save you approximately S$70-330 per year.

7. SEND YOUR OWN METER READING

Once every 2 months, SP Services send someone to read the your electricity meter outside your home. This reading is usually estimated. So prevent overcharging by submitting the current meter reading to SP Services’ Whats App number: 8482 8636. You may also call 1800 2222 333 for other billing and meter reading inquiries.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Consuming energy efficiently will not only save you money but it can also contribute to saving our Mother Earth.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Up to S$150 discount on phones with Singtel CIS!

Did you know? A Singtel Corporate Individual Scheme (CIS) subscriber gets discounts on devices and price plans and free value-added services. You just need to be an employee from a participating company to sign up as a CIS subscriber to enjoy these. What’s more, you can sign up to 3 lines so this means your family and friends will benefit as well.

To check whether your company is enrolled to Singtel CIS and on the mobile rates you can enjoy, please

Call 1688, or
Enquire at any Singtel Shop, or
Check with your company’s HR department

Enjoy greater value and convenience with Singtel CIS! More details on signing up and the latest promotions can be found www.singtel.com/cis.

Share the CIS offers with your friends and family members!

What are you waiting for? Sign up for Singtel CIS today!

Terms and conditions apply. Please visit www.singtel.com/cis for more details.

(This article is brought to you by Singtel.)

Handphone Scams Are Soaring; Here’s What You Must Do

As shopping and payment transactions can be smoothly done through the power of your fingertips, about S$443 billion were spent in 2014’s mobile transactions – all over the world. But while digital wallets increase in popularity, so does the risk of scams.

What are handphone or mobile phone scams anyway? Handphone scams involve a variety of dishonest tactics, such as persuading you to buy a non-existent product or making you sign up to expensive subscription services, that are done for the scammer’s own profit.

According to Scams Singapore, a blog dedicated to identify and relay information about the existing frauds, common handphone scams occur when an unknown number contacts you and tells you to collect your prize or to pay for your kidnapped relative. With innovative ways to communicate and connect, the risk of scams rises. This is why it is important to stay vigilant and take preventative steps such as these:

1. PICKING PASSWORDS

When deciding which password you can use for your phone, do not choose the common ones such as 1234, 1111, or 0000. Also, you must change as often as possible.

For your mobile banking, maximize the use of your privacy settings by using two-factor authentication. Furthermore, do not make the security questions easy to answer because the scammers can just access your social media accounts.

2. OPENING ATTACHMENTS

To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Avoid phishing messages (i.e., when an unknown number asks for your bank account details). Simply, if you do not recognize the sender’s number and the area code is not +65 (i.e., Singapore’s area code) then, it is most likely a scam.

Image Credits: Antti Kultanen via Flickr with Creative Commons

3. DOWNLOADING APPS

When downloading Smartphone Apps, opt for the Apps that are available on the official retailers such as the iTunes or Google Play stores. Otherwise, there is a possibility of downloading bugs, virus or other malware. Downloading a tracking App for your devices is helpful in case you get robbed.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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