NOW TRENDING

Devices:

Q2 Stats for Smartphone Sales

As the second quarter of 2013 comes to a close, techies are on the edge of their seats wondering which smartphone is ahead of them all. LG and Samsung both upped market shares in the first quarter and are seriously taking off in Asia, particularly in South Korea. According to Juniper, a UK research firm, Samsung has twice as many smartphone sales as Apple, putting the iPhone solidly on the backburner.

Those same researchers claim that in order for Apple to give Samsung serious competition, innovation is key. Innovation is what Apple’s known for, but it’s been lagging behind in recent years. While iPhones can still cause a line to form, it doesn’t have that same obsessive fan base it used to according to some critics. Here’s a closer look at 2013′s Q2 facts.

The Reality of Second Place

While Samsung is leaving Apple in the dust, it’s important to note that Apple is still the runner up. Samsung had 70.1 million sales in quarter one of 2013, and Apple was trailing behind at 37.4 million. However, considering that third place went to LG with 10.3 million followed by Huawei at 9.9 million and ZTE at 9.1 million, second place doesn’t look too shabby. It’s going to take a lot for anyone to come close to touching Samsung or Apple, pitting these two giants into more battles.

Even in such a competitive market, that doesn’t stop others from trying. Amazon is introducing its own 3D phone soon, even though other glassless 3D devices have failed miserably in the US. Thus far, 2013 has turned out to be a record-breaking year for smartphone sales. In the first quarter, sales of smartphones surpassed that of feature phones for the first time in history. There’s no telling what records might be broken at the culmination of Q2.

The Return of LG

Even though LG is in third place, this is the first time in two quarters that it made the top 5 list. According to experts, the LG’s Nexus 4 for Android was the reason for the sudden spike, and LG is committed to keeping on the top list. Both Huawei and LTE are Chinese manufacturers and they’re already planning their next move, such as with ZTE’s 2013 Firefox Linux phone. The influx of winning Chinese phones is another trend to watch in 2013.

Future Predictions

Since nothing incredible seems to be coming from Apple, Samsung is expected to keep in the lead–although Apple is also known for surprising consumers with sudden releases. The Chinese manufacturers are working diligently to rise to the top, and it’s possible they might surpass LG by the end of 2013. However, if LG can stay on top of innovative designs, the company has a fighting chance to stay in the bronze place.

Devices:

Don’t Take Your Phone to the Bathroom

Toilet

The next time you receive a text or read a tweet, think about how often you do the same. Someone could be on the toilet and checking your Facebook status while you’re checking out his! Turns out, we’re all taking our mobile devices to the bathroom more and more, for a multitude of reasons including making work-related calls.

Continue reading Don’t Take Your Phone to the Bathroom

Around The Web

last update: May 22, 2013

Apps:

4 Ways Technology is Putting America’s Lawyers Out of Business

Lawyers

Mobile devices, high-performance computing, and the speed of social networking have placed the power of information directly into people’s hands. Knowledge that was once specialized can now be found through various online resources. Many legal documents are catalogued for free through online library systems. State and federal government websites give citizens up-to-date information on current statutes and regulations. In this new era of data, lawyers must keep their performance top-notch to provide aid and response to client concerns. Here are four ways lawyers are challenged by current technologies.

Continue reading 4 Ways Technology is Putting America’s Lawyers Out of Business

Apps:

The 3 Best Loan Calculator Apps

Loan Calculator Apps

Taking out a loan is one of the necessary evils of life, the knowledge that paying it back is going to make balancing your checkbook a nightmare. Not all of us are born math wizards, and figuring out how much we owe per month keeps a good number of us up long past our bedtime. However, at the risk of sounding cliched, there really is an app for that. In fact, there are hundreds; some great, some not. Here are the three best loan calculator apps.

Continue reading The 3 Best Loan Calculator Apps

Apps:

5 Apps that Help Increase Customer Loyalty

Brand Loyalty

People love their smartphones dearly. They love them tenderly and earnestly and enthusiastically. So it stands to reason that if one of the best ways to gain someone’s loyalty and affection is to love the things they love, to share their passions and embrace their interests, then the quickest way to a customer’s heart strings are through their smartphones. Luckily, there’s more than one great loyalty app for business generating, dedication inspiring, customer satisfaction. Here’s a list of five great apps to get started spreading the love with.

Continue reading 5 Apps that Help Increase Customer Loyalty

  • Follow TechVert

Apps:

Change the Way You Listen To Music in Your Car with TuneLink

TuneLink Auto Wireless Adapter

Listening to the same old songs and commercials being played on the radio stations we often listen to in our cars just won’t cut it anymore. Many of us love technology and wish there was more offered for our vehicles, but without the hassle of connecting wires and using tools. We enjoy uploading songs to our iPhones and other Apple devices, but usually can only play them with an mp3 connecting while driving in our cars.

Continue reading Change the Way You Listen To Music in Your Car with TuneLink

Apps:

Spotify VS. iTunes

In recent years Philadelphia has grown in stature as a tourist destination with a wide variety of excellent dining choices.  The number of steakhouses downtown is mindboggling.  For those seeking more informal dining, combined with stimulating entertainment, a slight detour to University City will be very rewarding.  From Independence Hall or Penn’s Landing, a moderate-length cab ride will get you there, or you can take the Walnut Street bus for $2 to get within a few blocks of Jolly’s Piano Bar at 3801 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.  If you happen to arrive at 30th Street Station, it’s walkable in the daytime.  Such a walk at night would not be advisable in any major city.  From the Art museum, it’s best to take a cab.

Once there Jolly’s Piano Bar offers a wide variety of burgers and other Bar Bites at moderate prices, accompanied by an assortment of beers and wines, including 24 craft beers.  The dress code is casual.  What makes the place truly unique is the dueling piano show, featuring a pair of pianists playing facing grand pianos, competing by playing audience requests in return for tips.  The audience members also compete to get their requests played and stop the current songs from finishing.  Jolly’s celebrated its grand opening this past June 22, having moved from its downtown location.  The new University City location is on the Penn campus and close to the expanding campus of Drexel University, so there is bound to be a distinctly collegiate atmosphere.

Patrons can impress their friends, new and old, or fill the breaks, perhaps at a bachelorette party, by sampling songs on their mobile devices.  But which device to use?  Spotify or iTunes?  A review by PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com) gives Spotify at high rating and says that at $9.99, $4.99 for desktop-only access, it obviates the need to own music.  It does not recommend the free version, which is says is “riddled with audio advertisements.”  In the case of iTunes, songs will be priced at $0.60, $0.99, or $1.29 from the iTunes Store.  So a subscriber to Spotify would definitely be equipped for any situation, whereas an iTunes patron would presumably have the favorite tunes on hand.

Either way they will be equipped for a good time, and they will look forward to returning to Jolly’s whenever business or pleasure takes them back to the City of Brotherly Love.

Mobile:

10 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe in Online Casinos

Online casinos can be a lot of fun, but staying safe is extremely important. While you’re playing online, you are at risk for fraud, identity theft, and losing money not bet. So in order to keep the games fun, take these ten steps towards a safer online gambling experience.

  • Choose a Respected Site

There is no quicker way to up your risk than simply playing at any casino you find online. The Internet is full of schemes that are easy to fall for. Some bad online casinos have taken players’ money and simply not payed out their winnings. To prevent this kind of unfair play, research your sites before you start playing. Read reviews, and ensure that everything is above board.

  • Check Security Policies

Another great way to double-check a site for reputability is to read the Terms & Conditions. Yes, they are usually long and boring, but they are important. Reputable sites use encryption software that ensures players’ information stays safe. If you can’t find a listed security policy, move to another site, or contact the online casino to double-check.

  • Is it Accredited?

Many good online casinos and gambling sites get accredited by independent auditors. Casinos that have an accreditation will prominently display this audit on their website. Of course, be sure to check that the auditing company is reputable as well before you start playing.

  • Set a Budget

You definitely need to keep your personal information safe, but what about your finances? It’s best to start placing bets only after you have a budget lined out. If you can’t stick to the budget, or find yourself gambling far more than you can afford, you might have a problem.

  • Set a Winnings Ceiling

Another good idea, along with your gambling budget, is to set a maximum for your winnings. Once you reach your winning goal, make sure you stop playing. Your luck will still be there the next time you play.

  • Know the Rules

This seems obvious, but a lot of new gamblers don’t learn the rules of the games. Although some games are easy to figure out, it’s always a great idea to start out playing free games. Once you learn all of the rules and tricks, then you can start actually betting.

  • Not Everyone Wins

Gambling is a gamble, and you are sure to lose at times. Before you start playing, make sure that your expectations are in the right place. It’s no fun to lose your cool and get angry about something that is suppose to be entertaining.

  • Don’t Fall for the Incredible

Many fraudulent sites offer huge jackpots to get people to play. Usually, if it seems too good to be true, it really is. So before you start playing a game that seems incredible, take a step back and think before giving the site money, or your credit card information.

  • Don’t Chat About Winnings

Posting about financial gains is the best way to receive unwanted attention. Don’t tell strangers on the Internet about your wins, losses, or tricks. If you must post on a forum about any of the above, make sure to use an alias, and never provide anyone with personal information.

  • Don’t Share Personal Information

Just as you shouldn’t post about winnings on open forums, don’t share your personal information with the people you are playing against. You can never know who is on the other side of the screen, and it’s best to always play it safe.

You’re responsible for keeping yourself safe, so make sure you follow these ten tips to keep your gambling fun.

  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9

More on TechVert