What Are Power Inverters?

You must have heard of the term “Power inverters”, sometimes they are simply referred as inverters. If you are planning to buy one but don’t know much about them then this article is just what you need in order to educate yourself.

In the most basic sense, power inverters are simple electronic devices that convert direct current in to alternating current. If you are familiar with scientific terms used in electronics then you can think of a power inverter as a device that performs the opposite function of a rectifier (rectifiers are used to convert direct current to alternating current). Earliest power inverters used mechanical rotating parts to achieve this conversion; however, advancements in electronic circuitry have replaced these moving mechanical parts with electrical circuits.

• What are the applications of power inverters?

1)     It can be used to power up electrical devices such as light bulbs, television sets, computers and fans. The main source of power in this application is a battery or multiple batteries connected in series. These batteries give out current, but the current thus produced is direct current. Most of the electrical devices however run on alternating current. So to convert this direct current in alternating current, a power inverter can be implemented. It is used widely in consumer homes to generate electricity in cases of power failure.

2)     Power inverters are used on a commercial scale in solar power plants. The electricity generated from solar cells is also in the form of direct current. Power inverters are used to convert this direct current in to alternating current.

3)     It can be implemented in engineering solutions where some part of the circuitry needs to run on alternating current.

• So can the inverter produce any power?

No, a power inverter cannot produce any electricity on its own; all of the power has to come from a direct current source. Power inverters simply accept this direct current and give an output in the form of alternating current.

• Can I find one in my home?

Most probably yes, if you have a desktop computer then you will notice that the power wire of the computer is plugged in to a UPS. UPS stands for uninterrupted power supply. This is actually a packaged combination of an inverter and a battery with some additional circuitry. When there is a power cut, the batteries act as a power source but they provide this power in the form of direct current. The inbuilt inverter then converts it in to alternating current that is used to run your computer. When the main power is back on, a rectifier puts the batteries on direct current to recharge them.

• Any other devices which have a built in power inverter?

Yes, devices known as tasers, used widely for law enforcement and security purposes have a built in power inverter in them. Tasers are also known as electroshock weapons, some of them use a power inverter to generate large amounts of electricity from a very small 9V DC battery.

The author of this article is an electrical engineer and operates a firm that deals in power inverter installations. He writes regular post on www.donrowe.com.

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Why Smart Watches Will Time Out

There are a huge variety of reasons why Smart Watches won’t work in the mass market. While gimmicky enough to excite the gadget collector, getting the mainstream consumer to buy into them will prove far more difficult. Especially, when they are put in context with better options out there.

Today’s Smart Phones are reaching the maturity of product lifecycle and coming into their own. Smart Phone cameras are actually competing with standalone cameras and not failing. Smart Phone apps are changing our lives in terms of how productive we as a society have become, how we track our movements, where we visit and how we socialise online.

Smart Watches are bad value for money. Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smart Watch to the iPhone 5S Smart Phone shows the real lack of quality features across the board. What’s worse is the lack of an USP or killer feature.

When developing Smart Watches, someone, somewhere, forget about one major target audience. Women won’t buy a Smart Watch. Why? There simply too ugly, too clunky and not an aspirational enough fashion accessory to justify the price point. And, traditionally far more women than men wear a watch, not just to tell time, but as an adornment. Many women see watches as akin to jewellery.

No one size fits all. Rules to live by in the rag trade, but what the Smart Watch developers haven’t noticed yet. Wrist size varies and so does eyesight. The screens in most Smart Watches are tiny.

In a world where people are always connected, taking the next step and seemingly talking to your wrist out loud might seem logical, but how crazy will you look? A lot of people find it hard to talk to hands-free-kits in the car. Do we honestly think Smart Watches will be the gadget to normalise what is perceived by many to be talking to oneself?

There are numerous early adopters out there. Time will tell how successful they will be but for the most part, don’t expect a stampede, after all, there not iPhones.

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The World Of Satellite Broadband - Is It The Solution For You?

Satellite broadband could shortly be supplying internet access with speeds as much as 10Mb, all over the UK;even if you reside in an isolated area where you are unable to get a fixed-line or mobile broadband connection.

Satellite broadband deals
Isolated and rural areas have been suffering broadband woes for a very long time – that’s where satellite broadband comes in. Satellite broadband is a choice available for those users who live in rural or remote areas where traditional fixed-line based broadband services aren't available.

At the moment satellite broadband technology accounts for only 2 per cent of all internet connections. However there are reports predicting growth in this sector, both in consumer uptake and product versatility. The worldwide subscribers are also expected to rise by a large proportion as prices plummet due to decreasing technology cost.

Satellite broadband does not need a setup of cables or wires to connect your residence to the internet, which is a major advantage over standard connections requiring a wire based setup linked into telephone exchanges. Satellite broadband is the epitome of wireless-ness.

There are three major satellite broadband providers in the UK, namely Tariam, Eutelsat and Astra.

Should I get satellite broadband?
Satellite broadband uses a satellite dish to provide access to broadband services. However speeds are normally lower than standard connections. The major advantage of satellite broadband is that it can be provided virtually anywhere on the globe. It is as an option to fill in broadband connection in areas that are hard to reach, or are unlikely to receive a wired or mobile connection; but for many, it doesn't provide a service as good as fixed broadband products.

The satellite broadband download speeds up to 2010 were only up to 3.6Mb. However, Eutelsat finished its developments in satellite Internet in 2010, which allowed the download speed to increase threefold.
The download limits are also relatively small compared to a fixed-line connection.

The cheapest package provides download allowanced of only around 2GB per month. This highlights how satellite broadband is unsuitable for heavy usage, such as downloading large amounts of data and files etc. The expensive packages provide around 10-30GB per month of download allowance, which typically costs more than £100.

Satellite broadband is also much less reliable than standard connections. The broadband signal has to travel a long, long way (up to the satellite) so there is high latency, and can be data loss, or even transmission failure. This makes it an unsuitable choice for online gaming, online TV services, video conferencing and other real time applications that require a high speed reliable internet connection.

Independent Broadband
Despite the few drawbacks, the biggest advantage of satellite broadband is that it does not need to be connected to the UK's fixed-line network. Dependence on the BT copper network is a big problem for people who live in isolated parts of the UK. Satellite broadband transmits the broadband signal via satellite so you can receive the signals wherever you reside. Satellite broadband means you can be totally independent of standard broadband networks.

What else do I need to know about satellite broadband?
In order to use satellite broadband, you will need to install a satellite dish (which is not a small one) along with a transmitter to be able to send data. The primary installation cost is a expensive, regardless of the provider you select. It can be around £300 if you install it manually yourself and it can go as high as £700 if you want a professional to come and install it. The majority of suppliers charge a connection fee of around £30. You will also require a satellite modem and a broadband router. Most providers give these for free along with the installation, but sometimes you have to pay for them separately.

In addition to the expensive set-up costs, the monthly satellite broadband fee is also higher than standard fixed-line connections, or mobile broadband connections. The monthly package costs can range from £20 to £35 for a very basic package.

Another small concern for people using satellite broadband is that extreme weather conditions can affect the connection. Heavy snow, rain or high winds are part and parcel of remote regions normally and these can all impede the signal. Satellite broadband requires a clear undisturbed line of sight between the satellite and the dish, and if anything gets in the way of this, like moisture in rain, then it may cause problems in the link.

Normal rain showers shouldn’t affect connection but a large storm could render you broadband-less.
Eutesat now transmits its broadband signals at a very high frequency so it is doubtful that there will be too much disturbance with this provider. If the weather is extreme you should not expect decent connectivity though.

The decision on satellite broadband
The installation and set-up costs of Satellite broadband are much higher than for standard conventional fixed-line broadband. Satellite broadband is also well below cable based connections in terms data transfer speed. Despite these facts, Satellite broadband offers a solution where no other may exist.It provides connectivity to those users who are unable to get a connection on a copper or a fibre line. It is not a cheap option but if you need internet connectivity, and can’t get online by any other means, then you should probably look at Satellite broadband.

Find out when your area is getting mobile and fixed broadband
If you are considering satellite broadband then you should first find out when super fast broadband is going to be rolled out to your area. There are plans afoot to bring fibre to much of the UK, and 4G mobile broadband is on its way to much of the UK too. Both of these options are probably preferable to satellite broadband. If you have a service arriving in a few months you will feel silly if you have just forked out £700 to install satellite broadband and won’t need it anymore.

Satellite broadband technology is expected to keep on improving and providing better speeds and reliability in the future. Great news for the marine industry and for those people on land that have no prospects for the arrival of fixed line broadband.

Phil Turner considered satellite broadband after he moved to a really remote part of the country. Before he made any final decision he checked out deals and the availability of other broadband connections by using online price comparisod n sites like uSwitch.

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What Are The UK Broadband Fair Use Policies?

In an effort to regulate the use of broadband UK broadband providers have introduced fair use policies.These policies are the way that providers control cyber traffic. The problem is that certain people may be hit harder than others; and not always fairly.Certain providers in the market are considered fairer than others. By knowing all the information about fair use policies you will you be able to find the best provider for you. So here you go…

Who gets affected the most?
As the fair use policy was created to keep cyber traffic down, heavy internet users are the most commonly affected.The actual theory behind the policy is that certain people may be affected by the heavy usage of others. By implementing the fair usage policy low usage consumers will not be affected by the heavy usage consumers.The fact is that you are likely to be sharing your connection with around 40 to 49 other people.The usual maximum contention ratio for a broadband connection is around 50:1.This means that your connection could be affected by what 49 other people are doing.If one user is regularly affecting the internet of the other users then the service provider will do something.

There are certain criteria which you can use to determine whether you are going to be affected by the fair use policy.People who download large files through peer-to-peer networks and online gamers are often affected.Others who use their home broadband for business might find their connections throttled.

To avoid being affected by the fair usage policy you can try cutting down how much you use your internet.Of course this is not an option that most people want to adopt.Another option is to limit your high usage activities to times when other people will not be online.If you are downloading large files when no-one else is online you will not be as severely affected by the policy.

Fair use policy penalties
When you first sign up to a service provider large downloads will generally be allowed for the first couple of months.If this trend persists the provider may get in touch with you and ask that you limit your usage a bit.Of course if you continuously exceed limits then fair use action is likely to follow.

There are a number of ways that this can impact.The first penalty will be the throttling of your connection.When this action is taken your connection speed will be slowed dramatically, particularly during peak times.Another form of action will be the charging for excess usage and the restriction of access to certain peer-to-peer sharing websites.There have been terminations of contracts in some very extreme cases.

Disputing your fair use policy penalty
If you do feel you have been unfairly penalized on the fair use policy there are a few things you can do.The first step would be to contact your service provider and try to resolve this issue with them.If you are unable to do that you should get in touch with Ofcom.Ofcom is the regulator for the telecommunication industry and other industries.The regulator will look into any complaints you have about your provider and try to help bring a resolution to the issue.They won’t always look at individual cases so it might be worth talking to people in your area on the same network to get a little people-power going.

Which UK broadband provider is the fairest?
There are certain providers which are considered to be fairer than others.You should look at the fair use policy of the provider and the traffic management strategies being used.

Sky Fair Usage
Sky is one of the most well-known service providers out there.They are also considered to be very fair in their policies.If you have an unlimited package with this provider you will not be subject to traffic management or fair use policies.This stand has caused high demand for their broadband, which can affect the overall speed of the connection.

The only packages that have a traffic management policy with this provider is the out-of-area packages.For these users traffic management will be in place mostly during peak times on weekdays, where certain kinds of traffic are prioritized.This scheme will not affect Sky Lite and unlimited customers.

Virgin Media Fair Usage
Virgin Media is another one of the most influential UK broadband service providers.While Virgin services are very popular the problem is that the industry sees package fairness level as errr… unfair.Most of the cable broadband deals offered by this provider are considered to be unlimited. However even the highest package is subject to traffic management schemes for people who go over certain usage limits.The traffic management scheme applies mainly during the day time and there are certain limits, which need to be considered.Once the limit has been reached the speed of the broadband connection can be cut by up to 75%. The reductions in speed will last around 5 hours even if you only exceeded the limit minutes before peak times end.

BT Fair Usage
BT is the telecommunications giant in the world of UK broadband.BT is seen as very fair in the implementation of their fair use policy.In fact the unlimited broadband packages offered by this provider are now truly unlimited and are not subject to any policy.If you are not on the unlimited package, but have BT vision, you will be given additional bandwidth.Before the move to truly unlimited broadband BT traffic management schemes targeted certain people.These people were those who used peer-to-peer websites during peak hours of the day during the week and on weekends.

Plusnet Fair Usage
Plusnet is another provider which many people have been drawn to. They are advertising heavily in the UK at the momentThe fair use policy for this provider is considered to be fair.For unlimited packages there is no fair use policy or rate limiting in place with this provider.However, even with the lack of fair use policy there is a traffic management scheme in place.The scheme with this provider is actually very detailed and called traffic prioritisation.The prioritised traffic on unlimited packages will be VOIP and gaming traffic first, followed by browsing and email, then download and sharing activities.

Phil Turner likes nothing more than when he can help his family and friends save a little money. He always advises them to shop around on price comparison websites when they need a great deal. They even have the latest the latest UK broadband offers so the sites are really helpful for those looking to upgrade their current service.

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What Is Satellite Broadband?

Satellite broadband is available to all in the UK, however, you have to decide if it is the right option for you.  You should do research to find out what satellite broadband really is.  Check the connection speeds that are on offer and if there are extra charges that apply to satellite that do not normally apply to traditional broadband deals.  There are also distinct advantages and disadvantages linked to broadband by satellite.

What is it?
This option is available for those in the UK who are unable to access other broadband internet connections.  This generally applies to those who live in the rural areas where ADSL and fibre optic services are not available.  The method of connection with this method is extremely involved.  The broadband for this method is picked up off a satellite dish.  The consumer will be provided with a satellite dish that connects to a satellite that is orbiting the earth, and this relayed satellite signal is relayed to the service provider’s hub which, in turn, is relayed back to the customer via the same path.

Is it worth obtaining?
The data transmission process involved with this method of broadband sets it up for problems and may not be a viable option for most people.  The speeds offered have increased dramatically over the past few years and you can now obtain speeds of 2Mbps up to 20Mbps.  The download speeds makes it comparable to ADSL broadband speed, however the upload speed is still much slower with an average speed of around 6Mbps.  This would definitely make it non-viable for commercial enterprises.

The data allowance limits for this type of broadband varies from around 10GB to unlimited.  The cost of the packages related to higher data allowance limits is a problem due to the cost.  You may have to pay around £16 for 2GB of data allowance.

The connection is very unstable and unreliable compared to other broadband options.  The main reason for this problem is that it feeds off satellite transmissions that can be affected by the weather and other external factors.  This will be a problem for consumers who wish to use the service for online gaming, online television transmission and video streaming.

Latency
The very nature of this broadband leaves it open to latency.  Latency can be termed as the delay or lag in transmission.  The signal is required to travel to a satellite and then travel to the internet service provider’s hub and it is this distance between all the points of transmission that causes the problem.  You will always experience a delay in the conversation if you are speaking to a person in another country via your satellite connection.  In this case you will find a delay between speaking and the person on the other end hearing what you have just said.  Although this may only be a one second delay it can become extremely frustrating because at some point you tend to speak over each other all the time.  This latency will cause you to stop using certain services that are available to you such as video conferencing, online gaming and VOIP services.

Weather Interference
When satellite broadband was first made available to consumers, the weather was a huge factor in the effectiveness of the service.  Nowadays, this is not as big a problem, but it still is a problem.  For this type of service to be effective, you need to have a line of sight between the transmission satellite dish and the satellite.  If there is anything blocking this path such as moisture, clouds or any man-made objects, the signal will be disrupted.  Normal rain showers no longer affect the connection because the transmission frequency has been increased over the last few years, but if there is a more severe storm, you will more than likely lose connection completely.

Additional Costs
You may be liable for additional costs if you choose this form of broadband.  The first cost you will have to face is the installation.  You will require a special satellite dish as well as a transmitter.  The cost for the installation of this equipment could be up to a few hundred pounds.  Additionally, there may be a set up fee payable for the account set up.  The set up fee is normally lower if your hardware cost is high, although this is not applicable to all providers as some of them may charge you high costs for both services.  Most of the service providers seem to work on a theory of ‘high monthly fee, low hardware and setup fee.’

Telephone Line
The one cost benefit to this method of internet connection is that you do not need a landline connection.  This will definitely be a cost saving for you.  The one problem that you may be facing however is that if your residence is in an area where there is no traditional broadband connection, you may not have mobile phone coverage either, so you will have to have a landline telephone.

Who are the Service Providers?
There are five service providers for this type of service in the UK.  These are:

• Avonline
• Broadband Wherever
• Rural Broadband
• Satellite Internet
• Tooway

The packages that these providers offer vary in stability and price.  Prior to signing a contract with a service provider you should ensure that you know exactly what they are offering you.  Your best bet is to speak to your neighbours and friends about the service that the providers offer.  Find out the cost, the stability of the connection and the possible costs that you may be liable for.  Compare the services offered from all the providers who operate in your area before you make a decision.

Satellite broadband should be your last choice as the problematic method of connection and high costs are not worth it.  If you are able to get another form of broadband connection, you will do better to choose that.  Satellite is unable to offer the same stability and connection speeds of traditional broadband services.

The use of satellite broadband could make life much easier for Phil Turner.  uSwitch helped him to located deals that were great value for money and that would meet his requirements.

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5 Finance Apps to Make Your Life Easier

Planning finances isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do.  When we sit down and look at our incomings and outgoings, it is easy to get in the mind-set that everything is fixed and we simply have to accept our situation. 

However, when we take a closer look at things, we can often find that there are opportunities to save money.  What most people don’t invest in is the truth that a lot of small savings fast add up into a serious sum of money.  If sitting down and going through your finances doesn’t appeal to you, or you aren’t the best at keeping track of your spending, then you can always decide to use finance apps instead.  This infographic brings together the best five iOS premium apps related to financial management, all of which can help you plan, save, and hand you back control of your financial affairs.

Jenny loves the financial world and is currently looking for Dealmarket private equity funding opportunities.  She was a big user of finance apps when she was at University to help her plan spending.

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Great Contract Deals On Mobile Phones With Free Gifts

Mobile phones with free gifts are great because they give us something extra which we were not banking on getting. These free gifts can make the difference between choosing one handset or another. This is why a lot of mobile phone companies try to give us free gifts now and again, because they know how big an impact they have.

At the time of writing one of the most popular gifts around is not a free laptop or even a free console; it is in fact the much sought-after Beats by Dre earphones. This is due to the earphones being very high quality and giving you a better user experience. Although free laptops may seem quite appealing, the price of the computer often finds its way into the cost of the contract, which means it is not really free after all. Mobile phones with free gifts are more popular than ever because it is not always that easy to get something for nothing, but you still can if you know where to look.

Finding a Free Gift for You
This article details a lot of great mobile phone deals which come with a free pair of Beats earphones. These handsets are some of the best on the market right now, coupled with a great deal you are sure to love.
Below the contract details you will be shown a little more about the handsets, helping you to understand how they work and why you will be getting an offer which may just be too good to refuse.

Handset: BlackBerry Curve 9320 

Monthly Cost: £14.00
Contract Length: 24 months
Service Provider: O2
Cost of Phone: £29.99
Free Minutes: 50
Texts: Unlimited
Data Allowance: 100MB
Special Offer: Free Beats earphones
Not a bad price contract for this lovely new handset. Ideal if you are not going to be using the phone very often, but great if you want one with you so you can listen to some tunes or your favourite radio show.
Mobile Phone Specifications:
Dimensions and weight: 109 x 60 x 12.7 mm, 103 grams
Screen Size: 2.4 inches, 320 x 240 pixels
Pixel resolution: 164 pixels per inch
Camera: 3.2 mega pixels
Built-in Storage: 512 MB of RAM
Storage Expansion: NO
GPS: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1
Battery: 1450 mAh

Handset: Samsung Galaxy Y
Monthly Cost: £14.00

Contract Length: 24 months
Service Provider: O2
Cost of Phone: Free
Free Minutes: 50
Texts: Unlimited
Data Allowance: 100MB
Special Offer: Free Beats earphones
Another nice offer, again not great when it comes to allowances, but ok if you want the peace of mind which having a mobile phone can bring. If you do find that you need to use more texts/data etc. please contact your service provider as they may be able to help.
Mobile Phone Specifications:
Dimensions and weight: 104 x 58 x 11.5 mm, 98 grams
Screen Size: 3.0 inches, 240 x 320 pixels
Pixel resolution: 133 pixels per inch
Camera: 2 mega pixels
Built-in Storage: 0.16 GB
Storage Expansion: Up to 32 GB
GPS: Yes
Connectivity: Chip and Processor:
Battery: 1200 mAh

Handset: Samsung Galaxy Ace - 37
Monthly Cost: £14.00
Contract Length: 24 months
Service Provider: O2
Cost of Phone: £19.99
Free Minutes: 50
Texts: Unlimited
Data Allowance: 100MB
Special Offer: Free Beats earphones
A very good deal if you love to text as ‘unlimited’ can mean you are able to send anything between 3,000 and 5,000 texts each month.
Mobile Phone Specifications:
Dimensions and weight: 112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm, 113 grams
Screen Size: 3.5 inches, 320 x 480 pixels
Pixel resolution: 165 pixels per inch
Camera: 5 mega pixels
Built-in Storage: 0.158 GB
Storage Expansion: Up to 32 GB
GPS: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
Battery: 1350 mAh

Handset: HTC Windows Phone 8S
Monthly Cost: £19.00
Contract Length: 24 months
Service Provider: 3
Cost of Phone: £19.99
Free Minutes: 500
Texts: 5,000
Data Allowance: 250MB
Special Offer: Free Beats earphones
This has to be one of the better deals on offer right now as you can make use of a very high number of texts and a lot of minutes; perfect for people who love to stay in touch.
Mobile Phone Specifications:
Dimensions and weight: 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm, 113 grams
Screen Size: 4.0 inches
Pixel resolution: 233 pixels per inch
Camera: 5 mega pixels
Built-in Storage: 4 Gb
Storage Expansion: Up to 32 GB
GPS: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth EDR
Battery: 1700 mAh

Handset: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Monthly Cost: £31.00
Contract Length: 24 months
Service Provider: 3
Cost of Phone: £19.99
Free Minutes: 2,000
Texts: 500
Data Allowance: Unlimited
Special Offer: Free Beats earphones
This is the best deal we have come across so far. Ok, so it may cost £31 a month, but with that you will have an incredible 2,000 free minutes, 500 texts and an unlimited data allowance, making this offer great value for money.
Mobile Phone Specifications:
Dimensions and weight: 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94 mm, 107 grams
Screen Size: 4.3 inches, 540 x 960 pixels
Pixel resolution: 256 pixels per inch
Camera: 8 mega pixels
Built-in Storage: 8 GB
Storage Expansion:
GPS: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 EDR
Battery: 1900 mAh

Everyone Loves Mobile Phones with Free Gifts
It is easy to see why everyone loves mobile phones with free gifts. These great handsets give us the chance to get online, play a wide range of games, download hundreds of apps and enjoy everything the phone has to offer. What is more, the music-mad people out there will love the Beats earphones as they give you a better quality sound to enjoy every time you use them.

Have a good look at the range of mobile phones which offer this great free gift and choose one you know is going to do you proud. Take a good look at the specified contract, but do not be afraid to take a look for another one if you think you can get a better deal. Make sure the contract has a free pair of earphones with it, or you could miss out.

Phil Turner did not realise how many mobile phones with free gifts were available on the market until he visited comparison sites like uSwitch.com.

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6 Reasons To Love The Sony Z1

The Sony Xperia Z1 could well be one of the best handsets on the market right now. When you glance at the phone you can clearly see that it has got a lot to offer, but what exactly do people love about the Sony Z1, and why has it become such a popular handset?

6 Good Reasons
Here are 6 reasons why this particular handset is a major player in the smartphone industry right now:

1. It is waterproof – This incredibly good looking handset will do you proud, especially if you are inclined to drop your new phones in a puddle or like me, spill something over it. Not only will this smartphone cope with being submerged for a short while, but it will in actual fact be able to cope with being dunked in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes. I reckon that is pretty good. The Sony Xperia Z also comes with this feature, but the sad fact is that unless the handset’s little flaps were closed, the handset was not particularly waterproof at all. Even if you accidentally dropped your Xperia Z in a puddle, you could not claim off the warranty if the flap which covered the headphone jack was left open. The good news is the Z1 is different, and you won’t need any flaps to be shut in order for the waterproof feature to work. This is also great news if you want to talk while it is raining, a lot of people are hesitant to use their handset when the heavens open, but the Z1 makes it ok to do just that, so do not be worried, go ahead and talk away until you are drenched to the skin.


2. The big screen – These days we like our handsets to come with big screens, this is so we can enjoy watching movies without having to strain our eyes. The Sony Z1 not only comes with an impressive 5 inch screen, but it also happens to be a pretty good screen. With a high resolution display which measures 1080 x 1920 pixels, you will have no problem making out a lot of detail. What is more the pixel per inch density is a very impressive 441, which means you can enjoy a lot of colours and clarity, no matter what you watch.


3. The very long lasting battery – Some mobile phones are notoriously known to use the battery up very quickly. This is usually due to a lot of apps working in the background, and a wide variety of other functions that makes the handset so good. The Xperia Z1 is as different as it comes, with a very impressive 850 hours of standby time and 13 hours of talk time, which means you will not have to charge the battery any time soon.


4. The availability of apps - As with a lot of smartphones, you will have the chance to download a wide variety of apps. With the Xperia Z1, you can expect to be able to download more than 100,000 different apps, so you can work or play whenever and wherever you wish. The Google Play store comes with a wide variety of apps, but they are not always suitable for every handset, this is where the Z1 differs as you can download just about any Android app out there.


5. A huge memory capacity - None of us like to own a handset which severely limits the amount of music, pictures and videos we can store on it. With the Sony Xperia Z1, you will find it hard to use up a whole load of memory, thanks to its 16GB of built-in storage and the opportunity for you to expand it by an amazing 64GB, now that is pretty good. You will have to buy a microSDHC, microSD or a microSDCX card if you want to expand the memory, but if you want an extra 64GB, it will be well worth the cost.


6. The 20.7 mega pixel camera – Need I say more? This makes the Z1 ideal if you love to take pictures or shoot videos. Not too long ago, phones which came with an 8 mega pixel camera were considered the norm, and while some new handsets still offer us less than 10 mega pixels, this delightful Sony handset truly is a cut above the rest. Take a picture or two, throw in a video so you can be reminded when your mate did that, and store it on your handset safe in the knowledge your pictures and videos will look good, and you will be able to make out an incredible amount of detail every single time.

Will You Buy The Sony Z1?
Chances are if you have read this far down the page, you are interested in buying the Sony Xperia Z1. The good news is there are a lot of great offers out there, which means you will be able to choose from a wide variety of contracts or Pay As You Go deals. But before you decide to sign on the dotted line, here is a little bit of information about what could potentially be the best handset you ever buy:

Features and Specifications
Released: September 2013
Dimensions and weight: 144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm (H, W, D), 170 grams
Operating System: Android 4.3
Camera and features: 20.7 mega pixels, LED flash, auto focus, image stabilisation, digital zoon, panorama, self-timer.
Chip and processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 and Quad core, 2200 MHz
Memory: 16GB of built-in storage and the opportunity to expand up to 80GB with a 64GB microSDHC, microSD or a microSDCX card.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and mobile hotspot, USB 2.0, computer sync and tethering

If you are looking for a really good handset which is as durable and easy to use as they come, you won’t go far wrong with the Sony Xperia Z1. The six reasons to love the Z1 are but only a few of the many great reasons to buy this phone, and if you are lucky enough to get your hands on this incredible handset, you will discover there are many more great reasons.

Phil Turner wanted a smartphone with a large screen for easy viewing so he opted to purchase the Sony Z1 after reading reviews on sites such as uSwitch.

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8 Reasons To Choose A Walkman Phone

Wondering if a Sony Ericsson Walkman phone is for you? You'll be making a solid buy; read on to find out the great reasons why you should consider going Walkman.

You LOVE Music
Are you the kind of person who always has headphones in? Never without your own personal soundtrack? Walkman phones are designed with cutting edge sound technology to make sure that you've always got the sound quality that you need to play your tracks. From bass boosters to intuitive media players (don't worry, we'll tell you more about features in a minute) you're going to know that you're getting the best music phone around.

Awesome Sound Features
Want to know more about all those sound features? Check out some of these. SensMe is Sony's proprietary software that indexes tracks by their tempo and rhythm. This means that you can decide that you want to listen to “relaxing” music or “gym” music, and be sure that you're going to get a playlist that gives you the mood that you want when you want it, without needing to design that list yourself. How's that for convenient? TrackID means that you'll always know what you're listening too, no matter what it is. Not only that, TrackID works obviously for your own music, but it also allows you to clip a song from the Internet, or even hold your phone up to a speaker and find out exactly what's playing so you can find out what that great new song is.

What about Shake Me? If you are tired of designing playlists and love your music, but want to shake things up a little, then Shake Me is for you. Simply take your phone and shake it. Your tracks will automatically randomise so that you get to hear your music in a whole new way.

Sweet Style
Walkman phones aren't bad looking either. Whether you're looking for a traditional keypad phone, a touch screen smartphone or even a cool slide phone that gives you a great screen as well as that keypad, you won't be disappointed with Sony. There are models out there for everyone; all you need to do is choose which one's right for you. Tired of all the boring black phones on the market? Again, Sony's got you covered. With models coming in colours from pink to red to green, you can have a phone that's truly eye catching and that will definitely make a splash.

It's not all about colour and shape though. Walkman phones have great build quality and smooth, curvaceous design that will make your mouth water. Just because you want to listen to your music doesn't mean that you should compromise when it comes to looks.

Save Yourself Some Cash
With so many phones these days costing hundreds of pounds, one of the greatest things about going for a Walkman phone is that you can really save yourself some cash. You can get a mobile with great sound quality for under £50, and even a high end model is only going to cost you around £150 or so. If you're on a limited budget but still want a great phone, then these price tags are really going to appeal to you.

Walkman Features
Think that because you want a great music phone that you're going to need to compromise on other features? Not necessarily. There are so many Walkman models around that you're going to find the phone that you want with no worries. What kind of features are we talking about?

The choice is yours. Want a cool 8 MP camera? Try the W995 model. 2G, 3G? Both are available. How much internal memory are you looking for? It doesn't really matter, Sony has you covered however much storage space you want. And all the Walkman models take extra external memory, so you can always grab an affordable memory stick and increase your phone's memory capacity so that you can hold even more albums in your hand.

The Easiest Media Player
Media players can be complicated to use, fiddly and difficult to get your head around. With the patented Walkman media player you're not going to have these worries. Your media player is going to be intuitive and easy to use, and if you go for a touch screen model then you're going to get a truly simple drag and drop player. It doesn't get much easier than that. Want to find out more about what you're in for? Check out this link here, and read all about Sony's awesome media players.

Stereo Buttons
Something that can be truly annoying about using your phone as a music player is that you've got to open your phone, find your app and find your track all before you get to listen to your tunes. With a Sony, you're not going to have this problem. All the music phones in the line have a dedicated music button, so you can just press and go. Playing music really doesn't get any easier than this.

Nice Extras
Sometimes it's the little things that make the difference, and a Sony Ericsson isn't going to let you down. There are all kinds of sweet extra features put into the design and software that are really going to impress you. Our personal favourite is the kick stand on some of the higher end models. This means that you can stand your phone up and broadcast your music with great projection, because sometimes you just want to share your songs, right?

For true music lovers, a Sony Ericsson Walkman phone is going to be an awesome buy. If we haven't yet persuaded you yet, go check out a few models for yourself. The effortless combination of style, features and rocking music playing is sure to convert you. The best part is that you'll get an all-around great phone, so you won't need to make compromises in order to get the fantastic sound quality that you're looking for.

Phil Turner was looking for a phone for his daughter with great music features, so after a bit of research he opted for one of the Sony Ericsson Walkman models.

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