Most Wanted iPad 2 : What to Expect

There's been quite a bit of buzz around the next iPad. The one we're using now is only six months old, but some are already looking forward New rumors are circulating that the next iPad will have  Apple's next iPad will make use of a dual-core mobile processor. We take a look at what's new with the A5 chip What's the easiest way to increase system performance? It's likely because the iPad 2's new  cameras mean you can snap and store photos and videos.

There’s been quite a bit of buzz around the next iPad. The one we’re using now is only six months old, but some are already looking forward to the possibility of a new form factor and a new screen size. I expect Apple to release another iPad this year. Here’s why:

Competition is non-existent for iPad right now. All the other guys have tablets shipping “end of the year,” and many more of the more formidable iPad competitors will be out in 2011. Apple’s going to do what it can to get the second revision out this year only for that one liner that Steve loves, “We’re releasing the next iPad today before our competitors have even caught up with the first generation.” He’s used that line a few times, but the iPad itself will probably look very similar to the one you’re holding in your hand right now. I predict it will have the same aluminum back, the same bezel and similar weight and the battery life will be mostly unchanged. What will be new?

New Screen Size

The rumor lately is that a 7? model is on its way to sit right beside the current 9? model, and due to Apple’s resolution independence and growing number of developers, a new size won’t cause many issues beyond a few optimizations that have to happen from App Store developers to make things look perfect. For the most part, Apple’s going to make sure most apps “just work.”

The new screen size will help iPad reach a lower price point for consumers and compete with the Amazon Kindle in size and price. Soon, an iPad with thousands of apps will sit along-side the Kindle nicely and make Amazon drop its price even lower to compete.

New Screen Resolution

You can be sure that Apple’s Retina Display, or something very close, will make its way to iPad. More and more iPhone 4 users are telling me that they use the iPhone over iPad because of the beautiful screen and how the iPad just feels empty and flat. This is an inevitable upgrade that is going to force us early adopters who own an iPad and iPhone 4 to jump in line. That screen is addictive and we want it.

FaceTime

Apple’s FaceTime making its way to the next generation iPod touch (via a front-facing camera) and Macs (by the way of a software update) seem like logical steps, but what about iPad? Steve’s promise of “millions of FaceTime devices by the end of the year” is starting to sound empty as we approach September, but it’s this month that we’ll see more of those “millions” of devices available to the public when new iPods and a new iPad is released.

In Apple’s latest iOS betas, you can FaceTime someone based on their email address so devices that aren’t phones (everything but iPhone) will be able to use FaceTime no problem. This is when things really start getting interesting

iPad News Updates brings you the most newsworthy iPad and iPad 2 news Jailbreaking the iPad: What You Need to Know We've been hearing a ton of rumors about what  direction Apple's next set Apple iOS 4.3 coming March 11 with iPad 2, includes new AirPlay iPad 2: all the latest details. Updated: New iPad release date, specs and price. By TechRadar team. Wednesday at 20:18 GMT | Tell us what you think

New Form Factor

I’m doubtful of this one but it’s worth mentioning in this post. Apple generally waits two to three refreshes before redoing the overall hardware of its devices, but a thinner iPad may be in line that mimics much of Apple’s iPhone 4. Squaring off the design would help the device lay flat, but would also make it more susceptible to scratches. I’ve long wanted an iPad bumper case to help in the event of a drop and wish Apple would move away from steel aluminum as it’s so darn slippery. This is a maybe as Apple can legitimately call this a second generation iPad without modifying the outer shell. Of course, if it’s releasing a smaller screen size, it might be a good idea to change things up a bit to throw off the competition. We’ll see.

Why iPad 2 So Soon?

Other than throwing off the competition, there are huge gaps now between iPhone and iPad from the display to FaceTime and the competition in price and size from Kindle that leads me to an iPad refresh right before the holidays as a way for Apple to blow all previous numbers out of the water and make it impossible for competition to position themselves against Apple by including any of those features in their devices. The rumored BlackPad from RIM is said to include a camera, and the Cisco tablet will be smaller than the iPad and easier to carry. A 7? iPad with FaceTime would do the trick to put both of those products out to pasture before they even ship.

What's New About the iPad 2? A visual guide to everything that's changed about Apple's new tablet.  If I got the new iPad, which i'm planning to do i'd love to be able to .... FP Tech Desk: What  the Apple iPad 2 might be packing | FP Posted What's Not New. As everyone was expecting, the iPad 2 has a front-facing video camera with FaceTime support, plus a new rear-facing one.

What do you think?

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How To Track Your iPad/iPhone/iPod’s Location?

GadgetTrak provides proven theft recovery solutions for a wide range of portable devices including cell phones, PDAs, removable media devices iPodS. ActiveTrak has announced the release of GadgetTrak 2.5, a new version of its theft recovery software for iOS. The update is available for download from the App Store, and the app costs 99 cents. Tracking data is transmitted over a secure SSL connection and you can even use  GadgetTrak to protect your Mac and Windows laptops visit Trak.me from your device or use the in-app button to setup the tracking.

The GadgetTrak iOS application has been updated and released in to the iTunes Store and allows you to track the location of your iOS devices. GadgetTrak silently reports its location and senses when your iPhone or iPad has significantly changed its location and the GadgetTrak server keeps track of where your phone has been.

With all of the photos, contacts, apps and music on your iPhone, losing it would be a massive pain. Unfortunately, that pain is felt by thousands of smartphone users every day. Ask them—they wish they'd had GadgetTrak installed.

When your device is missing, log into your account using any web browser and enable tracking immediately. GadgetTrak will spring to life and generate location reports, including map points, longitude & latitude and IP address to help you pinpoint your lost device. It can even snap photos of the thief!
For extra security, enable the "Deleting Apps" restriction in Settings App->General->Restrictions. This will keep the thief from deleting GadgetTrak (and any other apps).

But dont forget the application has to be activated before it can start tracking your iPhone or iPad and when it is activated your battery will use more juice than normal.

 

Features

Location Tracking

If your device has GPS capability it will be used by GadgetTrak to get the most accurate location possible. Even without GPS, GadgetTrak can use cell towers and/or advanced Wi-Fi positioning technology to pinpoint the location of your device usually within a few meters.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Continued use of GPS can dramatically decrease battery life. For better battery performance, deactivate tracking until the device is lost. The GadgetTrak app does not use GPS and will not impact battery life when tracking is disabled (even if the Navigation icon appears).

Push Notifications

GadgetTrak automatically sends a discrete message to your device, enticing the thief to initiate a tracking report.

Camera Reports

Snap a photo with the built in camera(s) to collect crucial evidence to help Police catch the thief. (available for iOS devices with at least one built-in camera, additional in-app purchase required)

GadgetTrak for iOS is part of a suite of products available for a variety of platforms including Mac OS X and iOS. The software enables you to track and recover devices that hve been lost or stolen. New to the 2.5 release of GadgetTrak for iOS is support for cameras. If your iOS device has a built-in camera – such as an iPhone or iPod touch – GadgetTrak will snap photos to help you ad the police identify the thief and location where the device is. The photo can now be attached to an e-mail; the e-mail also includes location information.

Additional Features

• Locate your device using GPS, cell tower triangulation, and/or WiFi positioning
• Location reports posted to the web control panel at http://trak.me
• Location history to know where your phone has been
• Automatic push notifications
• Camera support for the front and rear-facing camera (in-app purchase required)
• Secure SSL connection for transmitting location data & photos
• Cross Platform: GadgetTrak has apps to protect your laptop (Mac & Windows) as well as Android and BlackBerry phones and tablets.

Need Help?

Download the GadgetTrak iOS Installation & Usage Manual here: http://www.gadgettrak.com/support/downloads

http://www.gadgettrak.com/products/iphone/

We take pride in providing great support for all of our products. If you have questions, concerns, or feedback let us know and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible: http://www.gadgettrak.com/support

What's new

• Remotely capture a photo with all built-in cameras, then email it to yourself to help catch the thief! (via a one-time In-App Purchase)
• Push notifications – Send a discrete message to your device enticing the the person who has it to initiate a tracking event.
• Various Bug Fixes.

GadgetTrak now being offered with select warranty plans ActiveTrak has announced that its GadgetTrak Laptop 3 software is now being bundled We contacted GadgetTrak and they sent us all the information we needed to recover the iPod. Luckily it was not necessary to go to the police.

System Requirement

• Requires iOS 4 or higher
• Background processing only supported on iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPod touch 3rd generation or newer

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How To Have All The Latest Gadgets Without Going Broke

Gadgets have become the part and parcel of our life. Hardly any of us can imagine our life with different gadgets. The gadgets help to promote the quality of our life and thus the budget plan for buying gadget should be done under the purchase ability of an individual. So, here some tips How To Have All The Latest Gadgets Without Going Broke.

Warning
Before we begin, a word of caution: Go down this road and you will lose money. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. That said, if you're smart about timing, anal about upkeep, and diligent with your documentation, it's possible to attain bleeding-edge bliss without leaving a trail of financial havoc in your wake. The truly adept upgrader can even come close to breaking even. Here are some guidelines to follow in your new never-ending quest to remain current.

Learn Your Life Cycles and Laws
Moore's Law, Bell's Law, Kryder's Law—someone's always pronouncing them dead or obsolete, but many of these guiding tech principles are the main reason you're continually playing catch-up. The relevant ones also exert tremendous influence over when, how, and why your gear evolves. If you plan on leveling up at regular intervals, you'd do well to familiarize yourself with all of them. Having even a basic understanding of these informal laws can give you a sense of why the laptop you bought two years ago seems old and busted now.

Beyond that, they also shape various tech industry roadmaps. Companies like AMD, Intel and others are all fairly transparent about their update cycles. But figuring out how those plans carry over to actual gadget updates can take some work. For those devoted to Apple products, tools like MacTracker will help you divine specific product release date patterns and pricing history. Unfortunately, PC users don't have anything as useful.

Still, you can also start tracking company announcements and specific release dates yourself by going back and reading gadget sites and company press releases. Once you have a year or two's worth of data, spreadsheet those numbers to look for patterns. Macrumors has already done most of the heavy lifting for Apple upgraders. But you can also set up your own calendar alerts if you're feeling ambitious. It may seem like overkill, but staying one step ahead of new product announcements is paramount to earning top dollar for used gear.

Also, keep in mind that the end of November through the beginning of January (that'd be right now…) is the absolute worst time to sell your gear. With Black Friday/Cyber Monday/X-Mas/CES in the mix, we're right in the middle of new product announcement season. This is also accompanied by heavy discounts from retailers looking to clear inventory. Wait at least until mid-January before you even think of putting your gear on the market.

Save Everything
Resist the urge to toss out receipts, boxes, warranty cards, and other seemingly useless pieces of paper and cardboard. Nothing is more reassuring to a new owner than receiving a gadget that's neatly packaged with all its original materials. Also keeping all your materials will assure potential buyers that you're not a crook. You not only buy yourself a ton of pricing leverage when you save everything, but things like a receipt will also facilitate the transferal of warranty and registration info. If you have unused space in a closet or garage, start constructing your box tower now. Grab a Rubbermaid bin or two for storing everything else. If space is at a minimum, gadget boxes also made into makeshift bedside tables, desks or bookshelves.

Brands Matter
A lot. Just as some cars retain their value better than others, so do some gadgets. If you're going to swap your gear every year, it's best to focus the stuff that'll fetch the highest price in the second-hand market. To get a sense of which brands retain their value, keep an eye on completed eBay auctions. eBay Pulse gives you access to the top 10 most popular searches, popular stores, popular products, as well as the highest priced and most watched items on eBay. It doesn't hurt to do a specific searches for the item(s) you're selling on Craigslist, either. Like it or not, Apple products tend to retain their value much better than other brands. Other big brands like Sony and HP are also proven performers.

…But So Do Categories
Just like brands, certain product categories are always easier to traffic. Don't wast your time on items like printers, external hard drives, HDTVs, or any other gadget that is either already relatively cheap (new) or exceedingly awkward to transport. Laptops, desktops and smartphones, on the other hand, are usually in demand and easy to unload on the unsuspecting masses.

The Configuration Dilemma
If you're reading this, chances are you'll be itching to spring for the tippy-top-of-the-line gear. That can be a mistake. Always think of your target market when buying a new product. It may be the case that your potential customers won't share your affection for the latest Core i7 processor or your propensity for massive memory reserves. Here, it helps to pay close attention to company earnings calls to figure out what the most popular items are in a given quarter. Then use that info to make an informed choice. While it's possible that certain high-end or flagship models will be in great demand, people shopping the second-hand market are usually looking for bargains. Just keep in mind that a re-seller's sweet spot isn't always the priciest item.

Care for Your Precious
It goes without saying, but a scuffed, dinged or otherwise flawed gadget will command a dramatically reduced price. When you purchase your new gear, invest in cases, covers, furry linings and whatever other prophylactics you think will be useful. You don't need anything fancy or stylish, just enough to keep your gear safe. And hey, when it comes time to sell, you can always offer these protective cases and charge a little extra.

Warranties
Remaining current means you'll be dumping your gadgets back into the market after a year—often less. You should also seriously consider extended warranties. Don't worry, you can usually recoup the price of these plans when you sell you gear. Note: This is especially important if you're selling stuff online, where a buyer won't be able to test drive or physically inspect the item. Their peace of mind = money in your pocket.

Preserve Your Batteries

Cosmetic appearance is important. But proper internal maintenance should be high on your priority list too. Since most our mobile gear is powered by fickle lithium Ion batteries, you'll want to do everything you can to keep them healthy and happy. If laptops are your thing, software like Coconut Battery (for Macs) will help you stay on top of load cycles and internal temperature. Most companies also offer strategies and tips for keeping your batteries healthy. Follow them.

Get to know Trade-in/Recycling Sites
They should be last resorts if you truly want to maximize the amount of money you can get for your gear, but combing through sites like Gazelle and YouRenew will give you a good idea of just how fickle the gadget resale market can be. Want to know how quickly your fancy smartphone depreciates once the new version is announced? Take a look at the payout rate for the 3GS.

Timing Is Everything
Once you've figured out what you can sell, the next question you need to ask is when. Here's the answer: Right before the announcement of the next-gen version. Days make a huge difference here; selling at the right time can mean as much as 10- to 20-percent more cheddar in your pocket. It doesn't hurt to read gadget blogs to stay on top of all the latest news. We recommend gadgetmostwanted.blogspot.com, but there are apparently others. Just remember, falling behind on news is not an option. Something as innocuous as a rumor can send other like-minded upgraders scurrying to the Web and flooding the resale market.

The Art of Pricing
This is definitely more art than science. But do it right, and you can walk away with close to what you originally paid. In rare instances, even more. Ever notice all those ridiculous Craigslist ads asking for triple the retail price? Don't do that. But depending on the item, it can be smart to start high—particularly if you are selling a hard-to-get or high-end item. Even in the second hand market, people still equate a higher price tag with higher quality item. It can pay to make that gamble. If the timing, product, and condition is right, you can frequently get away charging retail (minus tax). Bam, you just rented a gadget for 8-percent of its retail price. In the end, there is a subtle dance to arriving at a fair and attractive price without short selling yourself. With practice, you will learn it.

Hone Your Salesman Skills

Your gear is in pristine shape, everything is in order, and it's time to write your ad. If you're funny, be funny. If not, just be straightforward and comprehensive. "Here's this Used Thing, Gimme Money" will not do the trick. When you get responses or enquiries, try not to appear overeager or desperate. But don't be vague or elusive, either. Spend a little extra time and effort to list your gadget's meaningful specs and take some nice (flattering) pictures. Answer questions in a timely manner. It's also a good idea to use one or two representative shots and then link to a Flickr gallery with better, higher-rez pics. People like to see effort.

Act Locally
Sure, PayPal's convenient, and eBay and Amazon gets you tons of eyeballs. But if you really care about squeezing every last penny out of your used gadgets, nothing beats a good ol' fashion face-to-face transaction. And that's why Craigslist should be an upgrader's first stop. Yes, spam and scams tend to abound here, but there are also tons of decent, respectable people simply looking for good deals. The added benefit of selling locally is that the person can actually see what they're getting, minimizing the risk that you'll get caught up in some endless online dispute. Oh, and there's also no transaction or shipping fees. Just remember to always insist on cash.

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How To Update Your Status At Once via iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch At Once

The iPhone has made keeping up with your social media contacts easier than ever.  You can, one at a time, open the apps for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tuenti, Bebo and iWikiPhone and post whenever you want.  That’s not difficult, right? However, it gets even easier.  With MyStatusMonkey, developed by iwikiphone.com, you can update all of your accounts at once, all from the one app.  Cyber communication just took a leap forward.

MyStatusMonkey is an extremely useful app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch which allows you to update your status on six famous social networks simultaneously without the headache of visiting each social network site and updating your status. MyStatusMonkey allows you to update your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bebo, Tuenti and iWikiPhone status at once by providing you with a very simple interface as shown in the screenshots below. All you need is to enter your login info of each of these social networks once and start updating your status with a single tap.

You can download MyStatusMonkey app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch from App Store for U.S. $0.99 only. Its a great app for bloggers as well as for those who are addicted to social networks. Visit they store for latest offer and updates. Continue Reading

Top Best Money Saving Tips to Buy Gadgets

Save money and saving money more to buy gadgets.  Read on the article for some effective tips for right approach toward the plan to buy gadgets. The main issue about purchasing gadgets is purchasing comfort, economy, and health; therefore, it is required to have some green tips for enjoying green effect in life with about these gadgets. Gadgets have become the part and parcel of our life. Hardly any of us can imagine our life with different gadgets. Great Money Saving Tips We all can use extra money.

Money Saving Tips to Buy Gadgets. Read on the article for some effective tips for right approach toward the plan to buy gadgets. Campus on a Budget: Money Saving Tips For College Students. While at $109000, this isn't exactly a money saving gadget. It's really helpful and, like your tips, shows us all great ways that we can use discredit yourselves to buy labeling what should really be side notes.

While purchasing gadget we should consider the features of the said gadget first and accordingly need to think about the utility of the features of the gadget for the purchaser. For example, before purchasing a mobile phone, one has to see if all the features of the phone are really required by the users or not. Those who are simple user should not go for hi-end phones for the sake of fashion or status only.

Energy saving factors is of great importance while the purchase of a gadget is concerned. It is always wise to buy gadgets with 5-or 7-star ratings because these ratings ensure the energy efficiency of the said gadget. More the gadget is energy efficient; it is proven as more economic.

While we purchase a new gadget we often consider the features and price but we forget to consider the after sales service and warranty section of the gadget. It is true that quality gadgets hardy gets damaged during first 2-3 years and that covers the warranty coverage of the same provided by the manufacturer. However, after- sales service efficiency should be one of the prime factors in selection of a gadget and before purchasing it should be verified if the service center for that gadget is located at near by location. It will not only save money but will also save time.

Another deciding factor to buy gadgets is the availability and price of the spare parts of the same. If spare parts of a gadget are not available or it is too costly, it is better not go for that item. Otherwise, in case of damage the whole investment will go in vein. Those who are concerned about output of the gadget and at the same time is running on tight budget may consider the option of purchasing refurbished or open box items. Refurbished items are retailer repaired products and open box products are sold-back products. Both of these items are available against lesser price than the new one but they render service as new products. However, before considering purchase of repaired or refurbished items, it is always wise to verify the reputation and background of the retailer so that in requirement the customer may ask for his assistance for servicing.

It is always good to go for branded items while purchasing a gadget. This may incur little more investment, but it will prove ultimately big saver of money. Online shopping to buy gadgets is a great idea because some of the online stores offer huge discount around the year. If one can avail these discounts, it will help in saving considerable amount of money.

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Android - Google Guide to Gingerbread Tips and Tricks

My favorite tips and apps for Nexus S, which features Android 2.3, Gingerbread. A lot of Googlers liked it, so we thought some of you might enjoy it as well. So, i just shared some of my "favorite tips and apps for Nexus S." And you've gotta figure that my favorite tips and tricks are probably worth checking out. Some Android power users might snort at the idea that they didn't know how to, say, turn a stack of images into a slideshow, but the list should be a nice primer for most Nexus owners regardless.

Keep in mind most of these are specific to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Here's my list:

1. Tips

• Visual cue for scrolling: When you are in a scrollable list (like your Gmail inbox) and you reach the end of the list it shows an orange hue—a visual cue that you can’t scroll anymore.
• Notification bar icons (Wi-Fi, network coverage bars, etc.): Turn green when you have an uninhibited connection to Google, white when you don't. Hint: if you're in a hotel or airport using Wi-Fi, the bars won't turn green until you launch the browser and get past the captive portal.
• Voice actions: Tell your phone what to do by pressing the microphone icon next to the search box on the home screen, or long press the magnifying glass. You can tell it to send an email or text message (“send text to mom, see you for pizza at 7”), call someone ("call mom"), navigate somewhere (“navigate to pizza”), or listen to music ("listen to Mamma Mia").
• Find things you’ve downloaded from your browser: Your downloads are now neatly collected in a Downloads manager, which you can find in the apps drawer.
• Turn a Gallery stack into a slideshow: In Gallery, when you are looking at a stack of photos, put two fingers on the stack and spread them. The stack spreads out and the pictures flow from one finger to the other, a moving slideshow that lets you see all of the photos.
• Walk, don’t drive: Once you’ve gotten directions within Google Maps, click on the walking person icon to get walking directions.
• Easy text copy/paste from a webpage: To copy/paste from a webpage, long press some text, drag the handles around to select the text you want to copy, and press somewhere in the highlighted region. To paste, simply long press a text entry box and select paste. Gmail is a bit different: you need to go to Menu > More > Select Text.
• Turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot: Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Tethering & Portable Hotspot. (You may have to pay extra for this feature.)
• Look at Maps in 3D: With the latest release of Google Maps, you can now look at 3D maps. Tilt the map by sliding two fingers vertically up/down the screen, and rotate it by placing two fingers on the map and sliding in a circular motion, e.g., from 12 and 6 o’clock to 3 and 9.
• Cool shutdown effect: When you put the phone to sleep, you’ll see an animation that resembles an old cathode tube TV turning off.

2. Keyboard tricks

• Shift+Key to capitalize a word: In Gingerbread (and supported hardware), you can Shift+Key to capitalize a letter instead of going to a separate all caps keyboard.
• Auto-complete: The space bar lights up when auto-complete can finish a word.
• Quick replace: Tap on any previously typed word, then tap on a suggestion to automatically replace it with the suggested word.
• Easy access to special characters (like numbers, punctuation): Press and hold any key to go to the special character keyboard. You can also press and hold the "," key for an extensive punctuation keyboard.

3. Applications

• Angry Birds: Popular game that lets you knock down blocks by slingshotting birds.
• Astro: Awesome file explorer app. Browse and access the directories on your phone, and take full advantage of its capabilities. Great if you’re a power user.
• Chrome to Phone: This one is really useful for Chrome users. You can send anything you browse on your computer to your phone. So if you are heading out to a restaurant or party and look up directions on your computer, just click the “send to phone” button (requires Chrome to Phone extension) and that exact page will open on your phone. Same with virtually any webpage.
• Flash: Install from Android Market to watch Flash videos embedded throughout the web. Runs even better on Gingerbread.
• Fruit Ninja: A juicy action game that tests your ability to smash flying fruit. A fun time-killer on the bus or train.
• FXCamera: Popular photo sharing app with slick effects and filters.
• Google Maps: Use your device as a GPS navigation system with free turn-by-turn voice guidance, and take advantage of other Google Maps features like Street View, Latitude and Places.
• Instant Heart Rate: Measure your heart rate using your camera.
• Phoneanlyzr: Track your phone usage: who you text most, call most, average call length distribution, etc.
• RemoteDroid: Control your computer from your phone. Gives you a mobile wireless mouse and keyboard. Great if you’re using your computer for music or movies.
• Shazam: Identifies virtually any song you are listening to.
• SoundHound: Record a snippet of a song and get it identified instantly. You can even hum (if you can carry a tune!).
• Tango: A free, high-quality video call app that works on both 3G and Wi-Fi. If your device has a front facing camera (e.g., Nexus S), you will love this app.
• YouTube: New UI. Plus, portrait-mode player, and view comments and drop-down box video information

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6 Ways to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart

“Smartphone are meant for the people who are smart enough to upgrade & utilize the device,not for the dumb people who wants to use the phone as a style statement/Trendy device….”,said someone. As a mobile enthusiast, we all tend to believe that smartphone users are really smart as us. Smart phone users ‘actually’ know what a widget/App is and how to install/use widgets and other apps in the mobile. So, uh, now what? Here's a step-by-step guide to be smarter with your smartphone . Smartphone users looking for a new handheld device should have to get back into the smart phone game.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart

1. Getting Started

 

Out of the box, most smartphones aren't all that smart. In fact, many can be downright idiotic. Prepping your new pocket ‘puter means some hand-holding, which also means slogging through a checklist of occasionally tedious (but necessary) steps. Don't worry, we're here to help. Remember, this device will be your constant companion for the next year or two. So you'll want to start the relationship off right.

2. Pre-charging Tip

 

Regardless of the specific smartphone you received for the holidays, the weakest link is likely its battery. Treating your Li-ion with respect will not only extend the life and usefulness of your new phone, but also boost its resale value—just in case you decide to dump to back on the market prematurely. Lucky for you, almost all the major manufacturers offer guidance here, including Palm, Apple, and BlackBerry. What they won't tell you, however, is that you must resist the urge to immediately charge your smartphone. Yup, let that 30-60 percent charge go down to zero before plugging in. Juicing up your smartphone in its half-charged state will make the battery components settle faster. That, in turn, will mean it won't be able to re-charge as efficiently in the future. Ideally, you should always wait for the battery to drain before recharging to maintain good health, but the occasional slip won't matter much. If you really want to understand these fickle little bricks, check out our Giz explains feature on why batteries die.

3. Moving Your Data

a. Contacts

 

Why no one has figured out how to make this process easier is beyond us. Anyhow, here are a few options for shuffling all your contacts to your new handset:

• The easiest way is to simply have your carrier to do it. This option is particularly useful if you're upgrading on the same carrier. Stop by your local retail store and a service rep should be able to transfer them in a minute or two. Beware: If you're switching carriers, there may be a small fee associated with the contacts relocation. Be sure to ask.
• If you have a GSM phone, you can also use its SIM card to make the transfer. These days almost every phone (smart or dumb) will have an option to ‘write all contacts' to a SIM card. After you've done this, simply remove your old card and slide it into your new phone. Be sure to transfer all your contacts from the old SIM onto your new phone's memory, as you'll be taking the old SIM out again. This, of course, won't work for CDMA (SIM-less) carriers. Sorry, Verizon and Sprint customers.
• You can also use Google Sync and a protocol called SyncML to make the transfer. Google Sync supports quite a few smartphones, including the iPhone, as well as ones from Nokia, Windows, and BlackBerry. Once it pulls all your old contacts into your Google account, you can go back to the cloud and make it rain contacts.

Email

 

Depending the phone, e-mail can either be a tremendous pain in the ass or a breeze. You're first step is, again, consulting the manufacturers: Most, like Apple, Google, Palm and Microsoft, offer quick setup guides. Note that depending on the service provider and phone, Exchange and Gmail setups will be completely different. Here's a good rule of thumb to keep in mind during the process: use IMAP (not POP). This will keep your messages and their read/unread statuses in sync with your desktop clients. Because most of your e-mail downloading will be still be happening over 3G for now, you'll also want to set some limits. A 10 kb cap for individual message sizes is best. This can help boost the speed of your incoming messages.

Calendars

Google Calendar users have it the easiest—particularly if they're using a new Android phone. By default, your calendars will automatically sync with your phone. The Pre 2 will do this too, while the iPhone needs to be configured with CalDav.

4. Media and Syncing

A smartphone isn't designed to be a solitary device. You'll need to check in with home base (a desktop or laptop) now and again. That means you'll be dealing with a cadre of desktop software to transfer personal info, music, videos and photos. If you're a MobileMe customer, Apple takes care of syncing bookmarks, calendars, contacts for you over the air. Still, you'll need to download iTunes to use and active your phone. For BlackBerry users, you can download the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. Windows phone 6.5 and 7 users are best served by Windows Device Center. And if you're against using official software, Android and Palm phones (as well as Windows phones, iPhone and BlackBerrys) all play nice with doubleTwist, a cross-platform music player/media syncing app.

Converting Video

Your 32GBs are crying for content. But you can't just copy all those torrented videos over to your smartphone. First you'll need to encode them with something like Handbrake. You're aiming for converting those files to 320x240 h.264 here. Most new smartphones will be able to play that back without a hitch.

5. Apps? Apps. Apps!

They can make or break a smartphone. So where do you go to find the essentials? There's no better place than Giz. But before diving into the downloads, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the affiliated app stores. Here's our comprehensive list and their respective advantages and disadvantages. Okay, now onto the apps!

iPhone

Your first stop should be Gizmodo's Essential iPhone Apps Directory. It's a compendium of the best of the best, and everything else you need to make your iPhone into a mobile powerhouse. If you'd rather not pay for apps, we got you covered too. Check out our Essential Free Apps. Just be careful. Those free versions seem to be stealing your personal info without asking. We also do regular posts and weekly roundups, so be sure to check them out too.

Android

Snag the Nexus S? You'll want to hit up our 10 Best Android Apps roundup. Keep yours eyes peeled for our monthly roundups too for the latest additions to the store.

BlackBerry

Here, we defer to the specialists: CrackBerry not only does regular reviews, they even have their own app store. In many ways, it's even better than BlackBerry's official shop, which isn't really saying much.

Palm

Palm doesn't exactly have a thriving app store. While it's a little dated, you can go through our Essential PalmOS roundup. Beyond that, PreCentral's official app reviews are fairly fantastic. Also worth checking out is their extensive homebrew app gallery, which has about as many decent apps in it as the official catalog.

Windows Phone 7

First, peep our roundup of Windows Phone 7 Apps. Next, check out our list of seven essential apps. Done.

OS Tricks and Tips

Whether you're coming to your smartphone's operating system fresh or are a seasoned veteran, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your new device.

iOS

Double-tap quick app switching, killing background apps, fiddling with the wallpaper—our pals at Lifehacker cover them all.

Android

Gingerbread is here, y'all. Check out Google's Senior VP of Product Management, Jonathan Rosenberg's list of tips. They're good.

WebOS

PreCentral has a nice basic list of WebOS tricks. And if you just snagged the Pre 2, check out Palm's own site.

Windows Phone 7

Head over to Microsoft's site for the basics.

Blackberry

You can either head over the BlackBerry's official tips and tricks site, or read through TechRadar's comprehensive list.

6. The Accessories

No smartphone is perfect. And frankly, it's easy to go overboard on accessories that make up for those inevitable faults. Resist that urge. Remember, you'll only be dumping more money into a device that you're ditching in two years (maybe less). That said, there are definitely some worthwhile investments you can make. Here's our list:

A Case

Yes, they can ruin the cut of your smartphone's jib. But even with Gorilla Glass, liquid metal and all those other fancy materials, your new smartphone is heartbreakingly fragile. Put simply: You're going to want a case. You can go crazy if you want, but there's no need to spend much. Here's our list of sub-$5 cases that'll get the job done. The main thing to make sure of is that your device's corners are covered. It's the edge impacts that typically shatter the glass. We'll remind you here of the same thing we did last year: You're now stuck in a multi-thousand dollar contract with this one device, which itself costs hundreds of dollars to replace. So yeah, be careful.

Headphones

If your phone wasn't your primary music player before, it is now. Step one: Throw out the headphones or headset it came with. Seriously, none of them are good. We love Bowers & Wilkins P5s if you want to pamper your ears a bit. If you'd rather go with something more discrete (and cheap), you can't beat a pair of Shures either. Just remember, a decent pair of earphones will cost you 100 bones or more—with the exception of maybe the MC5s. It'll be worth it as long as your digital music collection is up to the task.

Storage

Most smartphones either come with internal or "expandable storage. If yours falls into the latter category, it likely means it's got an empty microSD slot somewhere. Rule of thumb: If your phone comes with less than 2GB of space and has said slot, you need to fill it. Go ahead and grab at least an 8GB microSD card. They can be found online for well under $20.

Cables

Picking up a spare charging cable for your phone is never a bad idea. For most smartphones this is a simple mini/microUSB cable. For iPhones, it's an iPod dock connector. Trust us, you will lose them, and having a backup can be a life saving on road trips and in the office.

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Best How To Apps for iPhone

Top Best iPhone Apps 2011. Filling up your new iPhone? Just hoping to make the one you already have even better? These are the apps you don't want to be. There are various apps introduces by iPhone developers but here I arranged some of the best How-To apps for iPhone. In fact, there is almost nothing that you can not learn by watching videos on YouTube. But sometimes, you just need that little bit on the move and do not want to search YouTube videos to find what you’re looking for. So these apps are very useful and I hope you will also like it. Looking for the best of the best iPhone apps? We cut through the talking cats and virtual light sabers to iphone

1. vTie

It is one of the best How-to app for iPhone. It is very useful for me because I’m not a big fan of ties, but if you are a business man who can not go anywhere without a tie, will teach this app, how to do all the complicated relationships.

2. Wine Ratings Guide

It is also another best How-to app for iPhone. It is very helpful for database of wine ratings, which tells you the whole thing you select a pure bottle of wine in your store.

3. Airport Guide

No doubt it is also another cool how-to app for iPhone. It is a complete guide to airports to find out where your goal is, what restaurants you can get food and how to get all kinds of activities in your Airport will assist.

4. Howcast

It is also another best iPhone app. It is a inclusive video website contains all sorts of tips on how to do things. Through this app you can quickly access these videos.

5. Garden Guide

It is also a large invention for iPhone users. If you are a plant lover, you’ll love Garden Guide. It is a simple iPhone app that takes you to guide line about maintaining your plants.

Top 40 best free iPhone apps Essential free apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Editor's note: This guest post is written by Alex Ahlund, the former CEO and founder of AppVee and AndroidApps, which were acquired by iPhone Developers. Note: This list focuses on free apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. ... For a list of great iPad apps, read our 25 Best iPad Apps story. You'll find breaking news and interviews with developers, discover the best apps for all devices and learn which free iPhone apps are worth to see.

Fill your iPhone with brilliant free and paid-for apps, with our pick of the App Store. As a result, when the store officially opened, the iPhone apps that were ... number of options available and choose those that best meet your needs. 40 Free Apps to Read Breaking News on Your iPhone · 5 of the Best iPhone Apps for Political Junkies. Entertainment, Music, & Games

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