8 Things To Do With Your Old #Smartphone #HTCOneLifeSA #MoreYou

Hi Guys, 

With the HTC Desire 626 now available at MTN stores nationwide, here are a few ideas from HTC on non-wasteful ways to get rid of your old mobile device:

1. Sell it to a buyback service

If you want to get some cash for your old phone, but without the hassle of advertising it in the classifieds, you could sell it to Zwipit. This company will pay you for your smartphone, refurbish it, and sell it to someone else. The online process is relatively simple and painless - Zwipit will arrange the courier and pay you once it has assessed your device. 

2. Trade it in

Some stores and networks offer great trade-in deals – offering you a discount on your new device in exchange for old phone. Phone around to find out what options are on offer. 

3. Advertise it on an online classified service 

You’ll probably get a better price for your smartphone, if you sell it to another individual than if you sell it to a buyback service or trade it in. You can advertise the device on a site such Gumtree or OLX and if you follow these common sense tips (Gumtree), dealing through an online classifieds site can be safe and profitable. 

4. Use it as a hotspot

If you often need mobile internet access, it can be handy to keep an old smartphone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. You’ll have internet access wherever you go, without running down the battery on your new, primary smartphone. I was doing the same with my old Nexus One phone till Telkom mobile SIM didn't worked on the same and I now use it to post my photographs on Instagram. 

5. Turn it into a mobile gaming console

Provided that it’s not too old to run the newer games, an old smartphone can be an ideal mobile games machine for your child. And if you’re a gaming enthusiast yourself, why not turn it into a retro game arcade? Download those NES emulators and relive all the ages old games or the current games till they are supported by the old android operating system on your mobile device.

6. Play some music

Plug your smartphone into a loudspeaker, and then use an apps such as MixRadio or TuneIn Radio to turn it into a makeshift radio. You could also listen to some podcasts or load your own music onto the smartphone. Can also be used as a car stereo by plugging via aux cable and playing all your favourite songs while you drive or can be used to listen to audio-books or podcasts also. 

7. Give it away

You could also pass your smartphone on to someone else - one of your children, a parent, house helper, or a charity - if you don’t want to sell it. You probably know someone who could use your phone, even if it’s really old and basic. 

8. Recycle it

If your smartphone is broken beyond repair, you should dispose it off in an environmentally friendly manner. Take it to one of the many e-waste disposal sites around the country rather than simply chucking it in the bin. This will ensure that as many components are salvaged for reuse as possible and prevent some of the nastier chemicals that go into a phone from ending up in a landfill. 

The HTC Desire 626 is available at MTN stores nationwide and shop.mtn.co.za for R269 per month over 24 months and includes 30GB data once off. 

Cheers!!!

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HTC #Zoe Camera Creates Great #HTCOneLifeSA Moments

Hi Guys,

HTC’s Zoe app has been updated to let you create and save your short highlight videos (or Zoes) locally on your HTC phone, rather than on the online Zoe community. The latest version of the app also allows you to create videos that are three minutes long, rather than just 30 seconds. You can insert as many clips as you like into a Zoe and trim them as necessary within the app.

HTC launched Zoe for the original HTC One and subsequently opened the app up to Android devices from other manufacturers. Zoe expanded into a social network and became a cloud service. Following customer feedback, HTC has decided to bring Zoe back home to its own devices.

The latest version of the app uses the phone’s on-board CPU and GPU to make Zoe videos locally on HTC devices, without needing to upload media clips to the cloud. This will improve the user experience by improving reliability and performance.

You will be able to easily share your locally made Zoe clips via existing social networks like Facebook, Instagram and more. This means an end to Zoe fans’ frustration caused by unreliable mobile network connections in the past months. Already a lot of photo sharing platforms are already in the market but not every platform gets launched and picked up by the users a lot. I loved the Zoe in my HTC One (M7) but then after a while I saw it to become an online community which had some amazing photographs in it's directories taken using HTC devices.

With Zoe moving toward local creation, Zoe’s cloud services have already shut down entirely on September 30, 2015. The community members were given a chance to download their existing Zoes through the app and on zoe.com. After September 30, the only way to create and share a Zoe will be on a supported HTC device. 

Cheers!!! 

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5 Great #Android Apps for #Cycling Enthusiasts #HTCOneLifeSA

Hi Guys, 

David Donde is the owner of Truth Coffee Roasting, the Cape Town café in Buitenkant Street that The Telegraph newspaper in the UK recently chose as the best coffee shop in the world. He’s as passionate about his HTC Android smartphone and cycling as he is about brewing great coffee. Here are his five Android favourite apps for cyclists: 

1. Strava

Strava allows you to track your runs and rides with GPS, join challenges and see how your running and riding compares to your friends' workouts. “It’s a must have for every cyclist,” says Donde. 

2. Endomondo

This is a top-rated fitness tracker and personal training app. With Endomondo, you can track all of your workouts using GPS, check your stats, stay motivated, and reach your fitness goals.

3. Garmin Connect Mobile

Garmin Connect Mobile gives you access to all of your Garmin Connect data – anytime, anywhere. You can even share your activities as they happen and wirelessly upload activities and more. 

4. Wahoo Fitness

This app makes it a snap to track fitness metrics such as heart rate, cycling speed, cadence, and power data, says Donde. 

5. Instagram

Instagram is a very popular app that lets you capture those great views you see when you’re cycling in the mountains or along the coast, and then share them with your friends and followers. Also it can be used to maintain moments of where you were in a particular week of the year. 

Our health is in our hands and it's our duty to take care of our body and heart. All the exercise that we do, helps us in some way or other, so set a goal and start achieving the same daily. I am also working on my 10000 steps daily using the Walklogger App on my HTC One M8 device which also have Fitbit app pre-installed. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 
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Get Snap Happy #HTCOneLifeSA #Android Smartphone Apps

Hi Guys,

Photography is something that you can always learn at whatever age group you are and now with capable smartphones which are even better than point and shoot cameras you can take it further. Learning from the best of the trade is always a great option and various social media channels enables us to always keep on the lookout for who is the best in the industry. Tegan Smith (Tegan Smith Photography) is a professional fashion photographer and blogger from Cape Town, who enjoys taking pictures with her HTC smartphone. Here are a few apps and functions that she recommends will help you to shoot and edit smartphone photos that can compete with professional pictures.

1. VSCO Cam

This app is the premier way to shoot, edit, and share your photographs. Use it to crop, sharpen and straighten pics or to set exposure, temperature and contrast to your liking. Download VSCO Cam

2. Snapseed

Snapseed is an easy-to-use app that lets your fine-tune aspects of your image such as the warmth, saturation, shadows and highlights. One cool feature is that it allows you to touch up only a selected part of the photo. Download Snapseed

3. Layout from Instagram: Collage

Create one-of-a-kind layouts by remixing your own photos and sharing them with your friends, with the Layout app. You can choose photos from your gallery and instantly see them laid out in a cool collage. Pick the layout you like best and edit it to make it your own. Download Layout

4. Instagram

Perhaps the most popular smartphone imaging app in the world, and with good reason – Not only is its selection of filters fantastic, but Instagram also has a wonderful community that you can share your images with and where you can some truly impressive work from fellow photography enthusiasts. Download Instagram

5. Bokeh

Cameras on selected HTC devices - such as the HTC One M9 - include an awesome bokeh feature. Bokeh is the lovely blurred effect produced by the way a camera lens renders out-of-focus points of light. It’s a cool aesthetic feature that can make your photos look like they were shot by a pro. I have not tried this one but will definitely as soon as I lay my hands on the latest smartphone M9 from HTC. 

6. Split Capture mode

Use the Split Capture mode on the HTC One M9 to capture a selfie and the scenery in front of you as photos or videos. You can use the main and front cameras to capture both photos and videos at the same time, or you can take them separately. This is an awesome feature to capture both sides of a street.

Do join the photography community by sharing your pictures and learn from the best in the trade.

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!
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Precautions to keep Data Safe in case of Stolen Mobile #HTCOneLifeSA

Hi Guys, 

Smartphones are easily stolen or lost, which means that it’s important to take the appropriate steps to improve the security of your device and data. Here are some tips on how you can keep your information safe from prying eyes if your smartphone ends up in a stranger’s hands:

1. Set a screen lock 

A screen lock is designed to help to protect your personal information and prevent others from using your mobile device without your express permission. Most modern smartphone platforms make it easy for you to put a password in place that prevents unauthorized people from accessing your device when the screen is locked. This is the first step towards security. 

2. Consider installing a security application

Many mobile apps are available to enhance the security of mobile devices. These security-related apps are often available for free or at a low price and can provide the capability to remotely lock, locate, or wipe your device.

3. Back up your data 

You probably keep valuable information on your smartphone, including photos, videos, and contacts, so backing up your data in case your smartphone is lost, damaged, or stolen is a good practice.

4. Set a SIM PIN

Many devices support the use of a personal identification number (PIN) to lock your SIM card. Setting the SIM PIN may help to prevent people from accessing your cellular voice or mobile data services without authorization. That will help prevent a thief running up your phone bill after he or she has stolen it. This was the biggest problem I faced when he started calling and sending my friends and family random text messages which were vulgar and rude. 

What to do if your device is lost or stolen

• Report the loss to your mobile network as soon as possible: If your device is lost or stolen, immediately notify your provider so that they can suspend service to your device.
• Remotely locate, lock, or wipe your device using a security app: If you have installed a security app you may be able to use it to remotely locate, lock, or wipe your device.
• Report phone theft to the police - If your phone has been stolen, you must report the theft of your device to your local police department. This is a legal requirement of the Regulation of Interception of Communication and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act 2002, better known as RICA. You will probably also need a police case number if you planning to claim from insurance.

Take precautions to keep the mobile away from the display while driving on the highway or in town at robots. It's important as we don't remember anything these days as we have a habit to keep the device as our personal assistant with calendar, meetings, apps, mobile numbers and important goals. Also, always look behind on the seats you were sitting before leaving any location whether it's office, movie theater, restaurants or any other place you visit for the first time to keep a tab on your phone. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 
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Spring Clean your #Android Smartphone #HTCOneLifeSA

Hi Guys, 

While you’re doing your spring cleaning, why not take the time to clear out the clutter on your Android smartphone? Getting rid of the apps you don’t use, the songs you no longer love, and all old messages, videos and emails can clear up some storage space for new content. We keep on accumulating stuff inside our mobile devices - knowingly and unknowingly sometimes. I generally clear up my phone from time to time as it gives a faster performance if you keep apps you don't use to the minimal. 

Start out by checking how much total storage you have and determine how much is still available under your phone’s settings. If you’re running short of space, HTC recommends that you take these easy steps to clear up room for new apps and media on your device:

1. Save photos to online storage

Photos, videos and docs on the phone take up a lot of storage space. To reduce the impact on your storage space, you can set your phone to automatically upload photos to an online service such as Google Drive, which you can download from Google Play, if you don’t have it already and own an HTC smartphone, then Google Drive will give you 15GB free storage for 2 years. Otherwise, keep storing them on your laptop from time to time to create space in your smartphone. 

2. Remove unused apps

If you have apps installed on your phone that you rarely use, uninstalling them will free up some space. Clearing out the app cache on your phone is also a great way of freeing up some space. Also, HTC gives you access to disable apps which won't be taking running space on your device but will stay in your settings>apps to enable again if anytime you want to use them again. 

3. Export files and data to a computer

If you have work-related documents or other confidential files on your phone, you can easily move them to your computer. Using your USB cable, plug your phone into your computer, your phone will be recognised as a removable drive, allowing you to access the file storage and from here you can find and copy the files. Once done, you can delete the original files from your phone or simply cut and paste to save the effort. 

4. Clear out your downloads folder

Your Downloads folder can get clogged with images, with PDFs and other files. Check through the Downloaded folder on your phone and delete these files from there. Alternatively, you can connect your phone to your computer and delete files from there after taking a data dump so that you don't need to download the same again if required in future. 

5. Use High-Speed Memory Card

Add a micro-SD card to your device to increase storage space and transfer your files onto the SD card once installed. This will not only boost your phone’s storage, but the speed too, with a smartphone such as the HTC One M9 supporting additional memory cards up to 128GB. Don't use a slow SD card (series 4) as it will easily be corrupted and will really slow your smartphone, better invest in series 10 cards. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!
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