The Next Era of #Smartphone Innovation is About to Unfold #SamsungUnpacked @SamsungMobileSA

Hi Friends, 

At last August’s Unpacked event, I (TM Roh) shared my strategy to bring more empowering mobile technology to as many people as possible, especially at a time when they needed it most. Now, around one year later, our world is slowly but surely preparing to reopen in many ways. We’re all yearning for freedom and the possibilities that this new world has to offer thanks to advancements in technology that are set to make our world bigger than it ever was.

This past year, new technologies continued to reshape the way we live. Our collaboration with trusted industry partners allowed us to drive seamless experiences that offer more personalization and versatility than ever. As we enter this new era of agile transformation, I believe that open ecosystems are the only way to accelerate innovation and give people more freedom to create their own experiences that are best for their lifestyles.

Samsung Electronics is poised and ready to unveil visionary, purposeful mobile technology for a better world. In a few weeks, we will unleash our latest and greatest Galaxy Z series to reshape the smartphone category and completely reimagine your experiences.

Life Opens Up with Galaxy

Today, the world needs flexible technologies that give people room to explore. At Samsung, people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re constantly listening to you to ensure that any new device and experience we create really bring meaningful innovations. We want to enrich everyone’s life, not just the lives of a select few. From epic cameras and vivid, immersive viewing experiences to long-lasting batteries and strong security, we’re focusing on what really matters to you.

As we explore new ways to empower you, we often venture into uncharted territory. That’s how we ended up creating a brand-new category with the launch of the Galaxy Fold. And we didn’t stop there. We kept improving the category with our second generation of foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold2 and the Galaxy Z Flip, with more screens and more of the features you now know and love. I’m excited to say our third generation of foldable devices will open up amazing new multitasking capabilities and enhanced durability for even more people around the world.

TM Roh

Samsung is Bringing More People into the Fold

This will be especially important as the world leapfrogs into new frontiers of connectivity that demand open ecosystems and reliable mobile experiences. At Samsung, “open” and “secure” are never mutually exclusive. In fact, our collaborations with trusted industry leaders like Google and Microsoft are why we are able to deliver mobile technology that is secure and optimized for today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world. We constantly work with key partners to create cutting-edge security solutions that keep your devices and data safe every step of the way. This allows us to give you even more control over your apps, data and privacy, so you can curate your own experience — with total peace of mind.

Collaboration enables us to build mobile experiences that make your life easier and better. It fueled the development of a new unified wearable platform, which we built jointly with Google. On top of your favourite Galaxy apps like Samsung Health and SmartThings, there will be so many others in the new Google Play Store. Furthermore, our One UI Watch user interface is deeply integrated with our other Galaxy devices and provides consistent connectivity between your Galaxy Watch and Galaxy smartphone.

We are also working with Google to enrich our foldable ecosystems with popular apps and services. For our third generation of Galaxy Z phones, we have lined up even more partner apps that make the most of the versatile fold-out format. From hands-free optimized video calling with Google Duo and watching videos in Flex mode on YouTube to multitasking in Microsoft Teams, our foldable ecosystem will offer a wealth of seamless and optimized experiences.

A New Chapter in Smartphone Innovation Is Here

The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold combines the very best that smartphones and tablets offer and delivers completely new ways of working, connecting and creating, while the upcoming Z Flip exhibits an even more refined style, armed with more durable, stronger materials. I firmly believe these devices will answer the call for the versatile mobile technology we need as we navigate the open road ahead.

We are out to set new heights and open up a whole new world of exciting experiences for even more people. I hope you’ll join us as we debut our next Galaxy Z family and share some foldable surprises — including the first-ever S Pen designed specifically for foldable phones. Instead of unveiling a new Galaxy Note this time around, we will further broaden beloved Note features to more Samsung Galaxy devices. In the meantime, mark your calendars and tune in to our Unpacked event on August 11 to see what unfolds.

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your brand, services and products. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts and subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel too. Namaste! 

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#TheLifesWay on @GoogleMaps #MyYearInReview 2020 @GoogleAfrica #LocalGuides #LetsGuide

Hi Friends, 

We all are so heavily invested in Google's ecosystem that sometimes we also start contributing towards the same knowingly and unknowingly to appreciate the benefits everyone derives from the various platforms they run. I too started my journey as a Local Guides which is a voluntary program for contributing to Google Maps around the world and I am representing Johannesburg, South Africa from the start. 

If I see where I was in 2019 to the place where I am now on Google Maps Local Guides journey it's absolutely amazing. This year I started contributing to the Local Guide Community platform too and reached several milestones there too. I reached Level 9 Contributor level this year from last year's Level 8. Overall I made 5793 contributions as a whole on the platform and successfully contributed for 27 weeks in a row. That's an awesome achievement by someone who is not regular on any platforms whatsoever. 

I got more than 3 Million views on the photos published this year but overall in 2020, I have crossed 26 Million photo views which were just over 1.4 Million in 2019. That's around 25 Million photo views in a single year on all the 10550 photos uploaded since I have joined the program. 

I also got 5813 views on the reviews published this year with an overall tally crossing 186000 views in 2020 for reviewing 204 establishments around the city and country. I wanted to take the same to 500 reviews but felt lazy and was focussing more on the Youtube channel also. 

The biggest feeling is to stay in the Top 1% contributor in Johannesburg, South Africa month after month for the whole year and I am looking forward to reaching the Top Level 10 contributor by 2022 and be part of the Connect Live Program in 2021 if luck favours me and Google sees my contribution in South Africa. 

I am a big fan of the Google Android Ecosystem and started my smartphone journey with Google G1 and then Nexus One smartphone but now I really want to use the latest Pixel 5 device as my day to day smartphone. I will continue to contribute to Google Maps and create more lists, write more posts on Connect Local Guides platforms, review more establishments and restaurants towards reaching a place where I shall feel satisfied with myself. Thanks to Google for making us part of them and giving us a platform where we are contributing to our city and country and building a local community too. 

This I am doing from a feeling of love and respect point of view for the Google ecosystem and I am sure, you will also want to become part of this amazing program called Local Guides! So don't forget to login into Google Maps and start contributing from wherever you are in this world! #LetsGuide #LocalGuides

@TheLifesWay contributions as of 15th December 2020

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

#TheLifesWay on @Youtube #MyYearInReview 2020 @GoogleAfrica #Youtuber

 Hi Friends, 

2020 saw an increase on Youtube as I thought of moving from writing blog posts to video creations but this process is still in the making but overall I got these amazing results from the Youtube email which I received as a content creator on the platform - 

• 235 minutes of new content 
• Gained 576 subscribers
• Gained 315,249 new views
• Viewers spent 159,785 minutes watching my videos in 2020
• Received 46 Comments
• Shared my videos 536 times
• My 75 videos received 6,192 likes in 2020

Let's continue to create new content on a daily basis and I have a lot of historical technology which I want to showcase on my channel. Surely, once I start receiving the new gadgets before their launch I can schedule my videos to go live on the same day of the launch event just after the completion of the launch event. Let's see what happens but this is going to be my goal in 2021. 

I am sure I will be able to make my own fan following in 2021 and also learn a lot of SEO optimization as currently, it's not the case on my channel. I want to complete 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of video watch time to cross the monetization threshold in 2021. I need your support and I hope to do so by creating some of viral videos which can be shared again and again. 

On this journey, I am going to make mistakes and learn from you guys, but keep appreciating my efforts and give me the power to entertain you on the go. I am still in the finding myself phase where I am not sure of which language to create content in and what to focus more on - travel or technology or launch events. This year was awesome for me based on this Youtube performance email and looking forward to creating something unique in my own voice which will be liked by you all in 2021. Have a great holiday and festive season! Take care and wear the mask to keep you safe and others too!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

The Digital Dash for Africa #AfricaCom2019 @Connects_Africa #ConnectingAfrica

Hi Friends, 

Africa’s vast, untapped human potential is on the verge of incredible technological leaps forward with the rapid spread of digital technologies across the continent, along with the growing accessibly of NextGen technology.

Major obstacles facing the continent, include the structural challenges required to develop Africa’s digital ecosystem, along with the importance of building a skills base. This topic, among many that have the power to truly propel Africa into owning its digital future, will be up for discussion at AfricaCom happening 12 – 14 November in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Connectivity is the backbone of all economic opportunities and hence, Africa’s ‘thrival’ (beyond sustainability and survival to a thriving digitally enhanced continent). The connectivity track and exhibition Hall also explore and showcase what is required for the enablers of this desired thrival, the telcos, to become fully digital. 

Assisting in this evolution will be an entire plethora of emerging technologies. What these are and how they can help secure a digital future for all, will be unpacked in a dedicated panel discussion on Wednesday 13 November that will cover:

• How can we maximize the transformative impact of innovative technologies on lives and businesses in Africa?
• Seeing short-term practical benefits from new technology rollouts
• How can we effectively scale these technologies to solve society’s challenges?
• What are the key barriers to increased technology adoption? Who is best placed to overcome them?

The confirmed moderator for this session is Terryanne Chebet, General Manager, Metropol TV who will be joined by the Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation, Republic of Rwanda; Isabel dos Santos, Chair, UNITEL; Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, Chief Operating Officer, Africa50; Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director, Google Nigeria and Charlene Verzmoter, Head of Philanthropy, Microsoft.

The growth of digital will facilitate profound advancement for Africa on a number of levels.  Perhaps the most impactful, aside from how it will enhance education and thus tomorrow’s businesses, will be the changing of the current business landscape. Enterprise Digital Transformation will, therefore, be a key theme at this year’s AfricaTech Centre Stage, a new show feature.

Sessions to look out for include:

• Technology is fundamentally reshaping the way we do business: What should enterprise leaders expect in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years and 20 years, and how should they respond?
• How is Artificial Intelligence transforming African business and how can it be used to elevate African economies?
• Improving mining safety and retaining competitive advantage: utilizing IoT to power Africa's largest industry
• Cybersecurity and data privacy: Don’t let rapid digital transformation and technology adoption become a double-edged sword!

Also sharing their knowledge will be some of the brightest women in world telecoms and technology, who will discuss industry trends, such as best practices of accessing global markets, opportunities and gaps on the continent, and an engaging Fireside Chat discussing what goes into deciding to invest in an idea.

The Women in Tech track will also turn over key issues for women in the industry ranging from the need for diversity in AI, to challenging the “bro-culture” coined by KRS Software’s CEO Lorraine Steyn, on the challenges women face in breaking into the industry, staying in it or returning to it, as well as making the industry more attractive for women, as well as how to attract top women talent to the industry through offering remote and flexible working conditions. 

Speaking up and speaking out, is a power-packed line-up of dynamic women such as:

Matsi Modise (Furaha Solutions), Baratang Miya (GirlHype and Uhuru Spaces), Carol Bouwer (CB Productions), Hannah Subayi (South Suez Capital), Tanya Van Lill (SAVCA), Anelisa Tuswa (ETV), Lebogang Miya (Mari), Lethabo Motsoaledi (Voyc.ai), Siyabonga Tiwana (Skywalk Innovations), Nomso Kana (SEDA), Emma Wade-Smith OBE (HM Trade Commissioner for Africa), Marilyn Radebe (Black IT Forum), Elisabeth Medou Badang (Orange), Lorraine Steyn (Khanyisa Real Systems), Louise de Beer (Leadhome), Kutlwano Mofolo (Tech Savvy Kids), Eugina Jordan, (Parallel Wireless), Cassandra Enyan (Google), Shivani Pillay (Uber) and Deseré Orrill (Ole!Connect).

Other highlights to factor in when visiting AfricaCom are:

• IoT World Africa
• AI Summit Cape Town
• FinTech Africa
• LeadersIn Summit
• Connecting Africa
• Headliners - are free to attend and the full line-up is available here.

More than 15,000 visitors will be building relationships and setting up deals at AfricaCom in 2019, along with tracking the line-up of heavyweight speakers and industry experts who will be sharing their knowledge and opportunities. 

AfricaCom 2019 is only days away, and registration is open for delegates and media who are ready to stay on trend with cutting edge insights from the industry leaders who make things happen on the continent. Diarise now, the talks and presentations you can’t afford to miss out on and get ready to take your place at AfricaCom 2019 at the CTICC from 12 – 14 November 2019.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

@SamsungMobileSA Works With @Google App Partners & @Android #Developers For #GalaxyFold

Hi Friends, 

Samsung is unfolding the future with a first-of-its-kind mobile device: The Galaxy Fold. It marks the beginning of a new era in mobile technology, and Samsung has been working alongside partners and the Android developer community to design a new and complete foldable user experience. Efforts to design this software experience for the Galaxy Fold began at the framework level in April 2018. As part of this process, Samsung developed a whole new UX and collaborated closely with Google to provide integrated OS support from Android.

“We didn’t just build new category-defining hardware, we worked with major partners to design and deliver a brand-new mobile experience and foster an ecosystem that gives users access to the best applications and services,” said Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa. “This is software innovation that incorporates both an immersive UX and a new UI perspective to provide a seamless experience.”

Since the introduction of the Infinity Flex Display at SDC 2018, Samsung and Google set up test labs in cities across the globe – from Seoul to Mountain View to Beijing – to work with and encourage partners and developers to test and verify that their apps and services are optimized for the Galaxy Fold and the Android ecosystem. Alongside this effort, Google introduced changes in Android 10 to offer improved resisable activity, multi-resume functionality and an updated Android Emulator to help support multiple-display type switching – opening the door to future foldable device optimization. Now, select applications that Android users know and love have been updated to deliver an immersive, foldable experience on the Galaxy Fold.

“Together with ecosystem partners like Samsung, we have the opportunity to deliver an entirely new user experience that could transform the way we use our smartphones. We enjoyed working closely with the Samsung team and the Android developer community to ensure the users of the Galaxy Fold have the best experiences with their favourite apps and services,” said Sagar Kamdar, Director of Product Management for Android at Google.

Hundreds of apps have been optimised for the Galaxy Fold, including services from leading partners like Amazon Prime Video, App in the Air, Facebook, iHeartMedia, Microsoft, Spotify, Twitter, VSCO and more*.

“We are excited to work with Samsung to bring Prime members their favorite shows, movies, and live sports on the Galaxy Fold,” said BA Winston, Global Head of Digital Video Playback and Technology at Amazon Prime Video. “Bringing the Prime Video app to the Galaxy Fold will give customers a new way to experience Amazon Originals like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with Multi Window and Multi Resume.”

“App in the Air makes the travel process seamless and efficient, and by partnering with the Samsung Galaxy Fold we are demonstrating our commitment to expanding this technology through cutting-edge mediums, reaching our shared audiences of innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs,” said Bayram Annakov, CEO, App in the Air. “Our collaboration with Samsung is helping to build a more expansive ecosystem of services for our dedicated users – and we’re thrilled to begin this partnership with such an esteemed brand.”

“We’re excited to expand our long-standing partnership with Samsung by supporting their work to develop innovative experiences for consumers,” said Marc Shedroff, Vice President, Business Development, Facebook. “The new Samsung Galaxy Fold has the potential to usher in a new era of design, and it will be exciting to see what new use cases a foldable experience will unlock for users.”

“As the latest example of our continued commitment to joint-innovation with Samsung, we are excited to be a Galaxy Fold launch partner,” said Michele Laven, President of Strategic Partnerships Group for iHeartMedia. “With the multi-active window feature, iHeartRadio users will now be able to seamlessly navigate through their listening experience without having to ever switch between apps. This also aligns with our goal of providing a frictionless audio playback experience for your favorite live radio stations, podcasts, and custom Artist Radio stations.”

“Office 365 is built to help people maximize their time while creating their best work – no matter where they are or which device they’re using,” said Jon Tinter, CVP of Business Development, Microsoft. “We’re excited to extend the Office experience to the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and help people transform their personal productivity.”

“We are proud to continue our Samsung partnership with the new Galaxy Fold,” said Sten Garmark,

VP of Consumer Products, Spotify. “The Fold will take mobile productivity to new heights and enable a more seamless Spotify listening experience for our users. Simply open the preloaded Spotify app to connect and listen across the Samsung ecosystem. Finding your favorite Spotify playlist favorites like Discover Weekly, or Podcasts such as Jemele Hill’s Unbothered, just got even easier!”

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Samsung and expand the Twitter experience to the Samsung Galaxy Fold. We are looking forward to seeing how people on Twitter engage with this foldable experience and its evolution over time,” said Brent Horowitz, Vice President, Global Product Partnerships at Twitter.

“Our mission at VSCO is to help everyone fall in love with their own creativity and to build tools and spaces to help achieve this. We’re excited to continue our collaboration with Samsung to build deeper, more expansive experiences for creators everywhere,” said Bryan Mason, Chief Business Officer at VSCO.

With features like seamless App Continuity and Multi-Active Window, you can browse, watch, connect and multitask like never before. With Galaxy Fold, you can switch seamlessly from the cover display to the main display and you can run multiple apps simultaneously, on the Galaxy Fold’s 7.3-inch main display, revolutionizing the way you work and play on the go. These top applications and services and many more are now available in the Android ecosystem for the Galaxy Fold in the Google Play Store and Galaxy Store.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

#Chromebook in Your Classroom To Become Content Creator @AcerAfrica #AcerforEducation

Hi Friends,

After allaying its critics, Chromebook has been labelled by educators as the essential classroom tool. In a recent study by Acer - European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot of 2010, 74% of European based teachers who participated in the study believed that netbooks in classrooms will allow students personalised learning, and 89% of all teachers believe that netbooks will add value to improving computer literacy.

According to Peter Lacey, Education Lead for Acer Africa, the question is not if the Chromebook will enter South African classrooms, but when and how. Selborne Primary School based in East London decided to partner with Acer to introduce the Google Chromebook as part of their classroom learnings early in 2013. Through the Acer Premier Partner Program, Acer Africa has managed to successfully provide technology solutions to over 120 schools across its network. The success, according to Lacey lies in the fully customized solutions that Google and its platforms provide.

After comparing several solutions, the school’s governing body decided that the Google platform will be the best vehicle to move the school into the next phase of its technology journey. Sarah Friend, Grade Seven teacher at Selborne explains that, “ease of use is probably the stand out feature for me. This allows each pupil to use the device according to their unique learning ability.” According to Lacey this is what makes the Chromebook unique to any other netbook. “The Chromebook supports the learning material of a school’s current curriculum while allowing a pupil to expand this learning with additional online tools via the safe and secure Device Management System (DMS) and it’s always up to date.” The robust build of the device and selection of applications allows both educator and pupil to get the most out of the learning process. A recent study supports this claim reporting that more than 60% of students have indicated that their learning experience is enhanced by the Google Chromebook. “As an IT administrator of the school, I can manage our Chromebooks, the learning material and other Chrome devices, from a cloud-based Admin console or DMS,” says Friend.

“Since its introduction to the South African market, late in 2013, the Chromebook has had a clear and lasting value add in the local education sector,” says Alister Payne, MD of Google Cloud Solutions. Payne refers to the advancements of technology in the classroom as Tequity, or Tech Equity. “Bringing tech into the learning environment creates an enhanced learning experience.” According to Payne, Tequity reaches further than only the physical accessibility of devices, but the convenience of accessing information via a device as well as the simplicity thereof. Lacey elaborates on this point by conveying that technology should never be introduced to a classroom to replace educators, but rather to aid the facilitator to support pupils during the exploration and curation process. “This is the future of learning,” says Lacey. “Students become content creators rather than content consumers.” With a plethora of applications and collaborative tools at their disposal, each student consumes learning material according to their capabilities, making it a lasting experience. “There are different apps for everything from dissecting a grasshopper to taking a tour through ancient Egypt. Google Chromebook is an essential and interactive tool for the 20th century learner” says Lacey. By making this paradigm shift more emphasis is placed on exploring and comprehending content rather, than following a graded curriculum based outcome.

Another feature that is unique to Google Chromebook is the mobility. Students are able to work on group projects whether they are in the same room or not. Additionally, teachers are also able to evaluate how individuals contributed to group projects. Via the Google Classroom Assignment application, teachers schedule assignments on any subject and are able to track its project. Peter Lacey, Education Lead for Acer Africa add that this in turn creates a paperless classroom, creating a greener learning environment.

Although the adoption of the Chromebook in local classroom cannot be disputed, there are still a fair amount of concerns. These concerns are echoed in the Acer - European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot where the three main objections to the Chromebook was the lack of support, distracted learners and limited access to internet. Even though the first two concerns have been discredited in the last five years, the latter is still a valid objection in our local environment.

The integration of Chromebooks in the Selborne classrooms have dissipated original fears which included the lack of support, distracted learners and limited access to internet. “The five year project has seen Acer invest in the Google Ecosystem Support Base in South Africa, and in this time learners have showed increased engagement,” says Lacey. “Although access to internet remains a concern in rural areas, urban areas are well serviced, and the current number of adopted schools will continue to increase.” Lacey concludes by saying that with government’s commitment to further reduce data costs the country is on the cusp of a connectivity explosion which will filter through to schools and allow for easier access to e-learning.

 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

Product Review - @Solo_NewYork Ludlow Tablet Sling @Gammatek #EverydaySolo

Hi Friends,

Solo New York makes some quality products, and another product which I got to review and keep is this fantastic Ludlow Tablet Sling shoulder bag for my day to day use. This bag also offers unique features and indeed have made my life easy as I can carry my camera and mobile phones during any event or regular travel. Many thanks to Gammatek for bringing them to South Africa.

The product is of top quality right from the style to the colour of the material. This one comes in Black and Grey colour and has a little leather touch at the bottom front of the bag. The front side contains 2 pockets - first small one on the top side of the bag which has a soft interior side to keep your sunglasses etc. and second bigger one to keep your visiting cards, loyalty cards, pens, smartphone and charging cables etc. The zips on both these pockets are good quality and will last you long. This bag really increases your style and fashion quotient up a notch.

The central part of the bag is to keep your tablet or iPad secure with two portions separated by padded compartment and the front portion to keep your notebook or water bottle or sunglasses or headphones or whatever you want to put it. I used the same to keep my small sized Canon 100D DSLR camera which is easily fitted into this limited space bag. The only thing I observed in this bag is that it's not a backpack to accommodate everything you throw at it, so the purpose for this bag has to be separate. Keep that in mind, and it will help you organise your essentials.

Solo Ludlow Tablet Sling bag can efficiently serve you for a quick meeting with some client where you need to show him something on your iPad or MacBook or 10-11" notebooks. It can only be used to keep something small as the width of the bag is limited, and zips won't get closed easily then. I have taken this bag on a weekend trip to keep my mobile phones, passports and other documents along with a water bottle and it served me perfectly. On another occasion, I kept my Canon 100D DSLR and a prime lens, and it fitted perfectly in this bag. Now today I tried using it with Acer Swift 3 laptop but its boundaries passed the zippers, and it could not be closed. I am sure it will work well with 10" tablets with keyboard attachments.

The Solo bag is locally available at Gammatek and also at takealot.com and other online retailers. There are some pictures on my Instagram page for you to check out regarding the bag. Go check out some of the fantastic backpacks and covers from Gammatek and Solo New York. I really loved this bag for my day to day usage, and I am sure because of its build quality it will last me for at least 2-3 years. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

Product Review - @Solo_NewYork Everyday Max Backpack @Gammatek #EverydaySolo

Hi Friends,

There is always a market for backpacks and laptop bags as they don't last that long whatever age group you belong to. I can still remember, I have changed backpacks every 6-8 months during my engineering that is nearly every semester and during school time every year. Also during MBA studies, I used a messenger bag which my brother bought from Singapore and gifted me. It's in dying or throwaway condition but I have still kept it with me since 11 years after MBA to keep my educational documents secure. 

I was introduced to this amazing new product from Solo New York via Gammatek South Africa which I was totally unaware of. I got this bag for 2 weeks to use it and I only used it on my weekend trip to Badplass, Forever Resorts. The best part of taking this bag was the conversion to duffle bag if not used as a laptop bag or even with a laptop, the same can be used as a weekender bag. 

The first thing, after being unheard of this Solo New York Brand which amazed me was the quality of the construction and the amazing details to make this backpack look amazingly beautiful. From the zips to the handles of the zips, everything was picture perfect and colour combination was something that will inspire you to carry it all along. There are some pictures on my Instagram page for you to check out regarding the bag.

Some of the features of Solo Everyday Max Backpack are -

• Fully padded 17.3" laptop compartment
• Internal iPad/tablet pocket
• Separate Shoe compartment at the bottom of the bag in an upright position keeps shoes and socks separate
• Large size zippered pockets to keep your extra stuff on the go!
• Duffle bag zip for opening the bag for easy access to clothes and stuff during weekend travel or otherwise 

The backpack is big being 17.3" laptop bag but the padding is enough to support the weight of the same. I bought a 17" laptop bag from Targus last year but I could feel the difference in the quality on Solo New York once as compared to Targus one. My last backpack was from Google for its employees and it lasted around 8 years (from Singapore to Switzerland to London to South Africa) and it didn't have any brand. Solo Everyday Max Backpack will serve you well too and is available in South Africa. I had to let it go before I could fall in love with it and couldn't live without it but this is one bag where I could place my money without any analysis or experimentation.

The empty bag only weighs 1 kilogram and that saves you with at least 6 kgs to make it your cabin baggage while you travel overseas or local. It can carry your 1 pair of full clothes without any towels but with all your electronics for an overnight trip or general travel as a laptop bag. The bag design is upmarket with charcoal grey and blue combination with the yellow stint at the zippers. The bag is surrounded by handles on three sides to carry it as per your choice and has internal compartments to keep your toiletries separate. The front pocket can easily keep your passport or mouse and charge cables etc.

The only con I could find is that if you are lost in your own world while travelling someone can easily open your duffle bag zipper compartment and take out your expensive Bose headphones or Kindle etc.

I really loved the backpack and will check out more from Solo New York and Gammatek website and buy one someday when I need to travel overseas. You can check them out too!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

My Life #MyGoogleZA Way @GoogleAfrica #Apps #SearchEngine

Hi Guys, 

Google as I understood is something that brought the world closer to me and my awareness suddenly grew multi-fold to make me what I am today. Search Engine kept breaking all the fundamentalist attitude I had towards life. It broke all those shackles of superstitious I grew up with and challenged them in my brain to amend the same. 

Google Doodle - South Africa Freedom Day 2016

Gmail (by invite only) brought my friends and MBA assignments closer to work on the same as well as built-in-chat function which saved a lot of time. Orkut has testimonials written over by my close friends to showcase how wonderful I am or it was the Google technology behind that? 

YouTube made me realize that I no longer need to go outside my home to find a teacher to learn photography or playing guitar but can work out on my own using the videos people shared from around the world. Now I have access to all the libraries of knowledge and even Geniuses in the areas can be my teachers without any payments to be made or admissions to be taken in universities. 

Google G1 brought “Android” in my pockets and along with the same my wandering in search of addresses was resolved with Google Maps slowly building itself with camera fitted cars going around the town worldwide to give me Street view. It helped me greatly on vacations as I could see beforehand where I am getting to. Not only I could see the city but also the beautiful planet with Google Earth. 

I kept saving my words and thoughts on the Google Drive and today I can still see all the shared planning files I had for my marriage 8 years ago with my wife.

That’s my and TheLife'sWay Blogger journey too with #MyGoogleZA and I hope yours will be exciting too!

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 

Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!

Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page 

Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in

Follow Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

Book me for your Brand's Influence at https://webfluential.com/TheLifesWay

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 
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!
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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!
Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page 
Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in 
Like The Life's Way Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

An Android App a day - 31. Snapknock

Hi Guys, 

It's been a while I have blogged about the android apps. My HTC One went through a bad battery phase and has been replaced by a new one by the company. Thanks to HTC! I love HTC as this is my third mobile from their company. 

Snapknock is a upcoming app with facebook collaboration for buying and selling used books, movies and video games and whatever you want to sell. People can bid for your items and you can sell them asap. 

The app is available at -

https://snapknockweb.appspot.com/
 

The company and the app has recently got the back up from Venture Capitalists in Canberra, Australia under GRIFFIN Accelerator program. Check the article at http://www.startupsmart.com.au/financing-a-business/venture-capital/canberra-based-accelerator-program-announces-2014-program-participants/2014063012620.html

As they say, early followers makes better leaders and so I am backing this app completely. This app has been developed by a Software Engineer with work experience in Google and Quora, California, USA.

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

My Android Love

Hi Guys,

My introduction with Google Android OS started when my brother gifted me Google G1 Mobile phone way back in 2009. This was the first Android OS mobile phone introduced by Google in collaboration with T-mobil & HTC. HTC names the set as HTC Dream. I really loved the phone as it has this sliding qwerty keypad and I was able to type very very fast on twitter and facebook. It was a small laptop for me as I didn't needed to open to check emails and all. I really loved the device very very much.

I went to London, I was introduced by Nokia to its new phone N8. It has a great camera with 12 Megapixels and old OS Symbian. I really loved it's large screen and nice design. The phone did came with a lot of features and accessories. But it has some lags and I didn't fall in love with the device and returned the same within a months of my use.

My brother again gifted my another Google phone named Nexus One which I still use. The phone is simply great with Amoled display and cool features. It upgraded itself to v2.3 Android and not further. The best thing about Android was the free apps and drag & drog of data files (movies, music, docs) into the Micro SD card & you are ready to see them on your device. I enjoyed the phone very much till recently when it's power button got broken. Then somehow I was able to find that this HTC phone has this problem and you need to take care earlier. I was able to find solution but could never switch-off the thing going forward. 

Now in this world of Phablets, screen larger than 5", quad core-dual core- processors, 8gb/16gb memory on board phones from all Indian as well as International brands I am feeling that I need to now say Good bye to my old phones. I still have both of them. Let's see if I could find solace in iPhone 5 or Nokia Lumia 920 or Samsung S4 or HTC One or BB Z10 etc. Till that time I need to save a lot of money as all the phones are highly priced in India. Thanks all! Enjoy!