Product Review 6: Nokia Essential Wireless Headphones E1200

Hi Guys, 

Nokia South Africa released these headphones named Nokia Essential Wireless Headphones (E1200) which are valuable headphones for everyone. They don't have ANC but have all the other features necessary to make them the best at this price range. 

The same is retailed at ZAR 1199 but is available at the takealot website at ZAR 969 only and is also available in Blue and the Black colour that I featured here. If you have any questions regarding this one, do let me know.

Link to video - https://youtu.be/DHDO0gkHBFk - Your Views Are My Only Blessings!

#NokiaE1200 #NokiaEssentialWirelessHeadphones #NokiaSouthAfrica #NokiaHeadphones #TheLifesWay #TechBlogger #Youtuber #Johannesburg #SouthAfrica 

The same is available on Amazon for around USD 49 ($49) - https://www.amazon.com/Nokia-Essential-Wireless-Headphones-Universal/dp/B08PBZ8JR4

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Aum Namah Shivay!

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Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 11 Years!

Old Nokia phones do it best: Nokia 3310 turns 23 years old

Hi Guys, 

Time to cut the Nokia 3310 birthday cake

No matter how far smartphone technology progresses, there is something about the simplicity and functionality of old mobile phones that always appeals to us. In 2000, the original retro phone favourite was launched, and to date is still one of the best-selling phones of all time. Cut to 2023 and the new Nokia 3310 and Nokia 3310 3G are still going strong. Here’s why the latest Nokia 3310 models get better with age.

Today’s Nokia 3310 is reliable

The original Nokia 3310 was tough. Today’s Nokia 3310 combines that level of durability with a slimmer build, a curved design, and a battery life that won’t have you tethered to the nearest power outlet. They provide up to 22 hours of talk time or 31 days of standby from a single charge. Compare this to the average smartphone battery life of around 10 hours and Nokia 3310 is the clear winner. Whether you want to use it daily or save it as a backup phone for the household or your car’s glove box, the Nokia 3310 won’t let you down.

Nokia 3310 can help you have fun and relax

Smartphones have become incredibly capable everyday companions, but we tend to take them too seriously. We protect them in cases and spend ages trying to capture the perfect shot. Before the smartphone boom, there was a quirky, playful charm to be found in feature phones. That’s something that today’s Nokia 3310 and Nokia 3310 3G embody. The Yellow and Warm Red colours are joyful with an unmistakable nod to a retro aesthetic, while the Charcoal option is there for those who want something low-key. The rear camera is there for taking snaps, but without the plethora of filters and adjustments available on smartphones, the pressure to take a studio-worthy shot isn’t there. It becomes more about preserving a memory and living in the moment.

The new Nokia 3110 phones have the Snake game

Everyone remembers Snake. While the simple mechanic satisfies a need for puzzle solving and quick thinking, the original game doesn’t make the most of the colour screen on today’s Nokia 3310. That’s why the Snake game got a little update as well. Snake Xenzia brings the game to life in vibrant colour. It’s comfortingly familiar yet refreshingly new – just like the phone itself.

Nokia 3310 is great for digital detoxing

With its long battery life and curved design that sits comfortably in the palm of your hand, the Nokia 3310 is perfect for the thing that phones were originally made for – talking. Without the plethora of apps on hand, the Nokia 3310 makes it easy to take a digital detox. Digital detoxing can help improve productivity, improve quality of sleep and lower stress levels. And, it can help you rediscover the value of talking to loved ones.

Happy birthday, Nokia 3310!

In a world characterized by constant change, the Nokia 3310 stands as a reminder of the lasting impact that simple yet innovative design can have on our lives. It's a celebration of endurance, a tribute to reliability, and a nod to the memories that it has woven into the fabric of our lives.

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish
Thanks! Cheers!!!
https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

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Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10.5 Years!

Taking Great Photos - It All Comes Down to Knowing Your Camera and Your Subject #shotonnokia

Hi Guys, 

90% of people who have ever taken a photo have not used a camera. Those photos were taken on a phone.¹ Whatever phone you have and whatever you like to snap, there are a few fundamentals that can help improve almost any shot. Alright, let’s jump in.

1. Clean your lens

Photos looking a little milky? This is the biggest problem we see with smartphone cameras. Because the lens is so small, it’s very easy for it to get dirty while you’re using your phone for other things. You spend the whole day holding your phone, so make sure you wipe away those smeary marks before you start snapping. Remember to clean the front camera, too.

2. Focusing

Focus makes the photo. Try not to just point and shoot, but take time to make sure that the main subject of your photo is in focus. Most Nokia smartphones have touch focusing. Just touch the most important part of the image on the display and the camera will adjust focus to make sure it looks nice and sharp.

3. Apply the rule of thirds

This is a simple concept that helps you compose your landscape-orientation images. It’s based on the idea that dividing an image into nine equal parts to form a three-by-three grid creates visual interest. You should aim to place the main subject of your photo – like a tree line or a group of faces – in the intersections or along the lines. The left or right third of the image usually yields the best results.

4. Consider the flash and use night mode

Using the flash on your phone can sometimes result in too much noise and not great photos. With increasing performance in low light conditions, turning off the flash could improve your nighttime photos. Shooting at a concert in dark conditions? The flash is not going to reach the stage, only the people in front of you. At a zoo shooting through glass? You will have a bad photo and you could scare the animals.

When you are shooting in daylight and the subject is in shadow, that’s the time to use a flash – it can give some great portrait results. But in low-light conditions, like in the evening, try using Night Mode instead. A lot of people don’t use it, but it’s a simple and powerful feature.

5. Steady your shot

Smartphone cameras are sensitive to movement. Even a slight shake can leave a smartphone photo looking blurry. So, we want to minimise camera shake as much as possible. A tripod will stop this. The good news is that you can buy small, cheap tripods specifically for smartphones from most online vendors.

If you don’t want to buy a tripod, then using a wall, a friend’s shoulder, or even your other arm will help reduce camera shake. Keeping the shot steady is especially important in low-light conditions when the longer exposure times are that much longer.

6. Try using HDR Mode

Ever tried to take a photo of the sky, only for the scenery below to become lost to shadow? Or tried to focus on a dimly lit subject and notice that the sky becomes overexposed? That’s where “High Dynamic Range” comes in.

HDR mode brings out the darkest and lightest parts of your picture and creates a better balance of colours overall. The only downside is that, in HDR Mode, photos take a little longer to process, so avoid using HDR mode on fast-moving subjects or when you can’t keep your phone steady. But in general, it’s great when there’s a big difference between the darkest and lightest parts of your photo.

7. Learn your camera features

Learn what your phone does, and when to use them. You’ll want to turn on HDR for most phones for day-to-day photography. Use night modes for shooting in dim interiors, or outdoors after the sun has set. Portrait mode blurs the background behind your subject and is sometimes called the Bokeh Effect. Panorama mode when you are taking landscape photos so you can see everything around you.

It’s also worth understanding aspect ratios. Common aspect ratios include Full, 16:9, 4:3 and 1:1. Professional photographers use 4:3 for photos because it works well for computer monitors and for 8x6-inch prints. 16:9 is used for video because it works great for TVs and the 1920 x 1080 resolution.

8. Set your resolution high

The higher the resolution of your photo, the better quality it is. When taking images, try to go as close as possible to the subject rather than zoom in when you take a shot. Using digital zoom will reduce the image quality, so avoid it if possible. Whereas, if you get up close, you always have the option of cropping the image later.

9. Shoot your videos in landscape

Vertical video only works if the audience is on a phone, like in Instagram Stories, for instance. It does not work on TVs and screens though, because they are wider than they are long – in other words, they have a landscape orientation.

If you are shooting a video of something amazing that you might want to share on the big screen, or even YouTube, you should always rotate your phone to landscape so that you can fill the frame with your awesome footage.

10. Always know where the light source is

When taking a photo, it is vital to know the light is coming from. Smartphone cameras can only take in a limited amount of light. A lot of light can overwhelm the sensor and can also throw off its exposure. You should always ensure that the light falls directly on the subject. So, when taking pictures indoors, make sure the subject is facing the light source. The light source should not come from behind them, otherwise, the subject will be underexposed.

Show us your photos!

Have a Nokia smartphone and feel inspired to try out some of these tips? We want to see what you’ve got! Head to Instagram and share with us the best photos you’ve taken lately using #shotonnokia. And don’t forget to tell us which Nokia phone you shot your photos on!

¹ Source: https://www.eksposure.com/mobile-photography

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish
Thanks! Cheers!!!
https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

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and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h
Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10.5 Years!

SA youth: Accessing the Heart of this Powerful Buying Market #Nokia105 #NokiaT20

Hi Guys, 

South Africa’s youth today is a very progressive and powerful buying market, who value authenticity, a balance between working, living and making a difference in their immediate and greater worlds. They are also very particular about which products and experiences they engage with – which will be heavily influenced by these core values.

When researching a brand, this younger buying market makes a point of seeing if a brand’s products, ways of doing business, and/or company values, are kind to the planet, and not just the pocket. They actively seek out brands that care as much as they do.

While very ambitious – wanting to build a life that is comfortable and holds space for adventure, experiences, and personal growth – SA youth see the brands/companies/products/services that they engage with as an extension of themselves, and as such should hold the same core values as the individual.

Brands with hearts stand apart

Brands that stand apart from others in the eyes of this buying market have initiatives that support the sustainability of natural resources, as well as having as little impact on the planet as possible in the process of production, operation, and disposal.

This extends to their mobile devices too – how they are manufactured, the eco-friendliness of replaceable (such as batteries, charging cables, etc), and the care of people as much as the planet.

So when a brand achieves a high sustainability ranking, as did HMD Global, the Home of Nokia phones, this younger and very aware buying market stands up and takes note. HMD has a powerful mission to lower its carbon footprint on the planet, including extending the longevity of its products so that they last longer without losing operational capability, requiring less production of new products. This is highly attractive to this market.

Authenticity is gold

A brand that is transparent, personal, honest and “real” with its audience will capture their hearts – and that share of the market.

The younger SA buying market is very shrewd consumers that aren’t attracted to “fluff” created around a brand and its offerings. They want a brand partner that tells it like it is, that listens to what their consumers want, and that cuts through the clutter of marketing noise with an offer that is simple and “real”.

Feeding into the SA youth market’s priorities

This is why HMD has reduced the noise and clutter, bringing phones and tablets to the youth market that support them in what is important to them in life.

Nostalgia

SA youth don’t “do” overcomplicated, and in a world where things are becoming more and more complicated, they are leaning decidedly towards the simplicity of older times, and the comfort and “escape” that these bring.

Because this market is prone to worry, they are looking at removing things from around them that fuel the worry – like overcomplicated processes, products and features. They want things that are easy to use, dependable, that last, and that give them exactly what they need, as opposed to handfuls of other things that they will have to wade through.

A simple phone like the Nokia 105, for example, offers calling and messaging, a torch, some games, FM radio and a very-long-lasting battery. And this young market is seeing a device like this as taking them back to that safe and simple past and stripping them away from an overcomplicated lifestyle.

Work meets life

Supporting a balanced lifestyle is also a very important consideration for SA youth. As much as they want the comfort and stability of a good income, they also want to be able to save money to travel; experience and own things that interest and excite them and bring emotional value to their lives.

A brand that supports this holistic approach to life is one that this market wants to be associated with. And one that has a bouquet of products to choose from, with each product having a specific collection of features that talks to this market’s priorities, will gain additional traction in their esteem.

The Nokia T20 tablet, for example, talks to the young working SA professional who need long-lasting battery time to cater for online meetings, the ability to stream movies and good sound for quality listening. Because quality is also desired for the holistic experience. 

Access 

Of vital importance to enter this market is access. Access to the internet; apps that support their need for inspiration, community, information and connectivity to peers and the workplace.

Access is what opens up this market’s world – from virtual travel and exploration, enhancing their education, to catching up with someone abroad. And they want their access to be immediate.

The world has become more fast-paced than ever, and this generation that wants their finger on the pulses of everything in their realm of interest wants it immediately with near-instant gratification.

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews

and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!

Top 4 Virtual Games to play with your family from your phone without worrying about battery life #NokiaC21Plus

Hi Guys,

Distance has become far less limiting over the past few years, especially when it comes to connecting with family and friends. Video-calling a sibling from South Africa to Australia is as simple as a touch of a button. Even connecting with several family members at the same time is easy using group call functions.

While calling for a chat fills you in on the latest news, connecting with family members in a more engaging way is what brings you closer together. And one of the best ways to do that is to do fun things together, virtually.

HMD Global, the Home of Nokia phones, shares some original and super-fun things that families can do together on the virtual playground.

Charades

Have a blast playing Charades with your family, this incredibly entertaining and thrilling multi-activity allows participants to guess the word on the card that's on the screen of the person who’s got the phone to their head, based on clues from other participants’ performances (which could include dancing, singing, acting, or sketching) before time runs out.

Lip-Sync Battle

Fancy yourself a great rock star imitator? Challenge your family members to a Lip-Sync Battle, where each person has 30 seconds to show their stuff, lip-syncing their favourite music artist.

You can create a score sheet, where everyone judges each performance based on things like accuracy of lyrics, dramatism, flair, and believability.

Karaoke King

Or drop the lip-syncing and have a full-on karaoke competition. You can find instrumental versions of your favourite song on YouTube, Smule, KaraFun or Singa. Go live on your video call and show your family that you deserve to be on South Africa’s Got Talent!

Drawing Together

So we’ve done acting, singing (and mock singing) – how about some family drawing!

There are loads of online drawing sites that you can use, like Sketchbook or WeDraw where you can do anything from relaxing doodling to playing and learning how to draw step by step. Or go for the good old Pictionary, which is sure to ramp up the hilarity.

You’ll naturally need a screen that’s big enough to be able to see all these masterpieces, making the 6.5” screen of the Nokia C21 Plus perfect!

In It For The Long Run

With all these wonderful games you’ll be playing with your family, it’s easy to lose track of time. Luckily the C21 Plus has up to 3-day¹ battery life on a single charge! (Now that alone is worth the unbelievably affordable price of only R1,999, right?!)

What are you waiting for? Create that family WhatsApp group and get everyone ready and psyched up for the best fun together.

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews

and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!

Winter doesn’t have to be a downer – Have a Social life, Stay fashion-conscious and Happy #Nokia105

Hi Guys, 

Winter isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, with the cold making people hesitant to step outdoors. The double-edged sword is that load shedding makes indoor activities like watching movies, or simply listening to music, hard as well.

Throw into the mix a lack of motivation to do physical exercise, lower mood due to a lack of vitamin D and serotonin, and being cooped up indoors because of low outdoor temperatures, and you could end up feeling rather blue about life.

The good news is that winter doesn’t have to be the let-down that it can be infamous for! HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, shares some tips on how to keep social, look fabulous, and feel on top of the world this winter.

Retro/vintage is powering the 2023 fashion scene

If you love the vintage look (and the wonderful nostalgia that it brings), 2023 is your year! Vintage is roaring ahead in fashion this year, with a notable spotlight on comfort and minimalism. Smaller handbags partner well with oversized sweaters and comfy cargo pants are just perfect for the compact Nokia 105 - which is a fashion statement in itself.

This neat phone takes you back to when you could just slip your phone into your compact bag or pocket - but brings with it all the features you need. FM radio, 15 hours of talk time, games to keep you entertained in the queue at the grocery store…and a bright torch for when load shedding tries to leave you in the dark.

Going retro can also help with mental wellness

Another way to support your mental wellness this winter is by taking a break from the “noise” of things like souped-up modern technology - which seems to be always on, and always shouting for your attention.

Going retro with certain things, like your mobile phone, can evoke a nostalgic feeling that takes you back emotionally to “simpler times”, when things were easier, less stressful, and less cluttered. This can have a powerful effect on your state of calm and improve your holistic mental well-being.

Stay on top of the entertainment scene

While you’re chatting for hours with your friends (yes, HOURS – because the incredible battery life of the Nokia 105 gives you the power to talk for hours), it’s more than likely that the topic of what’s hot on the entertainment scene will come up.

Luckily, one of the upsides of staying indoors more often in winter means you’ll be able to binge-watch some of the latest series, so you’ll have no trouble commenting on all the drama happening in Young, Famous & African S2 – because you can stream them right to your phone (and watch for hours)!

Be the light of your own life

OK, let’s face it – load shedding on a freezing-cold, dark winter’s night is enough to bring anyone down. The Nokia 105 can give you a bright guiding light so you don’t stub your toe (which is always more painful when it’s cold), fall over the dog, or step on a Lego brick (if you’re a parent, you’ll know the pain – especially in winter).

Turn on that powerful torch and be your OWN guiding light to the bathroom – or the kitchen for some leftover shesa nyama because you need some kind of reward for getting up in the middle of a winter’s night (you won’t be able to heat it, but that’s OK – leftover shesa is great hot or cold).

Keep your mind healthy and happy during winter

An effective and easy way to help you work through those mental winter “blues” and feel happy and content. Music is one of them – especially if it’s music you really enjoy. Imagine cuddling under your blankets in your bed with a hot water bottle, listening to your favourite artists as you fall asleep. With the Nokia 105’s FM wireless radio, you can listen all night. And a good night’s sleep also sets you up to wake up feeling happy, refreshed, and ready to take on the day – which may be cold, but you’ve got some really cool tools to make them fabulous with!

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews

and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!

Light, Games and Chatting with friends – The Power is in your Hands when Load Shedding Hits #Nokia105

Hi Guys, 

With winter having taken a solid foothold in South Africa over the past few days, the demand for electricity is already seeing a major rise, putting our threatened power grid under more strain – with more load shedding to come.

And winter being what it is, people tend to spend more time at home and indoors where it’s warm and staying entertained with family. Until load shedding hits, that is.

Luckily, it’s not all bad news! HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, sheds light on a nifty little companion to lift the load-shedding blues.

When the lights go out

If you’re not prepared with a backup light, you stand the risk of some really eina accidents. Like stubbing your toe on the corner of the couch as you grapple for the emergency light or having your phone (the screen of which you’re using for light) knocked out of your hand to crash onto the floor as you try to navigate your way to a light source.

This is when you’ll be so grateful for your handy Nokia 105! With a built-in torch, you won’t have to worry about getting those nasty bumps and bruises, as the torch lights the way to your generator, inverter, or backup lights.

And if you do happen to have it knocked out of your hands while trying to get that generator going, it’s OK – built to take on everyday life, the scratch and bump-resistant exterior is built to last – and looks good doing it The Nokia 105’s compact shape is specially moulded to feel great in the hand and easily slip into your pocket when you’re on the go.

Boredom is so 2022

Some of us aren’t so fortunate to be able to have a generator or inverter in our homes for when load shedding hits. So, when the power is out and can’t feed the TV or laptop, how on earth do you stay entertained?!

Aside from reading your favourite book in the clear and strong light of your Nokia 105’s built-in torch, or going old-school with some fun board games, your Nokia 105 has a selection of 10 classic pre-loaded games for your enjoyment - including Snake!

Or use the time for some great catch-up calls with family and friends thanks to the Nokia 105’s all-day1 battery life, you can catch up on Sipho’s drama with his landlord, how Melanie’s first date went, and how your cousin’s new job is going in KZN.

Chill to the beats of local radio

But perhaps you just want to chill out and relax to some cool music, soak in a hot bath with the week’s top 20 hits or put your feet up and listen to the latest amapiano tracks.

Keep up with the football score or listen to your favourite radio shows together with friends and family on loudspeakers or plug in to enjoy music privately. Whatever you are in the mood for, the wireless FM radio gives you a choice.

So who really has the power?

With the Nokia 105 - it’s you! All thanks to the torch, pre-loaded games and great battery life!

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish 

Thanks! Cheers!!! 

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!

10 Years of www.TheLifesWay.com #TheLifesWay #BlogAnniversary #10YearsofTheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

10 years is a mark that you think will change something but it's not like that as it's just your ego making mental challenges. I never thought that I will one day reach this point but I started The Life's Way only to carry on till the end of my life. I don't know if anyone will take it afterwards but it's a one-person effort, time, money and investment. I could never grow the same and it still is where it is as a one-person blog. 

In 2022, I changed my pivot to not waste time on brands that are not valuing me but rather than expectations in my mind and heart for them to recognise and send me their products or services. But this kind of mentality needs to be corrected so it's always better to set your expectations at the start of your services for the other brand. I think I have done enough in the last 10 years for hundreds of brands that made full use of me without any benefits in return. I don't blame them but it was me who never told me what I expect in return at the start of the partnership. It was rather a one-sided affair as I kept promoting them. 

During 2022, I deleted all the posts that don't serve my readers so the count has come down from 2500 posts that were for 9 years of The Life's Way to this one which is going to be 2050 or near that. I also spent more time reading and listening to books. I walked more than 1000 kilometres in 2022 instead of sitting in front of my laptop and the internet to post press releases for free or any trade exchanges or any kinds of benefits whatsoever. It's better to invest in your attitude, mental peace and learning. 

The Life's Way achieved 3.85 Million pageviews in 2022 despite spending very less time and reducing the number of posts and press releases. I am not so sure how much I will cross but based on the run rate I think I will be around 4.25 Million pageviews by 27-Dec-2023 the target that I have set for myself is around 5 Million. It's not going to be an easy task to get more than 1 Million pageviews in a single year and also I am thinking of migrating from Blogger to WordPress if possible. 

Coming back to the achievements during the course of the 10th year of The Life's Way - I did some of the paid assignments with theSalt influencer marketing company that really helped me earn some money along with some free products as well. I did a campaign for Webfluential as well along with one for the Vodacom Pay contest from YouTube Shorts and also for the Evetech Creator contest. The Salt ones fetched me some cash which really helped me buy all the stuff I bought in 2022. I spent much more than I earned in 2022 as I am thinking about it now. 

The best thing that happened in 2022 was the coming together of my brother's family and my parents all coming together to South Africa and we went to Kruger National Park for a 4 nights trip which was amazing. Then I went again to Hermanus to see the whales that were also on my wish list for many years. Then to end the year, I went to Mauritius which was my first international trip for more than 15 days on an island. All these trips were self-paid and not sponsored as some influencers thought and were jealous about. There is nothing to be jealous of as I paid for all these trips myself only the cameras to take pictures with were given for review and taken back after the completion of the trip. 

I focused mainly on YouTube channels creating long-form videos and Shorts and both took me in different directions. Long-form videos got me into the YouTube Partner programme after completing 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time in a single year. The YouTube Shorts took me into the Shorts Community by virtue of which I attended my first ever YouTube live events in person and virtually and received a lot of YouTube swag to enjoy as well. I also received my first YouTube payment too and which was USD 121 in the month of Nov-22. 

I did a lot of unboxing videos along with stationery videos and 100s of shorts. In total, I did around 159 long-form videos and 323 Shorts in 2022. My biggest dream came true was meeting Cycle Baba that I dreamed of in 2021 when I came to know that he is going to come to Africa. I met him on April 22 and shot a small interview video with him as well. 

I also completed 42 years of Hanuman Chalisa which was a dream work I wanted to do for many many years now and I could complete it before my birthday on July 22. I could finish the same in May or Jun-22 which was a month before the target time I allocated. It left me to focus on the walks and audiobooks. 

The products that were on my dream list that I shared were not fulfilled at all. I didn't get an Apple Macbook or DJI Gimbal or Canon EOSM 22mm lens. My father though gifted me Apple Earpods with wireless charging (2nd edition) that my brother gifted him. My brother also gave me his 7th generation Kindle Paperwhite I am enjoying it a lot and spent a lot of time reading books. I did buy certain products that I always wanted to own like RGB Headset stand, Monitor Arm. After buying them I felt good but not using them any longer as it hurts your eyes when you are sitting right on top of them. So all the RGB lighting that looks great on videos and images is just torture and stressful for your eyes for sure especially for me as I wear glasses so it gets a lot of reflections. 

This year I focused more on buying my own stuff rather than winning the same as I have been doing over the years. This is the year where my expenses rose more than my income from The Life's Way. I bought a lot of Pilot and Lamy Fountain Pens along with a lot of online courses from Skillshare, Udemy and other platforms like getAbstract. I did get some new kinds of opportunities this year where I went to a lot of conferences and in-person sessions. It did fetch me some special gifts that I never expected and showcased to you on my YouTube channel as well. 

I have not moved to another smartphone and still using the same ones (Note 20 and Z Flip3) as I was at the end of 2021 so nothing has changed much this time around. I did review some of the smartphones from Huawei, Honor, Nokia, Vivo, TCL and Samsung including some tablets as well. Those all were great phones but they went back as they came for a review period of 14 days or so. TCL phone people got really interested when I posted the unboxing video on my YouTube channel. 

The main focus remained on getting more and more Youtube videos and shorts and the blog took a little bit of beating due to the same. I kept making a lot of blog posts in my mind but the actual typing of those words never happened. It's still happening and I do think about all the posts in terms of storytelling but the words never get typed and directly go into videos if that happens. 

I am not sure what 2023 will bring for me but I hopefully want to change my mindset towards wealth and growth. I want to take risks in my job, career and money. I want to grow my channel to reach 100k subscribers on Youtube and the blog to cross 5 Million pageviews as told earlier. I will do my own thing and if I can align with some brands I will do it else just live my life on my own terms. 

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish 

Thanks! Cheers!!! 

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

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4 reasons Why @NokiaSouth #NokiaG21 is the Perfect Travel companion for your Easter holidays?

Hi Guys, 

There is no doubt that technology, such as our reliable smartphones and tablets, has enhanced our daily lives. As Easter comes, you may be considering going away for the long weekend, and your Nokia phone will be an invaluable tool that can assist you with navigation, translation, playing music and providing entertainment during those never-ending road trips.

1. Keep entertained

Car trips can be stressful and long, and creating a Spotify playlist will not only make the travels go faster, but you can also download playlists for each moment - whether a morning hike, an afternoon siesta, or an evening party. Mobile games will keep people of all ages entertained for hours, thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate on the Nokia G21. If games aren't your thing, you can spend the time watching your favourite YouTube "how-to" video, listening to a podcast, or watching a movie.

2. Capture the moments

Too often, after returning home from a pleasant holiday, we discover that we neglected to capture the special moments of the trip. While it is essential to living in the present, it is equally important to cherish memories of time spent with loved ones. Don’t worry about bringing along a camera on your next trip; by using your Nokia G21 you can capture moments with the 50 MP triple-camera and give the pictures the ‘wow factor’ with advanced low light imaging, so you’ll be able to bring all your amazing ideas to life.

3. Feel assured

Everyone has been there. We've packed our belongings, are in the car, and then it occurs to us that our charger is still plugged in at home. And with our phones, an integral part of our lives, being without a device for even a few hours can create unnecessary stress. While you might be able to make preparations to stop and buy a new charger along the way, with the Nokia G21, you can relax a little more because the battery life can last up to three days* and it also comes with 18W fast charge capability¹.

4. Work remotely (if need be)

The roads during the Easter weekend can be extremely congested, so you may wish to leave a day or two earlier and, if your job allows it, work remotely, allowing you to avoid traffic and enjoy an extra day holiday. The Nokia G21’s 6.5” screen is ideal for mobile business, video calling, and pitch presentations.

Ensure that time spent with family and friends is cherished and enjoyable and let your Nokia phone experience simply enhance every moment.

Buy the Nokia G21 priced from: R3,299

Thanks for your time, Aashish

Cheers!!!

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!!! 

Easy Tips to Maintain Your Smartphone Battery #NationalBatteryDay #NokiaPhones #HMDGlobal

Hi Friends, 

In celebration of National Battery Day on 18-Feb-2023, HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, shares easy tips to maintain your battery life.

Hold back on 100​

Always charging your phone to 100% when using a high-voltage charger can put a strain on your phone’s battery. Pulling the plug at the 80-90% mark is a good idea, and you ideally always want to keep your phone’s battery between 30-80%. This will increase the lifespan of the battery.​

Switch off your location​

On Android phones, you can either switch off your location/GPS completely or block certain apps from tracking your location. See Settings > Apps in order to check what apps are using your location and switch these off. ​

Avoid exposing your phone to extreme heat or cold​

Extreme cold temperatures can drain your phone’s battery faster. Keeping your phone at room temperature where possible, will ensure the battery lasts as long as it can.​

Charge your phone during the day​

If you want to keep your phone’s battery healthy, charge it during the day and not overnight. When a phone is left plugged in, the battery will start to drain again. Once the charge level drops below a certain threshold set by the manufacturer, it will charge straight back up again. Ultimately, this can speed up the battery degradation, so you may end up finding that your phone ends up at 0% quicker than when you first bought it. If you do charge your phone at night, make sure it is not covered up e.g., under a pillow, as this can overheat the battery which will also worsen its performance over time.​

Get into the mode ​

There are a variety of settings and modes that have been designed to help you conserve battery on Android devices, look out for:

• Adaptive battery limits battery for infrequently used apps.
• Battery Saver restricts power-consuming activity automatically to save power. You can choose to optimise certain settings such as auto-sync.
• Super Battery Saver mode to extend your battery life even further – you can even choose where exactly the energy savings are made, so you can still access key features that are needed.
• Turning your phone on dark mode can also make the battery life last longer throughout the day, as less power is needed to keep your phone’s display brightness. See Settings > Display in order to access this.

Keep your phone up to date

Installing regular Android updates can help fix battery drainage issues. Sometimes software bugs can cause unnecessary stress on your battery. When this happens, developers release bug fixes for these issues through operating system updates. By keeping your phone up to date, you'll always have the latest bug fixes, battery mode enhancements, and performance improvements.

Keep track of battery health on your Nokia phone with the My Device app

My Device app is a one-stop shop for checking your Nokia phone’s health. Simple diagnostics include battery health, storage space, device temperature, and data use. It’s all designed to help your device live longer. My Device App > Battery Health> Open battery management.

Cheers!!!

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World Kindness Day Challenge with HMD Global @NokiaMobileZA #Nokiakindnesschallenge #kindnesschallenge

Hi Friends,

World Kindness Day is celebrated every year on the 13th of November and in commemoration of this day, the good people at HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones encouraged I and you to use Nokia device to capture two simple acts of kindness with the hashtag #Nokiakindnesschallenge during the week of 6 – 13 November and in turn inspire our followers to do the same.

I am getting inspired by the attached 7-day #kindnesschallenge infographic and sharing these ideas with you too. Join me on this 7-day #kindnesschallenge by showing random acts of kindness to everyone around you to create a better, kinder world for us all.  Tag me and look forward to seeing your acts of kindness. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #10YearsofTheLifesWay. Support me if you want with USD 10 - https://www.patreon.com/TheLifesWay Namaste! https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Lars Silberbauer Joins HMD Global as Chief Marketing Officer @HMDGlobal

Hi Friends, 

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announces Lars Silberbauer as Chief Marketing Officer.

Lars will lead HMD’s Global marketing efforts across the entire portfolio of Nokia smartphones, feature phones, tablets and accessories, as well as HMD Global consumer and enterprise services.

Lars will report directly to Florian Seiche, CEO, as he continues to develop its long-term growth strategy for the full portfolio of Nokia devices and HMD Global services.

Lars says: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining HMD Global at such an exciting time. We have just launched a revolutionary new subscription service that aims to change the way we look at phone ownership and the most eco-friendly phones that we have ever created. Consumers are responding to our innovative Circular subscription service with sustainability at its core. I look forward to working closely with the marketing team to continue to drive digital transformation in our marketing operations as we aim to become an impactful digital leader and connect the world without costing the earth.’

Prior to his appointment at HMD Global as Chief Marketing Officer, Lars was leading the Brand, Marketing and Digital teams at International Olympic Committee and was also a former SVP of MTV Digital Studios where he focused on growing MTV’s momentum through digital and social channels. Lars also worked at LEGO as a Global Senior Director where he revolutionised the company’s digital footprint by transforming a brand that had no social media presence into one of the world’s most impactful digital leaders.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #10YearsofTheLifesWay. Support me if you want with USD 10 - https://www.patreon.com/TheLifesWay Namaste!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Apr 2021 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends,

April 2021 was a busy month as I started working on an onsite project and was learning the ropes of the trade once again in a new product and new role. As I have deleted a large number of posts on my blog, I will only talk about the posts that are still active. 

1. My Experiments with LG Mobiles in #India and #SouthAfrica @LGMobileSA #TakeFlight - As LG Mobiles went out of the market, I felt nostalgic about the journey of the LG smartphones and the events I attended for LG in India and South Africa. I still use one of the LG smartphones named LG X Screen which is a small little smartphone where my 4 years old son plays games every day.

2. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Jan 2020 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #2251Post - It was last year that I reached 2251 blog posts when I wrote about the Jan 2020 but this year I took down more than 600 blog posts done for brands, events which were past their deadline date and were not contributing any value to my readers. I took down all the stuff which I didn't feel important about from 2555 posts to around 1950 posts. It definitely has improved my self-written posts percentage which was around 33% earlier and now may be around 50% or more. It doesn't matter to anyone but why keep posts which are irrelevant.

3. The Grillroom & Sushi Brings A Culinary Experience Like Never Before @TheGrillRoomPTA #TheGrillroomAndSushiBar - We had a wonderful lunch at The Grillroom and Sushi in Pretoria but some months back the same was closed for business after a great run. Covid-19 came heavily on a lot of restaurants and the Chef too left a little few months before. The food was great and they gave me a wonderful vegetarian option as well.

4. The New @HuaweiZA #HuaweiFreeBuds4i: Unpacking The Specs #FeelTheBeat - I am using these earphones for a few months and they are really something of my day-to-day Bluetooth earphones for my audiobooks and music needs. I have watched a lot of web series using these earphones to the time they got completely discharged. They came as a gift from the Marketing Manager of Huawei in my personal favourite white colour. So grateful to her for all the goodies I received during her time with Huawei.

5. A New Portfolio That Consumers Will Love, Trust and Want to Keep @NokiaMobile #LoveTrustKeep - HMD Global brought a lot of new smartphones to the South African shores and Nokia Mobile again came with the Android One ecosystem and features like no other smartphone manufacturer. With promised 2 years of pure android experience and updates on the value segment phones to more than that too on niche high-end ones, it became a talk of the market. The market dynamics have changed though as Google Pixels are in the international market too but in South Africa Google smartphones are still far from launch or it's not a market for them to date.

April is the start of the financial year in India and I also started working on some new projects internally toward having financial freedom in the future days. I am still in the process to reach the same and working toward the same goal day and night. I don't want the pen drives or socks or notebooks from the launch event goodies where I put in my own petrol and time when I can invest that time working on my future self. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #10YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!