Product Review - @Vodacom Smart Tab 3G - Android Tablet

Hi Guys,

Tablets needs no introduction as it has become a necessity as users wants something to browse internet all the time as compared to going the traditional way of opening a laptop/desktop and reading news there. A tablet offers a lot of features for all types of users. The tablet market is divided into various segments based on screen sizes mainly 7 and 10 inches which makes most of the brands releasing them time and again. Some brands have unique sized tablets based on their analysis, convenience and marketing techniques. 

Vodacom Smart Tab 3G is a value for money tablet considering it offers the 3G sim capabilities which can make it work like a smartphone. The Smart Tab 3G come at R999 price point. Vodacom's Smart tab 3G offers all the capabilites a 7" tablet offers and being an android tablet, you can install any app that's compatible with the OS that currently runs on this device. 

Vodacom Smart Tab 3G has 7 inch QHD display which is sufficient for your reading and video capabilities at this price. The processor is 1.3 GHz dual-core with 512MB RAM which is capable to handle your daily needs from this tablet. It won't be fast enough to play high graphics games but does OK in normal games handling. The tablet comes with Andoid 4.4 Kitkat operating system which is great as you will have all get all android apps compatible with the same.

7inch screens offers bigger viewing and better reading screen functionality to the user and it's easy to carry around as compared to 10 inch tablets. Also, this tablet has expandable memory which can be extended upto 32GB via microSD card. The inbuilt storage memory of the device is 4GB but users get around 2.01 GB which is less if you start adding more apps and video/audio data into the device. The sound output of tablet is loud and clear for both audio and video playback. At full volume also the voice/sound quality is nice and doesn't cracks.  

Smart Tab 3G has both front and rear cameras. Front camera is 0.3 MP for skype calling/selfies etc and rear camera is 2 MP which can be used to take photographs. The camera quality is ok when taken in bright day light but night shots are not clear as there is no flash built in. Any which ways the camera is ancient considering where other tablets have reached but then seeing the value Smart Tab 3G provides it's good enough. The device is just 96grams which makes it portable and easy to carry. Smart Tab 3G has battery of 4060mAh which lasts between 7-10 hours with 3G always on and moderate usage.

The tablet has 3.5mm earphones jack along with a mini-USB charger at the top. On the left side of the tablet is the covered slot for microSD card and micro SIM. On the right hand side is the power button along with volume rocker buttons. Smart Tab 3G has rear camera along with speakers output at the back of the device. Smart Tab 3G comes with charger, data cable and quick start guide. You can also use your universal android smartphone cable to charge the device. The device has 1 year warranty offered by Vodacom and the device available at all Vodacom stores in the country on contract as well as pay-as-you-go. 

You can get some other capable and feature rich tablets like Google Nexus7 or Asus or Lenovo or Mecer ones with better screen resolution with R500 more but they don't offer calling functions/3G connection and will only be wi-fi tablets which sometimes is a pain if you are traveling a lot. I would definitely suggest you to check this device and consider your requirements and make an informed decision. At the price point, this tablet comes with Vodacom superior network (if using Vodacom SIM card) and warranty which will always be much better than any other new companies floating their tablets and shutting down business afterwards. 

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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A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Jun 2014

Hi Guys,

June 2014 was the time when I got into Ster Kinekor's media previews list and started blogging about the movies that I started watching with them. It was a great opportunity and I got myself fully involved in the same. Also, this was the month when I revived my blog for several opportunities in South Africa and started to focus on building a name for myself.

1. #MissionSamsung - NX300 SMART Camera - Product Review - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/missionsamsung-nx300-smart-camera.html

This post is special as it was for Samsung's first community blogger challenge which they launched with a great idea. I won this contest and got a Wild Card entry into the finals. I also received this amazing Samsung NX300 mirrorless Smart Camera. The camera is awesome as it takes very great low light photographs as well as great portraits.

2. Ster Kinekor - Cine Prestige @ Sandton City, Johannesburg - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/ster-kinekor-cine-prestige-sandton-city.html 

This was the first event I attended in Johannesburg and really met some cool people at the launch. I received my first gift of Cine Prestige Diary & a Pen. I still have the same and really love attending Ster Kinekor events from time to time.

3. Product Review - RAIN Created for Living - Wild Cotton Cream - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/product-review-rain-created-for-living.html

This was the first time a local brand sent me stuff to review and I really appreciated the products as well as this great gesture.

4. Movie Review - The Amazing Spider-Man 2: The Rise of Electro -http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-amazing-spider-man-2-rise.html 

I started blogging about the movies using the Sony Pictures who set this up for me. I am really grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity. Here are some of the other movies I did reviewed last year - 

Fading Gigolo - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-fading-gigolo.html

Monuments Men - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-monuments-men.html

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-secret-life-of-walter.html

Haute Cuisine - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-haute-cuisine-french.html

22 Jump Street - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-22-jump-street-2014.html

Hateship Loveship - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-hateship-loveship-2014.html

Sunlight Jr. - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/movie-review-sunlight-jr-2014.html

5. Product Review – Sony Wireless Speaker System – SRS-BTM8 - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/product-review-sony-wireless-speaker.html These NFC enables bluetooth speakers are one of the most iconic designs and compact with powerful sound capabilities. I really loved them a lot and kept them with me since I first got them in India from @SonyPix twitter contest for #Skyfall movie. Other products reviewed -  

Product Review - KINIVO BTC 450 - Bluetooth Hands-free Car Kit -http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/product-review-kinivo-btc-450-bluetooth.html 

Product Review - Sennheiser Adidas - PMX 680 Sports - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/product-review-sennheiser-adidas-pmx.html 

6. The Precious Queen - http://www.thelifesway.com/2014/06/the-precious-queen.html

This was my first attempt at writing a poem and I felt great that I tried the same. 

Life is full of mysteries you can unfold for yourself and others. Keep looking for something which interests you and try to divulge into different areas of expertise. This will help you look beyond and learn some great tips and tricks on the way. 

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

Product Review - @FitbitSAfrica Charge HR - Activity Wristband

Hi Guys,

The technology and times have changed a lot since the start of watches when we just wanted to know the time at hand. But with the new and continuous developments in the watches from analogue to digital, there have been a new emergence of sector which have made the world a lot more conscious about their health also. This sector is ever growing and a lot of brands have in continuous competition to take this market share and wipe out the watches from the global scene.

Fitbit Inc. is one such brand which have developed a lot of new technology to keep track of your workouts, number of steps walked, heart rate as well as sleep monitoring. The company was founded by James Park & Eric Friedman in 2007 and the headquarters are in San Francisco, USA. I got the latest Fitbit Charge HR to review and here is my experience of the same. I must tell you that after using the device for almost 2 weeks, I am in love with the device and the reasons to do so will be explained in this blog post. 

Fitbit Charge HR comes with a constant heart rate monitoring tool as an upgrade from its predecessor Fitbit Charge. I instantly fell in love with this advanced feature as it uses Purepulse continuous heart rate monitoring system to measure your heart all day and during workouts also. It has three modes (peak, cardio and fat-burning) to calculate the heart rate burn zones which can be beneficial at times. It also tells you Resting heart rate and the Fitbit app (Android and iOS) will show you much more information in details. 

Fitbit Charge HR measures your number of steps walked which then is converted into the kilometers walked as well as calories burnt. They give you a target of 10000 steps per day and as you reaches the same the wrist band starts vibrating and when you double-tap the screen or press the side button, it shows you some dancing patterns to celebrate the same. You can customize the double-tap to show you whatever you want to see the most, as I set it on time as I completely stopped wearing my watches during the time review unit was with me. I even thought why I spent R2000 to buy a branded watch and could have invested in Fitbit devices. Fitbit charge HR also measures the number of floors you have climbed and sets a target to climb 10 daily. With every goal you achieve, Fitbit devices have several badges for you to earn and then you can share those on facebook and twitter.

Above all it measures your sleep patterns which is very much accurate and tells the sleep quality by showing times awakened and restless periods. I have liked the device a lot due to this hours slept measure as now I can schedule myself to sleep on weekends if not able to complete my daily sleep of 7-8 hours. I now know if my body is feeling lazy due to my unfulfilled sleep and this is one of the best feature of Charge HR. The device also has silent vibrating alarm which can be set and can be snoozed twice. The alarm can be repeated for any number of days in a week.

The battery life of Charge HR is nearly 4-5 days with a single charge and it takes around 2 hours to charge the device completely. You will receive an email when the battery level is low as well as the battery status is shown on your mobile app to keep track of the same. The device can be synced to your mobile via the bluetooth and internet connection and if you want to sync with your laptop a wireless sync dongle comes with the device. The charging cable is unique and you need to have the same to charge the fitband. In case of lost cable, you will need to buy it separately (if available) as there is no other way you can charge the device. 

Fitbit Charge HR also has call notifications features which shows who is calling on the device with some compatible devices. Otherwise for other devices, it starts vibrating to show that you are receiving a call on your mobile phone. It can also measure your active minutes during your workouts and data will be maintained and transferred to the app. Moreover, you can build a online community of family and friends and compete with them to track who is living healthier and completing his/her daily goals. 

Fitbit Charge HR is available in multiple colors like Black, blue, purple and orange in a watch like wristband. The wristband securely tightens on your hands and there is no chance of losing the same which happens with other activity trackers. There are several other features on the Fitbit app which I was not able to make use of like tracking your food plan, water consumption and track your exercise. 

The only thing that becomes cons of the device is its water resistance abilities. It is not shower proof and swim proof whereas it can take sweat, rain and splash upto certain extent. The wrist band looks cool with its diamond pattern which is flexible and made of durable elastomer material. 

Overall I would highly recommend this product for those who live an active lifestyle and wants to track their sleep, steps, workouts and heart rates. I would definitely try to upgrade myself to Fitbit Surge which has a built in GPS to track my jogging etc also but for everyone else, Fitbit Charge HR is a device to go and buy. I am sure you will also fall in love with the amount of information it collects on your behalf and helps you have consistent goal towards a healthy living and lifestyle. 

The Fitbit Charge HR is available only in Black at the moment and can be bought online for R2499 from http://www.istoreonline.co.za/category/237/fitbit

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
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Journey towards #MissionSamsung @SamsungSA Blogger Challenge Winner

Hi Guys,

It was the moment of satisfaction as well as gratefulness as Dr. Michelle announced my name as the #MissionSamsung Bloggers Challenge Grand Finale Winner. The Grand Finale was telecast live on SABC3 TV at Expresso Morning Show on 25th May 2015. The host of the show along with Dr. Michelle from Samsung was the smart and dashing Katlego Maboe @KatleGomaBoe. He surely is the coolest guy I ever met if you have seen the show you will know of this fact.

Mission Samsung Blogger Challenge was launched last year in June 2014 with a great idea which was implemented very well by Samsung, @SABloggers, Webfluential and most importantly @EpicMSLGroup. The idea was to select Top 10 bloggers for 6 challenges and introduce them to the latest Samsung Gadgets for some weeks (1-3) with some set series of tasks to be performed using the same devices. I was not amongst the top 10 chosen bloggers in the first round and really felt very bad for some days. But then after the chosen ones were given devices to review, Samsung launched a Community Challenge for other bloggers who applied and was not selected to be in the top 10. 

I immediately grabbed the opportunity as I always wanted to be a "SamsungBlogger" as similar contest was launched in India before I started blogging in 2011-2012 and I knew of some winners who used to get all the Samsung devices and gadgets to review even before it's launched in the market. I thought this to be a wonderful opportunity for me to showcase my skills. The theme of the community challenge post was to review Samsung NX300 mirrorless Smart camera. I immediately checked the Samsung website for the product and instantly fell in love with the design and capability of the camera.

On a Saturday afternoon, I sat with my laptop and started to work on the post. Ideas started flowing to my mind as I continued to write and review the device to show my relationship with the cameras I have used before. I was satisfied with the blog post and send the links to the respective parties. The results came on 7 July 2014 and I was announced the winner of the Community Challenge along with "Wild Card" entry into the finals and this amazing device called Samsung NX300 be me mines forever. I felt awesome and at the top of the world! Hurray! Also my interview was published on We blog for love.

I still wanted to participate as a Top 10 bloggers because they used to get some awesome #MissionSamsung branded stuff like tshirt, stationery, mugs, water bottles and flasks, caps etc. I tried for the next few rounds but never made it to the top 10 till the time of Challenge 5 to review Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in Feb 2015 and received #MissionSamsung tshirt, cap and flask. I felt great and did some amazing work with the post and the phone. Check it out as this post is the top 3rd post on my blog measured in pageviews and going to take 2nd position by next month and I almost thought that I will win in this category.

Finally, I started waiting for the finals to start which was scheduled to start end of April 2015 and somehow the event did started in May first week but my name was missed and it was a broken dream for me. I immediately drafted an emailed and waited for their response. They gave me 4 hours of time as a "Wild Card" entry in the finals to write the Final blog post with 20 words that needed to be incorporated. I am really grateful to Samsung and Epicmsl Group for giving me an opportunity to contest with other finalists for a chance to be in the Grand Finale.

I started writing and several themes came to my mind - one was being a lone traveler through South Africa but the other idea was able to incorporate and convince all the Samsung provided 20 keywords fully. The topic I chose for my final entry was my honeymoon to South Africa which I really loved writing about. Check it out as it helped me to be in the top 4 Grand Finalists. 

The day arrived when it was all set for the Grand Finalists to appear live on Expresso Show and I flew a day earlier to Cape Town in the evening. It was a fight amongst #Johannesburg vs #CapeTown bloggers as I was the only one from Johannesburg and rest 3 were from Cape Town. The program started and we were using Samsung S6/S6 edge devices as our buzzers. It was a series of questions and I was able to give the final answer after being tied with 2 other contestants. It was at that moment I felt so grateful to everyone and couldn't believe that finally my dream has become a reality. I am the Top blogger for #MissionSamsung Challenge 2014 and the very first one to win a grand, big and awesome 65" Curved UHD TV which will soon decorate my home. 

I am so thankful to Almighty Lord for giving me this opportunity to start my own blog and then pouring my heart out in words which works for me and the brands who loves me. I am greatly thankful to Samsung SA for making me their top blogger and I am looking forward to cover their various launch events and review their amazing products.

So this is my story which I have been working towards since the first day I saw the tweet when Samsung asked people from all major cities to look forward to a blogger challenge way back in May/June 2014. If you have big dreams in your eyes and work towards them with full dedication and commitment, you will sooner or later achieve the same. I felt great to achieve this dream of mine and now need to start dreaming of something else so big that it should not let me sleep till the time I achieve the same. 

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

SocialMedia #Lumia apps connecting @MicrosoftSA

Hi Guys,

The most popular social networking sites sure have changed over the years and as time goes by they are expected to change even further. Old social media trends will die and new ones will surface and you never know what will come soon and take the market by storm. Since the introduction of social networks there has been a significant shift toward mobile-based social media consumption. A recent Mobile Africa 2015 study conducted by the mobile surveying company GeoPoll and World Wide Worx on mobile phone usage in five African countries has delivered startling findings on the rise of Internet access via phones. The most significant finding was that internet browsing via phones now stands at 40 per cent across these markets, with 51% of respondents in Ghana and 47% in Nigeria reporting that they use their phones to access the internet. South Africa lags behind at 40%, and Kenya (34%) and Uganda (29%) are slowest on the uptake.

Here are some of the most popular Lumia social media apps:

2Go

2go is a mobile social network that allows you to chat, share with friends, and meet new people. Users can create their profiles and upload profile pictures. The app allows you to message friends instantly, receive notifications of new messages, share photos and files as well as invite friends using their phone number or username.

Viber
Viber is an app that allows everyone in the world to connect, freely. More than 500 million Viber users text, call, and send photo and video messages worldwide over Wifi or 3G - for free. Viber Out can be used to make calls to non-Viber mobile and landline numbers at low rates. This app is available for many mobile and desktop platforms. On Viber, your phone number is your ID. The app syncs with your mobile contact list, automatically detecting which of your contacts have Viber.

Instagram BETA

It's a simple, fast and fun way to capture and share life with your family and friends on your Windows Phone. The app allows you to transform everyday moments into works of art you'll want to share with friends and family and gives you access to a world of inspiration as you view photos from near and far.

Facebook
Facebook is a social platform that connects people with current and old friends, people they went to school or work with, acquaintances and besties alike. It allows you to keep up with friends, share photos, videos, news, thoughts and commentary. Facebook for Windows Phone v5 has been completely overhauled, with faster performance, a new user interface, improved navigation, support for multiple resolutions and tile sizes, and more. Keeping up with friends is now faster than ever before.

Whatsapp

WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. This app allows you to send and receive messages, pictures, voice messages, and video messages. This one doesn't need any introduction and also now comes with the latest voice calling facility which will soon be enabled for Windows phones too. 

 

Staying connected is the life we are all following at the moment but it's also a necessity to stay personal and close with people in our own houses and locality by meeting and greeting offline too. Think about it!

 

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