Nokia Announced Asha 210 with Dedicated WhatsApp Button

Posted on April 27, 2013 by iReTron

Nokia has always been strong in the basic, budget phones, and is now capitalizing on the rising trend of social networks and messaging in developing markets. The company just announced Nokia Asha 210, with dedicated WhatsApp button. The phone will cost only $72, and is set to launch in many emerging markets by the end of Q2.

Nokia Asha 210 will be the first mobile phone with a dedicated WhatsApp button. It will run on the Nokia S40 operating system with 1GHz CPU horsepower, and will be available in both Single SIM and dual SIM options. The Asha 210 is good for 46 days on standby, and around 12 hours of talk time. The following is the full spec list of it:

  • Single SIM and dual-SIM
  • 2 mega-pixel rear camera
  • 2.4 inch LCD screen with 320×240 pixels QVGA resolution
  • WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • Dedicated WhatsApp button

While Nokia is having problem competing in the high-end arena with its Lumia phones, they are trying to make a compelling case for itself in the low-end market thanks to the deep social integration.

Posted in Tech News | Leave a comment

GSM Nation: Save Money with Unlocked Smart Phone

Posted on April 26, 2013 by iReTron

GSM Nation is a online store selling unlocked smartphones. The Company was founded by Ahmed Khattak, a Yale student in 2008.

During a year of internship in London, He found Europeans commonly used cell phones free of contracts with wireless carriers. After coming back to US, he started a business selling unlocked phones online with friend Junaid Shams, a student at George Washington University.

They claim people could get cheaper, contract-free service and save hundreds of dollars each year, through purchasing the unlocked cell phones. With $150,000 of their own money, the two launched GSM Nation in March 2010. They sell iPhone, Blackberry and almost all of hottest Android phones by Samsung, LG and Motorola.

In 2011, GSM Nation sold $35 million smart phones, and for 2012, they expect to gross $50 million. “When I got to America, I had no intention of becoming a millionaire,” Khattak says. “I started GSM Nation simply to show people a better way.”

Posted in Tech News | Leave a comment

Benefits of Selling Your Old Phone

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Winston

You open your cupboard and find a bunch of old used cell phones in the back drawer that you had kept as a spare and you think what to do with them. Sounds familiar?

I am sure many of you have come across the above mentioned situation. Well, I for one have. I am also equally sure that most of you would not opt for the same solution that I have. For many of you, your old cell phones lay around forgotten.

So what’s the solution? Sell them! Yes, it’s better to sell them for some cash. It’s a great idea and it is not as difficult as you might think it is. It just eats up a bit of your effort and time and that’s all that is required.

Believe it or not everybody benefits from selling their old cell phones.

Cash

This is the most obvious benefit. 99% of the people who sell their old mobile sets do it to make cash from the transaction. It’s becoming overly trendy now to sell off one’s old cell phones. Of course how you deploy the money from the transaction is entirely up to you. You can save this money to purchase the new cell phone you wanted to. This way the new purchase will prove to be more cost efficient.

Provides a Helping Hand

This might seem outrageous to some of you but nevertheless it is true. Often people buy used cell phones because of unavailability of sufficient cash to buy new ones. By selling your old phones you help these people in an indirect way.

Save the Planet

When you decide to throw your old cell phones in the trash, they release toxic chemicals that are harmful to our planet. To be precise they affect the eco system we human beings live in. Trashing your cell phone is probably the worst thing that you can do as you cause damage to your own self.

Saving further cost

As soon as something goes wrong with your cell phone it’s time for you to take it to the repair shop. Chances are you are simply going to end up spending more money on it and still not be happy with it. And after a few days something else might go wrong with it.

It is a better idea to sell it now when it’s got only a few problems for a good price rather than throwing it away when it’s completely non functional.

Whatever the benefit may be for you, selling your used cell phones is a good idea. So give it a try!

 

Posted in What goes on at iReTron | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Used Cell Phones – A Better Use

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Winston

There are some interesting facts to be known about used cell phones. It is important to know that according to the results of a survey one in every 5 people upgrade their cell phone. That’s a lot of upgraded phones! What happens to the old cell phones? Any idea?

They are thrown into the trash which increases waste for our toxic landfill sites, or they are dumped in a closet or drawer waiting for the day to be taken out to use again, which never happens.

Is there a better use for these old used cell phones? Yes, there is.

Sell them for cash

You can sell these phones for cash. Instead of allowing them to gather dust you can make money out of them. This will give you some satisfaction of not letting your money that was spend on these phones go down the drain.

A lot of people are now buying second hand cell phones instead of new ones for a number of reasons. Some can’t afford new ones and hence nest on the used ones. Others think it a waste to upgrade their phones too frequently. As new versions of cell phones are readily available, people prefer using them.

Donate your cell phone

Money is not the only thing that can buy happiness. Doing a good deed will give just as much happiness, maybe more. You can earn such happiness by donating your old discarded phones to charities. Any one in these charities will be more than happy to receive a used cell phone. Some charities specifically ask for second hand phones for various charitable purposes.

Still others buy such phones to raise money to be used in fund-raising activities. Alternatively you could sell your old phones yourself and give the proceeds to your favorite charity.

Recycling

Cell phone recycling companies are always on the lookout for sellers of used cell phones. They pay good money for old phones that any one is ready to sell. Even if your phone is damaged and not functioning properly these companies are more than happy to buy them. Some of them refurbish and sell them on, while others recycle them by removing the toxic parts and making use of the essential components. You can earn money from broken phones too. What’s better than that?

Posted in What goes on at iReTron | Tagged , | Leave a comment

3 Easy Ways to Sell your Phone for Cash

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Winston

So you want to sell used cell phones for cash but can’t think of the best way to do so. Well, here are three ideas to help you with your quest.

Sell to your loved ones

You can sell your used phones to your friends and family. They are the people closest to you and you meet with them on a regular basis. There is a good chance that one of them might be in need of a secondhand phone. You can fulfill this need while doing yourself some good too. You will also find yourself in a position to sell them at a good price as your relatives are generally unlikely to strike an argued bargain with you.

Additionally, your friends and family will also benefit from this. They would be able to buy the phone from a known buyer rather than having the trouble to go through the hassle of finding one in the market. Since they know you well, they will find it easier to trust you.

In the event that anything goes wrong, the buyer will know who to contact and how, and you will be able to fix the problem.

Selling online

Another way is to sell online. The internet has made life easy for online sellers and buyers. You can post a picture of your phone along with a brief description, quote an appropriate price and that’s it. You will get it converted into cash in no time. Selling online also allows you to offer your product to a larger audience. This way you will be able to get a bigger price for your cell phone than you thought.

There is a negative aspect to this though. When selling online, neither the buyer nor the seller knows who they are dealing with. You might sell your phone to a professional criminal leading to legal consequences. On the other hand, the buyer may buy it via an illegal authority assuming it legitimate.

Auction

Instead of you setting the price, let others set it for you. Post your cell phone on different auction websites and invite bidders to bid for your phone. The adverse side of online dealing is relevant to this option as well.

Whatever way you choose, selling your old phones for cash is an ideal use of the phone and an easy way to make a few extra bucks!

 

Posted in What goes on at iReTron | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Facebook Announced Facebook Home for Android and First Facebook Phone

Posted on April 5, 2013 by iReTron

Facebook just officially released their newest Facebook experience named “Home”. Home will completely convert your existing Android smart phone, shifting it ever so close to a completely Facebook integrated device. The group of applications that form Home are essentially the same idea as a launcher for Android.

When powering up their Facebook phone, the user will greeted by the new “CoverFeed”,
an essential-only version of the News Feed. The CoverFeed will be an ever-updating newspaper of what is happening in your social life. It will integrate the latest links being shard, your Facebook Messages, and status update.

Along with Home, Facebook unveiled a new app called Chat Heads, which brings all the
Facebook messaging application features and SMS to the forefront of your home-screen.  The user could simply tap on a friend’s photo to fire up the messaging thread.

Facebook Home will launch on April 12th on selected devices and will be available for download in the Google Play store. The first phones that will get Home will be the HTC One, HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2.

The world’s first true Facebook phone was named First made by HTC. It will be available in four colors and cost $99 on April 12th, with pre-orders starting today. The First will come pre-loaded with Facebook Home and will be exclusive to AT&T. The following is its technical specifications.

HTC First specifications

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Display: 4.3-inch LCD, 720p
  • Camera: 5MP rear, 1.6MP front
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS
  • Four color options: red, blue, white, black
  • 4G LTE
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean + HTC Sense 4.1 + Facebook Home
Posted in Tech News | Leave a comment

Samsung Announces Low End Galaxy Star and Pocket Neo

Posted on April 3, 2013 by iReTron

Samsung just announced two low-end Android smart phones at the Samsung Forum in South Africa, which are aimed at the most budget-conscious buyer.

Samsung Galaxy Star:

The Galaxy Star is equipped with a 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM, running Android version 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). The screen is a 3 inch one with 240×320 resolution. It comes with 4GB internal storage which could be expanded up to 32GB through the micro SD slot. Also it features a 2MP camera and Dual SIM slot, which is a hot feature in Asia especially China market.

Samsung Pocket Neo:

The Samsung Pocket Neo specification is pretty similar to the Galaxy Star. It comes with
same 3 inch screen with 240×320 resolution, and same 4GB internal storage which could be expanded up o 32GB through the micro SD slot. The only difference is, the Samsung Pocket Neo is equipped with a 850MHz processor, which is lower than Galaxy Star. It will run Android version 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) as well, and feature optional Dual SIM unctionality. Unlike Galaxy Star, it has GPS.

Samsung hasn’t provide price or release date of Galaxy Star and Pocket Neo, but we’d expect both will be geared towards emerging markets. While neither phone is particularly exciting, they’re essential for Samsung to help maintain its position as the world’s No. 1 phone manufacturer.

Posted in Tech News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

HTC One Review – Camera and Audio are Selling Points

Posted on April 3, 2013 by iReTron

Ever since HTC lost the crucial flagship battle to Samsung Galax S II, it has been hit by bad news again and again. Now, HTC has a new flagship smart phone that is about to launch. The HTC One may be the one that will put the company back to the arena.

Design

Those who have already seen and handled the HTC One were impressed by its stylish design of all-aluminum unibody and large display. But there are even more good features inside the metal enclosure too.

Specifications

The HTC One is equipped with a Snapdragon quad-core 1.7GHZ processor with Android 4.1.2 OS (Jelly Bean), which could be upgraded to version 4.2.2. The Screen is a full 4.7-inch HD display with 1080×1920 pixel resolution. It comes with two storage options: 32GB and 64GB with 2GB of RAM. Beside LTE capability, it also supports Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and so on.

Camera

The Camera is one of the selling points of HTC One. The HTC comes with a 4-megapixel rear-facing camera with 2688×1520 resolution, which may not sounds impressive. But HTC’s “UltraPixel” technology has much bigger pixel sensors, which are able to produce higher quality images than other cameras with smaller sensors but higher pixel counts. According to HTC, “For years, people have been misled about what is important in a camera – what matters is not pixel count, but pixel size. Bigger pixels let in more light. It’s
simple physics.”

The “UltraPixel” technology could capture 300% more light and offer better HDR photos and HD videos than its competitors. Its “Always Smile” technology allow in-camera editing to adjust individual faces within a group shot to make sure everyone has a pleasant expression.

Audio

HTC One’s “Sense Voice” feature takes care the background noise problem nicely by having two microphones on the back of the phone. They monitor the ambient noise levels of your environment and adjust the user’s volume up to compensate for the racket. Also, its “BoomSound” technology offers dual-front speakers to deliver bigger sound with less distortion comparing with previous generation phones.

The HTC One was supposed to be launched in March but was delayed due to complications arising from parts suppliers. The HTC One will be released in April and pre-orders will be fulfilled by the end of March. It will be available from all major U.S. wireless
carriers at retail price $199 with a standard two-year service contract and applicable data plan.

Posted in Review | Leave a comment

Millions Sold: BlackBerry Z10 is Offered on Major US Carrier Now

Posted on March 28, 2013 by iReTron

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry remained optimistic and released their flagship Z10 smart phone recently though it has been on a rough road lately. Despite failing stringent enterprise security tests and not getting much critical praise, the BlackBerry Z10 had a relatively successful sales with over 1 million handsets shipped in the first month.

After on sale for a month in other countries, it is being offered on major US carriers now as well. Verizon will be offering the Z10 for $199 on a new two-year contract, and no extra cost for an exclusive white version. T-Mobile is offering the handset for $99 with $18/month for 24 months. The A&T version will be available for $199 with a two-year contract. Spring will not carry Z10, but will offer the upcoming QWERTY BlackBerry Q10.

Posted in Tech News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

T-Mobile’s “Uncarier” Event Brings iPhone 5, Galax S4 and HTC One with Competitive Price

Posted on March 26, 2013 by iReTron

T-Mobile, the fourth-largest U.S wireless carrier, has made some serious waves in the carrier wars today with their all new “uncarrier” event in New York. The central element of the plan is the sale of popular new smart phones like the iPhone 5 without a two-year contract or the subsidy offered by other carriers. For example, a T-Mobile iPhone 5 will cost $579 and can be purchased in payment over two years, making it $70 below the price that Apple charges.

T-Mobile also announced three service pricing plans starting at $50 per month that provide unlimited voice, texting and data without contract. Customer can add a second line for $30 per month, and each additional line is just $10 per month. T-Mobile also launched new 4G LTE service in seven major metropolitan areas, including Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Washington, D.C.

The “uncarrier” smart phones T-Mobile will bring are as follows:

iPhone 5 – Launch April 12th for $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

iPhone 4S – Launch April 12th for $70, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

iPhone 4 – Launch April 12th for $15, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

Galaxy S4 – Launch May 1st for $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

Galaxy Note II w/LTE – Available now for $199, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

BlackBerry Z10 – March 26th for $99, plus $18 per month for 24 months.

HTC One – Launch in late April for $99, plus $20 per month for 24 months.

Posted in Tech News | Leave a comment