Mobile Network Comparison

By now many of you will have tried out the brand spanking version of Android 4.1.x named Jelly Bean. Just recently, we made a post outlining some of its most stunning new features. You may also have heard that, like previous versions of the Android mobile operating system before it, there is a hidden easter egg bonus to be found.

So, whanna know how to find it? Check out these instructions:

Instructions

• Go to the Android home screen by pressing the Home button.
• Press the Menu button and select Settings.
• Scroll down and select the About phone option (if you’re on a tablet, it will be listed as About tablet).
• Find the Android version infomation and quickly tap it repeatedly.
• You should be greeted with a large smiling jelly bean with short antennae. Long press it to access the easter egg where you can flick an infinite supply of jelly beans around the screen.

Check out the video below for a demonstration of how to find the easter egg and what to expect when you try it:

This isn’t the first time Google have included fun easter eggs on the Android version number screen. On Gingerbread, version 2.3.x, you have to tap for longer on the version number but you are finally presented with some zombie gingerbread man art by Jack Larson.

Honeycomb also has an easter egg in the same place. This time, after all that touchscreen tapping on version number 3.x you get a Honeycomb-style bumblebee that buzzes. And in Ice Cream Sandwich, version 4.0.x, you get an ice cream sandwich android which, when pressed, flies across the screen Nyan Cat style. You could call it Nyandroid, geddit?

What do you think? Did you find it already? Did you already know about the older easter eggs? And do you want some jelly beans now?

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In our last post we talked about how to get a mobile phone that’s right for you and mentioned the Samsung Galaxy S2 as the powerusers’ first-choice handset. If you need to be always connected and to have the best possible phone in your pocket, it’s an amazing choice and easily one of the best phones in the world right now. Not only does it come with an incredible dual-core processor and a camera that will blow your mind but there are starting to be some great-looking accessories coming out too. Today, we’re going to look at the best ones available.

HDMI adaptor cable

Was £14.95 Now £9.95

This piece of equipment is extremely handy, it lets you display your phones screen image straight onto your HDMI television. Using this you’ll be able to watch HD films straight from your mobile, it works great as a media player and for just £8.95 this is a lot cheaper than the Samsung version, which offers the same features.

A must-have for movie addicts.

Extended Battery and Cover

Was £24.99 Now £21.95

Using this battery will give your Galaxy S2 a longer life. This is a 2000 mAh battery that gives at least an extra 3 hours of active use like calling, internet browsing or listening to music. That’s about a 35% increase in battery usage! With this you’re a lot less likely to end up in that nightmare situation of being stuck with a dead phone. The only downside is that the battery is a little thicker so it’s a bit bigger in your pocket and after you’ve put the cover on you may not be able to get any protective cases on afterwards.

For heavy phone users, this will prove to be a daily livesaver.

Case-Mate Tough Case

Was £24.99 Now £15.99

The Case-Mate is a great protective case for your Galaxy S2 – it fits perfectly, provides worthy protection, and has a nice look to it too.

The case does add to the weight and thickness to the phone, but that should be a small sacrifice for the extra grip and protection it provides. Even with the added size of the case, the phone is still small enough to fit in your pocket without discomfort. A great addition to own.

Accessory Pack Bundle

Only £20.90

This accessory pack gives you a lot of usability all in one with pretty much everything you’d ever need. Tt comes with a black leather wallet case, which works as a protective layer for your phone and a wallet at the same time. Everything sits neatly in the wallet and it means you only have to keep an eye on one thing when going shopping. It also comes with a hands-free car mount and car charger so you can use the handset on long road trips, and family can keep in contact whilst driving safely.

Along with all that it even comes with an extra 1800 mAh battery for some extra juice when out and about.

SGP Ultra Silke Case

Only £16.99

This series of cases offers a slick style to your Galaxy S2 while providing some extra protection. It’s thin enough to not feel intruding when using the phone, but sturdy enough to provide extra shock absorption if you do let it slip from your hands. It comes in a range of colors and adds a great sense of style to your handset. The case comes with some quality screen protectors which along with the case will help to keep your phone scratch and dust free.

A great looking case that also does its job to keep your phone protected.

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If there were any doubts remaining about the mobile market in China, the latest figures will surely put them to rest. Needham & Company analyst Charlie Wolf’s quarterly report came out last month as confirmed that China’s stratospheric boom in smartphone sales shows no sign of letting up any time soon. With an ever growing middle class and their new-found disposable income as well as technological advances and falling hardware prices, the latest figures are all but inevitable. The report claims that there are now over 33 million smartphones shipped in China every quarter. That’s a gargantuan year-on-year increase of 164% and a yearly equivalent of over 130 million. The same time last year, just over 10 million smartphones were sold and even in the previous quarter the figures were only just over 25 million. At this rate, we could easily see 40 million smartphones shipped in China in the next quarterly report.

When compared to UK sales figures, these numbers are impressive. But it might even surprise you to know that China is now buying more smartphones than the United States where only 25 million units were sold in the last quarter. In fact, in the last year the Chinese markets leapfroged not only the Oceania and Asia-Pacific market and the American market but also the whole of the Western European region in terms of market share.

According to the report, the new range of cut-price smartphones is largely responsible for the meteoric boom. Especially with many Asian manufacturers producing incredibly cheap but powerful devices, the road has been laid for the massive increase in smartphone shipments. However, it is not only cut-price smartphones that are selling like hot cakes. Apple has also captured a significant 17.3% share in the smartphone market in China with its expensive iPhone. This is largely thanks to tempting subsidies offered on two of the major carriers, China Telecom and China Unicorn. These figures are only set to rise too as rumour has it that China’s largest network China Mobile will soon be able to carry the iPhone too. With more than 650 million subscribers, it is easily the largest mobile network in the world and even if only a small fraction of these users start using an iPhone, it’ll mean millions of extra units shipped for Apple.

However, still dominating the market in China is Google’s Android. The open source operating system has control of almost 70% of smartphones sold in the country which is mightily impressive. Much of this must be due to the lower prices and better value Android offers savvy customers. Although, of course, the extra ability for customisation and power features will also be attracting power users. Nokia is lagging behind in third place in the Chinese smartphone market with just over a 11% share.

Do you think the Chinese smart phone market can keep on growing at the same pace? Will Apple increase its market share in China? And which world region do you think has a chance of expanding at the same rate?

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