iPhone 5 Accessories You May Have Missed on Black Friday

There were so many things to be thankful for last Thanksgiving. There’s the NFL for the sports buffs, the holiday sales for the shopaholics, and the pies and turkeys for traditional foodies. But for us gadget geeks, we were definitely thankful for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Image Credit: www.blackfriday.fm

Apple geeks were also probably thankful for the retail stores’ extended hours on November 23. They called it the “One-Day Apple Shopping Event” where they put lots of Apple products on sale for one whole day starting midnight (through the tech giant’s online store). The company also gave $50 worth of free shipping and software to all those who purchased discounted Apple gadgets like the MacBook Air, the iPod Touch and the iPad Mini online. And though the tech giant didn’t put their newest iPhone on sale, there were also dozens of online and brick and mortar companies that slashed prices off unlocked iPhone 5 units.

Apart from the iPhone 5, Black Friday also brought in a multitude of iPhone 5 accessories on sale. Here are just some of the best deals on iPhone 5 accessories that you may have missed on Black Friday!

iPhone Cases
You probably were too busy shopping for new outfits in WalMart that you totally forgot to dress up your iPhone 5 too. There were practically hundreds of iPhone 5 cases that went on sale last week! OtterBox, one of the best makers of tough iPhone cases in the market, offered a free $15 gift for people who bought an OtterBox case! 3M’s iPhone projector case, on the other hand, was on sale for $70. Meanwhile, LivingSocial sold their infamous custom signature cases for only $15.

Styli
Frustrated fat-fingered iPhone 5 owners may have been too busy squeezing themselves into bursting stores to realize they need something for their iPhones. If you’re one of them, you may have missed  GoSmart’s buy-two-get-one-free deal on their stylus pens that started on Thanksgiving. Griffin also marked down their stylus pen’s price from $20 to only $8 while Office Depot sold the Targus Stylus for only $5!

Wireless Speakers
Since the holidays call for party music, it’s the perfect time of the year to get yourself Bluetooth or Cloud enabled speakers (especially since iPhone 5 docks are still unavailable in the market thanks to the Lightning port). In case you didn’t know, Jawbone slashed $100 off the JAMBOX Bluetooth Speaker on Black Friday which was originally priced at $300! Apple  also offered free shipping for the iPhone and iPad AirPlay compatible Bose SoundLink Air Digital Music System. Amazon, meanwhile, gave out a 10% discount on a lot of Bose products that will run from Thanksgiving ‘til New Year’s! Grab it before you miss it!

USB Car Chargers
We all know that the iPhone’s battery is lousy compared to the other smartphones in the market, which is why missing out on handy iPhone 5 charger sales would probably be such a bummer. iLuv offered a 35% discount that started on November 19 and lasted up to November 25 on their DualPin dual-port USB car charger.  Amazon, on the other hand, gave out as much as 94% discounts on the iPhone 5 Car Charger (which has the Lightning connector). It was sold for only $2, a far cry from the original $30 price!

More iPhone 5 Deals You May Have Missed
Aside from these cool iPhone 5 accessories, you also probably forgot to check the Black Friday deals on the App Store! Gaming giant SEGA had a $0.99 sale on their famous gaming apps like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Monkey Ball for all iPhone gaming fans. The Apple App Store was also filled with massive price drops for apps like Documents to Go Premium, Shopper Pro, Scrabble, The Sims, Need for Speed, QuickOffice and even Monopoly! Developers also treated online app shoppers to cheap iPhone app updates on Black Friday!

Bah, we know it’s bad enough that you didn’t catch these great deals. But don’t worry! Christmas season is coming and we’re foreseeing more iPhone 5 deals in the market for last minute shoppers! Oh and who knows? Santa might treat you to a new iPhone case on Christmas eve instead!

Would you sell your old iPhone for the best deals on iPhone 5 accessories? Visit Cashforiphones.com today.

The Android Switch

Lessons on Abandoning the iPhone

The Apple legion is so powerful that it is almost sacrilege to even know of someone who willingly abandoned his iPhone for its archenemy- an Android device. But the idea isn’t all wrong. The Android may be a fragmented operating system, but considering the strong advances it is taking this year and the opulent choices of Android-powered devices in the smartphone industry, we see hope for Google in this messy techosphere.

Image Credit: www.gbtech.blogspot.com

Although I am not a total renegade of the Apple cult (I still believe that iOS is a better mobile ecosystem than Android), I can’t deny the fact that Android is slowly climbing up Apple’s high throne, and closing in on the differences between their distinct features and elements. The question is: Can you still gracefully leave the realms of Apple’s dominion without letting go of the nifty services you don’t want to sever your ties with, say the iCloud, iTunes, and AirPlay?

Generally, these services work well with iDevices like the MacBook, the iPhone, the iPad and etc. They make sharing and storing files instantaneous. But if you’re only abandoning the iPhone, and not your iPad or your MacBook Air, let me assure you that switching to an Android device like the Samsung Galaxy S III, the HTC One X, or the Sony Xperia T is easy breezy.

If you replace your Apple iPhone with an Android handset, some services- though perhaps not as competitive as Apple’s services- can replicate their basic functions. Consider, for example, the Google Calendar, Google Contacts, and Gmail. If ecosystem is paramount to your standards, I suggest that you don’t leave Apple. But if you’re not particular to the system, and only use it on rare occasions, a Google service should be fine.

At first, a Google phone can alienate you because of a practically new way of dealing with apps- the diversity, and the support. But after a little tinkering, you will find that the system is really majestic. Not to mention, it is way cheaper than an iDevice. Because Android programs are open-sourced, you can enjoy the smorgasbord of cool and exciting apps from Google and third-party app developers.

If you want a cheap yet fantastic smartphone experience, and don’t have qualms walking out of Apple’s biome, then I urge you to go ahead and seek what phone you really want. And just in case you don’t have the money to make the switch, you can sell used iPhone at Cashforsmartphones and get cold hard cash for your device.

When you visit www.cashforsmartphones.com, you can easily sell used iPhone without thinking about whether it is legit or not: The website bears the industry certification logos and thousands of online sellers can attest to the exceptional service of the site. It offers free shipping of the device, and the online quote is simply fantastic.

With Cashforsmartphones, the Android switch has never been easier!

Bop to the Top: iOS 6 VS Jelly Bean (Part 3)

The battle is hotter than a fever. The most-anticipated battle comes to a near close. Apple prides itself with their latest iOS 6 promising better apps, performance, and endurance far more than what users expect. However, the Android Jelly Bean is no sweet foe. Google’s latest operating system promises better edge, competence, and performance than all its predecessors. For a brief recap, the iOS 6 already has three points while Android Jelly Bean has two. Currently both have tied twice. Who will get a better grip on the throne? Who will get the coveted crown? Here is the third and final part of this thrilling event:

Cloud Integration
You probably have forgotten to synchronize your phone but Jelly Bean and iOS 6 are here to help you. Both operating systems can back up your data and synchronize it across the cloud for you. iCloud has the same basic functions and performance as any Cloud integration function. Android users also have the same options as the iCloud. Either way, both operating systems have cloud integration features that lets you access your data easily. No high and no lows.

However, there’s a catch. Operating systems allows cloud integration in their respective devices only. The only thing that differs is that this rule does not apply to everything. iCal lets you sync in Google Calendar while Gmail users prefer Sparrow to Mail.

Who gets this round? This is certainly a tie.

Bloatware Apps
Before going into specifics, what are bloatware apps? These are apps that consume a big chunk of your memory because these have many features in them. iTunes and Windows Vista are some of the examples found in computers.

In smartphones, bloatware apps are bloating because they have all the reason to be. They can be deadly and explode when forgotten. If you are intricate enough to maintain these apps, then you can expect these apps to bloat at a stable rate. Many bloatware apps in smartphones are games, so it is inessential to keep these apps. You should be wise in deciding which games to keep. The iOS 6 lets you choose whether to have bloatware in the first place. It’s good for iPhone and iPad users.

Android phones do not come with that option. So, having bloatware apps in these phones may be a burden. However, Android phones have the option of expanding memory through the microSD cards. If you have no choice but to keep these bloatware apps on your phones, then it’s best that you delegate the apps properly and place them accordingly. That way, you can still have a good performing RAM and more memory space.
Who wins this round? Well, it’s best to call this another tie. Both Android phones and Apple’s iPhones have options that you can choose.

Verdict
Between the two, who takes the crown? Well, seriously, it is hard to decide which operating system wins. Android has something iOS 6 cannot offer and vice versa. Users may be oscillating between both operating systems but what matters more is the users’ satisfaction. We might have to send the battle to the legal battlefield to decide who wins and loses.

If you wish to sell your iOS phone for an Android phone or your Android phone for an iOS phone, click here.

Bop to the Top: iOS 6 VS Jelly Bean (Part 2)

And so the battle continues. The great operating systems go a notch higher to see who reigns supreme in this great technological war. In a bird’s eye view, the conflict between two companies is real and far from reconciliation. The patent cases have been flying here and there. Well, if you’re as rich as Apple and Google, you might as well use that money rather than just keeping it in your pockets. Kidding aside, their operating systems play a big role because it is the reason why smartphones sell. Without them, you get one simple text-and-call phone that has encompassing features. That probably sounds weird but the iOS 6 and the Android Jelly Bean are arguably the best operating systems out there. Who reigns supreme? Who gets to sit on the throne?

Image Credit: www.knowyourmobile.com

Learning Curve
Both operating systems are designed to be user-friendly. There is no point to having an operating system so complex you can’t use it. The principle in user-friendliness is the simpler, the better. Both OS’s are user-friendly but who among the two is the better one? Jelly Bean lets users do many things but think of how many people would break a sweat just to share photos over Wi-Fi because you have to alter certain options in the settings to do it. Apple’s iOS 6 is the better option for newbies and newly born smartphone users out there. You do not have to race through obstacles just to connect to the Wi-Fi. The process is simpler and the overall experience is more complete with the iOS 6.

iOS 6 advances in the battle with the Android Jelly Bean.

Camera
Cameras are important in smartphones? Of course. Almost all smartphones have better cameras than other actual digital cameras out there. There are a handful Android phones that have 8-MP cameras and the OS offers decent camera apps. iOS 6’s integration of the Panorama feature is cool, but it’s not an outstanding app. So what makes iPhone 5’s camera better?

Google doesn’t create as much control over hardware partner regarding cameras. A variety of cams under one operating system may result in a multitude of quality pictures. On the other hand, Apple takes pride in regulating as much hardware providers as possible. So, as iPhone 5 users, all of you basically get the same quality picture Apple boasts about.

Apple takes center stage once more.

Hardware Diversity and Fragmentation
The battle has taken long, and making this a hassle is never an option. Both operating systems have had close calls. If you have an Android phone and want to improve it, you cannot. However, three or more Android phone updates are coming in the market soon. Therefore, you really cannot be left behind. The iOS 6 is on the iPhone series. It has great apps and great hardware. Compared to Android phones, iPhones have smaller screens. How can you remedy that problem? Sell your smartphone and  go for iPads. It has the same OS but with an improved display screen.

Who wins this round? We say Android phones. The diversity and amazing specs Android has to offer are undeniably vast and awesome. No wonder many people have chosen many Android phones over iPhones.

Now, brace yourselves. The third part will resolve who gets the crown and reigns supreme in this technological battle.

Bop to the Top: iOS 6 VS Jelly Bean (Part 1)

It is basic knowledge that Apple and Android are arch enemies. Both companies have taken the battle to the next level. They take their patents so seriously that they have reached out to the courts to settle the cases for patent infringements. However, the real battle is in their software. Apple prides itself with their latest OS, the iOS 6 while Google spotlights their latest OS, the Android Jelly Bean. Android smartphones have been on top. iPhone 5 is selling fast, while Android phones continue to dominate the smartphone industry. Who of the two operating systems reigns supreme? Who takes the crown for supremacy?

Image Credit: www.androidauthority.com

Apps and Games
Apps and games are what make the smartphones a phenomenon. Without these, you can’t really imagine the smartphone of today. Apps and games highly depend on the phone’s operating systems and the system itself. If the OS only offers certain kinds of apps, then you are limited to only that. It was noted earlier that the iOS has a better and bigger library of games available for its users compared to Android. Most developers prefer making apps and games for iOS rather than Android. Why so? First, the iOS has a lot of hardware fragmentation that means more choices for consumers. Second, iOS users are more than willing to pay for apps compared to Android users. In a survey recently done a few months ago, two-thirds of Android user never spent a cent on apps. However, the trend may change and Android app developers are optimistic that Android users may spend more for apps.

For this time, iOS takes a step up while Android has many things to catch up on.

Maps vs Maps
Ahem. It’s more than obvious who takes the step up. Google’s Maps is much better than Apple’s. If you don’t know why, then you must have been using Apple Maps. Is Apple Maps’ Street View cooler? Yes, only if it works. Google Map’s navigation is better even though Jelly Bean separates Google Maps as an app. It even works if you’re offline or outside the Wi-Fi zone. You can also ask for public transit and walking directions without having to deal with overly distorted images (like on Apple Maps).

Without further ado, Android is a step beyond Apple’s surrealistic map.

Hangouts vs. Facetime
The equalizer is here. Both the iOS 6 and Jelly Bean have excellent video-chats. These apps are both proprietary but if you’re chatting across platforms, you’ll probably want to use Skpe.
Android and Apple are in a head-to-head battle now.

Social Integration and Notifications
This is very close to call the winner in this round. Jelly Bean’s email notifications are superb, but so is having notifications pushed to the lock screen. Apple may have borrowed Android’s notification-drawer but both have great finishing touched in their Facebook and Twitter apps respectively. iOS 6 still handles Facebook and Twitter well but its APIs are certainly more restricted. On the other hand, Android’s democratic APIs make it easy to share apps no matter how obscure it is.

Who takes the lead? It’s Android certainly.

Not enough? Part two of this sizzling fight between two OS giants is coming right up.

But before that, you might want to visit Cashforsmartphones.com to trade your iOS phone to Android phone or vice versa.