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How to Prepare an iPhone For Sale

By
Henry McIntosh
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0

If you’re planning to sell your iPhone you need to prepare it first. Our iPhones contain a wealth of information about us and we input a vast amount of data into these cellular devices. Whether it’s online banking details, passwords to various sites, contact or email details, this is sensitive information that should be for your eyes only.

If we then sell the phone on to the wrong person, this data could be used against us and identity fraud is a common and highly problematic crime to deal with.

So don’t take any chances when it comes to your personal information; make sure your iPhone no longer contains any of your personal information by following the process outlined in this article. Once you have completed this process your iPhone will be ready for sale:

The first thing you need to do before selling your iPhone is save your information to make it easy to transfer your new device. You don’t want to input that data manually so I suggest using iCloud to back up your data. To do this:

Go to Settings -> Select iCloud -> Select Storage and Back Up -> Select Back Up Now

Once you get your new phone simply select this back up in iCloud and all your previous settings, apps and other customizations will sync to your new device- saving you a lot of hassle.

Once this process is completed it’s worth deregistering the phone with Apple. You no longer want the phone to be associated with your Apple ID so make sure it’s not by logging in to your Apple ID account selecting the specific iPhone you’re selling and clicking Unregister.

After this, it’s time to make sure your private information stays private. To do so, you want set the iPhone back to factory settings. To do so:

Go to Settings -> Select General -> Scroll down and select Reset -> Select Erase All Content and Settings -> Confirm this by selecting Erase iPhone

After this, the phone will reset and try to take you through setup again as if it were brand new. Leave this to the new owner so they can customize their settings. The one thing to remember is to complete this process chronologically. If you reset the phone before backing up your data to iCloud then you will lose it.

How to Revert Back to iOS 8 After Installing the iOS 9 Beta

By
Kelly Hodgkins
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0

Recently, Apple released a beta version of iOS 9 to the participants in its public beta testing program. If you installed iOS 9 to check it out but have decided you no longer want to run the beta operating system, no worries as you can quickly revert to iOS 8.4. Just open iTunes on your Mac or PC and follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Enter Recovery Mode

First, you need to put your iPhone or iPad in recovery mode, which allows iTunes to restore the device using the latest version of iOS. Recovery mode is designed for situations when your iOS device is not working properly, but we can use it here to downgrade back to iOS 8.4.

  • Hold down the power button and swipe on the “Slide to Power Off” button to turn off your iOS device.
  • While the iPhone or iPad is still powered off, plug your USB cable into the lightning port or 30-pin port on your iOS device.
  • Hold down the Home button on your device as you connect the USB cable to a to a computer with iTunes.
  • Continue to hold the Home button until you see the “Connect to iTunes” screen.
  • When the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears, you then can release the Home button.

Restore to iOS 8.4

Once your iPhone or iPad is in recovery mode, you can use iTunes to restore the operating system. The restore process will erase all the contents of your iOS device and install a clean, factory version of iOS. Just launch iTunes, which will detect the iOS device and ask you what you want to do with it. Select “Restore” or “Restore and Update” and then follow the prompts and agree to the Terms and Conditions to start downloading iOS 8.4. The file is approxiamtely 1.8GB so it may take a while to download. If the iOS device reboots back into iOS 9 because the download is taking so long, you can repeat the steps above to get back to recovery mode. When the iOS 8.4 download is complete, iTunes will automatically install the operating system on your device.

Restore Backup Version of iOS 8.x

If you made a backup of your iPad or iPhone before you installed iOS 9, you can quickly install that backup and restore all the photos, apps and settings you have configured on your iOS device.

  • Keep the iOS device connected to iTunes and select the option to “Restore from this backup” in iTunes.
  • Choose the iOS 8.x backup from your iPad or iPhone (you cannot install a backup that contains files from iOS 9).
  • Allow iTunes to restore your data back to iOS device.

If you use iCloud for your backups, you can forego iTunes and select a backup when you are first configuring your phone after restoring it.

LG G3 vs Moto X 2nd Gen

By
Henry McIntosh
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0

LG G3

Price: $334.90 (At the time of writing)

Released in July 2014, the LG G3 in an aesthetic sense is a great looking phone. The metallic body, a direct response to the criticism surrounding the G2’s plastic body, adds that touch of class and high-end feel that so many smartphone users now require; not just desire.

Still, there is one design flaw. The 5.5” screen, whilst technically quite brilliant, gives the device an identity crisis of sorts. Is it a phone or a ‘phablet’? For me, venturing anywhere over the 5” category and you are in danger of venturing into ‘phablet’ territory.

The phone runs off the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system which will allow you to personalize a whole lot of the interface.

As aforementioned, the Quad HD screen is technically astute however. With a pixel density of 534 ppi packed in, it delivers a sharp image that looks undeniably stunning on the larger screen.

Running of a 2.5GHz Snapdragon Qualcomm 801 processor, the 16GB version has 2GB of ram compared with 3GB for the 32GB LG G3. This ensures the phone is commendably speedy, but is not setting the world alight.

What the 801 does have is an improved Image Signal Processor (ISP) which might seem to contrast the LG G3’s rather simplistic camera offering but then this phone doesn’t focus on the camera.

Moto X 2nd Gen

Price: $299 (At the time of writing)

Released in September 2014, The Moto X Gen and LG G3 are pretty much head to head when it comes to style. The curved body of the Moto, now supports a robust aluminium frame and it looks brilliant.

What might set the Moto apart is its smaller screen size. At 5.2” the Moto’s screen allows it to remain a ‘one handed’ device and so any foray into phablet territory can be dismissed.

The Moto’s screen may only have a pixel density of 423ppi compared to LG’s 534ppi but that’s pretty inconsequential when you see the sharpness the Moto is capable of delivering anyway.

An identical Snapdragon Qualcomm 801 2.5 GHz processor can be found within the Moto, so there’s nothing to set the phones apart there and nor will you in regard to the operating system as the Moto runs Android Lollipop 5.0.

I do feel that the Moto makes more of Google’s operating system than the LG however.

That said, the Moto’s camera offering is quite inconsistent and maybe Motorola should take a leaf from LG’s book in this department; after all, simple is sometimes better.

Whilst it is the cheaper phone by around $35, this shouldn’t be a basis for purchase alone. One thing to consider, is that the Moto X Gen doesn’t have a Micro SD slot so if you’re looking to ramp up the internal memory and store large files on your phone the LG is the better bet of the two.

Connecting your Android device to your desktop PC: AirDroid vs Pushbullet vs MightyText

By
Kelly Hodgkins
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0

When you are working diligently on your desktop computer, the last thing you want to do is pause to respond to a text message, find a saved photo or otherwise interact with your phone. To help you avoid this situation, you can turn to apps such as AirDroid, MightyText, and Pushbullet. Though different, these apps serve to link your mobile device to your desktop so you can keep your focus on the big screen,

AirDroid

If you are looking for a solution that lets you remotely control your Android device, and then look no further than AirDroid. AirDroid allows you to view your phone through a web browser. Not only can you see text message notifications, you also can browse through existing messages and create new text right from your desktop browser. The service also lets you launch apps, browse through files, look through your photos and even shared content, such as notes, between the desktop and mobile phone. AirDroid works best when the smartphone and desktop are on the same WiFi connection, but it will work over a cellular connection if you are away from your home or work network.

AirDroid is available for free, but the free version includes a 100MB data cap as well as advertisements and “recommendations.” You can remove the promotional content and the data cap by purchasing a premium account for $1.99 monthly, $19.99 yearly or $38.99 for two years.

MightyText

MightyText has a text messaging focus, but the app does so much more, allowing you to control many of the core functions of your phone from a desktop PC via web browser interface. Instead of a using a separate account, MightyText uses your Google account as the hub that ties the mobile and desktop components together.

To get the service to work, you must install the MightyText app on your Android device and then either install a browser extension or login to the MightyText website. You use your Google account to login into both the mobile app and the desktop conduit to bridge the gap between the two devices. Not only does MightyText route your incoming calls and texts to the browser. The app also allows you to sift through your contacts, thumb through your photos and ring your phone so you can find it.

MightyText is available for free with ads, but you can pay for a Pro version that removes the ads and includes templates, scheduling and more. The Pro version costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.

Pushbullet

Pushbullet is a mobile and desktop platform that pushes content between your phone and your computer. It can send links, images, locations and more. It also shares notifications, allowing you to view an incoming message. You can’t respond through Pushbullet, but at least you will know whether you have to pick up your phone or note. As a bonus, the sharing features of the Pushbullet app make it easy to craft a response to a critical incoming text. Just compose a note with your message and then use Pushbullet to send it to your phone, where you can copy and paste the text into a new text message. Installation of Pushbullet is easy — just install the mobile app, add the browser extension and install the desktop app.

Pushbullet is available for free with no monthly or yearly fees.

Five of the Best Podcast Apps for Android

By
Kelly Hodgkins
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0

Podcasts are growing in popularity with most publications producing a variety of shows for their listening audience. To get the most out of your podcasts, you should use a dedicated podcast app to streamline your listening, make your favorite shows available offline and even discover new shows to add to your library. Below, you will find our picks for the top five podcast apps in the Google Play Store. If you have a favorite Android podcast app not on the list, please share it in the comments.

BeyondPod

BeyondPod is a full-featured podcast app with a recently redesigned user interface that makes it easy on the eyes and simple to use. The app has an extensive library of available podcasts, supports Chrome cast, and automatic downloading of podcasts in the background. The app also syncs your progress across Android devices, allowing you to listen on a smartphone and pick up right where you left off on your tablet. BeyondPod offers a free 7-day trial after which you must pay $7.99 to continue using the app.

DoggCatcher

DoggCatcher has been the favorite podcast app among Android users for years, but it hasn’t kept up with the competition in the area of design. Though its feature set is still impressive, the user interface is blocky and drab. It makes up for its old school look with a convenient auto download feature, easy delete, feed categorization and Chrome cast support. You can download DoggCatcher for $2.99 from the Google Play Store.

Stitcher Radio for Podcasts

Stitcher is best known for its Internet radio stations, but the app also includes a very capable podcast player. Unlike its competitors, Sticher allows you to select a variety of podcasts and stitch them together to form a “podcast radio station.” The app also offers top news stations so you can listen to the daily news along with your favorite podcasts. Stitcher doesn’t have a flashy, modern user interface, but its free price tag makes up for its old-style design. You can download Stitcher Radio for Podcasts for free from the Google Play Store.

Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict offers a superb listening experience by providing a library of podcasts that are both searchable and organized by network, interest and more. Besides its library, the app also allows you to import your podcast feeds from a variety of sources including RSS and Youtube channels. Chrome cast support will let you listen to your podcasts on your properly-configured entertainment center. Podcast Addict is available for free, but includes advertisements. These ads can be removed by purchasing the full version for $2.99.

Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts is a top-notch podcast app with a feature set that outshines its competition. Not only does the app feature a beautiful user interface, it also includes a large library of podcasts, support for video podcasts, and Chrome cast playback. Cross-platform users will appreciate the cloud sync that allows you to sync your listening across Android, iOS, and the web. Pocket Casts also features a widget with full playback control, auto download and playlist integration. It doesn’t get much better than this. You can download Pocket Casts for $3.99 from the Google Play Store.

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