Just bought an iPhone 4.. What now?

By Tjcrazy
in iPhone - iOS/tvOS/watchOS

 Share

Recommended Posts

Proficient

Tjcrazy

Posted
Posted

So, I've made the bold and possibly rushed decision of purchasing an iPhone 4 from eBay.

It's a brand new iphone 4, unopened etc with all original accessories.

What do you guys recommend I get before I start using it as my primary phone?

  • Do I need a case? Where should I get one? - I drop my current phone a lot.
  • Do I need scnree protectors?
  • What Apps do you reccomend?

Anything else you can think of would be great too!

Tim

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1065130-just-bought-an-iphone-4-what-now/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Jose_49

Posted
Posted

I would recommend Jailbreaking your device with iOS 5.0.1 so you can have full customization at your fingertips. Downloading Springboard, Activator, MxTube, Backgrounder are some of the dozens of useful apps you can get with a Jailbroken iOS device.

For the case, I would recommend you to look for something that covers the back part so it doesn't scratch or breaks, and/or a side bumper so you don't block the antenna and have great signal quality.

Regarding screen protectors, they won't do that much since the frontal screen of the iPhone is resistant enough. Though for scratches I don't know how much of an impact it could have.

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted

I fire back! :p

  1. What are you going to do with it?
  2. Which capacity did you go with?
  3. Will you communicate via data with it, if so how?
  4. How much do you care about preserving App Data, being able to export data and to sync it. (App developer drops out, App gets abandoned, etc... -> maintain your data)
  5. Will you use it for multi media? (video, music, pictures)
  6. What's your data plan?

Those are just a couple of questions I have to start suggesting apps and all that good stuff.

Furthermore, I'd suggest you try doing without a JB first.

You can always go for one, but depending on what you do, a JB might just be a burden or annoyance.

(if you don't need JB tweaks, then always waiting for the latest iOS getting jailbroken untethered and reliably is a pain)

Glassed Silver:mac

edit: / addition:

?Screen protector? Hell yes!

?Case? Hell yes! There are SO many bad ones... Check reviews if you care about the case not scratching your metal band... A bumper will not scratch, but does not provide throughout protection without a rear protecting coat ("screen" protector for the back, many come with front and rear protectors)

I think I might go for a bumper next, but I'm not sure whether I'd like the higher profile...

I also think that I should replace my aging and breaking SwitchEasy case soon (a "Nude" model, yes, that's its name! :D).

I've heard good things and bad things about both cases and protectors. A screen protector usually holds quite a while but eventually might bubble up. (mine does now, will exchange it soon. Got it with my (scratching!) SwitchEasy case)

Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted

Personally I love Apples own iPhone bumper, it has saved my phone a lot of times. But there are other brands such as incase and SGP. SGP makes the best cases in my opinion and they have the best screen protectors for an iPhone out there, they cost quite a bit but they are worth it. The screen protectors are just the best out there in terms of how well it's made and the durability of the anti-oil coating and it doesn't ruin the 'Retina' screen, unless you get anti-glare where it fuses the quality, but it really does make the screen look clear in broad daylight.

Avoid Invisishield (screen protector brand), it's disgusting and has a horrible orange peel effect that makes scrolling, and just interacting with the screen a horrible user experience, however, application is very easy. For some personalised iPhone 'sheilds' I recommend Gelaskins, you can personalize your phone and really does make it a little more special: http://www.gelaskins.com/ (their screen protectors are really good also)

The only good thing Invisishield provides is that they sell side protectors which protects the metal band. It's really handle if you get apple bumper.

For some fashionable, colourful cases here's a page for incase products: http://goincase.com/...4S+and+iPhone+4

I adore these cases and screen protectors from SGP:

http://www.spigen.co.../iphone-4s.html

Apple store iPhone bumpers, they are really good and gives your phone some protection to drops:

http://store.apple.c...cessories/cases

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted

May I add that don't always blindly go with apps that are popular and beloved.

I suggest always looking into the features, possibly stuff YOU care about, like easy export, etc...

If you want, send me a PM and I'll give you my contact details. I'm willing to give you some "consulting" :p

Watching Youtube Reviews of Apps is a plethora of new information and decision helping, too.

Glassed Silver:mac

Proficient

Tjcrazy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I fire back! :p

  1. What are you going to do with it?
  2. Which capacity did you go with?
  3. Will you communicate via data with it, if so how?
  4. How much do you care about preserving App Data, being able to export data and to sync it. (App developer drops out, App gets abandoned, etc... -> maintain your data)
  5. Will you use it for multi media? (video, music, pictures)
  6. What's your data plan?

Those are just a couple of questions I have to start suggesting apps and all that good stuff.

Furthermore, I'd suggest you try doing without a JB first.

You can always go for one, but depending on what you do, a JB might just be a burden or annoyance.

(if you don't need JB tweaks, then always waiting for the latest iOS getting jailbroken untethered and reliably is a pain)

Glassed Silver:mac

edit: / addition:

?Screen protector? Hell yes!

?Case? Hell yes! There are SO many bad ones... Check reviews if you care about the case not scratching your metal band... A bumper will not scratch, but does not provide throughout protection without a rear protecting coat ("screen" protector for the back, many come with front and rear protectors)

I think I might go for a bumper next, but I'm not sure whether I'd like the higher profile...

I also think that I should replace my aging and breaking SwitchEasy case soon (a "Nude" model, yes, that's its name! :D).

I've heard good things and bad things about both cases and protectors. A screen protector usually holds quite a while but eventually might bubble up. (mine does now, will exchange it soon. Got it with my (scratching!) SwitchEasy case)

  • What are you going to do with it? - Use it as a phone? And internet, and apps.. Regularly, everyday?
  • Which capacity did you go with? - 32GB
  • Will you communicate via data with it, if so how? - Mainly WiFi and home/uni, Mobile Data everywhere else.
  • How much do you care about preserving App Data, being able to export data and to sync it. (App developer drops out, App gets abandoned, etc... -> maintain your data) - Not a priority
  • Will you use it for multi media? (video, music, pictures) - A Lot of music, and take a fair few photos/videos
  • What's your data plan? - Unlimited on GiffGaff

As for the case: Any ideas where I could a cheap one? I want a case that will protect it if I drop it, but so people can still tell I've got an iphone ;)

Oh and I'm UK ;)

Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted
  • What are you going to do with it? - Use it as a phone? And internet, and apps.. Regularly, everyday?
  • Which capacity did you go with? - 32GB
  • Will you communicate via data with it, if so how? - Mainly WiFi and home/uni, Mobile Data everywhere else.
  • How much do you care about preserving App Data, being able to export data and to sync it. (App developer drops out, App gets abandoned, etc... -> maintain your data) - Not a priority
  • Will you use it for multi media? (video, music, pictures) - A Lot of music, and take a fair few photos/videos
  • What's your data plan? - Unlimited on GiffGaff

As for the case: Any ideas where I could a cheap one? I want a case that will protect it if I drop it, but so people can still tell I've got an iphone ;)

Oh and I'm UK ;)

You can get an apple bumper fake from ebay that it like the real thing, and it's really good quality too. The volume buttons are abit bland though, but I had a free black bumper from apple and that went a bit disgusting after awhile. (cuts along the bumper edges). I was looking for a cheap alternative and these are great, plus you can get some colours and colour combinations you don't normally get and they're really different a good. Apple premium on these cases are a rip-off anyway, and these you can throw them in the bin after a couple of months use and change colour, or change colour weekly/daily.

Proficient

Tjcrazy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You can get an apple bumper fake from ebay that it like the real thing, and it's really good quality too. The volume buttons are abit bland though, but I had a free black bumper from apple and that went a bit disgusting after awhile. (cuts along the bumper edges). I was looking for a cheap alternative and these are great, plus you can get some colours and colour combinations you don't normally get and they're really different a good. Apple premium on these cases are a rip-off anyway, and these you can throw them in the bin after a couple of months use and change colour, or change colour weekly/daily.

I've seen these. Don't think a bumper would protect my phone much if I dropped it though?

Should of waited. Isnt the Iphone 5 coming out in a few months?

I wouldn't be able to afford it. I'm not on a fixed contract anyway, so can change at anytime.

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted (edited)
  • What are you going to do with it? - Use it as a phone? And internet, and apps.. Regularly, everyday?
  • Which capacity did you go with? - 32GB
  • Will you communicate via data with it, if so how? - Mainly WiFi and home/uni, Mobile Data everywhere else.
  • How much do you care about preserving App Data, being able to export data and to sync it. (App developer drops out, App gets abandoned, etc... -> maintain your data) - Not a priority
  • Will you use it for multi media? (video, music, pictures) - A Lot of music, and take a fair few photos/videos
  • What's your data plan? - Unlimited on GiffGaff

As for the case: Any ideas where I could a cheap one? I want a case that will protect it if I drop it, but so people can still tell I've got an iphone ;)

Oh and I'm UK ;)

You saying you're on GiffGaff, I figured you're in the UK. :)

Genius! You ask for App recommendations, I ask what you want to do with it and you list Apps! :p Shall I continue the circle and ask "What are you going to do with it?" again and you break the circle this time? :)

Well done

I actually mean like... iMessage, messengers (WLM/ICQ/Skype/...) which services. But good you stated that, too! (Y)

Hmmm... maybe not now, but most people learn that lesson when it's too late, so I'll consider that in my recommendations if you don't mind ;)

That sounds good. Do you have iTunes Match/are you interested in it?

Well done. (Y)

Don't go cheap on the case... at least don't make this the top priority. Do NOT. (Unless scratching the metal band is a non-issue to you... Will reduce resale value, though. So if you're not a keeper, consider that maybe? (obviously the higher costs of purchasing a "better" case will not be justified later on, but if that's an extra thought for you, there you go...))

Don't use a case that has this hole for the Apple logo... Looks ridiculous... Rather go with a transparent one or pick a slim case.

(If the metal band scratches are still no worry: SwitchEasy Nude's are quite "cheap" but last for about a year flawlessly, then it might crack on the edges, but will still protect your phone.)

The Apple logo is on some cases, so if you want, go with one of these maybe, can't report on their quality, but here's an example:

Clic here.

Mind you, some cases have a bad impact on your photo and video quality when using the flash/light. (even rather slim ones! Didn't notice this too much/at all (afaik, never use my phone without a case) on my SwitchEasy case...)

Hope I am of any help.

Glassed Silver:mac

edit: / addition:

Should of waited. Isnt the Iphone 5 coming out in a few months?

Nope.

October timeframe it is.

I think the June/July model is thrown out of the window for good.

I've seen these. Don't think a bumper would protect my phone much if I dropped it though?

[...]

A bumper protects the phone pretty darn well, unless of cause you drop it on VERY uneven surfaces that stick out... That way, the "puffer zone" of the bumper tip to the iPhone rear/front won't help.

So if you need a very rugged iPhone, look no further than an Otterbox kind of thing.

Edited by Glassed Silver
Proficient

Tjcrazy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You saying you're on GiffGaff, I figured you're in the UK. :)

Genius! You ask for App recommendations, I ask what you want to do with it and you list Apps! :p Shall I continue the circle and ask "What are you going to do with it?" again and you break the circle this time? :)

Well done

I actually mean like... iMessage, messengers (WLM/ICQ/Skype/...) which services. But good you stated that, too! (Y)

Hmmm... maybe not now, but most people learn that lesson when it's too late, so I'll consider that in my recommendations if you don't mind ;)

That sounds good. Do you have iTunes Match/are you interested in it?

Well done. (Y)

Don't go cheap on the case... at least don't make this the top priority. Do NOT. (Unless scratching the metal band is a non-issue to you... Will reduce resale value, though. So if you're not a keeper, consider that maybe? (obviously the higher costs of purchasing a "better" case will not be justified later on, but if that's an extra thought for you, there you go...))

Don't use a case that has this hole for the Apple logo... Looks ridiculous... Rather go with a transparent one or pick a slim case.

(If the metal band scratches are still no worry: SwitchEasy Nude's are quite "cheap" but last for about a year flawlessly, then it might crack on the edges, but will still protect your phone.)

The Apple logo is on some cases, so if you want, go with one of these maybe, can't report on their quality, but here's an example:

Clic here.

Mind you, some cases have a bad impact on your photo and video quality when using the flash/light. (even rather slim ones! Didn't notice this too much/at all (afaik, never use my phone without a case) on my SwitchEasy case...)

Hope I am of any help.

Glassed Silver:mac

Will the 'bumper' type cases protect my phone if I drop it? Would you recommend a more rubberised/silicone one? - This is the main reason I really want a case, just to protect it from accidental drops and falls. Also want ti to look good though.

Genius! You ask for App recommendations, I ask what you want to do with it and you list Apps! :p Shall I continue the circle and ask "What are you going to do with it?" again and you break the circle this time? - :)

Sorry, didn't expect you to want that much levle of detail. I'll be using it mainly for calls/texts but also a lot of e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and browsing (Internet). Wont ahve many games on it.

I actually mean like... iMessage, messengers (WLM/ICQ/Skype/...) which services. But good you stated that, too! (Y)

Probably mainly iMessage, but Skype and Facebook will also be two definite communication apps

Hmmm... maybe not now, but most people learn that lesson when it's too late, so I'll consider that in my recommendations if you don't mind ;)

Thanks, will definetly do this then!

That sounds good. Do you have iTunes Match/are you interested in it?

Don't know much about it!

Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted

Some application suggestions:

Sparrow - Great mail alternative, ~I'm currently using it after having great use of the OS X version

Pages - I've been writing some documents in this application and saved them via iCloud and it's a great word processor for on the go

Trillian - Good IM application that connects to AIM/MSN and FB Chat I think, been using this when ever I need to contact people from MSN. (rarely heh)

Skype - Bad iPhone application but I've been using it as my main IM fix, it's pretty good for what it does, but I just don't like it.

Netflix - I've recently just tried netflix and really like it, it's a great source of films and just general tv shows.

iBooks - Never was a reader but just started reading the Steve Jobs Biography and I like how text is displayed within iBooks with settings to change font and background colour.

Jailbreak:

Grooveshark - My music fix, my offline playlist has replaced iTunes syncing for music (OR SPOTIFY which is available for non-jailbroken devices)

VLC - I just use this to watch films or tv shows on the go, I like not having to convert files and what not.

iFile - Browse files on my phone and actually be able to see what it downloaded through my browser and accessing files I wouldn't be able to, without this. (mainly organising documents).

Some games suggestions:

Infinity Blade [1/2] - RPG slash em up, it's pretty good, it's a good eye candy type of game, but the game isn't really that good.

Cut the Rope - Great puzzler, I spent ages on this game and I love the challenging levels as you progress. It's actually one of my favourites.

Tiny Wings - A good short game where you try and score the highest points by riding the hills and getting to the furthest island.

Bejewelled - iPhone port of Bejewelled 3, I love one of the modes, (I'm not sure what it's called) but it's great for train journeys and bus travels, short and addicting.

Temple Run - run the furthest by interacting with the screen, unlock upgrades and get further.

I really do recommend a cheap apple bumper case as it's exactly like the official ones, you won't notice difference. I've dropped one so many times, and it's protected it because the bumper works as it's a border around the phone that raises up by around 1mm, which protects the phone from touching the surface, it actually works really well, and It's the most stylish case that allows you to 'show off your iPhone'. It's supposed to act like a shock absorber, and the glass wouldn't technically touch the ground if you drop it, depends what surface you drop it on, for flat services you're good to go.

htbj8m.png

The dark shadow bit is where it indents out, so the light bit is the bit where it's raised. hope you understand :p I've got insurance on my phone and so far all the drops have been on flat surfaces and I haven't smashed either glass (back or front) and it's working great!

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted (edited)

Will the 'bumper' type cases protect my phone if I drop it? Would you recommend a more rubberised/silicone one? - This is the main reason I really want a case, just to protect it from accidental drops and falls. Also want ti to look good though.

Genius! You ask for App recommendations, I ask what you want to do with it and you list Apps! :p Shall I continue the circle and ask "What are you going to do with it?" again and you break the circle this time? - :)

Sorry, didn't expect you to want that much levle of detail. I'll be using it mainly for calls/texts but also a lot of e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and browsing (Internet). Wont ahve many games on it.

I actually mean like... iMessage, messengers (WLM/ICQ/Skype/...) which services. But good you stated that, too! (Y)

Probably mainly iMessage, but Skype and Facebook will also be two definite communication apps

Hmmm... maybe not now, but most people learn that lesson when it's too late, so I'll consider that in my recommendations if you don't mind ;)

Thanks, will definetly do this then!

That sounds good. Do you have iTunes Match/are you interested in it?

Don't know much about it!

Bumpers will at worst break after some time.

Go with a cheap one if you want, they won't just disappear once you drop your iPhone, so there you go, it's cheap and protects the most crucial areas. (the edges, and if it falls on a flat surface or something that you'd consider a normal drop)

When I start doing suggestions, I'll not do it without knowing the details, because the risk of recommending stuff that works for me or "most" or some but not for you, is there.

I personally prefer Mail (stock App, because it has push), Facebook but not for chatting in FB, I can't stand unlogged convos, if you don't care about logging your conversations, then there's no problem in not caring which app stores them or if at all! (Y)

Twitter: I use Tweetbot, it's AWESOME, but there are some other good ones, I REALLY recommend watching some Youtube video reviews for that.

Browsing: Stick to Safari, but for some occasions it's good to have an alternative browser readily installed. (iCab Mobile for example or Opera Mini)

iMessage is awesome. Use it! :) Skype is awesome, can't go wrong there. It keeps your logs synched to your desktop client if you care about that! (Y)

Hehe, glad to have opened someone's eyes! :)

I suggest looking it up.

I adore it. But mileage may vary and you may not care about it.

I personally like having pretty much almost my whole library of music with me all the time without needing it to be stored on my iPhone from the get go.

Great if you delete songs you know you won't listen to in near future to free up space for taking photos / videos.

Clean up your library's ID3 tags before using it! (Y) Hehe :)

(It won't replace your ID3 tags etc though! :) )

Some application suggestions:

Sparrow - Great mail alternative, ~I'm currently using it after having great use of the OS X version

Pages - I've been writing some documents in this application and saved them via iCloud and it's a great word processor for on the go

Trillian - Good IM application that connects to AIM/MSN and FB Chat I think, been using this when ever I need to contact people from MSN. (rarely heh)

Skype - Bad iPhone application but I've been using it as my main IM fix, it's pretty good for what it does, but I just don't like it.

Netflix - I've recently just tried netflix and really like it, it's a great source of films and just general tv shows.

iBooks - Never was a reader but just started reading the Steve Jobs Biography and I like how text is displayed within iBooks with settings to change font and background colour.

Jailbreak:

Grooveshark - My music fix, my offline playlist has replaced iTunes syncing for music (OR SPOTIFY which is available for non-jailbroken devices)

VLC - I just use this to watch films or tv shows on the go, I like not having to convert files and what not.

iFile - Browse files on my phone and actually be able to see what it downloaded through my browser and accessing files I wouldn't be able to, without this. (mainly organising documents).

Some games suggestions:

Infinity Blade [1/2] - RPG slash em up, it's pretty good, it's a good eye candy type of game, but the game isn't really that good.

Cut the Rope - Great puzzler, I spent ages on this game and I love the challenging levels as you progress. It's actually one of my favourites.

Tiny Wings - A good short game where you try and score the highest points by riding the hills and getting to the furthest island.

Bejewelled - iPhone port of Bejewelled 3, I love one of the modes, (I'm not sure what it's called) but it's great for train journeys and bus travels, short and addicting.

Temple Run - run the furthest by interacting with the screen, unlock upgrades and get further.

Sparrow -> No push, so... Consider that if you go with it. Also you can't use it as standard email app. You'll need to call it each time. "send email from within apps" will always use stock Mail.

Pages -> Some very good software, lacks proper sync with desktop Pages for Mac though atm... Mountain Lion will hopefully fix this as well as maybe a new iWork version (ffs that's long overdue!)

Trillian -> Good, if your Mac is always on (if you have one) and use Adium, consider Remodium! :)

Skype -> Not much to say here. AFAIK the only client and hence the best and data integrity wise there's nothing to worry here...

Netflix -> Can't say anything about that. I'm not a US/CA/UK user.

iBooks -> Excellent App. (Y)

JB:

Grooveshark -> Can't say anything about that.

VLC -> Don't jailbreak for it, that'd be a waste. There are many Apps on the App Store that have the same features/more. Don't jailbreak for VLC. It's not worth the mess. (Also consider the bonus of having your App Data backed up if you use App Store Apps. If you store stuff in VLC, you're SOL once you need to reset and VLC for iOS was your only storage for that/those videos)

iFile - IF you jailbreak, this is the first app to get. Replaces any need to SSH into your device too to hack plists etc... (built-in plist editor and other good stuff)

Why even mess with plists and other files you can't normally access? Many tweaks work that way! (Y)

Games:

Some of them are hit and miss... Check video reviews and the game description obviously.

Tiny Wings had me playing for ages.

There are maaaany many more that are good, but boy... Check the App charts, YT videos, google around, search the App Store...

You can find so many great games!

If you're into racing: Real Racing 2 is hands down the best racing game with the best controls out there...

Definitely get that one (after checking a video of it... See how you like the concept. Graphics and controls are AMAZING though and it has you playing for quite some time! (Y))

One big question:

What do you have? Mac, Linux or Windows?

Glassed Silver:mac

Edited by Glassed Silver
Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted

Glassed silver, do you have game center would be fun to bash you on some games :p And how did I forgot Fruit Ninja, love that game, it's really great! The charts are good indication of some good games I would list more but there are a huge selection for all types on genres.

If you don't want to use VLC, I've heard Air video is good for streaming files from your desktop. Not tried it, but heard its worth a shot.

Real racing is graphically beautiful, I get smoked online though haha. If you own a mac, iCloud integration is tight with an iPhone, I've been using the iMessages beta along with the new mountain lion developer preview, but you can also get it for lion right now.

Sparrow doesn't have push, but I normally then off any push to save bandwidth. And it doesn't support pop3.

And I forgot I stopped using pages recently in favour for Evernote and Dropbox, I use them two to sync all my files and documents and it's been pretty good! Would recommend that you look into Evernote as its really useful.

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted

Glassed silver, do you have game center would be fun to bash you on some games :p And how did I forgot Fruit Ninja, love that game, it's really great! The charts are good indication of some good games I would list more but there are a huge selection for all types on genres.

If you don't want to use VLC, I've heard Air video is good for streaming files from your desktop. Not tried it, but heard its worth a shot.

Real racing is graphically beautiful, I get smoked online though haha. If you own a mac, iCloud integration is tight with an iPhone, I've been using the iMessages beta along with the new mountain lion developer preview, but you can also get it for lion right now.

Sparrow doesn't have push, but I normally then off any push to save bandwidth. And it doesn't support pop3.

I do. (Hell, I'm the thread creator of the official Neowin GameCenter name thread haha, please add Neowin in your contact request. I deny all requests that I don't know the origin of (friend of friend doesn't suffice as long as I don't know you :p))

Honestly? Plex is the way to go for computer -> iOS streaming! Wins hands down!

Hehe... :p

bandwidth? On an unlimited plan? Not much of a worry there I guess for OP. But then again, push uses so little, I wouldn't worry there for the comfort it provides. But mileage may vary (Y)

POP3? Oh Lord... POP3 is just good for backing up your messages. Go IMAP, go! (there are some services that officially don't have IMAP on their free accounts or at all. Mind you, that is officially. There are often ways around that! (Y))

Glassed Silver:mac

Grand Master

Dinggus

Posted
Posted
Avoid Invisishield (screen protector brand), it's disgusting and has a horrible orange peel effect that makes scrolling, and just interacting with the screen a horrible user experience, however, application is very easy. For some personalised iPhone 'sheilds' I recommend Gelaskins, you can personalize your phone and really does make it a little more special: http://www.gelaskins.com/ (their screen protectors are really good also)

I don't know what you're talking about but Invisishield is an awesome screen protector.

Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted

I don't know what you're talking about but Invisishield is an awesome screen protector.

I just didn't like the feel of the screen protector, and it felt like i was rubbing my finger against an orange peel, I think there are better third party solutions and cheaper, but I'm just a little OCD. ^^

Community Regular

Lunfai

Posted
Posted

Alright, I understand. I don't like the screen protectors that are flemsy plastic and eventually get dirt under them and don't stick anymore.

Yeah I loved how you can reapply the shield, and the kit was pretty cool that came with it, still using side protectors :p.

Proficient

Tjcrazy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Been playing on what could be considered half my life savings all day.. Love it so far! 6 hours constant use and the battery died. Brightness full, WiFi on, apps downloading/installing. V. Impressed.

Apart from the previous apps mentioned, has anyone else got any apps/games they love or reccomend?

Also, where is the best UK place to get a decent Bumper case for the iPhone (No more than ?10)?

Thanks for all the help so far!

Grand Master

Denis W. Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Get AppsGoneFree and go crazy with whatever apps are recommended on each day. You can look back at previous issues to get any app whose free offer hasn't expired yet. Many games are suggested, some great, some crap. Some very useful apps make their way onto there.

Grand Master

Glassed Silver

Posted
Posted

Definitely get AppTicker Push. (There is also AppTicker, go for the Push edition though)

Helped me save dozens and dozens of bucks on App purchases! :)

Glassed Silver:win

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on

      By Steven P. · Posted

      SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it

      By Taliseian · Posted

      Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....
    • We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager

      By Steven P. · Posted

      We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk; I figured it could offer some neck pain relief. What's in the box: SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager Rechargeable Battery (inside massager) Type-C USB cable User Manual Quick Start guide 1-Year Warranty In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official listing, here are the key features: Biomimetic Kneading & High Torque Motor: Designed with innovative biomimetic kneading heads that perfectly simulate the touch of human hands. Powered by a high-torque motor, this massager delivers powerful and precise deep tissue relief to effectively target stiff neck muscles and release built-up tension Soothing Heat & Integrated Sound Relaxation: Experience the ultimate Relaxationation with our dual-action approach. The soothing heat function gently warms your neck, while the built-in sound Relaxation provides calming audio tracks, helping you achieve a state of mindfulness and mental tranquility during your physical massage Cordless Convenience & Travel-Ready & Father's Day Gifts: Crafted for maximum portability and ease of use. Its lightweight, cordless design allows you to enjoy a premium massage anywhere without the hassle of tangled wires-whether you're taking a quick break at your desk or winding down at home Versatile Relief for Home & Office: An essential wellness companion for office workers, gamers, frequent travelers, or anyone looking to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine. It seamlessly fits into your lifestyle, providing instant neck relief whenever and wherever you need it Safe & Premium Materials: Manufactured with high-quality, skin-friendly materials to ensure a safe and comfortable experience without irritation. SKG backs this device with dedicated customer service, making it a thoughtful tech-health gift for family and friends App & Bluetooth Music Control: Connect via Bluetooth to control your massage settings through the dedicated app and enjoy your favorite music during your massage session for a fully customizable and immersive relaxation experience Red Light Warmth Technology: Features advanced red light warmth technology that penetrates deep into neck muscles to enhance blood circulation and provide soothing comfort while relieving muscle tension and stiffness Design With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. SKG does not say what materials are used to make the neck massager. However, on the product website, it mentions "soft-touch silicone" with what looks like PU leather cushioning, with the rest being mostly made up of plastics. On the inside of the massager, there are two "biomimetic kneading heads" that are motorized for the different styles of massage, which are not actually listed at all in the paper user manual, but the standard included modes are: De-stress mode, Mediation mode, Relax mode, Shiatsu mode. The massager looks quite premium and is actually very comfortable to wear. This massager is small and light enough to go anywhere, as it doesn't get in the way of anything, so I was able to use it in the chair while writing this review. Unlike the back massager, SKG does not warn in the user guide not to use it for more than 30 minutes a day (or two 15-minute sessions). However, there is a long laundry list of important safeguards to consider before and during the use of the device, and it is warned that the neck massager is not waterproof. It also includes a 1,400mAh battery with a rated power of 14W and input of 5V, which is the standard for up to USB 3.0 power (although the Amperage is not mentioned at all). SKG does not say how long it takes to charge, but a quick calculation at 2A (if that is what it is) would mean it would take roughly 1.5 hrs to charge from empty. In any case, the light around the button changes from orange to green on a full charge. In addition, it is not possible to use the device while it is charging. On the right of the neck massager is the On/Off and modes button, which also acts as a joystick. You can operate all the modes directly from the power button, as well as the app, which I'll get into a bit later: Push up: Short press to adjust Heat levels On/Off button: long press Mode Switching: Short press (while in operation) ➕ Push left: increase Music volume ➖ push right: decrease Music volume Push down: Short-press to turn Music on or off The massager defaults to De-stress mode, and it is not stated anywhere if the neck massager has overheat protection. This time around, regarding heat, the only detail I could find is that it has "triple action soothing heat." The temperature stages are not listed anywhere in the paper manual, Amazon listing, or official website. The heat levels can be adjusted through the app or directly on the device using the joystick button. Usage There's also the SKG Health app, which makes using the massager far easier than feeling around for the button on the side of your neck. If the app is stopped, you are required to log in with a verification code over email, which I am not too pleased with, as this means it will only work that way for however long SKG decides to support it through said app. However, I was not able to get the app to connect to the OS500, which I have reported back to my contact. Bluetooth appeared to be working on the neck massager as it became available to pair with my phone, but the SKG app failed to discover it. Before I forget, there's also a switch next to the USB charging port to deactivate and activate the Voice Prompt, which, when enabled, audibly tells the user when switching intensities, modes, or connecting to the app and informs when the massages start and are completed. That said, on to my likes and dislikes, which are listed below. What I didn't like Unable to connect the Neck Massager to the app Use through the mobile app relies on continued support from SKG What I liked Can be used without the app Cordless use Light and comfortable to wear Heat is also quite comfortable Where to buy: According to the official website, this has an MSRP of $249.99, but is currently $50 (on Amazon). To sweeten the deal a bit more, there's also an in-page coupon that knocks a further $20 off the price. SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager for $179.99 on Amazon (was $199.99) Apply the in-page $20 off coupon for the final price of $179.99 Just like the back massager, this gets a confused thumbs up (due to the cost). However, I cannot rate it through app usage as it failed to connect. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • This Samsung T7 external SSD deal lasts less than a day

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      This Samsung T7 external SSD deal lasts less than a day by Sayan Sen Recently we had covered some nice deals of internal NVMe SSDs which include the 4TB TeamGroup G50 for only $400, the WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB for just $243, as well as the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB for $370. If however you require an external SSD for portability and quick data transfers and have a budget of less than $200 the Samsung T7 1TB model is currently on a limited time deal at just $190, it's lowest price in nearly three months. The deal ends today so you better hurry if you need one (purchase link below). The T7 weighs in at just 72 grams meaning it should be fairly easy to carry around helping in the portability department. Via its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface the T7 promises sequential read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and writes of 1000 MB/s. It is also fairly robust with a drop protection of up to 2 meters, though bear in mind that this is not waterproof. For that you will have to choose the rugged T7 Shield. The technical specifications of the Samsung T7 1TB are given in the table below: Specification Value Model Code (1TB) MU-PC1T0T / MU-PC1T0H Interface USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Dimensions (W × H × D) 85 × 57 × 8 mm Weight 72 g Sequential Read Speed Up to 1,050 MB/s Sequential Write Speed Up to 1,000 MB/s Drop Resistance Up to 2 m (6.6 ft) Encryption AES 256-bit hardware encryption Operating Temperature 0°C to 60°C Non-Operating Temperature -40°C to 85°C Humidity 5% to 95% (non-condensing) Shock Resistance 1,500 G, duration 0.5 ms, 3-axis (non-operating) Vibration Resistance 20–2,000 Hz, 20 G (non-operating) Get it at the link below: Samsung T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray: $189.98 (Sold and Shipped by Amazon US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2 to finally get one of the most requested features

      By notta · Posted

      I just wish they would put more love into Virtual Desktops. There is just so much more they could do.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Dedicated
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      DrWankel earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      DrWankel earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      Supreme Spray LV earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      184
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      84
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      78
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      76
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!