WITH SMARTPHONES GETTING so much attention these days, its easy to overlook some of the other requirements that people may have. That’s why these two phones from iBall are like a breath of fresh air.
The devices pictured here are the iBall ‘Aasaan’ from the Senior series and the ‘Floater’ from the Waterproof series. Both are affordable and both cater to very specific requirements.
The ‘Aasaan’ (Simple) is exactly that; an easy-to-use phone that is specifically catered for elderly users. It has a large, monochrome display with a large font, very large keys and a simple interface.
Besides the simplicity, the added advantage is that the phone has great build quality and a very attractive design. In fact, it has also been awarded the iF Product Design Award in 2010. To make it more suitable for elderly users, it has a unique SOS feature. A large orange SOS slider switch at the back of the phone activates the SOS function of the phone. First, it sounds a siren to alert nearby people that the user may be in some trouble. Then, the phone automatically sends a distress SMS to 5 pre-defined mobile numbers. After the messages, it starts calling those numbers in quick succession till one is answered.
It also has built in FM, a 3.5mm audio out port, LED flashlight and attractive multi-color backlighting. To make it easier to operate, there are dedicated slider switches for the flashlight and to lock the keys.
The ‘Floater’ can actually float on water, although the usefulness of that feature is debatable. It has a sealed keypad, ports covered by a rubber flap and a battery cover with a waterproof seal. Because of this, it also effectively blocks out dust and rain.
The design is meant to offer superior grip, but because of the smooth plastic, the purpose is defeated somewhat. The screen quality and interface is strictly average; probably the same as you would find in hundreds of cheap, noname brand phones. Unlike the ‘Aasaan’, this only has one proprietary port, used for both charging and earphones. Thankfully, the call quality and signal strength are passable.
There are some other downsides too; the keys are small and hard to press and the build quality does not inspire much confidence. It feels too light and flimsy; hardly worthy of a ‘rugged’ tag. However, given the low price and effective waterproofing, some users may find it useful, especially those who work in the outdoors, those into adventure sports and our military and armed forces.
Overall, the ‘Aasaan’ definitely gets a thumbs up, not just for the unique features but also for the design appeal. This is a phone that many might consider as a second phone or as a gift for an elderly family member. Someone looking for a rugged device however, will be better served by Samsung’s rugged B2100, also priced under 3,000.
iBALL AASAAN
FEATURES RATING
Monochrome, large font LCD, amber backlight Ultra large keypad, SOS function, FM LED flashlight, 3.5mm audio out PROs Great design and build quality CONs Limited feature set. Price: 3,250
iBALL FLOATER
FEATURES RATING
‘Military’ rugged design, dustproof, shockproof waterproof, 1.44-inch color display FM, LED flashlight, call blacklist function PROs Rugged, floats on water CONs Poor design and build, feels flimsy. Price: 2,900
How often have you wanted to take a video of something using your smartphone, but by time you hit the record button, the fleeting moment has passed? This app called Precorder for iPhone and iPod Touch (4th Gen only) can help. Fire up the app, and unknown to you, it is constantly recording video, keeping about 10 seconds of past video available to you before you actually press the record button. So now, instead of just recording video endlessly, you just wait for something cool to happen, press the record button and wind the dial back so you start the video with the footage of the event you actually wanted to record.Very useful for YouTube addicts, and only $0.99.
FAQ's:
I have been deleting files using Shift + Delete key. How can I recover them?
If you have deleted files using the Shift+Delete method, you have essentially bypassed the recycle bin. The Shift + Delete method should be used only if you are absolutely sure you want to delete a file. You may or may not be able to get the files back — you can try a free software program called Recuva. Another free program that works well to recover photographs and with removable media (flash cards and USB drives) is Convar's PC Inspector.
I want to buy a DSLR. Should I buy the Canon SX30 IS or the Nikon P100?
DSLRs, or Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras are a very specific type — those that have interchangeable lenses, a single lens for viewing and image capture, large image sensors and a mirror in front of the image sensor that flips up while taking a photograph. DSLRs have a lot of advantages over regular cameras because of these features. The primary advantages are better quality of images, better low light sensitivity and expandability. The disadvantage is that they are typically larger and heavier than other cameras. Also, buying additional lenses and accessories is an expensive proposition. The cameras you refer to, do have a single lens for viewing and picture taking, but they do not have interchangeable lenses, large image sensors or mirrors. These cameras are also sometimes referred to as ‘prosumer’ cameras. The advantage is that they offer more features than a compact point-andshoot camera and usually have long zoom lenses built in.
Some attractive entrylevel DSLRs you can consider are the Canon EOS 1000D or the Nikon D3100 (if you want video as well). The Canon 1000D is available with an 8-55mm kit lens for as low as 22,000 while the Nikon D3100 with an 18-55mm optically stabilised lens can be bought for 32,000.
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