Data Drain

Connecting to the Internet utilizes more of your battery power than any other smartphone function. When you are not utilizing your Wi-Fi connection, turn it off. You should also turn your phone on to airplane mode when you are in a place where data connections are not possible like subways. Switching to airplane mode uses less energy than switching the phone off and back on. Only turn your phone off when you aren’t going to use it for several hours.

Backlight blues

When your screen is on bright, it does look better, but it also drains your battery faster. Opt for a dimmer screen or backlight so that your phone lasts longer.

Ringer on

When your phone vibrates, it uses more power than when the ringer is on. If you are going to be in a meeting, a movie or a classroom, think about coupling this time with a mandatory phone nap time. Since it takes power to turn your phone back on, turn it off for two hours over your downtime.

Apps off

You can multi-task, but each app that you have open is draining your battery. Try focusing on one app at a time and turn the others off. This is especially true of GPS and bluetooth, so make sure you turn those apps off when they are no longer in use.

You can save battery life by paying more attention to your own life. When you are having a meal with friends or family members, when you go on a date, when you are enjoying a nap or a bath, turn your phone off and save that battery!

The post How to extend your smartphone battery life appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Bio mimicry is technology that copies nature. The idea is to create sustainable items that do not impact the environment negatively and can be recycled after they have served their purpose. This means solar panels that convert energy in the same way that plants do are 99% efficient, and biodegradable fast food packaging can add valuable nutrients to your compost heap. Here are two more inventions that bring nature into your home in unexpected ways.

Do you have a bathroom mat that is constantly damp, often moldy or smells a little funky? We all like to step out of the bath or shower onto something warm and fuzzy, but conventional bath mats aren’t really the ideal design. Now the moss mat from designer Nguyen La Chanh utilizes the lack of light and moist conditions of most bathroom floors to create an amazing, natural soft moss mat.

Smartphones and cell phones get replaced on such a regular basis, that they create an enormous amount of landfill fodder. To overcome this problem, designer Je-Hyun Kim has created the biodegradable grassy phone. The grass phone is made of hay and is completely biodegradable. The phone can be used for a year and then takes another year to break down completely – even the screen and keypad are biodegradable!

Bio mimicry is the design wave of the future. Its eco-friendly creations can help us to rethink the very fabric of manufacturing so that we can all enjoy a healthier environment.

The post Bio mimicry: The Future of Design appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Windows 8 is such a surprising and innovative shift from traditional Microsoft thinking that it harkens back to the unabashed wonder I felt when I used an iPod for the first time. Windows 8 is intuitive, strikingly simple but dashingly functional. With the release of Windows 8, Microsoft has made the very important switch from geeky to cool.

Best features include:

• Touch and trackpad gestures are intuitive and make navigating easy
• Multitasking is made easier by snapping apps
• New and improved Desktop tools like Task Manager and File History
• Competitive pricing

Windows 8 is by no means perfect and there are a few kinks that need ironing out. I still miss the old Start menu, but I really liked the new functionality. The new interface will take some getting used to. It’s fairly intuitive, but I still had to watch some videos to take advantage of all the features. Some users may not want to put in the time to learn to use it, but I think its well worth the effort.

The Windows 8 app store is a little sparse, but this is a problem that is easily remedied. Security has also been beefed up on Windows 8 and the price is very competitive. As Microsoft moves into the touch screen arena not only with its new software offerings but also with a new tablet called the Surface, it issues a very viable challenge to Apples’ dominance of this market which is good for consumers and paves the way for new technology and better pricing.

The post Is Windows 8 the best Windows ever? (and is it worth the $?) appeared first on Mogo Blog.

The new iPod is the thinnest so far and has a vastly improved functionality when compared to its predecessors. The new iPod Nano is bigger than the sixth-generation model as its taller (76.5mm) and a bit wider (39.6mm). This iPod is nevertheless thinner (5.4mm) and lighter (at 31 grams) and fits snugly into the palm.

The new iPod Nano’s best features include:

• Bluetooth 4.0 capability
• 16GB capacity
• New home button for added functionality
• Side volume adjustment buttons
• You can connect Bluetooth heart rate monitors wirelessly
• Monitor your walks or runs without having to use an accelerometer clip on your shoe
• 2.5-inch multi-touch display
• Long battery life
• Built-in Nike+ App
• FM radio
• Three customizable home screens
• Listen to music, watch videos and utilize the extensive fitness, podcasts, photos and radio apps

Cons

• The new Nano moves away from the Cloud upload model and reverts back to uploading files from iTunes
• There’s no support for iTunes in the Cloud
• The Ear Pods that accompany the device are unfortunately not up to par
• The bigger size means you can’t wear it as an effective wristwatch like its predecessors
• No clothing clip

The new 5-button functionality makes it the very best iPod Nano to date and well worth the $149 ticket price. The latest iPod Nano is particularly suited to those who utilize their iPods to provide a soundtrack to their exercise routines and for valuable feedback on their performance during workouts. The simple, but elegant touches are what make this iPod the finest so far.

The post New iPod Nano Seventh-Generation is Best iPod Yet appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Here’s where I admit that even though I am an Apple freak, I am still using the iPhone 4. I’d love to upgrade, but I don’t really have the scrilla to do so just yet. And while the iPhone 5 might be the leap forward on this, I’m not sure.

Why am I not sure? Well, even though I trust Apple implicitly, I have been hearing some waves of dissent from the masses, waves I haven’t heard since the 3G antenna debacle. Is this dissatisfaction all because the King has died? Are people worried about what decisions might be made in his absence? Hard to tell.

So far, I’ve heard that the new OS—which the 4 and 4S can also upgrade to—includes a Maps app inherent to Apple (they are phasing out the Google Maps, due to Google’s increased market share—ie: competition with the iPhone). And that app, I’m told, doesn’t have transit. Really, Apple? Yikes!

Another thing I heard is that the new larger size is actually hard on those with smaller hands (like the wife, for example). With other cell phone companies, you can kinda pick your poison in this regard—you can choose to have Android on a smaller phone, for example. But not with the iPhone. It’s THE iPhone, or nothing. Would it kill them to make it a choice, like the iPod?

So…I’m not lining up, just yet. I’m going to wait and see how people react. Because as fun as the new shiny toy can be, I’m going to be smart and use my cracked old grandpa phone until I get a rave review. Who’s with me?! No one? Okay.

The post iPhone 5 – Hit or Hype? appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Lack of electricity often hampers the studying of potential of students in developing countries. Once the sun goes down, few households can afford the electricity or fuel required to leave lights on for students to study. Now an amazing new concept may provide them with soccer balls that are actually a source of electricity.

The innovative foursome has found a way to save the energy produced when a soccer ball is kicked. Their new ‘Soccket ball’ is an amazing concept. According to their website: “Using an induction coil fitted into the center of its construction, the Soccket contains a magnet, which rapidly oscillates when the ball is in motion. This oscillation powers a motor, and the electricity is stored in an on-board battery.

An AC Adaptor is fitted behind one the panels of the Soccket, allowing a multitude of appliances to be powered in such a manner, though the designers – Jessica Lin, Julia Silverman, Jessica Matthews, Hemali Thakkaras and Aviva Presser – envision it’s best use is to charge mobile phones and power lights.”

The Soccket comes with a reading lamp that can be plugged in and is powered by the energy collected during a day on the pitch. This is a really innovative way to create renewable energy that powers an LED lamp for up to three hours.

Families in developing areas spend 10 to 30% of their income on kerosene to light their homes. Having a Soccket ball will save them money that is desperately needed elsewhere.

See a video of the Socket ball here.

The post Football brings light to developing countries appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Faster computers, who cares, right? Wrong. Because this is not just about your home computer being faster, it’s about quantum engineering. I admit I don’t really fully understand quantum mechanics, or really quantum anything (except maybe Quantum Leap…great show! Bad joke!), but if this super-fast chip performs as well as scientists think it could solve equations at a rate so fast that it might actually be able to reach semi-sentient status.

They think, too, that the chip might be able to handle formulas in such a way that it would, essentially, be able to invent things: pharmaceuticals or machinery. Seriously. Think about what that means! We might be able to cure cancer…with a microchip. That’s crazy.

Sure, your iPhone can tell you what poisin ivy looks like…but can it cure cancer? I didn’t think so. Big deal, guys. Big deal.

image via CTVNews

The post The new, superfast microchip: Why We Should Care appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Kindle’s new Fire HD tablets will come in three sizes: the 8.9 inch, 4G version will cost the same as a basic iPad 3 ($499) and will go on sale in time for Christmas. The 8.9 inch Fire HD with 16GB of memory will go for a reasonable $299 (available November 20) while the smaller 7-inch Fire HD will go for $199.

Let’s compare the Kindle 8.9 inch Fire HD with the iPad 3:

The iPad 3 has the phenomenal retina display technology with 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution and a bigger 9.7 inch screen. The Kindle Fire HD has great screen resolution too, but it’s not quite up to par with the iPad. The Fire HD has the added attraction of anti-glare screen technology.

The iPad 3’s new A5X chip is much faster than the Kindle Fire HD’s TI OMAP 4470 chip.

The Kindle Fire HD is available in 16GB or 32GB models and includes 20GB of cloud storage space for your personal use and unlimited cloud storage for your Amazon products.

The iPad 3 is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions and offers up to 5GB of iCloud space.

The iPad 3 has a 5MP rear facing camera capable of 1080p videos and a VGA camera for video chatting.

The Fire HD has no rear facing camera, but it does have a HD front-facing camera for video conferencing.

Although the iPad 3 edges out the Fire HD in a few fields, ultimately the two products offer very similar features and, when it comes down to the wire, it’s hard to justify spending more on an iPad 3 unless you are a dedicated Apple fan.

If nothing else, the new Kindle Fire HD series offer a very strong challenge to Apple’s monopoly of the tablet market. Let’s hope that the healthy competition translates into cheaper tablets for consumers.

The post Taking on the iPad: Amazon’s new Kindle Fire appeared first on Mogo Blog.

If your social media account is not enriching your life, you can easily change your setting to make the experience more enjoyable. You can limit input from friends whose posts are not adding to your social media experience so that your wall is filled with great content that you enjoy reading.

1. Too much information: Limit friends who post too often about the banal. Sharing is great and yes, you do want to hear about their day, but avoid those who share minor details that you wouldn’t waste a phone call on.
2. Soapboxing: Having the occasional rant can be cathartic, but limit those who bombard you with a continuous stream of negativity. If your friends have had a bad day, friends and family members can really help to raise their spirits, but they should use this wonderful social media feature sparingly.
3. Game updates: Avoid these like the plague. Limit posts by friends who update your continuously about their Farmville progress or constantly bug you to join their zombie hunting team. Its ok if they invite you to a game or application once, but further updates should be discouraged.
4. Have fun! Social media is a great way to share your life with friends and family members. People really do love to hear more about you, see your pictures and know what important events happen in your life. So enjoy your social media accounts and use them to enrich your own life and those of your loyal fans.

The post Social media etiquette: how to keep your nose clean online appeared first on Mogo Blog.

Etsy Ethos

Etsy.com is thinking big. They aim to change the very fabric of commerce. The purpose of the site is to re-establish the individual artisan over mass-produced items. This is a very welcome change in a time of austerity where people have lost their jobs, or have not received the pay increases that they would normally have been entitled to. Add to that an increase in living expenses and soon you have a situation in which returning commerce to the ‘mom and pop’ operation has real value. “We are bringing heart to commerce and making the world more fair, more sustainable, and more fun.”

When you purchase an item through Etsy.com, you are supporting families and individuals rather than corporations. Of course, there are some commercial suppliers on Etsy.com, so check your suppliers profile to get an idea of what you are buying into.

Small Business Empowerment

With Etsy.com, anyone who has five minutes and a product to sell can start their own business. Etsy.com has a number of promotional tools that will help artisans to establish their markets and promote their wares.

Etsy.com isn’t just a great place for artisans to sell their products; it’s also a veritable treasure trove for the shopper. The convenience of sitting in your home or office and having access to such a variety of items means you can find the perfect gift for just about anyone. It’s convenient and you can have your shopping delivered to your front door while supporting artists all over the world. It’s a great place to find birthday, anniversary and Christmas gifts.

The post Etsy – taking your crafts online to make some extra bucks (or find some great presents) appeared first on Mogo Blog.