phones – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog Articles and news about Mobile Security, Android, Apps, Social Media and Technology in general. Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:49:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-psafe_blog_purple-shield-32x32.png phones – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog 32 32 <![CDATA[The Top QWERTY Keyboard Phones to Buy in 2017]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/top-qwerty-keyboard-phones-buy-2017/ Thu, 27 Apr 2017 20:00:07 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=10442 If you thought physical keyboards on smartphones were a thing of the past, think again. BlackBerry phones — which are well known for their physical keyboards — have been making a comeback. So it shouldn’t be surprising that most of the best QWERTY smartphones being released this year have been designed by BlackBerry. While there are still plenty of non-BlackBerry smartphones with QWERTY keyboards, few of them can compete with BlackBerry’s design and performance. Nonetheless, check out some of 2017’s top QWERTY phones below.

  1. BlackBerry KeyOne

The best QWERTY phone being released this year is definitely the BlackBerry KeyOne (it was previously known as BlackBerry Mercury). It still has a classic BlackBerry design, but with all of the perks of the Android operating system. Unlike the BlackBerry Priv, the KeyOne has a completely visible keyboard — i.e., it can’t be hidden behind the screen. Unlike the classic BlackBerry design, the KeyOne has a longer screen, which makes it more similar to modern Android phones. The KeyOne features an LCD screen, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and a Snapdragon 625 processor. For those who are a fan of the classic BlackBerry design, this one’s for you.

Read More: GIPHY Keys: The App That Changed Texting Forever

  1. BlackBerry Priv

If you’re looking for a smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard that’s more affordable than the KeyOne, then the Priv is your solution. As mentioned, this phone features a hidden, pop-out keyboard, which is appealing if you still want the look and feel of non-QWERTY smartphones. This phone has the Android operating system, a 5.4-inch HD display, an 18-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and the ability to record 4K video. It also has 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. Overall, the Priv is a great QWERTY smartphone that still performs on the same level as many recent non-QWERTY smartphones.

  1. LG Xpression 2

This is the most affordable phone on this list. If you simply want a basic phone with a QWERTY keyboard, then this is a good phone to choose. Visually, it resembles a more compact version of T-Mobile’s once-popular Sidekick phone. It has 256MB of storage and 128MB of RAM, making this a true throwback phone. This phone features limited apps, which means this device is better for those who want to stick to phone calls, texting, and email. There’s also a camera for basic picture-taking needs. Further, if you purchase a contract with AT&T, this phone will cost next-to-nothing.

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<![CDATA[Google Assistant is Coming to Marshmallow and Nougat Phones]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/google-assistant-coming-marshmallow-nougat-phones/ Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:00:39 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=10117 If you follow Google on YouTube, you may have caught a very big announcement recently. In a fun thirty-second video, Google announced via its YouTube channel that it will begin a huge expansion of its Google Assistant across Android Marshmallow and Nougat devices. So, when can we expect Google Assistant to arrive on these smart devices? Well, it is already happening.

Where Google Assistant Will Arrive First

Earlier, Google shared that it had planned to roll out the Assistant during the Mobile World Congress (that recently occurred). So, who gets to receive the big update first? Android users located in the United States will be the first to get their hands on Google Assistant for Marshmallow and Nougat phones. After that, Australia will receive access to the update, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, and then Germany.

Read More: Google’s Security Patch Improves Pixel’s Audio Issues

How the Update Works

How will the Google Assistant update work? Fortunately, it’s easy. There are no extra apps to download and enable. Instead, you will simply receive an update notification on your device. Once you enable the update, Google Assistant will become available on your phone, just like it is on the Google Pixel. Then, you can ask questions, have it do things for you (like dial your mother), and tell you whatever other information comes to mind. It’s just like typing your question into Google, but without any of the extra work. Instead, Google Assistant is voice activated and will do the work for you, instantly providing you with the answer you need.

Few Android Users Will Receive the Update

Google has stated that the only drawback to the much-anticipated update is that only compatible devices will receive the update. Roughly 31% of Android users currently have compatible Android devices. For now, users are guessing and hoping that their Android smartphones will soon gain the new function so that they no longer have to resort to using the Allo app in order to access Google Assistant.

Android Users Can’t Wait for Google Assistant

Why is there so much excitement surrounding the update? Google Assistant is an easy-to-use helper. The more you use Google Assistant, the better the smart assistant will get over time, as it will learn more about your interests and your preferences.

Once the update arrives on your Android device, you’ll be able to hold down the home button to activate Google Assistant. Set up is then easy; just follow the prompts.

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<![CDATA[Are Taller Screens the Future of Android Phones?]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/taller-screens-future-android-phones/ Sat, 08 Apr 2017 20:00:44 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=9730 Since the introduction of the first iPhone in early in 2007, the smartphone industry has remained relatively consistent with device proportions and shape. However, with the March release date of LG’s new G6 model and the upcoming April release of the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus, Android users are anticipating a potential industry-wide change in the size of future smartphones.

As compared to the normal 16:9 aspect ratio of iPhones and previous Android smartphones, these phones have ratios of 18:9 to 18.5:9, respectively. The switch to a taller screen has been met with varied reactions. Though celebrated by many users, Samsung and LG’s new Android prototypes have sparked online debate over the benefits and weaknesses of a taller screen.

Read More: These Are the Best New Android Phones By Nokia

Andrew Martonik, of androidcentral.com, claims that the narrower, taller screen is an improvement. Although turning the phone for watching videos or playing games leaves black bars on either side of the apps, generally speaking, the taller design allows much more information to fit on the screen. Martonik predicted that this feature will result in higher productivity with the Androids, as you can hold it in your hand and vertically scroll while absorbing more as you read.

Tech Crunch’s Romain Dillet gave the LG G6 similarly positive reviews, saying that, though the screen is not ideal for games, videos, or apps designed for the 16:9 aspect ratio, the taller screens could display more content, thus making it better for real life usage. He even called it a “phablet,” and predicted that Apple would soon follow suit.

Alternatively, some people are claiming that the taller screen is more susceptible to breakage without much benefit. Most apps are still configured for the standard aspect ratio, and despite there being requests for developers to redesign their apps to fit these taller screens, most developers have yet to heed the call. Game designers also complained about the difficulty they had with image resolution and sizing, as formatting to the taller screen is a new issue and thus unchartered territory.

It seems that, in general, the smartphone-reviewing community likes the reduction of the size of bezels (those spaces on the top and bottom of the phone for features like the camera and microphone). If the kinks can be worked out, the overall positive consensus will probably mean that smartphone designs in the coming years will have a different aspect ratio in their future.

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<![CDATA[How to Help Your Parents with Their Lagging Android Phones]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/help-parents-lagging-android-phones/ Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:00:47 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=9443 Not that long ago, few people owned cell phones. They were mainly reserved for the wealthier class. Now, everyone seems to have a cell phone — or more accurately, a smartphone that functions similarly to a PC or laptop. For those that didn’t grow up using this technology, learning how to use it may be difficult or frustrating — especially when it changes so rapidly every year. Luckily, your parents have someone like you to help them with their smartphone issues, such as problems with lagging or crashing.

Prevent Their Devices from Overheating

Just because smartphones today are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks that used to be reserved for computers, doesn’t mean that these tasks can all be performed at once. If your parents have a lot of applications running at the same time, this can cause their devices to overheat. In order to return their devices to an optimal temperature, they’ll need to utilize DFNDR’s CPU Cooler. This feature is easy to use and works instantly. The CPU Cooler will cool their devices by closing background applications, all at the touch of a button. Click here to launch the CPU Cooler:

Deeplink_cool_device_down
Read More: Which Apps Are Secretly Using Your Phone’s Data?

Optimize Their Smartphones

Emphasize the importance of closing applications that aren’t being used in order to prevent their devices from overheating. Many of their apps are probably connected to the Internet, which means that they’re constantly updating throughout the day. Do they really need their apps to be behaving this way? Probably not. Overloading a phone with tasks to perform can lead to overheating, which can damage the batteries. This will then cause their smartphone to last for a shorter length of time.

Use DFNDR’s Memory Booster feature to manage apps that are running in the background of their phones. This feature will identify and close these apps in order to free up memory and speed up their devices. When activated, their phones will no longer experience lagging or crashing. Click here to speed up their devices:

Memory Boost
All of these reasons show why DFNDR is a great app for your parents to have on their smartphones, because it offers a variety of tools for them to help manage and optimize their devices. They won’t have to worry about how to close certain apps, or why their phone is functioning poorly. All they have to do is launch DFNDR and click a button — it’s that simple.

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