8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Smartphone Technology

Smartphones have radically changed people’s lives. Before people have to take extra effort in sending messages or they buy a camera just to take pictures. Today, these functionalities are integrated into one, rectangular – revolutionary technology that keeps getting smarter and smarter every day. Since then, smartphones are never found out of reach from people.

According to statistics, almost half of the population owns a smartphone. In a 2016 survey conducted by the Bank of America, 96% of the millennials aged 18 to 24 years old said that smartphones are very important for them. 93% of them even stated that smartphones are more important than deodorant and toothbrush. The survey also found out that an individual checks his or her smartphone every 6.5 minutes.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. In the section, let us know how we can benefit from smartphones and at the same time, what the disadvantages of smartphone technology are.

8 Advantages of Having Smartphones

Instant Communication

Smartphones evolved from the earliest communication devices. Thus, it has been created to primarily improve people’s way of communicating with each other. The advent of smartphone technology modernized communications. It has paved the way to SMS, text messaging, call, video chat, and apps that allow people to instantly communicate to everyone across the globe.

Web Surfing

The smartphones also make it convenient for people to surf the web. These devices are integrated with mobile browsers that enable them to research and access websites anytime and anywhere. According to a study, 10% of the total time spent by people on smartphones is used in opening browsers to surf the internet. With this, people have easy access to information.

Camera

In this “selfie” generation, the camera is so important. It saves people from buying a separate digital camera to take photos and videos. Especially now that the millennials are fond of posting photos in the social media. According to a 2014 Comtech study, the camera ranked third as the most important consideration for consumers in buying a smartphone. With this, smartphone giants make sure their phones are equipped with the best camera.

Entertainment

Smartphones are also viewed as a source of entertainment – games, music, movies, and books. Based on the 2016 statistics, there are more than 63.7 million people in North America use smartphones for gaming. Moreover, users can listen to their favorite music with iTunes and Spotify, among others. Watching movies and reading e-books are also convenient through smartphones.

Education

Smartphones also aid education, especially in children. With easy access to information and helpful content, children can have a more interactive learning through watching education videos and playing education applications. They can also easily surf the internet if they want to search something about a topic.

Productivity Apps

Smartphones can do almost everything with the help of apps. There are over 2 million apps in Google Play Store while over 1.5 million apps in Apple App Store. People spend 90% of their time accessing apps in which an average user install 36 apps on their smartphone. The functionality of apps varies from each other – photo and video editor, ticket booking, online store, payment system, data analysis, personal assistant, etc.

bb2 - 8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Smartphone Technology

GPS

Most smartphones now are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS). This technology allows people to locate certain addresses and area all around the world. This helped improved not just communication, but most especially, transportation.

Privacy

With smartphones, you can do whatever you want without anyone knowing it. You can snap photos of yourself and secure your photo library with a password. You can also send messages to your loved ones without the fear of anyone knowing it. Online transactions can also be done through smartphones.

8 Disadvantages of Having Smartphones

Costly

Smartphones can be expensive, especially those high-end phones with great specs and features. Apart from the smartphone itself, some applications require being purchased in order to fully use the other functionalities offered by the app. If you also want data connectivity, you need to maintain a data plan.

Poor Social Interaction

Based on the new data released by analytics firm Flurry, people use smartphones at least 5 hours a day. They also added that people’s usage of apps increases to 69% last 2017. With this, the “real” social interaction degrades. People no longer interact with people outside as they tend to spend more time with their smartphones.

Distraction

Despite the productivity, smartphones can really be distracting. Applications notify you when there are messages, updates, latest offerings, etc. These interrupt the momentum which can potentially affect your productivity. When you attend to these notifications, you’ll find yourself attached to the phone.

Health Issues

Smartphones are also found to have a negative impact on your health. Smartphones emit radiofrequency energy which can be absorbed by the tissues in the body. Sleep deprivation is also one of the common bad effects of using smartphones. Moreover, phones produce HEV light which can damage your eyes’ retina.

bb1 - 8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Smartphone Technology

Addiction

When you wake up in the morning, do you find yourself checking your phone first than anything else? If you do, this is an early sign of smartphone addiction. This problem may lead to a serious addiction. This may include addiction to games, social media, etc.

Privacy Threats

Even if smartphones are made private, there are still security risks and threats everywhere. Hackers are always present and virtual viruses are potent. Smartphones are vulnerable to these threats when you access the internet. Thus, you need to be extra cautious of opening sites and links.

Extra Work

With high-end smartphone comes…extra work. Smartphones are widely used in business. If you find yourself relying on various apps, then you are working on extra workloads which are not even existent before. Moreover, your boss can instantly call you even in the middle of the night.

Uncensored Content

Lastly, there is a disadvantage in easy access to information and the internet. People, especially children can see, intentionally or not, the uncensored content including violence, pornographic content, etc. If you have children, make sure you regulate their use of smartphones.

iPhone Through The Years: The Evolution of iPhone from 2007 to 2017

iPhone is considered one of the most revolutionary smartphones in the 21st century. It has redefined the standards of mobile phones, integrating advancement and functionality in one. It is so revolutionary, creating competitiveness in the mobile phone industry. It started the game of “the best smartphone in existence”, and no doubt, it is leading the competition.

Despite dozens of new releases from other recognized smartphone giants, Apple’s iPhone remained to be the world’s favorite. Based on the estimate of BMO Capital Markets, there are more than 700 million users of iPhone worldwide. In fact, last July 2016, Apple announced that they sold their one billionth iPhone unit.

Every year, Apple surprises us with new iPhones with new specs, features, technologies. This 2017, they have launched two iPhone models as a celebration of their 10th founding anniversary. Before we talk about them, let us look back how the iPhone evolved for the last ten years:

Original iPhone (June 2007)

“So, three things: a widescreen iPod with touch controls; a revolutionary mobile phone; and a breakthrough internet communications device.”

These were the exact words when the Apple’s former CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs launched in 2007 the “revolutionary product” – iPhone. It is a 3.5-inch screen device with 320 x 480-pixel resolution, the most incredible display during that time. It has a 2MP primary camera and storage up to 8GB. Its entry in the market changed the mobile device landscape forever.

iPhone 3G (July 2008)

The second generation of the iPhone was called the iPhone 3G. Its face is similar to the original, although it replaced the back material for more solidness. The iPhone 3G is considered one of the most iconic mobile devices. It introduced 3G connectivity. In addition, it launched the App Store offering more than 500 apps that aim to improve the functionality of the iPhone.

iPhone 3GS (June 2009)

A year after, Apple introduced the third generation of iPhone – the iPhone 3GS (“S” for ‘Speed”). In this generation, Apple refined the iPhone software and hardware. The camera got upgraded to 3MP and included video recording. It also added voice control and expanded storage to 32GB, the largest during that time.

ip1 - iPhone Through The Years: The Evolution of iPhone from 2007 to 2017

iPhone 4 (June 2010)

The iPhone was completely redesigned in the fourth generation. It has become larger and the back was made of glass. Apart from the major look revamp, it launched the first high-resolution “Retina” display screen. It also introduced the front camera, which basically gave birth to “selfies”. With this, FaceTime video chat came to the scene.

iPhone 4S (October 2011)

With new CEO Tim Cook, Apple introduced their iPhone 4S. It is slimmer than the fourth generation iPhone. It was also run by a dual-core processor which was used in iPad 2. The camera was also upgraded to 8MP in which can record a video in 1080p. They also unveiled the 64GB storage option. Lastly, Siri was launched on this iPhone.

iPhone 5 (September 2012)

The major change in the iPhone 5 is its 4-inch screen display running at 640 x 1136 pixels. According to Cook, “this is the biggest thing to happen to iPhone”. It was the first iPhone to support LTE connectivity. It was also the first to use Lightning charging port instead of the 30mm-pin connector. Compared to the earliest iPhones, iPhone 5 is 20% lighter.

iPhone 5S/5C (September 2013)

With the rise of Android phones, Apple decided to release more affordable iPhones in the form of iPhone 5C. It doesn’t have major differences from iPhone 5, except that it was made with a plastic back and comes in different vivid colors. On the other hand, the iPhone 5S showed major improvements. It introduced touch ID, dual flash, and slow-mo video. On top of these, iPhone 5S used iOS 7, the most powerful OS during that time.

ip2 - iPhone Through The Years: The Evolution of iPhone from 2007 to 2017

iPhone 6/6 Plus (September 2014)

The sixth generation iPhone comes in two different models – the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The major difference of the two is the size. iPhone 6 has 4.7-inch display while the Plus has a 5.5-inch display. The resolutions are also improved with Retina HD Display. They are also powered by A8 processors for more efficiency. These phones are also the first to use Apple Pay.

iPhone 6S/6S Plus (September 2015)

No major physical changes from the eight generation iPhone, however iPhone 6s and 6S Plus offer new features. It is powered by 19 chip. The cameras are also upgraded from8MP to 12MP. It also offered a Live Photo feature. On top of that, Apple introduced their 3D Touch technology. It also introduced its new iPhone color, the rose gold.

iPhone SE (March 2016)

iPhone SE or Special Edition is Apple’s response to consumers looking for more affordable iPhones. It has similar huge features as the iPhone 6Sand 6S Plus including the 12MP camera and iOS 9 software. The only difference, which many fans love, is its size similar to iPhone 5S. So far, it is the cheapest iPhone you can buy today.

ip3 - iPhone Through The Years: The Evolution of iPhone from 2007 to 2017

iPhone 7/7 Plus (September 2016)

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus did not get some major attention as the two lacks major updates from the preceding iPhones. Among the new things in this iPhone is its telephoto lens which allows users to take 2x lossless optical zoomed photos. It also captures incredible in low light. They also received IP67 ratings which mean that these iPhones are waterproof.

The 2017 iPhones

In September 2017, Apple launched two new models of iPhones – the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and the iPhone X (read as “ten” not “X”). The current models feature major differences from the preceding models, especially the iPhone X which was produced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Apple. The iPhone X will have a new look. It introduces Facial ID technology and Animoji. But more than these, it will have an edge-to-edge OLED “Super Retina” display. Both iPhone 8 and X versions support wireless inductive charging. Plus, the iPhone X will be powered by the A11 Bionic chip, the most powerful processor to date.

Tech Guide: The 12 Best Smartphones of 2017

Smartphones are undeniably people’s everyday companion.  They are like the new watch or handkerchief – “I’m not leaving home without it.” Based on the latest statistics, more than 2.32 billion people own their own smartphone – not just adults but even a large percentage of the world’s children. Mobile phones are basically used for communication. But now, its use has evolved as well. It has been used for entertainment, business, education, and even in health, among others.

In 2017, dozens of world’s renowned phone communications company released their top-of-the-line smartphone models and units. Each smartphone has their unique specs and features that outshine others. This year, let us know the 12 best smartphones that have elevated the phone standards.

Samsung Galaxy S8

Definitely, the best smartphone offering this 2017 is the Samsung Galaxy S8. It is really one of its kind when it comes to the sleekness of design and amazing screen with 5.8″ inch curved display for infinite and more depth vision. It is powered by Android 7 and Exynos 8895 Octa. It comes with an excellent camera – 12 MP f/1.7 rear and 8MP f/1.7 front camera. It also introduces their iris scanner for better smartphone security system.

Google Pixel 2 XL

Google has entered the smartphone industry, not by developing apps and software, but by producing a smartphone that is undeniably both a looker and a performer. The Google Pixel 2 XL has so far the best camera among the competition. It has a 12.2 MP, f/1.8 rear camera packed with features like OIS, laser autofocus, phase detection, and dual-LED flash. This phone is powered by Android 8 Oreo and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.

v1 - Tech Guide: The 12 Best Smartphones of 2017

iPhone 8 Plus

After their iPhone 7, Apple released their iPhone 8. Its Plus variant is one of the best smartphones to date. As usual, Apple continues to lead in terms of camera quality. It has a Dual 12 MP primary camera with 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash, check quality, HDR, touch focus, and face detection. It is powered by the latest iOS11 and the most powerful Apple A11 Bionic. On the other hand, the Apple X jam-packed with revolutionary features is due within the year.

LG G6

LG G6 is one of the best bezel-less phones yet still with the large screen display. It has a resolution of 1440 x 2880 pixels. It is run by Android 7.0 (Nougat) and powered by Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821. One edge of LG G6 is its handy Dual 13 MP rear camera equipped with OIS, phase detection AF, dual-LED flash and check quality. It also has a fingerprint security system at the back of the phone.

HTC U11

One of the best offerings from HTC is the U11. It’s a premium smartphone with great camera, battery life, and performance. It is also powered by Android 7.1 (Nougat) and Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835. Apart from its 12 MP, f/1.7 primary camera, it also boasts its 16 MP, f/2.0, 1080p front camera. It is also equipped with a fast battery charging technology.

OnePlus 5

You might not be familiar with this smartphone, but OnePlus 5 is making the rounds for its undeniable functionality. This smartphone offers premium features at a not-so-expensive price. OnePlus 5 features Optic AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. It is also proud of its Dual 16 MP, f/1.7 primary camera, equipped with face detection, autofocus, and deal-LED flash, whereas the front camera is also 16 MP.

v2 - Tech Guide: The 12 Best Smartphones of 2017

Huawei P10

Huawei P10 is the latest offering from the Chinese smartphone giant, Huawei. If you want an Apple-like smartphone with Google software, then choose this unit. It features its IPS-NEO LCD capacitive touchscreen. It is powered by Android 7.0 (Nougat) and Octa-core CPU. It also has a great camera quality with an astounding Dual 20 MP + 12 MP primary camera. Its secondary camera is  8 MP, f/1.9.

Huawei Honor 9

If you want an affordable smartphone with premium features, go for Honor 9. Another offering from Huawei continues to impress with its excellent design and high-end specs. As with P10, it also boasts its Dual 20MP + 12 MP primary camera with 8 MP rear camera. It is also powered by Android 7.0 (Nougat). On the other hand, this smartphone lacks something “new” in terms of software.

v3 - Tech Guide: The 12 Best Smartphones of 2017

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

One of the best smartphones of Sony to date is their Xperia XZ Premium. It is powered by Android 8.0 (Oreo) and Octa-core CPU. It also has an excellent camera quality with 19 MP, f/2.0 while the secondary camera is 13 MP, f/2.0. Its 4K display is also stunning and has a very solid battery life. On the other hand, this smartphone does not have an impressive and sleek design.

iPhone SE

The preceding smartphone choices are indeed huge. Well, if you want a smaller one with great functionality, choose the iPhone SE. It only has a 4-inch screen display, like the previous iPhone 5 models. It is also powerful as it is run by Apple A9 and OS upgradeable to iOS 11. Its camera is great as well with a primary camera of 12 MP, f/2.2 and 1.2 MP, f/2.4 rear camera.

Lenovo P2

If you want a smartphone that lasts you more than a day, check out Lenovo P2. Its battery endurance can last up to 149 hours or roughly 6 days. On the other hand, its camera is not that impressive. Its primary camera is only 13 MP, f/2.0 while the front cam is 5 MP, f/2.2. But this phone is still incredible as you can get other premiums features at an affordable rate.

v4 - Tech Guide: The 12 Best Smartphones of 2017

Motorola Moto X Force

The most durable smartphone among others is the Motorola Moto X Force. Its screen used a thick and toughened AMOLED display material. Moreover, it boasts its 21 MP primary camera, equipped with phase detection autofocus and dual LED flash while the front cam is 5MP. On the other hand, this smartphone lacks premium features and has a noticeable poor speaker performance.

We hope this list helps you in buying a smartphone.

Top 14 Criteria in Buying the Best Smartphone

Smartphones are like a daily requirement for most people. It is not just a desire or a want, but it becomes a need for a variety of reasons. Communication is very important in all aspects. Smartphones are the leading communication devices that people use. It is convenient and offers you various means of communicating – SMS, social media, messaging apps, and video conferencing platforms, among others. Because smartphones are “smart”, they are also used in business, education, and entertainment, among others.

There are hundreds of smartphones available in the market. They have unique specs, features, and technologies. Because the choices are very much available, it is now more difficult to choose among these smartphones. To help you, check these top 14 criteria in buying a smartphone:

Build Quality

The build quality of the smartphone is very important. It will determine the durability and the probability of your smartphone lasting for years. Basically, smartphones are either made of plastic or metal. Phones made of metal look more sophisticated and modern. It is basically more durable as well. However, malleable metal like aluminum tends to bend and it is prone to dents. On the other hand, plastic-made covers are less costly and can come in different colors. However, they look cheap and cannot protect your phone 100%.

Screen Size

Screen size also determines the size of the smartphone. Screen sizes are categorized into three major sizes – small, medium, and large. Small screened phones are 5 inches or smaller. It is compact and is easy to hold. However, expect that the interface and display are small. Medium screens measure 5 to 5.5 inches. It is considered by most consumers as perfect in which everything just fits into place. Lastly, large screened-phones, classified as “phablets” measure 5.5 inches or larger. They are great for watching videos, reading e-books, etc.

s2 - Top 14 Criteria in Buying the Best Smartphone

Display

There are different types of smartphone displays. So far, the best screen displays include Retina Display, LCD, OLED, AMOLED, and Super AMOLED.  For the resolution, the full HD is usually 1920 x 1080 pixels. This is the standard if you want a good and crisp display. Some high-end phones have a quad-HD resolution which can go up to 2560 x 1440 pixels.

Design

The design of the smartphone includes the thickness, the edges, the finish, and the overall aesthetics. These factors are even integrated for more functionality. The good design of the phone is something that is comfortable with the hands. Most smartphones now also feature shatterproof glass display not just to make it look flawless, but for added durability. At least, settle for a phone with Gorilla Glass display material.

s3 - Top 14 Criteria in Buying the Best Smartphone

Processor

The best processor provides the best smartphone experience. The processor is responsible for the responsiveness of your smartphone. The Snapdragon 835 processor is the leading processor among the Qualcomm CPUs. The iPhone 7 used uses 64-bit A10 chip, the most powerful yet before their release of the latest iPhones.

Operating System

The Operating System/User Interface works along with the processor. The OS manages the apps and the programs in the smartphone while also determining how the whole interface will look like. The most popular operating systems are Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. Others include Windows, RIM BlackBerry, and Symbian.

RAM

RAM also plays a vital role in the responsiveness of the smartphone. They are responsible for storing temporary data in use. If you love multitasking, go for smartphones with RAM higher than 4GB. Some high-end phones have at least 6GB of RAM. Avoid buying phones with just 1GB of system memory.

Camera

In this “selfie” generation, the camera is one of the major priorities in buying a smartphone. The best camera should have the best aperture, speed, ISO, image quality, and features. Most quality smartphones now have a camera with at least 12 megapixels. Some could go up to Dual-20MP, while others have 2 to 4x zoom capability. So far, iPhones are unbeatable in terms of camera quality.

Battery

The battery spec is a major criterion in choosing a smartphone. It determines the ability of the phone to stay powered. Battery life depends on the use – gaming, watching movies, playing music, or surfing the web. If you are dependent on internet connection, choose a phone that can last up to 9 hours of straight internet surfing. The standard for the best battery of smartphone has at least 3,000 mAh.

Storage

The bigger the storage, the more you can do with your smartphone – install dozens of apps, store songs, and movies, take hundreds of photos, shoot long videos, etc. Most Android phones can go up to 128GB, which can be expandable to another 128GB. On the other hand, iPhones are not expandable and are not only available to 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB/256GB variants.

Security System

Security systems vary from phone to phone. Basically, smartphones are equipped with lock and unlock features accessed through patterns, passcode, and password. On the other hand, high-end phones have stronger and more reliable security systems. The recent iPhones launched their Face ID system, scanning the facial features for access. Before, they have Touch ID, which also inspired the fingerprint sensors of other smartphones. Others even have iris sensors.

s1 - Top 14 Criteria in Buying the Best Smartphone

Audio Quality

To round up if the smartphone is the best, check if the audio quality is excellent, both on a loudspeaker mode and on earphones. Most smartphones now are ditching the 3.5mm headphone jacks to make way for micro-USB and USB Type-C ports. Nonetheless, just make sure that smartphones have clear, crispy and surround sound quality.

Network Technology

Check if smartphones support LTE and 4G connectivity. It allows you to surf the web and use network-dependent apps through data connectivity. The smartphone’s capability to connect with Wi-Fi is not enough. Check the cellular network technology supported by the smartphone.

Price

Lastly, considering everything above, evaluate if the price is worth it all. Of course, superb quality and high-end phones can be more expensive. Make sure you consider your budget or how much are willing to spend for your dream smartphone.

The 15 Most Notable Mobile Phones That Started It All

Most of the people today cannot live without their phones. It has been the primary device for communication and entertainment for most people. Mobile phones have really come a long way – from telephone handsets to smartphones.

Just a brief background, the history of mobile phones dates back to 1908 when the wireless telephone came into existence. Basically, the very first mobile phones did not depend on network, unlike today. They were just two-way radios that allowed people to communicate. In the 1940s, engineers developed cells as mobile phone base stations. This started the use of “cellular” phones.

The first ever mobile phone invented for practical use was produced by Motorola in 1973. In fact, the Motorola phone unit ‘DynaTac” was the first mobile phone to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States in 1983.

Today, 44% of the total world population own a smartphone. By 2020, it is expected that the number of smartphone users will balloon to over 2.87 billion.

Mobile phone trends vary each year. Different recognized brands of phone producers are very competitive, releasing models of smartphones with unique features and specs. But of course, there are mobile phones that really started the trend, in which where most phones today are inspired from. Let us get to know the 15 most notable and most iconic mobile phones that started it all:

6110 - The 15 Most Notable Mobile Phones That Started It All

Nokia 6110 (1997)

The 6110 from Nokia was the first GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) to use an ARM processor. It was extremely popular because of its portability. It was also one of the earliest phones with features like calculator, clock, calendar, and even games like Logic, Memory, and Snake.

Motorola StarTAC (1997)

The Motorola StarTAC is the first ever-flip or clamshell type of mobile phone. It gained widespread popularity since its release, selling over 60 million units. It was also one of the first cellular phones that are integrated with vibrate alert. The PC World listed it as one of the greatest gadgets of the past 50 years.

5110 - The 15 Most Notable Mobile Phones That Started It All

Nokia 5110 (1998)

One of the most popular phones of the era is the Nokia 5110. It featured monochrome LCD with four LED backlights. It also led the trend of replaceable faceplates to allow users customize their phone. With this, other phone companies created phones with replaceable cases as well.

BlackBerry 850 (1999)

The 850 was the first handset offering from the BlackBerry Company. It deviated from portrait-like mobile phones as it is used in a landscape orientation. This release of this smartphone was a breakthrough as the BB 850 was integrated with email, wireless data network, security system, and the “qwerty” keyboard.

Nokia 3310 (2000)

One of the most successful phones in the entire history was the Nokia 3310. Since its release, the 3310 sold over 126 million units. It was also much known for its durability. It was Nokia’s most iconic device to date. In 2017, the 3310 was re-released with lots of modern features.

Samsung SGH-T100 (2002)

The Samsung SGH-T100 is the first-ever phone that used a thin-film transistor active matrix LCD display, making it one of the earliest colored phones. It also followed a flip design and featured a second external mono display.

BlackBerry 5810 (2003)

Breaking the common trend, BlackBerry released their 5810. It is one of the phones that started the trend of using headsets, as the unit does not have any speakers. It also features personal email access, WAP browsing, and custom enterprise apps.

razr - The 15 Most Notable Mobile Phones That Started It All

Motorola Razr V3 (2004)

Razr V3 is the best-selling clamshell phone in the world to date. It is sleek and edgy, perfect for the trend that time. Because of its popularity, newer versions and models proceeded the Razr V3. The phone also featured a mini USB port for data.

BlackBerry 7270 (2005)

The first-ever BlackBerry handset to feature Wi-Fi was the BlackBerry 7270. It is also the first-ever phone to support WLAN and VoIP telephony.

Nokia N95 (2006)

Setting up another trend, Nokia released its two-way sliding phone N95 as part of their Nseries line. It also featured Bluetooth, GPS (Global Positioning System), 5-megapixel camera, portable media player, FM radio tuner, and multi-tasking applications. This phone marked the era of multi-function and multi-purpose phones.

LG Shine (2007)

The sleekest slider-style phone among its contemporaries is the LG Shine. It was one of the first camera phones that introduced auto-focus. It also has an MP3 player, office documents viewer, and its memory is expandable up to 2GB.

3g - The 15 Most Notable Mobile Phones That Started It All

Apple iPhone 3G (2008)

The most revolutionary phone of the century is Apple’s iPhone 3G. The original iPhone was a massive success, but the 3G redefined smartphone standards. Apart from the photo and video camera, SMS, touch-friendly OS, and other features found in most phones that time, the iPhone 3G introduced their App Store which makes the iPhone the most functional phone of all time. The App Store which was launched in 2008 offered over 500 apps. In 2009, it reached to over 15,000 apps. The rest is history.

T-Mobile G1 (2008)

The T-Mobile G1 is the first smartphone powered by Android – definitely the original Android phone. Apart from its touchscreen functionality, the T-Mobile G1 did not remove its keyboard to consider those who do not want the touchscreen feature. It featured the popular Google products, including Maps, Gmail, and YouTube.

Samsung Galaxy Note (2011)

The Samsung Galaxy Note created the phablet (phone + tablet) industry. Thus, it started the trend of large-screened smartphones. It also comes with a stylus called as the “S Pen” to navigate the interface. Until now, the Samsung Galaxy Note series remained one of the top-rated and best-selling phones.

Motorola Moto G (2013)

Developed by Lenovo, the Motorola Moto G combined the conventional features of old mobile phones and the modern smartphones. It is still powered by Android. What makes it unique is its removable covers, allowing users to customize. Its 3rd generation is also water resistant through the use of internal rubber gaskets and nano-coating.

Here you go! These are the breakthrough phones throughout the history of mobile phones. To no surprise, our mobile phones will become smarter and smarter in the coming generations.

The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Communication is very important. It is a key to understanding between people. Through the years, communication has evolved. The way people communicate with each other today is entirely different from the prehistoric era. Before, communicating is limited to interpersonal interaction – person to person. Until it evolved to alphabets, signs and symbols, letters, and telephone. Today, the Internet era has paved the way to innumerable means of communication.

Technology has indeed redefined communication. People no longer have to wait for years, months, weeks, and days to receive an information or message. Today, texts, e-mails, tweets, and personal messages can reach the recipient in just a matter of seconds.

Let us see how communication evolved throughout the years.

q3 - The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Cave Paintings

The oldest form of symbols used for communication is cave paintings. According to theorists, cave paintings were created to mark a territory or to record events. The oldest cave painting was discovered inside Chauvet Cave in France around 30,000 B.C. Other earliest cave paintings were found in South Sulawesi, Indonesia and Coliboaia Cave in Romania.

Symbols

Our early ancestors have used different variations of signs and symbols to communicate. Around 10,000 B.C., petroglyphs were created. They were carvings in the rock surface, usually referred to as a rock art. In 9,000 B.C., pictograms were developed in which ancient people logographic images to tell a story. Later on, ancient cultures developed ideograms. Egyptians had their hieroglyphs. Chinse created characters. Lastly, the alphabet, which redefined language and communication was developed around 2,000 B.C.

Smoke Signals

Apart from letters and symbols, ancient people also rely on elements to communicate. Smoke signals were primarily used in sending messages in China. In 200 B.C., guards execute smoke signals to send messages along The Great Wall of China. In 150 B.C., Greek Historian Polybius developed smoke signals representing the alphabet.

Carrier Pigeons

As we all know, pigeons are naturally great with directions. Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans used pigeons as primary messengers between military men. In the 12th century, messenger pigeons were widely used. According to Naval chaplain Henry Teonge, merchants used pigeons as a “postal” service. They also played a vital role in World Wars I and II.

Postal System

During the ancient period, Egyptians used courier serve to send out decrees in 2,400 B.C. Until now, a piece of mail which dates back to 255 B.C. is still preserved. Postal systems were also organized in Persia, China, India, and Rome before. On the other hand, it was only in 1653 when Frenchman De Valayer started a postal system in Paris which involved the use of mailboxes and delivery of paid envelopes.

q2 - The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Newspaper

In 1440, German Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press system which radically changed communication forever. With this, the newspaper began to flourish in the 16th century. The German-language publication of Johann Carolus in Strasbourg in 1605 was the first newspaper. The first English-language newspaper was published in Amsterdam in 1620.

Radio

After print media flourished, radio followed. In the 1830s, various scientists, such as Maxwell and Hughes studied on wireless telegraphy which developed the theory of electromagnetism. In 1888, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz discovered “Hertzian waves”, named after him. In 1893, Tesla started using wireless power as a form of transmitting content. In the early 20th century, radio broadcasting began.

Telegraph

Telegraph communication started after Samuel Morse invented the Morse code which encoded the ISO basic Latin alphabet. The Morse code transmitted messages through series of clicks, tones, and lights. In 1830, Morse integrated the Morse code in telegraphy technology that revolutionized the long-distance communication. In 1844, Morse sent his first telegraph message.

Telephone

The telegraphy was immediately replaced by the telephone. It was invented by Scottish Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The telephone acts is a telecommunication device that converts human audio signals to electronic signals which are transmitted via cables. It was further developed to commercially cater to local and long distant calls. In the 1900s, landline telephone service began. Up until now, the telephone remained one of the most reliable telecommunication devices.

q4 - The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Television

Along with telephones, television started to become a mode of indirect communication to the mass audience. The television was not just invented by a single person, but developed through the efforts of various brilliant people. The earliest records of TV broadcasting occurred after the World War II, in which the display was still black and white.  Now, more than 1.5 billion households in the world own a television.

Internet

After the creation of computers in the 1950s, the ARPANET, which was the early predecessor of the internet was developed. The ARPANET was designed to manage communication between ARPA computer terminals in the 1960s. The term “internet” first emerged in 1973. The first internet service provider was the Telenet. In 1983, the domain system started. In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee, a scientist at CERN, introduced the World Wide Web (www) which definitely started the modern internet.

E-mail

With the onset of the internet, electronic mails started to become popular. Although emails came before the ARPANET, however, it was “offline”. In 1975, John Vittal developed a software to organize emails. From that time, 75% of ARPANET traffic was email. In 1994, Yahoo! was born. It was followed by other mailing platforms, including Hotmail and Google Mail.

q - The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Text Message

The first official SMS messaging took place on December 3, 1992, when Neil Papworth, an engineer from Sema Group (now Airwide Solutions) used a computer to send “Merry Christmas” through the Vodafone network. In 1994, the Radiolinja was the first network service provider to carry out person-to-person text messaging. Now, SMS has evolved in which over 9 trillion SMS are sent every year.

Social Media

The latest mode of communication in the digital era is the use of social media platforms. It has become more available because of the proliferation of smartphones where social media apps can easily be installed. In 2004, Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg. Today, the Messenger is one of the most widely used messaging apps. There are more than two billion Facebook users worldwide. In 2005, YouTube became the first-ever popular video hosting social media site. In 2006, Twitter began to dominate the social media scene. Other social media platforms have followed.

q1 - The Evolution of Communication through the Centuries

Indeed, communication has gone through a lot of stages before it became so convenient and efficient today. Thus, our role is to use these communication tools responsibly and in the right way.