Row.co.uk Blog

The start of Mobile World Conference is always an exciting one for lovers of handsets and other tech and this year looks just as intriguing as any other, with a number of new devices rumoured. Of course, like all shows of this nature there’s a lot that we can predict beforehand – so let’s take a look.

Samsung

Revealed already, Samsung has showcased two new devices for the show. The South Korean manufacturer announced a new S6 and also a very exciting Edge version of the same phone with curved sides. We also expect to see a number of other new devices released at the show from Samsung.

HTC 

As expected HTC has shown us all a new flagship device - the HTC One M9. The new phone looks just as exciting as last year’s M8 and is revealed once more with a uni-body chassis. With 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 810 processor it’s no slouch, while the 5 inch screen is still as fantastic as ever. There’s a number of new additions, including new fitness related technology and an improved camera. The Taiwanese company also showcased a VR headset at the show too. 

Smartwatches

The smartwatch is to have its year in 2015 according to reports and it seems that so far this seems to be the case. Huawei, LG and a number of others have revealed smartwatches in the hope of upsetting the Apple cart. Huawei’s new watch has been acclaimed as the most attractive smart watch yet from a number of blogs and does certainly look like it’s going to be quite impressive. LG’s smartwatch is also an attractive looking prospect and comes with a whole array of heartrate sensors and other extras to keep geeks amused.

Fingerprint Sensor 2.0

Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint technology is the latest item from the chipmaker at the show and is said to be the next generation of this fingerprint tech. The new ultrasonic based technology can scan through sweat, lotions and condensation – something previous incarnations have found to be problematic at times. The new tech is said to be vastly superior to anything currently out there – so we can’t wait to get hands-on. 

Midrange Microsoft

Even though Microsoft said it wouldn’t release a new top end device until Windows 10 comes out, it’s revealed a number of new devices at MWC and both run Windows 8.1. Microsoft has released the Lumia 640 to supersede the 635 and also the 640XL which comes with a larger 5.7inch display. Both phones will be upgradable to Windows 10.

Sony Reveals

Sony also showcased a mid-range device, the M4 Aqua which can be used in water at depths of up to 1.5m. Sony has also showcased a new tablet in the Z4 which will be the slimmest 10 inch tablet on the market and looks like a quite impressive device.

Needless to say there will be more intriguing reveals from MWC over the coming week and we’ll bring you all the latest in another blog after the show wraps up. 

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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Result! Using your smartphone at work aids productivity

Row.co.uk Blog

No really, it does. The findings of a study by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology could relax bosses negative viewpoints on employees ‘playing’ on their smartphones during work hours.

Aiding workplace productivity
According to Business News Daily, one of the study’s authors and a doctoral student at Kansas State University, Sooyeol Kim said, “Having workers take small breaks on their phones throughout the day may positively influence their perceived well-being at the end of the workday,”

So, how did he and co-author Qikun Niu, a George Mason University doctoral student, reach this conclusion?

Smartphone guinea pigs
Seventy two employees from various industry sectors in South Korea were surveyed as part of the study. The participants downloaded a smartphone app which enabled Kim and Niu to measure their phone usage at work. The usage was separated into three categories which were: social media, entertainment and leisure, and personal and informative.

Social media = happiness
Unsurprisingly, usage for social media resulted in more feelings of positivity amongst the employees than usage for entertainment or personal reasons.

Kim said of the results, “We buy smartphones so we can interact with people. We use them for social interaction, so I think that’s why social media was shown to make employees the most happy.”

So really, that sneaky status update or tweet that generally earns you a disapproving look from your boss is good for you and your workplace. Well, we already knew that didn’t we?

Moderation is key
But there’s a catch. Isn’t there always? As with just about everything, moderation is key. We know, boring.

Just as gorging on four doughnuts during your coffee break and scoffing a KFC Big Daddy box meal every lunchtime isn’t good for your health, neither is too much smartphone interaction for workplace productivity. Apparently.

So how much phone time is acceptable without turning your boss’ face puce?

According to Business News Daily, Kim and Niu’s study revealed that ‘the average combined minutes of usage a worker has on their smartphone during the workday is about 20 minutes.’ Also that ‘for the most part, anywhere between 20 and 25 minutes doesn’t affect productivity and is good for the employee.’

Personally, we think that’s a bit tight, but it’s a start.

Viva La Revolution!
So the next time your superior raises an eyebrow, impart your wisdom on the benefits of a ‘Smartphone Quickie’ to aid productivity in the workplace. You never know, you may just earn Employee of the Week status…well from your colleagues at least.

Whilst you’re exercising your right to have a little me time with your smartphone, you could get a super-fast mobile phone insurance quote online. Just complete our four easy steps and you could be insured in a matter of minutes.

Call us biased, but we think that’s a pretty productive use of your phone time whether you’re at work or not.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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