Row.co.uk Blog

Smart watch - Your guide to buying

Wearable technology has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years, and the smart watch is now an essential accessory the drives fitness, boosts organisation, and helps us all to stay in touch.


Apart from the basics, like the size and colour of your chosen watch, what else do you need to consider before buying one?


smart watch on table with gadgets 

Operating System

Broadly speaking, there are three groups of smart watches: Apple watches, watches that run Android, and watches that run some other software. Typically, the third category includes watches with a specialism, like FitBit watches that monitor health.


If you already own an iPhone, it makes sense to get an Apple watch. They ‘just work’ together, have a similar interface, and so on. And if you have an Android phone, you’ll almost certainly want to buy an Android or third-party watch, because an Apple watch won’t ‘talk’ to your phone.


Some Android watches can be used with Apple and Android, so that’s a possibility if you want some flex.


This is a very individual decision, but one thing’s certain; if you intend to switch to an iPhone just to get the watch that matches, be sure that you’re comfortable with iOS. Switching your phone and watch later could be expensive.


Features

The most expensive on the market naturally give you the most functionality. But all-singing, all-dancing ones, like the latest Apple watch, can cost more than a medium-spec smartphone.


If your budget is a little smaller, you’ll need to figure out some priorities. What is your watch going to be used for? If you need to use it as a phone, you’ll find that a watch with a built-in SIM card is really convenient, since you won’t need to keep your phone nearby. But if you just want to track your steps and receive notifications, you could purchase something a lot cheaper.


Likewise, true fitness fanatics will enjoy the features of expensive Garmin smart watches. Those devices will certainly be overkill for someone who wants to listen to music occasionally at the gym.

Convenience

Despite being roughly the same size and shape, they can offer a very different user experience -- and convenience is important in a watch.


Charging a watch every 24 hours can be really inconvenient -- particularly if you want to track your sleep, since you won’t want to take it off every night to plug it in.


You’ll get the best battery life from a watch with a basic display and fairly basic features; some fitness trackers can last weeks on one battery, but they won’t be as ‘smart’ as the ones with a battery that goes flat within a couple of days.


Getting the right watch can be a real boost to your life -- but beware of choosing a model that is too limited, too expensive, or too inconvenient. And since smart watches are vulnerable, don’t forget to insure your new purchase against accidental damage, theft, and loss.


*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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How To Protect Your Mobile And Its Data

Row.co.uk Blog

How To Protect Your Mobile And Its Data

Mobile devices have more capabilities than ever before, which unfortunately increases the risk of theft and data loss.

Enhanced mobile devices come at a cost, and theft is dramatically increasing as a result of this. Because of their portability, they’re a prime target for thieves and hackers – even more so than desktop systems. 

You might not realise quite how much personal and important information you have stored on your device – from your emails, to financial and medical information, to company systems, to travel itineraries, to saved passwords, to private photos, to special contacts… and much more! 

The most obvious way of protecting your phone is to exercise common sense – for example, don’t leave your phone unattended and always keep it in a zipped pocket or protected part of your handbag. 

What else can be done to protect your phone and its data? 

• Password protection – set up a password on your phone with its built-in lock feature. It’s simple, quick to set up and effective, but we advise that you ensure your password is stronger than 1234! 
• Unlock pattern – you can set an unlock pattern which acts just like a password. 
• Device lockout – nearly all mobile devices provide a lockout option which locks the phone after several consecutive unsuccessful attempts to enter the pattern / password. You can normally set this to cap after a certain number of attempts. 
• Apps – you can password-protect selected apps to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within your apps. 
• Back up your data – it’s always beneficial to connect your mobile device to your PC / Mac for data transfer. You can use the PC software to back up messages and contacts too. 
• Keep records of the date and place of purchase, IMEI number and serial number. Make sure your phone is registered too – this will speed up the process if you ever need to report theft. 
Remote Wipe App – we recommend installing an app that permits you to remotely wipe all your data if your mobile device is lost or stolen. 

You can protect your mobile phone with us from as little as £1.49. Get a mobile phone insurance quote with us in a matter of minutes! Just follow these 4 simple steps.

*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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Comments are closed