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A Preview of New Technology to be Released in 2014

As we transition into the New Year, the question on all of our minds is: “What new technology is on the way?” Manufacturers are constantly producing more impressive gadgets,and we are all looking forward to what 2014 has to offer in terms of new technology. But before we explore the new frontiers of smartphones, tablets and the like, let’s briefly review some of the technology that stood out in 2013.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung’s Galaxy line has always made for a quality product, and this past year was no exception. The S4 impressed us with its user-friendly interface, and classic design. For these reasons, among others, it makes perfect sense that the Galaxy S4 was 2013’s best selling smartphone.

Apple iPhone 5s/5c

Apple consistently delivers superior quality with its iPhone product line. Since the release of the initial model, in 2007, Apple has only continued to impress us with their bold and innovative take on the smartphone, as we know it. The 5s came outfitted with three metallic-themed finishes, while the 5c opted for a vibrant, colorful feel, without sacrificing the Apple precision-of-use that users have grown accustomed to. Highly responsive technological features, and a gorgeous, slender finish cement the iPhone 5s and 5c in the list of phones to be recognized in 2013. Continue reading →

Every year, the latest-and-greatest gadgets tempt buyers into new purchases or upgrades. Find out which items are the most popular this year! Best Skins Ever has skins for all of the top items this year!

While tablet computers are available in all shapes and sizes, Google Nexus 7 is one of the fastest and most efficient tablets available. It runs smoothly on Android's latest operating system, and it comes with a 7-inch display, front and rear cameras, and an extensive battery life. The tablet's screen is clear and colorful, and users can view it from virtually any angle without losing the quality of the image. The Google Nexus 7 weighs only 10.2 ounces and is available for purchase at a starting price of $229. Continue reading →

Facebook Home is one of the newest innovations to hit the smartphone market. Using Android's open-door policy, this new application replaces the existing user interface on Android phones with a new interface that focuses on social networks, as opposed to applications. Because the new app is compatible only with Android products, iPhone users aren't able to utilize it. However, some iPhone users still proclaim their devices to be superior. To help consumers form an opinion, a detailed comparison of Android phones equipped with Facebook's new app to the well-respected iPhone 5 is included below.

Comparable Devices

Although Facebook Home utilizes the Android operating system, it is not compatible with all Android products. Currently, the only devices that can tolerate this new app are a select few from HTC and Samsung. One such phone is the HTC First, which is the first to come preloaded with the software. For the purposes of comparison, consider the HTC First as the original "Facebook Phone". See what other phones are compatible with Facebook Home here.

Hardware

When compared to the iPhone, the HTC First's hardware is lacking. The storage is more limited, the camera isn't as strong, and the speed of the phone is slower. The core operating system of the HTC First is more likely to experience delays, and some lag is also present within individual apps. That being said, Facebook Home seems to function very well in conjunction with this hardware.

User Interface

The user interface on the Facebook phone is very different from the user interface on the iPhone. Although Facebook Home isn't actually a different operating system, it will feel like one for most users. After turning the device on for the first time, users log on with their Google and Facebook credentials. On every subsequent start-up, images pulled from the user's Facebook friends will rotate constantly across the screen. Users can also view recent status updates on this screen.

Users can scroll through all of these initial images and messages without even unlocking the phone, and users can "like" these displays by simply double-tapping the screen. Comments can also be posted directly from the home page.

As for the iPhone's user interface, it is much more similar to the original Android OS. The interface is centered on applications, many of which can be accessed directly from the home screen. To view Facebook, users must install and click on the Facebook application, or they must visit Facebook via the phone's internet browser.

Summing Up

These two phones are very different, but neither is overtly superior to the other. When choosing the ideal phone, users must consider the features that are most important to them. Users who are heavily engaged with social media and are constantly logging on to Facebook during the day may prefer the Facebook phone, whereas users who aren't as addicted to social media may prefer the more classic, application-based approach of the iPhone.

The powers that be at Android and Facebook have teamed up in an effort to topple the almighty iPhone in the hearts and minds of social media lovers everywhere. What is the creation this meeting of the minds came up with? It’s called Facebook Home; and if you haven’t heard of it yet, you probably will – very soon.

Facebook Fans Rejoice

Who doesn’t have a Facebook obsession these days? Whether it’s crazy cat videos, silly little postcard witticisms, or the ability to keep in touch with friends and family in one convenient location – and without the necessary round of ten thousand phone calls and text messages to share big news with everyone in your social circles – Facebook is becoming a larger part of society every day.

What Are the Benefits of Facebook Home?

For people who spend a lot of time navigating in and out of Facebook apps on their mobile phones, the benefits are immeasurable. For one thing, updates, new posts, and Facebook notifications go directly to your Facebook phone screen. Chat heads allows you to send and receive Facebook messages and texts in a single location. You can even continue chatting while using other mobile apps. The bottom line is that this is the definitive Facebook tool for anyone who takes their social networking seriously.

Who Can Get the App?

Currently, the Facebook Home app is only available on certain phones that have been named an official Facebook phone. They include:

• HTC One X
• HTC One X+
• Samsung Galaxy Note II
• Samsung Galaxy S III

While you are able to download the Home app from the Google Play Store for any of the above phones, the phone that’s getting the most attention as the definitive Facebook Phone is the HTC First. In addition to being available on phones, the Home app should be available for tablets this summer.

What’s the Big Deal?

People are living their lives on the go more and more. This means more people are looking for ways to stay connected without being tied to their laptops or tablet devices.

Facebook Home puts that information in the palms of people's hands and makes it easier than ever for young and old alike to carry on long Facebook conversations, check out videos, and even vote on their best friends cute kid contest entries. Whether they’re watching their kids practice soccer, standing in line at the bank, or waiting on movies to start at local cinemas, people can connect with their friends at any point. You can even fill your phone screen with friends and family and their posts to your Facebook news feed so that you’re always up-to-date with what's going on with your family tree.

If you love Facebook and use it regularly, you really can’t go wrong with a phone that includes Facebook’s new app as a major feature. Download the app today if you already have a compatible phone and let us know what you think.

Whether you’re using an HTC One or Samsung Galaxy to use Facebook’s new app, be sure that your phone is protected with the best skin ever.

It can be nearly impossible to come up with the perfect present for that techie in your life. With technology being so prevalent nowadays, gadgets have become the most popular category for people to shop for – everyone wants something electronic!

But what would be the perfect techie present? We are here to help get your buying process started with a list of the top high tech gadgets this holiday season. Everyone has an opinion on different brands, so we left out specific products, but if you keep in mind the following categories in your holiday shopping you’ll be sure to get a smile when you give your gift.

Cameras

Even though modern smartphones can take pictures of sufficient quality for posting online, it’s good to have a dedicated camera to capture the shots you really want to keep – and dare we say it – print. For everyday usage, look for digital cameras with at least 10 megapixels. For more professional pictures, the prices definitely go up, and you will most likely want to look into getting a digital SLR instead of a point and shoot camera. To get the absolutely best print quality however, you still can’t beat an old school 35mm camera.

Portable Media Players

Media players have come a long way in the past few years. Although some people use their smart phones to listen to music and watch movies, many people prefer to have their media in a smaller, easier to carry media player. Media players now even have Wi-Fi access, making it easier to access the Internet on the go. Some offer photo and video capabilities as well.

Tablets

Tablets are the “in” tech toy of the year. Easier to transport than a laptop, but with all the same functionality, these devices offer the ultimate answer for staying connected to the world while also allowing for media sharing (pictures, books, movies, etc.). There is a major brand battle going on in this space, with multiple legitimate contenders vying for bragging rights. Do your research for the features your techie will want most, but getting a tablet gift is a virtual lock for being a favorite gift this holiday season.

Smart Phones

Smart phones are the cornerstone technology advancement of our generation. They offer safety and convenience with GPS options and allow them to stay connected with friends and family through social media, the web, and of course texts and calls – if you actually use a phone for its voice functionality anymore.

Laptops

It’s good practice to update your laptop at least every four years to stay on top of the latest technology. If you know someone lugging around a brick of a laptop, or who constantly complains that their programs take too long to load or have run out of storage space, a laptop would be a welcome gift. New laptops have better web cams, better Wi-Fi, Windows 8, and more.

Protect Your Investments

How do you keep the gifts you give as amazing as they are the first day? By taking care of them! Protective skin covers can help prolong their life, and keep them looking new throughout years of use and abuse. Don’t forget to order your Best Skins Ever protective skins along with your technology purchases.  Check out our tablet skins, media player skins, or Apple product skins to get started.

The latest attack ads from Samsung against Apple have been nothing if not hilarious. Observe …

When it comes down to it, Apple fans will buy iPhones and Apple haters will buy Droids (or, in some cases, Blackberries). But for the undecided voters, let’s take an unbiased look at the benefits and criticisms of Apple’s newest smartphone, the iPhone 5, and its main competitor, Samsung’s Galaxy S3. It quickly becomes clear why Apple people love Apple … and why Android people dislike Apple.

iOS vs. Android OS

One of the many hot button issues is performance. Android fans love the Android Operating system and the myriad of Google services that make life great. Then there are those who downloaded iOS 6 as soon as the new operating system became available for iPhone users. The new Apple processor once again provides the smooth, user-friendly experience that Apple fans have come to love over the years.

Broadband Connectivity

With much of the upper echelon Android manufacturers championing 4G LTE for years, Apple entered the highest level of broadband with the launch of the iPhone 5. Apple fans rejoiced at the potential held by the marriage of Apple technology and lighting fast 4G, while Android fans criticized Apple for being late to the dance.

Design/Display

First impressions, as in any new relationship, mean a lot. When you lay your eyes on a new phone, you want to see yourself holding it, playing with it … loving it. Design is important.

Apple has championed the importance of design for decades. The iPhone 5 gives Apple fans the sleek, metallic design that they’ve come to love – and they’ve made it sleeker and more metallic. The new 4-inch Retina display was possibly Apple’s most rumored and highly anticipated feature leading up to the phone’s release.

Samsung has taken a page out of the Apple book and used the S3 to combine good product design, which consumers love, with the Android operating system which makes Android the force that it is. The Super AMOLED screen is impressive in its own right, with many critics claiming the new Samsung rivals Apple at it’s own game.

At the end of the day, whether you prefer Apple or Samsung, make sure your newest toy is safely protected. iPhone skins and Samsung Screen protectors provide new phone consumers with the piece of mind knowing their shiny new toys are safer, while the clear film preserves the design of the phone that you fell in love with.

It’s that time of year again. Time to break out the books, pencils, rulers, binders, protractors … and abacus, right? Ha!

Today’s back-to-school list is not the same as your parents had – to say the least. Well, for many of us, it’s not even the same as our high school days. Every school year there’s a new gadget – notebook, cell phone, smart phone, tablet, e-reader, etc. – that hits store shelves and makes last year’s technology look obsolete.

So to help you prep for your return to the classroom, here are some of our favorite accessories for back to school tech. Today, we begin with cell phones & smart phones.

1. Apple’s iPhone – This year will be tricky for iPhone fans going back to school, considering the likely new iPhone release in late September. But nonetheless, Apple faithful have prospered for years on the latest and greatest Mac technologies, especially its mobile releases. The iPhone provides one of the user-friendliest smart phones on the market with unbelievable media capabilities, driven by Apple’s commitment to design and display. That, along with reliable battery life and an 8-megapixel camera make this phone a great investment.

See:  Apple Screen Protectors, iPhone Skins

2. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 – Possibly the iPhone’s greatest foe, the latest Galaxy S Droid from Samsung boasts some of Apple and Droid fans’ favorite qualities. A user-friendly, well-designed phone with a monster display, as well as a dual-core Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. Samsung’s Super AMOLED display on the phone’s 4.8 inch display gives it the look, feel and interface that iPhone users love, but with Droid’s functionality. This phone also packs an 8-megapixel camera.

See: Android Skins , Samsung Galaxy Skins

3. Motorola Droid Razr Maxx – For those looking for a powerful phone but with the battery life to stay up with you on late night cram sessions, Motorola’s latest Droid Razr is your handset. This Droid boasts a whopping 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0, AND 4G LTE capabilities. You know, just in case you need to find out the capital of Eritrea at 4:30 a.m. while in the basement of the library.

See: Motorola Droid Screen Protectors

4. Nokia Lumina 900 – Not all college students can afford iPhones or Androids – many are on ramen-only budgets that make going out for slice of pizza seem like a dream. But for those looking to uncover another option might want to try a Windows Phone. Enter Nokia’s Lumina 900. It may not come with as many bells and whistles as the top level smartphones, but even a single-core machine with 4G capability can accomplish everything you need at a noticeable savings.

See: Nokia Lumina Skins

High Definition, High Resolution, AMOLED, Super AMOLED, “Retina,” etc. These are the buzzwords electronics manufacturers throw around when marketing their new and improved phone, tablet or computer.

But with consumer technology (especially mobile) growing and advancing every day, how can the average gadget fan keep up with the “latest and greatest.” How long until your HD Retina display iPad 3 becomes obsolete? How many patents will Apple have to secure before unveiling their newest tablet or phone? What must Samsung, Motorola and HTC do in order to keep Android devices in the race?

Gone are the days where display is valued by size only. Now, true value is measured in pixels as well.  Sure, the technology behind your electronics matter; buyers are still concerned with processor speed, battery life and storage capabilities. But when the average consumer goes to the store looking to buy a new toy, they pick it up and play with it before reading the specs. The visual appeal of electronics comes first with many buyers.

Under this line of thinking, display technology is the first line of defense when selling electronics. It’s never been as vital to protect phone, tablet and laptop displays in order to preserve the value of your expensive gizmos. Screen Protectors and clear protective Cell Phone Skins, Tablet Skins and Laptop Skins help protect these technologies from scratches and blemishes – protecting your investment.

Let’s take a brief look into the different display classifications:

LCD

LCD screens produce very accurate colors and gray. The technology behind LCDs can consume battery power slightly faster, unless the manufacturer calibrates it to produce weaker shades of red and dark colors. Although, these displays maintain the same level of brightness and color for over thousands of hours.

See: iPhone 4 Skins, iPad Skins, HTC One X Skins

AMOLED

AMOLED, Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode, is an old yet new technology. AMOLED screens have been around for a while, but only recently made a surge in high-end consumer electronics. AMOLED screens are made of a thin layer of polymers which displays light when agitated by an electric current. Because it doesn’t require a backlight, these screens can produce deeper blacks and contrast. This also saved batter life.

See: Android Skins, Samsung Galaxy Skins.

Retina Display

How do you market a standout display in a market where every company claims that their HD is higher definition than the rest? Use and market a new brand name. Enter Apple’s “Retina Display.”

Apple’s approach at creating the next wave in display technology was to simply out-do the rest of the market in terms of pixels per square inch. With the release of the newest MacBook Pro, Apple created computer screens that crammed in twice the pixels than that of a high-end HDTV. Apple claims their newest advancement in display technology has a high enough pixel density that the human eye is physically incapable of noticing pixilation at a typical viewing distance. Although, the term “typical viewing distance” is fluid depending on the size of your device, Apple’s approach at display technology is still king among the average consumer.

See: iPad 3 Skins, MacBook Pro Skins.

Welcome to July’s Best Skins Ever Gadget round up. Here, we bring you the latest and hottest news, rumors, stories and trends for your favorite electronics that we are committed to protecting.

Five years of the iPhone (CNET)

Happy Birthday iPhone. The spark that set off the 21^st century mobile explosion has reached its fifth anniversary. It seems like just yesterday, the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs debuted the much-anticipated Apple phone at the 2007 MacWorld expo. Jobs boasted that the newest Apple technology was at least five years ahead of their competitors – and five years later Apple has raked in $150 billion in revenue from their crown-jewel smartphone.

Recommended Products: iPhone Skins , Apple Screen Protectors

MacBook Pro with Retina Display redefines the concept of a 'pro' laptop (MacWorld)

The reviews are in! The newest MacBook Pro, which debuted in June, has knocked everyone’s socks off. For this month’s round up we combed through a flood of reviews for the $2200 MacBook Pro. The folks at MacWorld were particularly floored by the HD Retina Display, writing “The Retina MacBook Pro is not only a groundbreaking release, combining stunning performance and portability in a 15-inch Mac laptop; this model will also force you to change the way you interact with a laptop.”

Recommended Products: MacBook Skins , Apple Screen Protectors

How to Make the Most of the Galaxy S III’s Camera (PCWorld)

The Samsung Galaxy S has made a major mobile splash, both across the pond and now finally in the US. Touted as an “iPhone Killer,” the Galaxy S carries the technology that Android Users have come to love, with the features and aesthetics that Apple users live for. Examples: an 8 megapixel camera and AMOLED display, making this phone one of the biggest Android eye-candies on the market.

Recommended Products: Cell Phone Skins , Android Skins , Samsung Galaxy Skins

With a philosophy driven by design and focused on foolproof usability, Apple products appeal to a large consumer base in the US. Buyers in the American market enjoy easy-to-use phones that also look pretty (processor speed and App selection are just bonuses). And with a rabid fan base, “Apple people” stay loyal to Apple products – iteration after iteration, for better or for worse.

But can a heavyweight contender from the Android market break through and threaten Apple’s share of the smartphone market? Samsung, the arguable king of Android phones, certainly looks to be the best choice to challenge Apple for their fan base.

The third rendition of Samsung’s Galaxy S phone quietly made its way to the mobile phone market  – with Samsung pulling out all the stops to protect their new phone’s concept and design. After debuting overseas, the phone came stateside in June 2012, being touted as an iPhone killer.

The sleek design and HD AMOLED display made Samsung’s latest Android an aesthetic competitor to the iPhone. But the Galaxy S III is more than just a “pretty face,” It’s powered by a 1.4GHz quad core processor and 1GB of RAM along with Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Apple fans fear not – the tech giant is still very much innovating and will likely announce some new line of products in the fall that will keep every tech blogger, columnist, reviewer and developer on the edge of their seats. This will follow a mad dash to storefronts in person and online where you hope to be one of the lucky few to hoist the next iSomething with it’s innovative design, display and functionality.

But if nothing else, Samsung’s Galaxy S III appears to have capitalized on the Apple formula.  Could Samsung finally unseat Apple in the Smartphone market?  Time will tell.

Design, Display – these kinds of aesthetics drive the value of an investment like a smart phone. That makes Smartphone accessories that much more important. Be sure to protect your latest investment with Samsung Galaxy Skins and iPhone skins to help prevent scratches and blemishes.