First 4G Service on the Way in the UK

August 21st, 2012Electronics Industry Chatter, Tech News No Comments

 

The good old overlords at Ofcom have granted Everything Everywhere the right to use their existing bandwidth to launch 4G for mobile devices. The company is responsible for Orange and T-Mobile in the UK and was chosen above Vodafone and O2 to host the first 4G service in the UK.

But before you go selling your Vodafone old iPad contract, it’s worth knowing that Ofcom have said they’ll be allowing other carriers to launch 4G services next year.

So, what’s so special about Everything Everywhere? It seems they’re the only company that currently own a spectrum that can be configured to handle 4G. Competitors will have to wait until next year to bid for the capability.

Here at Money4Machines HQ, we love anything that makes our YouTube clips go faster! But a huge part of 4G success in the UK will be based on the idea of carriers convincing manufacturers to produce 4G devices. So, would you trade in iPads and smartphones to upgrade to a 4G device?

The Bliss of White Noise: Top 4 Apps for Parents

March 12th, 2012Curious Stuff, Tech News No Comments

"Unless it's a nettle sting I don't think I trust your judgement!"

 

We rarely love our children more than when they’re asleep/sleepy/behaving/not flinging the old iPad around the room just because you’ve pre-ordered the New iPad etc! But since that leaves roughly 80% of their existence unaccounted for and existing slightly outside the low stress zone, here are four tried and tested parent-friendly apps to help along the ride!

White Noise

Babies love white noise like we love your iPad trade ins and unwanted Xbox 360 consoles. According to www.troublesometots.com the womb is a noisy place, so the incessant buzz of white noise is better than lullabies to your baby! Apparently the womb noise level is somewhere between baby’s cry and a lawnmower!

iHomeopathyA quick iPhone and iPad reference tool for any First Aid emergencies, allergic reactions and all those little common illness moments when we realise our doctor skills are limited to associating nettles with dock leaves!

Kindle

The Kindle and related apps are brilliant for on-the-go parents (is there any other kind?) who’d really rather not lug every Beatrix Potter book around the zoo on the whim of a 7-year-old!

DadLabs

A witty app full of videos and advice from dads around the world on everything from how to handle a newborn to how to get poop stains out of Egyptian cotton sheets! A hilarious way to spend a few minutes of your day whether you’re a parent or not – trust us!

Feel free to recommend some other great apps in the comments section when you visit us to trade in iPads, gizmos and gadgets!

Does Smartphone Gaming Get a High Score or Nil Pois?

February 26th, 2012Device Reviews No Comments

We already know you want to sell iPads, old Kindles and laptops to us at great rates, but if you’re as tech-minded as our gadget monkeys, that means you want a little more from your iPad trade in experience. So, today’s blog of wisdom comes hot off our own lunch break activities – what’s the deal with smartphone gaming?

Nokia
The N900 is harped on about by geeks as the gaming smartphone of dreams. PowerVR SGX530 graphics acceleration = very good. Optional plug-in control pad = great. Ability to play retro Nintendo classics on the commute = excellent! Still, as a functioning phone the N900 is something of a pariah to some of our resident geeks. Verdict = great for messing about but never going to replace the Xbox or usability of other smartphones.

Apple
The 1GHz Apple A4 chip in the iPhone 4S means gameplay is smooth, razor sharp and not eaten into waiting for games to load. There are probably more games out there for iOS than any other platform, but we’ve found quantity doesn’t always mean quality. That said, you can’t beat Apple apps for great puzzles, simple games and quick entertainment.

Samsung
We reckon the Galaxy Note wins the Samsung race, largely pipping competitors like the Galaxy S2 to the post because of its glorious 5.3” display. Simply put, the buttons are bigger and easier to press = more control = better gaming.

Blackberry
Business types need a little gaming too, but it’s not really the forte of any Blackberry.

The Playstation Vita is going head to head with the best gaming smartphones. Let us know what you think next time you trade in iPads, smartphones, gizmos and whatchamecallits!

Get a Quote, Erase Data, THEN Post!

February 16th, 2012Selling Your Device No Comments

Still got a bunch of snaps on your old iPad 1st generation? Looking to trade in an iPad 2 but don’t know where to start with the whole rigmarole of data deletion? Selling your old gadgets can feel a bit like cutting an umbilical cord – so much time personalising! So many personal details! – but there are lots of great fail-safe’s in the Money4Machines chain of command, so don’t panic!
So, what’s at stake? Phone numbers, text messages, photos, videos, ringtones, job-related documents (we reckon after their gaffe a few years ago, the government are pretty hot on data deletion!), personal data, pin numbers (stop saving them on your gadgets!), home movies (yes, THAT kind) and a potentially awkward pick ‘n’ mix of data – they’re all on your phone, laptop or device!
We often think of our devices as being little private bubbles where things like photos of our other halves, pin numbers etc are safe, but when you sell that iPad used, it’s better for your peace of mind if you’ve deleted incriminating stuff yourself.
By the way, we’re speaking from the standpoint of a company that has received lots and lots and LOTS of gadgets bubbling over with undeleted personal titbits. We always run 100% data erase programmes on ALL the gadgets that come through our doors. Protection of personal information is a big part of the Money4Machines ethos – we need you guys to trust us!
To find out how to completely erase the data on your device, check manufacturer instructions or contact us and we’ll give you a quick tutorial.

Hint: One of the most common data formats we find is the humble memory card – check your slots, people!

Your Gadgets and Their Sad, Toxic Landfill Life

February 15th, 2012Curious Stuff, Eco Living No Comments

In the U.K, we don’t just trade in iPads occasionally or use M4M to get a bit of cash for that old Kindle (“No 3G?! But I can’t LIVE without internet access all the live-long day!”), we upgrade about twenty million mobile phone handsets each year, replace our TVs every three years and see about seven million working computers sent to the landfill annually.
Mobile phones, laptops and their gadget kin contain lots of hazardous substances and materials, none of which sound particularly at home in the natural world of Britain’s natural habitats. Copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and beryllium – they’re all present in small amounts in your old iPad, smartphone, and even that Nokia 3210 that’s been festering in the back of a draw for years!
Your gadgets need to be disposed of properly in order to minimise the risks to the environment, but they also need to be ETHICALLY disposed of. Guiyu, China, is the e-waste capital of the world, pretty much a province built literally on e-waste. A quick example – lead levels are 371 times higher in Guiyu than in areas just 30km away. Feel a bit guilty about flinging that old handset in the bin? Around 40% of the lead in U.K landfills is estimated as coming from old electronics.
But it’s not just the hazardous materials that cause damage. Non-toxics like precious metals, glass and plastics are found in most gadgets. Plastic, for example, can take…. oh, wait, we DON’T KNOW how long it takes to degrade! Estimates vary between 500 and 1000 years, but since plastic hasn’t existed long enough for any guesses to be proven, we’re still looking at a lot of shrugs and blank faces in the science department!

Post-Christmas Clearouts Boost Money4Machines Stock

February 2nd, 2012Electronics Industry Chatter No Comments

New iPad 2! Mine! All mine! Now I can sell my iPad too! Amidst the hideous jumpers, endless reams of socks and that pack of blank VHS tapes Great Aunt Jenene STILL buys you every Christmas, there was probably that one great e-present that ticked every box and hasn’t left your side since! Christmas may be the busiest time of the year for old St Nick, but when he hangs up his reins and leaves that jolly red suit at the dry cleaners, we see one of our busiest times of the year!
December – January is a bumper time of the year in the electronics industry. It’s the time when old iPods are replaced, the annual parent-funded smartphone upgrade rolls around and our Amazon Kindle “used” stock skyrockets!
The Kindle was one of the most popular presents of 2011, along with the standard crop of smartphones, MP3 players and consoles. Speaking of which, we’re happy to report a seasonal increase in console payments! The unstoppable XBox 360 topped out as the number one festive gift console for 2011, and we’re glad to see our customers trading in their old machines for 2012.
Trade in your iPad for some precious post-Xmas funds and we can promise it’ll live a long and happy life. Our tech wizards are brilliant at bringing the slowest and most virus-riddled machines back to life, so why not finally have that sluggish old PC actually help you out for a change?