Product Reviews Net » Advice http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sat, 26 May 2012 11:39:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 5 ways to improve your Android battery http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/22/5-ways-to-improve-your-android-battery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-ways-to-improve-your-android-battery http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/22/5-ways-to-improve-your-android-battery/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:23:01 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=138291 We have seen over the past year that consumers have demanded more performance from smartphones, so the likes of HTC, Samsung and Motorola has obliged. However, there had to be a trade-off, and that was with battery power, as these handsets are not lasting like they once did. One of the worst offenders from all the latest phones has to be the HTC ThunderBolt, which has still not received the Gingerbread update that Verizon had promised.

Thankfully help is at hand, as there are 5 easy ways for you to improve your Android battery. Some are minor tweaks, whereas others will require you to download an app, but IntoMobile believes that this is a small price to pay in order to get more out of that battery.

Your first step is to install the Power Control app; this has to be installed to the phone and not the memory card, as it needs to be able to access certain features of the phone. This app makes it much simpler to turn off certain features that are known battery intensive with just the click of a button.

The next step is to adjust your mail app settings, as it is set to retrieve your mail all day by default. The thing is this is pointless and would be much better for the battery if you set it for once every hour, or even get your mail manually, as I do. One of the biggest drains is the screen, which has become a huge problem since screens have gotten much larger. All you need do is reduce the brightness of the screen so that it is still comfortable for you to read text etc.

The fourth tip is to find a few smart power setting apps. Instead of you having to turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc manually there are some apps that can turn different features off at certain times of the day. Finally when you have to update any apps, you should wait and do this when you are next to a power source, that way you will not drain the battery. We hope that these five tips are of use to you, and if you have any other helpful hints, then please feel free to share them with our readers.

More About: , , ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/22/5-ways-to-improve-your-android-battery/feed/ 4 Most stolen cars and how to make yours less appealing http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/16/most-stolen-cars-and-how-to-make-yours-less-appealing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-stolen-cars-and-how-to-make-yours-less-appealing http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/16/most-stolen-cars-and-how-to-make-yours-less-appealing/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:49:52 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=139133 Unfortunately owning a car can be very expensive as fuel prices continue on an upward trend. It is not only fuel costs that seem to be spiraling but also insurance never seems to get any cheaper. Some of this is caused by the problem of auto theft, and today we are looking at the most stolen cars, and how to make yours less appealing to the car thief.

Earlier this month we brought you the cars that were being stolen in the US, and in the UK surprisingly the Toyota Yaris is the most stolen car. According to Guardian.co.uk one in every 244 of the model falls victim to car thieves. This is followed by the Volkswagen Touareg with one every 256, and one place further down was the Volvo XC90 with one in every 370.

Just outside the top three was the Porsche 911 that saw one in 417 models stolen, and the Seat Altea had one in every 435 stolen. If you want a car that doesn’t seem to attract the attention of car thieves, get the Ford Ka. According to Confused.com data, not one of its customers who owned the Ka had one stolen between 2004 and 2011. This is put down to a lack of street cred according to an ex-burglar turned security expert.

Other cars that don’t seem to attract the attention of thieves include the Chevrolet Matiz, Hyundai i10, and Suzuki Ignis which all saw figures of one in 5,000 or less. Cars that are desirable to thieves include the BMW 3.5, Jaguar XJ, and Range Rover Sport. The security on these cars will be high, so car thieves target the keys by breaking into homes first.

The security expert said many car owners make the mistake of leaving items such as phone leads and sat nav holders on display. Vans are often stolen when equipment or tools can be seen inside, but there are things owners can do to lower the risk of theft.

When parking a car in the road turn the wheels into the kerb, or when in a parking lot turn them towards another car. This makes it harder for a thief to move the car so will probably avoid it for another. When parking on driveways it is advised to drive in, so the thief would have to reverse out instead of just driving away.

If your car is a mess inside this may attract thieves by indicating the owner may be in a rush, and could have left something of value inside. It is advised if you have a driveway to park your vehicle there as the thief has to come closer to your home to gain access. Cars do get stolen from driveways though, but if you have security lighting it will lower the risk of your car being targeted.

Have you owned a Ford Ka which was stolen?

More About: ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/16/most-stolen-cars-and-how-to-make-yours-less-appealing/feed/ 0 Top 10 Stolen cars 2011: Find out if your car is at risk http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/top-10-stolen-cars-2011-find-out-if-your-car-is-at-risk/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-stolen-cars-2011-find-out-if-your-car-is-at-risk http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/top-10-stolen-cars-2011-find-out-if-your-car-is-at-risk/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:11:16 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=138470 No matter what type of vehicle you own or drive, there is nothing worse when you find it has been stolen or broken into. Luckily because of technology auto theft is decreasing but the problem still exists. Today we have an article looking at the top 10 stolen cars, and you can find out if your car is at risk.

The amount of vehicles stolen in the US during 2010 was the lowest in any year since 1967, but the National Insurance Crime Bureau has released its annual list of the most stolen vehicles. Coming in at number ten is the 1999 Ford Taurus, which is the only American made sedan in the list according to MSN Autos.

The car was popular with thieves in places such as North Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois amongst others. The Taurus is not the most exotic car ever made, but will appeal to criminals who want to keep a low profile.

At number nine is another Ford, but the 2002 Explorer in areas such as Nebraska and North Carolina is further up as the fifth most stolen car. A rare luxury car comes in at number eight is the 1994 Integra, and because of the age of the car it’s easier to steal. The vehicle is the fourth most stolen car in California. The 2002 Dodge Caravan is at number seven but in some areas such as Ohio it’s the most stolen vehicle.

It may the second most stolen vehicle in Texas, but the 2004 Dodge Ram is at number six in the NICB list. The vehicle is more modern but it is still popular among car thieves. While the 1997 Ford F-150 comes in at number five, this can be put down to the amount of the vehicles that are purchased each year. At number four sits the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado.

Although its getting a bit old now, but the 1991 Toyota Camry is very popular among thieves putting it at number three, this is because they last a long time and are often stolen for their parts. The rest of the top three is made up of the 1995 Honda Civic, and top of the tree was another Honda, the 1994 Honda Accord. Almost 52,000 Accords were stolen in 2010, with over 44,000 made in the 1990s.

More About: ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/top-10-stolen-cars-2011-find-out-if-your-car-is-at-risk/feed/ 0 Apps For The Bachelor In 2011 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/11/apps-for-the-bachelor-in-2011/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=apps-for-the-bachelor-in-2011 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/11/apps-for-the-bachelor-in-2011/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:07:34 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=118658 Whenever I think of a bachelor, I think of a man that does not want to stay tied down to any one woman and spends his entire life having fun. However, I did not know that to be a true bachelor there are certain standards that needs to be upheld. So we thought we would have a search and find what looks to be the best apps for the bachelor in 2011.

The first app is called The Complete Bachelor and costs just $0.99. This app for Apple iOS devices helps to teach any bachelor etiquette and other such skills needed to take on this role. There are better apps, which we will look at now.

Next up we have The Complete Bachelor Guide, which costs $1.99. This guide looks to be more in-depth than the previous one, as there are guides on a number of topics, such as how a bachelor should act in public, how he should dress and a whole host of other manners.

Three other apps that need a mention, which are as follows; Silicon Valley Bachelor, Bachelor’s Banquet, The Bachelor’s Grub Guide – Over 100 Recipes. The first app is more of a fun one, the second cost $0.99 and will help you cook that perfect meal for your lady friends. The final app costs a massive $9.99 and is for the iPad, but it does make it easier when trying to follow a recipe.

What tips do you have for a bachelor?

More About: ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/11/apps-for-the-bachelor-in-2011/feed/ 0 Best MPG Car Ratings: New and Used http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/12/06/best-mpg-car-ratings-new-and-used/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-mpg-car-ratings-new-and-used http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/12/06/best-mpg-car-ratings-new-and-used/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:42:42 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=116035 When you are in the position of buying a car there are a number of things to consider, but the main factor now has to be what its MPG ratings are. For years we have not paid that much attention to what a vehicle does to the gallon, but rising fuels costs has forced us into this situation – and it is a good thing.

The reason I say this is the fact that a number of drivers no longer want huge gas guzzling vehicles, which is where the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt come in. Whenever you visit a main dealer it is always best to be armed with all the facts about MPG for a certain vehicle that you are considering, as dealerships could not have the facts to hand.

The best place to go has to be the Fuel Economy website, as they not only offer figures for new vehicles, but old as well. Used cars are a huge market, and I am sure that the first thing you will look at is price, and the second is how fuel-efficient it is.

The site is very easy to use, you just go to the ‘Find and compare a car’ link, which is in the form of an image at the top left of the page. Then you have the choice to look at just one vehicle or compare two side-by-side. From there you just choose each model that you wish to compare, and then view the results. You will see MPG results for City and Highway, as well as an annual fuel cost based on a certain mileage each year.

This has to be the easiest way to see the best MPG car ratings, do you agree?

More About: , ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/12/06/best-mpg-car-ratings-new-and-used/feed/ 0 American Flight Status: Apps For Airlines http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/27/american-flight-status-apps-for-airlines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=american-flight-status-apps-for-airlines http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/27/american-flight-status-apps-for-airlines/#comments Sat, 27 Nov 2010 10:40:51 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=115266 This is a busy part of the year for traveling, as people who work overseas plan to come back home for the holiday season. For those who travel to various destinations in the U.S., it is important to keep an eye on the status of American flights. The easiest way to do this is with an app for the airline that you are traveling with.

Years ago you used to have to phone the airline in person, which as you would imagine was a long-drawn out process, these iPhone / iPad apps have taken all that hassle away now. There are so many apps from these airline companies that I would not have enough time to discuss them all this week, so I will look at just a couple.

The first app (American Airlines HD) is available for the iPhone and the iPad, with the latter offering a few more extra features. Not only will you get flight information updates, but also a mobile boarding pass screen; view your personal flight details and so much more. This app is free for more details visit Appshopper.

However, the Virgin Atlantic Flight Tracker looks to be the better app of the two. You can also keep up-to-date on your flight, and you get almost real-time locations of Virgin flights around the globe. You can also see a rough flight plan of the aircraft as well. This app is also free, details can be found on Appshopper.

View more apps here and here. Would you use an app to check the status of a flight?

More About: , ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/27/american-flight-status-apps-for-airlines/feed/ 0 iOS Apps: Find The Cheapest Hotels And Flights http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/01/ios-apps-find-the-cheapest-hotels-and-flights/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ios-apps-find-the-cheapest-hotels-and-flights http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/01/ios-apps-find-the-cheapest-hotels-and-flights/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:18:08 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=112316 If we were to go back about 15 years, there were only a limited amount of ways to find cheap hotels and flights. However, the pace of technology has made this a much simpler task now, thanks to the introduction of apps, none more so that the iPhone and its range of applications for iOS.

There is a range available to you on the App Store, such as TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Restaurants. This offers so much more than your standard travel app because before you book you can read reviews and view photos before you go ahead and make your booking, which you can also do via this app; more details on iTunes.

Another cool app is KAYAK HD, so you know that this one is for the iPad. This makes finding a flight even easier than on the iPhone, as the largest screen makes it far easier to use when searching. Not only that, you can also view a huge range of hotels in a city where you plan to travel to, as well as read about all what there is to do in that area. The app is free; visit iTunes for more information.

One of the better class apps has to be the British Airways iPhone app. Using this app will allow you to log in to your Executive Club account; from there you will then be able to view your flight details, download your boarding pass and much more. Visit BA for more details.

If you are planning a trip in New York, then the New York Adventure Guide for iPhone will be perfect for you.

What apps do you use for finding cheap hotels and flights?

More About: , ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/01/ios-apps-find-the-cheapest-hotels-and-flights/feed/ 1 Top 10 Stolen Cars: Has Your Vehicle Made The List? http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/10/25/top-10-stolen-cars-has-your-vehicle-made-the-list/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-stolen-cars-has-your-vehicle-made-the-list http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/10/25/top-10-stolen-cars-has-your-vehicle-made-the-list/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:45:48 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=111846 Here is the Highway Loss Data Institute’s report on the top ten most stolen, broken into, or stripped American cars of 2010. See if your car makes the top ten list.

5.8 out of every 1,000 Chevrolet Tahoe’s SUVs have been stolen in 2010. These vehicles are stolen because they are driven by a number of rap artists – not the best way to follow your music idol is it?

In at number five is the GMC Sierra Crew Cab, 6.7 out of every 1,000 have been stolen. This is yet another SUV to add to that list of stolen vehicles – maybe the automakers need to work on increased security features.

The second most stolen 2010 vehicle is the Chevrolet Silverado, 8 out of every 1,000 models are either stolen or stripped. The most stolen vehicle in 2010 so far is the Cadillac Escalade. Now if there ever was an SUV that is driven by celebrities, then the Escalade is it. A massive 10.8 out of a 1,000 models of this car have been stolen this year, and has been the number one stolen car since 2002.

For a complete list of the top 10 visit LA Times

Let us know if your car is on the list.

More About: , ,

For more Product-Reviews.net coverage:

]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/10/25/top-10-stolen-cars-has-your-vehicle-made-the-list/feed/ 2