Wireless Emporium's Cell Phone Accessories Blog

Your Smartphone Is Now Your Wallet

by admin on March 11, 2013 in Android, Apple, Apps, iPhone, iPhone 5, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S3, Smartphones, Wireless Emporium with No comments

If you find yourself to be a person who often loses cash or misplaces credit cards, then using your smartphone as a mobile wallet may be the answer to your problems. With the increase of technology and the evolution of smartphones over the past years, consumers are now ditching their wallets and using smartphones to make purchases. Say goodbye to the hassles of carrying around that packed wallet of yours and let your smartphone carry all of that for you.

What is mobile payment?

Mobile payments, also known as mobile wallets, are just what they sounds like—the act of paying for purchasing through your mobile device. Instead of paying with cash, check, credit cards or debit cards, mobile wallets allow consumers to pay for your specific goods and services. Mobile wallets are quickly emerging and are becoming a thing of the future.

Apple Passbook

One of things that are buried in our wallets is the countless gift cards that we forget we had because of the time it takes to actually search through wallets to find them. Apple has seen this
problem that consumers face and created the Apple Passbook to transfer gift cards, loyalty cards and even airplane boarding passes and movie tickets straight to your iPhone to better organize and hold your valuables. They paired up with successful companies such as Fandango, Target, Starbucks, United Airlines, Amtrak and the W hotels to make the experience for the user as easy as possible to use their smartphones. Almost exactly similar to Apple’s Passbook, Samsung is looking to release to the Samsung Wallet app soon so that their users can get the same experience has Apple users.

Google Wallet

Not an Apple or Samsung smartphone user and a part of the Android family? One of the perks of being an Android user is its Google Wallet. It has all of the same great features that the Apple Passbook has, while also being the ultimate mobile payment outlet by allowing users to store compatible debit cards and credit cards. The Google Wallet is simple and easy to use through its Near Field Communications (NFC) technology that lets you load all of your data to it and has quick checkout payments from just a simple tap on your Android.

Banking Apps

Need more reasons as to why so many consumers are embracing this new method of mobile payments? Three of the most trusted and major banking companies have joined in on the mobile payment frenzy. American Express, Master Card and Visa have all created their own digital wallet app services that have special features such as peer-to-peer money transactions. No longer do you have to spend your day driving and waiting in long lines at the bank when you can make your life so much easier with mobile payments. With the ability to receive funds directly to and from another person’s bank account, you can also deposit checks by simply taking a picture of your check from your smartphone. Plus, you can even pay your bills wherever you are with these banking apps.

Square Wallet

If you haven’t been convinced that mobile wallets have many advantages, then maybe the features from an app called Square Wallet will sway you. As with all of the other mobile apps explained above, the Square Wallet holds credit and debit cards, loyalty cards, checks, and receipts. What is different and unique about the Square wallet is that it allows you to earn extra rewards for the purchases that you make at certain small business locations. By accessing the Square directory, you are able to find retailers nearby that have special promotions for using the app, such as discounts, coupons and reward points. By discovering local retailers on Square Wallet, you can even share your favorite locations with your friends and family by sending them gift cards straight from your smartphone as a nice gift. Getting discounts and rewards from using mobile payments? Count me in.

What the Future Holds for Mobile Wallets

With nearly half of the consumers in the United States owning smartphones today, it has opened up huge opportunities to expand the mobile payments market. From the research found by Juniper Research, $12.8 billion was spent by consumers who used their smartphone to pay for their goods and services in 2012. As mobile payments is the most talked about emerging segments of the mobile market today, it is predicted US mobile payments will reach $90 billion in 2017, which is an outstanding 48% growth rate from this past years success.

Ready to take full advantage of what your smartphone and not only let it be your ways of communication, but also your wallet? Although you may not disconnect yourself from your wallet completely all at one time, the advantages of mobile payments make the shopping experience a more positive one. Time are changing, and the technology we have today has created many different opportunities for consumers make use of their smartphones in ways that were unimaginable before.

Top 15 Apps to Keep You Fit and Healthy

by admin on March 7, 2013 in Apps with No comments

As mobile apps have become a growing trend for smartphone users, they have made it easier for people to keep up with their fitness lifestyles. Whether you are trying to eat healthy, lose weight or stay fit, there are many apps available that will help you with your fitness goals. Here is a list of the top 15 most popular health and fitness apps.

1. MyFitness Pal

Staying on top of what foods you put into your body is the most important factor if you’re trying to lose weight. MyFitness Pal is the best health and fitness app out there if you’re looking to keep track of your calorie intake on a daily basis. It’s free, easy-to-use and acts as your personal food diary while setting goals for you to help get you to your goal weight.

2. RunKeeper

Using the GPS on your smartphone, RunKeeper is your own personal trainer that you can take everywhere you go. This app records distance, time and calories burned for all your physical outdoors activities such as runs, hikes, bike rides, walks and rollerblading.

3. Nike Training Club

Enhance your workouts with this portable trainer and get lean, toned and strong with over 100 workouts on the Nike Training Club app. Sync and listen to your own music to this app and get a full body workout for free.

4. Pocket Yoga

If you want to get the most results from practicing yoga, then doing it regularly is what you need to do to get the body you want. Without having to spend those big bucks on weekly yoga classes, Pocket Yoga allows you to practice at your own pace whenever and wherever you want. With this app, you can choose different levels of difficulties, time durations and 27 yoga practices.

5. FitID

FitID is the ultimate fitness app to keep you on top of your game. It allows you to track your meals, workouts and your progress. With this app, you can also share your progress and fitness life with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and the rest of the FitID community and discover the most popular diets and training programs.

6. WebMD

With access to the largest database of medical news and information, WedMD is like having your own doctor in the palm of your hand. WebMD helps you make the best decisions towards health improvements and is a powerful app because it allows you to select the part of your body that is bothering you, choose your symptoms and then you can learn about the potential conditions or issues.

7. Fooducate

Educate yourself with the foods that you are putting into your body with the Fooducate app. By grading your food and explain what is really inside each product that you’re eating, Fooducate offers you healthier alternatives and helps you lose weight, eat real food and track your progress.

8. Zombies, Run!

If you see exercising and running as a necessary evil, then the Zombies, Run! app can make the activity more fun. This app includes an eight-week training program that will help to boost your endurance as you run away from the zombies in town trying to attack you. Zombie, Run! is both a game with story lines and also a great fitness took to help improve your health.

9. Weight Watchers Mobile

For the millions of people who follow the successful Weight Watchers health program, you can now stay in control and make keep track of your Weight Watchers diet on-the-go. You can access featured recipes, shopping lists, success stories and weight loss suggestions at the tip of your fingers wherever you are with this smart app.

10. Lose it!

Lose it! is a simple, easy-to-use mobile app that helps track what you eat and the activities that you do throughout the day. Lose it! helps you set goals for weight loss, exercise, sleep, blood pressure and much more options towards tracking your healthy lifestyle. Share your fitness journey with your friends on Lose it! with recipes and healthier options of food choices.

11. iTriage

iTriage is a very qualified healthcare app where you can get medical information whenever and wherever you need. With iTriage you can check symptoms and conditions, look up treatments and medications and find a doctor or ER near you through its GPS and mapping technology.

12. P90X

The best fitness program P90X is now available to you anywhere you go to help you get those fitness results you want. Keep track of your workouts including sets, reps and weights while also logging your daily nutrition. The P90X Fit Test and Ab Ripper X will get you that body you want in no time.

13. Fitbit, Inc.

Another great health and fitness app is the Fitbit app that helps you get active, eat better, sleep better and manage your weight. With this app you track the things that matter including logging your food intake, water, weight, sleeping times and workouts. Unlike other calorie tracker apps, the food plan updates on Fitbit are based on how active you are each day.

14. Ab Workouts Free

Get that flat tummy that you’ve been wanting with the Ab Workouts Free app. Ab Workouts Free talks you through fun and effective exercising that will sculpt your abs into shape and make you into a more confident and healthier person.

15. Restaurant Nutrition

Nutritional smartphone apps like Lose it! and Fooducate are great for tracking calories and fitness at home, but those apps don’t have the nutritional information about the foods that you consume while eating out at restaurants. With the Restaurant Nutrition app, you can track your food intake from almost any restaurant you can think of, with over 60,000 food items.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Rumors

by admin on March 2, 2013 in Samsung with No comments

Sure, Samsung Galaxy S4 officially announcement isn’t for another few weeks, but that doesn’t mean that the rumor mills haven’t been spinning wild with speculations on what Samsung’s latest phone will feature. Here are the most commonly asked questions (and potentially correct answers) about the Samsung Galaxy S4!

What will the new Samsung phone be called?

There was similar discussion surrounding the iPhone 5 prior to its launch—what name will Samsung assign to its latest device? Keeping in mind that the iPhone series has, for the most part, followed a numerical progression and that Samsung has done the same as well, it’s a safe assumption that the official name for the new smartphone will be Samsung Galaxy S IV. However, since the Galaxy S III is more popularly known as the Galaxy S3, we are expecting that the S IV will be more commonly known and referenced to as the Samsung Galaxy S3.

When will the Galaxy S4 be released?

The Galaxy S4 official announcement will be in New York City on March 14^th. It’s still up in the air as to when the phone will hit retail shelves nationwide.

Will the S4 feature a larger screen?

Short answer: Yes. Considering that screen real estate is an increasingly growing commodity, my bet is that the S4’s screen will be an upgrade from the S3 but not as large as the Note series as Samsung wants to keep each of their products distinct. The ongoing rumor is that the screen will be 5-inches and feature a 1920 X 1080 AMOLED display. (The S3 features a 4.7-inch screen.) Fingers crossed that Samsung will surprise us all by replacing its usual AMOLED display for the more innovative Full-HD SoLux display.

Will Samsung equip the S4 with a better battery?

I sure hope so! As phones are becoming increasingly powerful and running an astounding amount of apps simultaneously, it’s felt that we’ve had to sacrifice battery life for efficiency. If the S4 is going to have a bigger screen, it better have a battery life to match. The recent Motorola Droid Razr Maxx features a monster of a battery and has garnered quite a few fans for its seemingly never-ending power source. My guess is that Samsung won’t quite go to that extreme but will upgrade from the S3’s battery and feature one somewhere around the 2600 mAh range.

What will the Galaxy S4 look and feel like?

Some argue that the S3’s plastic body cheapens the phone’s entire look, while others love that it makes the phone a lot kinder to accident-prone users. I personally just love the overall sleek design of the iPhone 4 and 4S but was not a fan of the glass back—that’s why I’m head-over-heels for the anodized aluminum back on the iPhone 5. Time will tell if Samsung will keep on the plastic body trend for its latest phone. My guess is that since the Galaxy S3 has done astoundingly well, being the only phone that has ever outsold the iPhone, it’ll stay true to its original Galaxy design and retain the plastic hardware.

What will the camera be like?

Considering that Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy camera in December 2012, it would appear that Samsung is now seriously flexing its muscle in the photography industry. The point-and-shoot camera maintains all basic camera functionalities but gets a significant tech boost as it comes equipped with GPS, Wi-Fi, and even runs on the Android Jelly Bean OS. This all means that the camera on the Galaxy S4 is going to be top-of-the-line amazing. The iPhone 5’s camera did not receive a much-requested upgrade from the 8-megapixel on its predecessor the iPhone 4, so if Samsung really wants to blow the competition out of the water, we are expecting a 13-megapixel camera.

Will the Galaxy S4 feature the Android Jelly Bean operating system?

I would be surprised if it didn’t at least come equipped with Jelly Bean. Key Lime Pie isn’t set to launch until May and chances are Google is going to want to keep their cards close to their chest and launch it with their next Nexus phone.

What colors will the S4 come in?

Chances are that the S4 will be officially launched in black and white body colors but I would not be surprised if they released updated colors down the line.

Will the Galaxy S4 include NFC capabilities?

Users were, for the most part, disappointed that the iPhone 5 did not feature NFC and instead launched Passbook. Chances are that Samsung will not take that same route and will include NFC in the Galaxy S4. Now that Samsung and Visa just entered into a partnership, we can expect that the Galaxy S4 will come enabled with a Visa-specific app that might even initially be exclusive to the S4.

How much will the Galaxy S4 cost?

Since there’s been consistent rumors that Apple will be releasing a cheaper line of iPhones, Samsung might be treading very carefully in terms of their pricing strategy for the S4. But, it’s still a safe bet that the Galaxy S4 will launch along the same pricing structure as the Galaxy S3 when it was first released. ($199 for 16 GB model, $249 for 32 GB model.) An upside is that it is almost guaranteed that the Samsung Galaxy S3 prices will drop dramatically on the heels of the S4 launch.

What features are you hoping to see in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4?

Latest Smartphone Trend: Phablets

by Jordan Kissel on February 27, 2013 in Phablets with No comments

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new trend… phablets! What exactly is phablet you ask? Well, as the name suggests, it’s a PHone and a tABLET. Phablets usually have all the same features of a tablet including a touch screen, keyboard, mobile operating system, camera, and apps. Phablets generally come with a screen between five to seven inches. The main reason phones are getting bigger is because we are using them for different things. Not only are we using them for phone calls, but for shopping, mobile networking, gaming and streaming as well. Since phablets are smaller than tablets, they are more convenient to carry with you. Let’s take a look at some of the leading phablets on the market.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy S3 with a rounded rectangular look. It has a 5.5 inch screen and weighs 0.4 pounds. The headphone jack is located on the top of the phone and charger port on the bottom. On the left side are the volume controls and to the right is power button. The Note 2 has an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash located on the back of the phone and a 1.9-megapixel front camera. This phablet comes with the S Pen which very accurate. It can be used for graphic designing or writing notes. There are many benefits that the Note 2 offers. One of my favorite is that you can perform multiple tasks on the same screen without any screen transitions.

Huawei Ascend Mate

To compete with the Note 2, Huawei created the Ascend Mate. This phablet is known as “the world’s largest smartphone.” The Ascend Mate features a 6.1 inch screen and a slim design. It runs on Android’s 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The 4050 mAh battery provides a cell phone battery of up to two days of ordinary use from a single charge. One feature which stands out is the “magic touch” which gives you access to the touch screen while wearing gloves. Unfortunately, Huawei does not have specific plans to release the Ascend Mate in the United States.

ZTE Grand S

The ZTE Grand S is the world’s thinnest touch screen. With a 5 inch display, the Grand S is still remarkably thin at 6.9mm. The phablet includes 4G LTE for top downloading speed and runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS . The Grand S offers smartphone photography with facial recognition and a panoramic camera. The Grand S is set to hit stores in China at the end of the first quarter of 2013. However, it is unclear whether or not the phablet will ever hit the US market.

It is expected that phablets will grow 70% each year for the next three years. The increase usage of both phones and tablets may even lead to the extinction of personal computers. But before smartphones disappear completely, expect them to get larger and harder to ignore.

Accessorize your Samsung Galaxy S3

by Jordan Kissel on December 18, 2012 in Samsung Galaxy S3 with No comments

You got the new Samsung Galaxy S3 and you love it. It has features such as a 4.8 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel HD display, lightweight design, 2GB of RAM, and Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 processor. You can do everything on it like take photos and easily share them with friends using Buddy Photo Share to using S Voice to launch an app. You probably wonder how this phone could get any better. Well, a phone is never complete without accessories. Here are a few recommendations to help integrate your phone into your everyday life:

The first thing you want to do is protect your phone. You need something to guard against drops, scrapes, dirt, and dust but at the same time, you want your phone to look stylish and fun. With so many cases available, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you.

One of the most innovative accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is Samsung TecTiles. The TecTiles are programmable near-field communication (NFC) that allows you to automate actions via the related app. You can use them to share a contact or put it next to your bed and adjust the settings to prevent calls or texts while you sleep. However, the TecTiles do not work on metal surfaces.

A screen protector will prevent your screen from getting scratched, protect from normal wear and tear, and make your phone look brand new for as long as possible. There are different kinds of screen protectors with features such as anti-glare or a high definition mirror.

If you’re looking for more precision with the touch screen, a stylus may be helpful. Using a stylus will make it easier to sketch and take notes while preventing smudges from being left behind from your fingertips.

An armband is perfect for listening to all your awesome tunes while you go for a walk or run. Most armbands are stretchable and water-resistant, making them ideal for your work out.

For those who find themselves on the road for a good amount of the day, a Bluetooth headset is a handy accessory to have. Talk as much as you like but keep your hands free so you can focus on the road.

If your phone holds a lot of information and you’re worried it’s going to run out of room, a memory card can help solve the problem. This will give you more space for apps, music, or pictures, without having to delete any data.

Looking for a way to transfer your data from your cell phone to our PC? A USB dat
a cable can do just that. It’s important to back up the data on your phone because you never know what can happen!

So if you’re looking for a way to jazz up your new Samsung Galaxy 3 or you just need ways for it to fit your lifestyle a little better, accessories will do just that.

12 Days of Christmas

by Jordan Kissel on December 13, 2012 in Wireless Emporium with 2 Comments

From now until Christmas Eve, enter our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway! Head over to our Facebook page and use the Sweepstakes tab on the upper right corner to enter! Or if you’re on a mobile device, you can enter here. Once you enter you’ll be eligible to win one of these prizes

Google Nexus 7 tablet
Nintendo 3DS
Apple iPod Touch
Sol headphones
Nintendo Wii,
Kindle
Zoro headphones
TruSound Bluetooth speaker
Qmadix speaker set
Urbanista headphones
Samsung Galaxy S3 battery pack
BlueAnt Bluetooth speakerphone

Be sure to check our Facebook page at the end of the Sweepstakes to see if you won. Want to double your chances of wining? ‘Like’ our Facebook page and your entry will count twice! For our existing fans on Facebook, the same rules apply! Want more information? Check out this video for all the details!

Insta Addict

by Jordan Kissel on December 13, 2012 in Instagram with No comments

Ok, maybe the phrase “Insta Addict” might be a bit extreme, but if you’re anything like me, Instagram is your go-to app when you want to show off that awesome new photo you took.

For those of you who don’t know what Instagram is, it’s a photo-sharing app and social network. Users can take pictures, apply a filter, and then share it with other users. Although I could sit here all day raving about Instagram, there are also apps out there to enhance Instagram.

Ever want to Instagram something but there’s too many pictures to choose from? Well, Diptic has 52 different frames where you can paste multiple images to create a collage. You can also adjust brightness and contrast level or change the color and size of the frame. And to make your life a little bit easier, you can take pictures directly from the app. Get it at the iTunes store or on Google Play for $0.99.

There’s only two things I hate about Instagram: private profiles and having to screen shot every picture you want a copy of. Although I haven’t found a solution to the first problem, Instake solves the second. With this app you can download the picture of your choice and save it straight to your camera roll. Sorry Android users, Instake is only available on iTunes for free.

TypoInsta is a fun app that resembles a Japanese photo booth. It features 120 fonts and 30 text effects and graphics to edit pictures. It runs for $1.99 on iTunes.

If you’re the type who likes to stay organized then My InstaAlbum is the perfect app for you. It allows you to sort albums by date, location, tag, or filter. With this app you can upload your pictures directly to DropBox. My InstaAlbum is available on iTunes for $1.99

Snapseed let’s you edit your pictures before posting them to Instagram with adjustments or creative enhancements. If you’re looking to adjust your photo, you use features like auto correct, rotate/straighten, or crop. You can apply filters to your photo such as vintage or grunge. This app used to cost $4.99 on iTunes. However, it is now available for both Android and iOS for free.

These are just some of our favorite apps to enhance Intagram. What are yours?

Wireless Emporium’s Black Friday Deals!

by admin on November 23, 2012 in Wireless Emporium with No comments

Why bother with the long lines and massive crowds when you can shop comfortably from home. This Black Friday, shop smart with Wireless Emporium’s Black Friday Sale, featuring the hottest deals on tech accessories.

Kick off the holiday shopping season with the best deals online at Wireless Emporium. Shop now!

It’s WE’s Black Friday Frenzy Giveaway!

by admin on November 21, 2012 in Wireless Emporium with No comments

Are you the kind of shopper that gets all their holiday shopping done ahead of time or the last-minute buyer that shops for presents in the last moments before Christmas? Either way, wouldn’t it be great to have a $100 gift card to stock up on presents for loved ones or even for a special treat for yourself? That’s exactly why WE are giving away gift cards and prizes in our Black Friday Frenzy Giveaway!

Enter now on our Facebook page for your chance to win big!

Refurbished Phones at Wireless Emporium

by admin on October 29, 2012 in Videos with 1 Comment

WirelessEmporium.com offers a wide variety of factory refurbished cell phones. All of our mobile devices are sold without expensive contracts and are ready to use right out of the box with your current carrier and plan.

The great thing about buying a refurbished cell phone is that you can get the latest technology at a fraction of the price. Refurbished cell phones are phones that were returned to the manufacturer shortly after original purchase, sometimes with nothing wrong with them at all, or simply requiring minor functional or cosmetic repairs.

Refurbished devices have been reconditioned to original factory standards by professional technicians so they function as new. Thoroughly inspected and quality assured, refurbished devices have undergone a sequence of tests and quality checks and finally repackaged for your convenience.

Certified fully operational these phones cannot be visually distinguished from their “new” counterparts. Buying refurbished not only does your pocketbook a favor, but you will also give the environment a break by reducing waste and cutting down on the unnecessary disposal of these fully functional products.

So make the smart choice and take advantage of our amazing deals on factory refurbished cell phones at WirelessEmporium.com, where your phone will be shipped for free from our Southern California Warehouse. Let us know what you think below, and Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more great videos and helpful information. And we’ll see you next time.

Your Smartphone Is Now Your Wallet

Top 15 Apps to Keep You Fit and Healthy

Samsung Galaxy S4 Rumors

Latest Smartphone Trend: Phablets

Accessorize your Samsung Galaxy S3

12 Days of Christmas

Insta Addict

Wireless Emporium’s Black Friday Deals!

It’s WE’s Black Friday Frenzy Giveaway!

Refurbished Phones at Wireless Emporium

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