What are the qualifications for used phones you should look out for prior to purchasing? Here are three of the most critical things to consider:

Protection Plan

A number of refurbished phones now come with a protection plan similar to what you might get when purchasing a new phone. These protection plans, depending on what level of insurance you choose, covering anything from software and hardware issues to incidental damage.

Apple, for example, includes a protection plan for each of its refurbished products. Their AppleCare protection plan, or AppleCare+, can be purchased for refurbished devices, affording buyers the same level of service and support from Apple experts as they would receive with a new purchase.

Certified Refurbished Devices

Pre-owned devices must undergo a stringent refurbishment process to be considered certified and shelf-ready. During this process, they are tested to check for hardware and operating system functionality issues. During this process, workers will upgrade the device to the latest firmware and clear out any preexisting data. Any faulty or missing parts are swapped for industry-standard replacements and repackaged before being released for resale.

Authentic, certified pre-owned products must meet certain minimum quality standards. They should be clearly labeled as refurbished and have a stamp of approval that they have been tested and meet the industry standards.

Warranty Requirements

When purchasing a used phone, it is imperative that you make sure that it comes with a warranty. Depending on the point of purchase, a warranty can range from 30 days to one year. A warranty acts as assurance that the phone will be replaced or repaired if it experiences any problems within the set period.

What other qualifications for used phones have you found essential when considering used or refurbished devices?

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For parents looking to purchase cell phones for kids, refurbished or used phones are an attractive option – and for many reasons. When is it best for a parent to buy a pre-owned phone for their child? Here are four points to consider:

1. Your Budget Is Low

Refurbished phones will always be cheaper compared to their new counterparts. This makes used phones a great option when you’re looking to spend less on a device for your child.

Carriers offer phones for a reduced cost, or even for free, that may be less than a used phone. Although, the subsidized price of the phone is spread out over the life of the contract, meaning you will likely pay more in the long run for the phone than it would cost to buy an unlocked phone from a reputable reseller.

2. You Want to Avoid Contract Restrictions

Pre-owned devices are not only appealing because of their discounted pricing, but also due to a lack of contract restrictions. If you are unsure of whether you want to stay with your current carrier, or if you’re signing up for service from a new carrier and want to have flexibility to leave on your own terms, an unlocked device may be your best investment.

Without carrier-specific restrictions, you can negotiate with a variety of carriers and choose the best combination of data and calling rates. Children and young adults will usually be heavy data users, so you’ll want an affordable, flexible data package to accompany any cell phones for kids.

3. You Want a Child-Friendly Option

Kids are always misplacing things, so it should be no surprise when they lose their phones. Rather than over-spend on a new smartphone each time this happens, consider a used model. Refurbished phones can be purchased and replaced without breaking the bank.

Have you bought a used phone for your child? Share your experience with us.

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Buying on a Budget

Your budget should be the first thing you consider before making a purchase, as it will limit or expand your choices. In almost all situations, pre-owned or refurbished phones cost less than new ones. Be careful when evaluating the cost of a phone that’s subsidized by a contract —you may end up paying more in the long run.

Smooth Operator

Today, the choice between operating systems (OSs) on smartphones is largely limited to Android, Windows or iOS. Each of these OS ecosystems varies in terms of user experience, app availability and user base. iOS devices tend to be pricier than their Android counterparts, Statista notes. Android apps also tend to be less expensive than both Windows and iOS apps.

It’s worth noting that some apps may be limited to a specific operating system. If you require certain business or personal apps that are only available on a certain platform or generation of device, then the choice becomes clear—and could potentially overrule the used versus new phone debate.

Keeping Up Appearances

A pre-owned phone might be the best choice for you if you don’t mind a bit of an older design aesthetic or a few superficial blemishes. Even so, used phones are always cleaned up and shined to meet certification requirements. At Gazelle, all smartphones go through a 30-point inspection and certified as ‘like-new’ or good.’

Do You Want Locked or Unlocked?

Unlocked phones provide more flexibility when choosing a carrier. As a result, these phones may run you more than their locked, carrier-specific counterparts. Both used phones and new ones can be factory- or carrier-unlocked. Make sure you understand all the repercussions of buying and owning an unlocked phone before you make a choice.

Have you purchased a new or used phone? Are you planning to purchase one? Share your comments below.

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The Pilot Program

“When Project Ara hits Puerto Rico, users should be able to customize their devices using the Ara Marketplace and Ara Configurator apps,” The Verge reports. The Ara Marketplace is where users can find and purchase the modules (camera, battery, storage, etc.) that attach to the phone. To determine which modules to get, users can put the Ara Configurator app to the test. According to The Verge, this app uses Android’s new Material Design to assist users in customizing and ordering their Ara handset. They can navigate through the app to select the modules, design the phone’s exterior, and more.

Google will run its test pilot from food truck-style stores where users can check out the device before committing to it. The company also hopes to have 20–30 modules available for purchase. The pilot program in Puerto Rico is intended to help the company learn what it’s doing well and what it’s not, as well as see how it can shift to meet consumer needs before any official product launch.

Project Ara

Since it was announced in 2013, the Ara smartphone has undergone a number of iterations. The Verge reports that Google hopes the Spiral 3 variation will be able to support a 4G LTE network and hold its own against other phones on the marketplace.

The Ara smartphone will allow users to swap out different parts of the phone, such as the camera and USB components, and customize it to their preferences. According to Engadget, it will be possible to change the location of different device components—such as where the USB port is located—between the front and back of the phone. Users will also be able to swap a dying battery with a new one without turning the phone off. In the future, Google hopes that users will be able to print modules via 3-D printing technology.

A lot needs to happen between now and a full-fledged consumer launch, but a pilot test in Puerto Rico is a good sign for Project Ara’s future.

What do you think of Project Ara? Share with us below.

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Here is a look at some of the most highly anticipated mobile devices hitting shelves next year:

Samsung Galaxy S6

Although the Galaxy S5 did not meet consumer expectations and hit disappointing sales figures, rumor has it that the Galaxy S6 will be less conservative than its predecessor when it is expected to be released in February 2015. The next Samsung flagship is rumored to have exciting new features, the most ambitious of which include a curved screen similar to the Galaxy Note Edge and possibly even an iris scanner. Latest reports indicate two versions of the phone.

The S6 is expected to come with a 64-bit processing CPU, more RAM, a 20 megapixel camera, and a 4K display, according to AndroidPIT. Leaked benchmark stats from BGR also show that the phone will likely run on Android 5.0 Lollipop to take advantage of the 5.5-inch, 2560 by 1440 QHD display, and have a 64-bit octa-core processor. If these specs hold true, then the S6 will be much faster and could set the standard for high-end phones coming out in 2015.

LG G4

LG’s next flagship smartphone is rumored to come out in April or May 2015, according to TechRadar. The LG G4 is expected to come with a 5.3-inch display and an incredibly slim 0.7 mm bezel on either side of the screen. It may also come with a metallic back, a battery-saving mode, and a better camera that performs well in low light.

This is a great phone for anyone who enjoyed the previous LG G2 and G3 versions. The new device should feel faster and have a sleeker interface that feels less cluttered compared to its predecessors.

Sony Xperia Z4

Sony’s next flagship smartphone is expected to improve on many aspects of the Xperia Z3. It’s rumored to include a 5.5-inch QHD, 1440 by 2560 display that is powered by a 2.8GHz 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, according to TechRadar. It is also rumored to pack a 20.7 megapixel rear camera and a 4.8 megapixel front-facing camera. It will run on Android 5.0.

The Z4 is a great high-end phone for anyone looking for 4K video capabilities. It’s also quite powerful with up to 3 GB RAM, which means switching running and switching between apps will be much faster. The device may see a release date as early as January 2015.

Which of these devices are you most looking forward to this year?

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Some of the apps are well-known and others are newcomers. Some are free, some require a payment. But they all have one thing in common: users have rated them as some of the best apps on the market. Here is a look at some of the apps that took the Google Play Store by storm in 2014.

News Apps

News apps have always been popular with mobile users. Google listed the New York Times—Breaking News app, which delivers news with enhanced imagery and multimedia. Users can access 10 free articles per month from any section.

The CNN Breaking US & World News app has a 4-star rating as of December 2014 and was also one of the Play Store’s best apps of 2014. The app was redesigned for phones and tablets, and allows users to consume news by watching video clips, browsing photo galleries, receiving news alerts, and following stories as they develop.

Music Apps

Quite a few music apps also made it on the Google Play Store’s “Best Apps of 2014” list. These include Shazam and SoundHound, which are music and TV identification and matching services, and TuneIn Radio, a way to listen to radio stations from across the United States.

Miscellaneous Apps

Other apps that made the list include shopping apps like Wish, on-demand driver services like Uber, and portrait- and selfie-editing tools like Facetune. The popular TED talks app, which brings the world’s most fascinating speeches to Android, made the list as well.

These represent only a few of the best apps on the market, so be sure to head over to the Play Store and check out some of the other top-rated apps of 2014.

Which other apps do you think deserve to be on the list?

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Smartwatches

There are several different smartwatch designs already on the market, but the number keeps on growing. Products like the Apple Watch and the Samsung Gear are some of the most discussed, even though Apple’s device has not yet been released. These devices connect to your smartphone to automate some processes that would otherwise require getting your handset out of your pocket.

Although they have made it more convenient to receive and respond to updates, these devices cannot fully replace the smartphone. As a result, their small screens and limited functionality may make them popular for novelty alone. The idea of transferring some tasks from a phone to a watch seems more practical, but it will likely fail to keep up with the comprehensiveness provided by the device in your pocket.

Smartrings and Wristbands

These devices are flooding the market of wearables and getting less costly in the process. The Fitbit One and Nike Fuelband, for instance, are small, lightweight, and comfortable for any user to wear. They’ll likely grow trendier as developers add more functionality.

The great thing about smartrings and wristbands like the Fitbit One and Fuelband is that they incorporate tasks found in standalone pedometer and GPS devices. Having a single device that integrates these functionalities into a single, lightweight wrist piece will likely live up to the hype in the athletic community come 2015.

Smartglasses

Advanced headsets like Google Glass also enable users to see updates without having to take out their devices. While the idea of receiving live location updates, e-mails, and other info right in front of your eyes seems appealing, security concerns have precluded many people from confidently using them. Privacy issues have plagued these devices, not to mention the rather awkward aesthetic, which hasn’t gone over well in the mainstream market.

Google Glass may have begun to work around these problems, but buyers probably won’t come around to devices that obstruct their view of the world in front of them. Glass fails to offer this visual comfort, making it another over-hyped device.

Which wearable devices do you think will become a trend in 2015?

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1. Fitbit (Free, Android, iOS, and Windows)

Designed to work with a variety of wearables and smart scales, Fitbit can track daily goals and monitor progress. It gives users a one-stop spot to log food and exercise and view calories in versus calories out, measure the number of steps they’ve taken per day (and see the distance in miles), and track the quality and length of sleep, among other metrics.

2. FitStar (Free, iOS)

FitStar works as a personal workout assistant. It creates customized exercise routines—tailored to the user’s age, weight, and other statistics—and adjusts them based on performance. The app includes easy-to-follow workouts by NFL legend Tony Gonzalez, who acts as a digital personal trainer. According to ReadWrite, FitStar “looks like a fitness DVD . . . but without the boredom factor that comes from repeating the same workouts.”

3. Lose It! (Free, iOS and Android)

Lose It! offers a comprehensive weight-loss program. Users are required to input their weight, height, and the number of weeks they want to work toward their goal. After that, the app sets a weekly goal showing exactly how long the weight-loss project will take.

This tool seamlessly connects people, devices, and food information, all in one location. Both the iOS and Android versions come with detailed calorie information, a calorie calculator, the ability to track daily activity and goals through graphs, and a list of friends to keep you motivated.

4. Map My Fitness (Free, iOS and Android)

Map My Fitness can track a range of activities, including running and cycling. It also measures calories, distance, and pace using a calorie counter and GPS tracking. The app’s interface includes workout details, a map of routes taken, and an up-to-date profile showing the user’s activities.

5. Moves (Free, iOS and Android)

The Moves app recognizes the places a user visits, automatically tracks everyday activities, and shows each day as a simple story line. Using a map, the app shows the path the user took throughout the day, how long each activity lasted, and other important tracking metrics.

6. Fooducate (Free, iOS and Android)

This app analyzes information about food products. Just scan a product bar code and Fooducate will display its nutrition grade. The app can reveal hidden ingredients, such as excessive sugar and controversial food colorings, and recommend alternatives when necessary to help users make an informed decision. It also includes a tracker to monitor diet based on set goals.

7. Calorie Counter (Free, iOS and Android)

With a database of over four million foods, Calorie Counter is one of the best health and fitness apps. The app can save your favorite foods, entire meals, and more. It also includes over 350 exercises and the ability to track cardio and strength training and create unlimited customized exercises.

Which other health and fitness apps have you found effective?

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1. Time to Enjoy (Free, iOS)

Time to Enjoy browses your iPhone calendar, determines when you have free time, and then finds local events that take place during those open time slots. Upon locating an event of interest, the app will present you with the relevant details, which you can share with your friends via e-mail, text message, Facebook, or Twitter.

2. LocalMind (Free, Android and iOS)

LocalMind uses location services like FourSquare to pull up info from users who have visited a location. Users can post questions to gauge visitors’ opinions and get responses from local experts about specific events. The app pings someone who recently checked in at an event and requests their feedback, all in real-time.

3. Field Trip (Free, Android and iOS)

Google’s Field Trip is one of the best event apps for anyone who wants to get alerts about what’s happening in town. The app runs in the background and pops up information about restaurants, clubs, landmarks, or anything else nearby. Acting like a personal guide, Field Trip pulls data from popular publications like TimeOut and Thrillist. The interface includes a user-friendly map that displays nearby events. You can also select events and locations based on your interests.

4. Eventbrite (Free, Android and iOS)

Eventbrite is another great tool for locating nearby events. The app is an extension of the company’s popular ticketing website. You can browse events by category and see recommendations from friends. Eventbrite allows you to purchase tickets or scan QR codes on the go. This is one of the best apps for users who want to keep all of their event information on one app.

What do you think are the best apps for events?

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The Disney Movies Anywhere Initiative

Disney Movies Anywhere is a free download that is both family-friendly and visually appealing. It allows users to stream or download their digital collection on any of their compatible devices, and the parental control feature limits what kids can purchase and download. At startup, users are presented with a list of new and upcoming movies with original visual art. An all-time favorites list is also available.

“We want to make it easy for movie fans to enjoy all their past and future digital purchases across all of their devices,” said Jonathan Zepp, Google’s head of Google Play Movies partnerships, according to TechCrunch.

The Discover tab includes exclusive content such as deleted scenes, one-on-one interviews with voice actors, and facts about characters. Under the “Movies” tab, users can check out the complete list of available movies, categorized by genre. These include Animation, Classics, Action & Adventure, and even Documentaries. Users can scroll through movies based on year of release, as well.

As an incentive to onboard as many people as possible, Disney is offering a free digital copy of the movie Wreck-It Ralph for a limited time to anyone who connects their app to either their Apple or Google store accounts.

Movie Access Across Platforms

According to TechCrunch, Disney’s decision to allow access to their content on iOS or Android, regardless of whether it was purchased from the iTunes Store or Google Play, may very well be the first time it has been possible to purchase a movie from one store and access it on a competing platform.

Disney Movies Anywhere’s app is virtually identical across iOS and Android, allowing users to sort the most relevant content through a “featured movies” tab alongside its other various categories. However, the new Android app does use Google’s design language, making it feel native to Android and less like a seamless translation of the original iOS program.

TechCrunch reports that, according to Disney CTO Jamie Voris, Disney hopes to extend the idea of universal access beyond iOS and Android by engaging with more partners to make the app truly cross-platform.

Which movie will you be downloading first on the Disney Movies Anywhere app?

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