• Turn the device off
• Press the four buttons at the same time as shown in the image below (On button, Right Shift, Space bar & delete)
• If its worked, you’ll know when the phone turns on as it will ask you for your location (i.e. country then city).

Some pointers:

• Backup EVERYTHING on your phone memory as this will be wiped – it doesn’t touch your mass memory so you’ll need to format that from the file manager
• You’ll need to re-install all your applications etc so make sure you have copies saved or you can redownload the installation files
• It took me three attempts to actually get it to work as you need to make sure all the buttons are fully pressed, not partially pressed!

Tips: You need to hold the three buttons & then press the power button. Make sure you KEEP HOLDING the buttons, otherwise it won’t hard-reset.

Charge your battery correctly, in accordance with its type. Most newer cell phones have lithium-ion batteries, while older ones generally have nickel-based batteries

Store batteries properly. If your battery will be out of use for a while, disconnect it from the phone and store it in a cool place (the refrigerator is good, but freezing temperatures do not slow oxidation) and away from metal objects. Ensure that the battery is not exposed to moisture; try putting the battery in an airtight container or bag. Lithium ion batteries are not rated to operate at refrigerated temperatures, so let the battery sit outside the refrigerator for at least an hour before using it again. Lithium ion batteries oxidize least when they are stored at 40% charge. Never store a lithium battery at low voltage. Recharge batteries after storage.

Clean the battery contacts on the battery and on the phone. Over time, contacts may accumulate dirt. Clean them with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to maximize the efficiency of energy transfer. In addition, if the contacts are two different metals, such as gold and tin, accelerated corrosion known as “galvanic or bi-metallic” occurs. Cutting the corrosion from the contacts often requires solvents, such as acetone or nail polish remover. Be careful: these solvent dissolve plastic, so use a Q-Tip to avoid damaging the battery housing or the phone.

Increase Time between Charges

Turn the phone off. This is probably the most effective and most simple way of conserving your battery’s power. If you don’t plan on answering the phone while you’re sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off.

Prolong the Life of Your Battery

Initialize a new battery. New batteries should be fully charged before their first use to obtain maximum capacity. Nickel-based batteries should be charged for 16 hours initially and run through 2-4 full charge/full discharge cycles, while lithium ion batteries should be charged for about 5-6 hours. Ignore the phone telling you that the battery is full–this is normal but is not accurate if the battery is not initialized.

Turn the phone off. This is probably the most effective and most simple way of conserving your battery’s power. If you don’t plan on answering the phone while you’re sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. Do the same if you are in an area with no reception (such as a subway or remote area, since constantly searching for service depletes the battery fairly quickly. Some phones have an automatic power save feature, but it takes about 30 minutes with no service to kick in. By then, much battery power has been used.

Stop searching for a signal. When you are in an area with poor or no signal, your phone will constantly look for a better connection, and will use up all your power doing so. This is easily understood if you have ever forgotten to turn off your phone on a flight. The best way to ensure longer battery life is to make sure you have a great signal where you use your phone. If you don’t have a perfect signal, get a cell phone repeater which will amplify the signal to provide near perfect reception anywhere.

Switch off the vibrate function on your phone, and use just the ring tone instead. The vibrate function uses up a lot of battery power. Keep the ring tone volume as low as possible.

Turn off your phone’s back light. The back light is what makes the phone easier to read in bright light or outside. However, the light also uses battery power. If you can get by without it, your battery will last longer. If you have to use the back light, many phones will let you set the amount of time to leave the back light on. Shorten that amount of time. Usually, one or two seconds will be sufficient. Some phones have an ambient light sensor, which can turn off the back light in bright conditions and enable it in darker ones.

Avoid using unnecessary features. If you know it will be a while before your phone’s next charge, don’t use the camera or connect to the Internet. Flash photography can drain your battery especially quickly.

Keep calls short. This is obvious, but how many times have you heard someone on their mobile phone say, “I think my battery’s dying,” and then continue their conversation for several minutes? Sometimes, the dying battery is just an excuse to get off the phone (and a good one, at that), but if you really need to conserve the battery, limit your talk time.

Turn off Bluetooth. It will drain your battery very quickly.

Same goes for WIFI, GPS, and infrared capabilities, if your phone has these features built in. Keep them off; save more power.

Use GSM – Using your phone in 3G / Dual Mode will drain the battery quicker than if you just use GSM mode – have a look at your phones spec and you’ll see it will quote two different battery life times – normally 50% more for pure GSM use.

Like the others in the Curve series, the 8900 features a full 35-key QWERTY keypad with a trackball. It looks almost identical to the Bold, except that it’s smaller and lighter, making it about the same weight as many ordinary mobiles, and compact enough to fit easily into a jacket pocket, or even into a jeans pocket. This fact alone makes it into a much more mainstream device than the old Curves or the Bold.

Before we start our review proper, let’s just take a moment to admire the ergonomics and construction of the 8900. Unboxing the 8900, you can’t help but admire the build quality of the device – it just feels so solid and well constructed. Unlike so many phones, taking the back off to insert the sim card and battery is so easy. The keys are admittedly small, but they move crisply and anyone with fingers in the normal size range for a Homo Sapien should have no problem with them at all. You can even use it single-handedly. The trackball is just like with previous BlackBerries – some love it, some are less keen. We aren’t 100% in favour of the trackball, but it does the job.

Let’s move on to the display next. It’s enormous! At 2.44 inches across and a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels, this is just the kind of screen that we need when reading emails or browsing the web (not to mention viewing photos or watching videos.) This screen matches the iPhone 3G and outperforms just about anything else in existence. The menus are reasonably simple too, and once you’ve got used to the trackball and the overall size of the device, you’ll find that the 8900 is almost the perfect phone, ergonomically speaking. For us, it’s the closest that BlackBerry have ever come to perfection. Just a little more work on the menus and a smoother trackball, and it would be 100%.

Now, of course, the key selling point of a BlackBerry is email on the move, and the 8900 doesn’t disappoint. There’s little difference here with previous BlackBerries, so we’ll just reiterate that the BlackBerry implementation of mobile email is the best in the business. It is compatible with virtually all email standards. It also supports attachments, with a viewer and editor for Microsoft Office documents. Combining this with the huge screen and the QWERTY keyboard means that you get the best mobile email experience currently available. It’s also a brilliant environment for text messaging.

But the 8900 does a lot more than just mobile messaging. For one thing, it has the best camera to appear on any BlackBerry to date. With 3.2 megapixels, a LED flash and autofocus, it’s the same quality as the camera on the BlackBerry Storm, and outperforms even the camera on the Bold. It may not be an 8 megapixel replacement for a digital camera, but it will produce excellent print quality images, and is a very welcome addition. It marks one more way in which the 8900 Curve is almost a mainstream handset. The phone has a media player too, of course, and with features like playlists, shuffle and organising by artist and album, it’s a very usable MP3 player. It’s very loud too! The 3.5mm headphone jack allows you to plug in any compatible headset, in addition to the one supplied. You can also use a stereo Bluetooth headset if you prefer. With a 1GB microSD card supplied as part of the sales package, and the potential to expand this to 16GB, you certainly won’t be short of storage for music or videos. The video player works well too, with support for DivX & XviD, and flicker-free playback on the high quality LCD display. There are even 5 games included (from Sudoku to BrickBreaker), although we didn’t get round to testing these (all work, no play at Mobile Phones UK!) There is also built-in GPS, so you can find your current location, and this can be used with the BlackBerry Maps application.

The 8900 has a full choice of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate, USB and WiFi. The WiFi connection is very easy to set up, and lets you access email, the web, or data on your PC. This is probably the best way to make use of the built-in web browser.

The 8900 has a whopping heavy duty battery, which contributes to its weight quite significantly, but gives it plenty of power to last even with heavy use. You can recharge it from the mains or via a USB cable on your PC.

The 8900 is a quadband phone, which means that you can use it worldwide, and usefully it is provided with an international charger too, so no worries about forgetting to pack your travel socket. But the one feature that is very obviously missing is 3G. The Bold has 3G, the Storm has 3G, so why not the 8900? For some this may be a show stopper, and it certainly is a pity to have to rely on 2G data transfer with a device this powerful.

Finally, it’s worth pointing out just what a polished device the Curve 8900 is. As well as the physical build quality, the usability factor is very high, with the 8900 being the latest in a mature evolution of business devices. Unlike some competitors, there’s very little about the 8900 with a “beta” feeling. Nice features include the wide choice of ringtones and alerts (both audio and visual), the wealth of status indicators on the home screen (e.g. missed calls, unopened messages, connection status, and calendar alerts.)

This is definitely one of our favourite BlackBerries of all time. The 8900 really is an accomplished multimedia device and can become a one-stop shop for communication, music, media, photography, web browsing and GPS too. Oh, if only it had 3G! Apart from the missing 3G, this really is the best BlackBerry of all time.

But there’s a third choice: buy a Used iphones.

Used iphones will save you some dough, but are the tradeoffs worth it? That decision’s ultimately up to you, but it you’re considering buying a used iPhone, here are the things to take into account and some suggestions for where to seek out your bargain.
What to Watch Out for with Refurbished iPhones

While a used iPhone can be a good deal, there are a few things you should watch out for to make sure you won’t feel a penny wise but a pound foolish.

Screen – If a refurbished iPhone has not been protected with a screen protector, its screen may be scratched. That’s normal wear and tear, but scratches are less acceptable on the iPhone, since it’s got a touchscreen for control and the media features that take great advantage of its 3.5-inch screen are one of its key selling points. Try to see the screen of the used iPhone you’re considering (even if it’s just a photo). If it’s not possible, be sure to buy from a reputable, established seller who stands behind their products.

Battery – iPhones are generally seen as having weak battery life. To compound that, their batteries can’t be replaced by the user when they die. A lightly used iPhone should have decent battery life in it, but anything more than a year old should be regarded cautiously. Ask the seller for as much detail about the battery life as possible or see if they’ll replace the battery with a new one before you buy. Also be sure to check on return policies in case the battery turns out not to be as lively as they claim.

Features - Be sure you know what features you’re sacrificing when you buy an refurbished iPhone. Early models lacked many of things the latest models have: 3G speed, the upgraded camera, the ability to record and edit video, true GPS, Nike + support, Voice Memos, and VoiceControl. Be sure that if you’re buying an older model, you’re OK not having the latest and greatest features.

Capacity – While the allure of a lower price is strong, remember that used iPhones aren’t the latest models and that they’ve got less storage space as a result. Early iPhones offered only 4GB of storage, while the latest models offer as much as 32GB. That’s a big difference and one that, if you’ve got a big iTunes library, can really affect your enjoyment of the phone. Be sure to weigh the savings against getting more for your dollar, and buy accordingly.

Price – This holds true for price as well. A refurbished iPhone may be $50 cheaper, but is $50 worth getting something that’s not quite what you want? For some, the answer will be yes. Others will value the latest hardware and are willing to pay for it.

Contract Costs – Unlike the iPod, the iPhone requires a two-year contract with AT&T for phone and Internet service (in the U.S. at least). The rates for the original iPhone were a few dollars cheaper than for the 3G or 3GS. This isn’t a huge savings, but may add up over time if AT&T continues to offer the lower-cost plan.

Warranty – If you can get a refurbished iPhone with a warranty – even an extended warranties – do it. The most reputable sellers of refurbished iPhones will stand behind their work. And a phone that’s had one previous repair won’t necessarily be trouble in the future, it might, so consider spending the extra money for an extended warranty (I think it’s the thing to do with new models, too).
Where to Buy a Refurbished iPhone

If a used iPhone is right for you, next you’ll need to decide where to pick up your new toy. But choose wisely.

From AT&T – Check your local AT&T store or AT&T’s website. The iPhone’s exclusive U.S. carrier sometimes offers refurbished models.

From exchange companies – Companies like NextWorth, FlipSwap, and Gazelle both buy and sell used iPhones. Their prices are appealing. See a full list of companies offering these services.

From iPhone resellers – Some companies that sell new iPhones also sell used ones. These mail-order or online stores usually offer prices similar to Apple’s.

From eBay/Craigslist – eBay and Craigslist are hotbeds of online bargains, but buyer beware. You may get stuck with a broken iPhone or a phone that doesn’t have the specs you thought you were getting, thanks to a scammer. Try to stick with reputable or known sellers, if possible.
Selling Your Used iPhone

If you’re buying a refurbished iPhone, you may have an older model you want to get rid of. If so, review your options for getting the most value out of your used iPhone.

When it comes to buying a refurbished iPhone, you can save money and get a good music player at the same time. You just have to be smart and careful about how and where you buy. With the tips above, you should be well on your way to doing that. Happy shopping!

A small, compact handset, the T303 is styled to fit in small handbag or pocket spaces, and has a mainly brushed metal and chrome casing, in either silver or black, with a mirror-effect screen in standby mode that’ll do for a spot of lippy adjustment.

It’s not a phone that will grab you with gadgetry however. The features set-up is basic even for a budget phone nowadays, with little of of the photo-friendly gadgetry or music mobile chops of Sony Ericsson’s Cyber-shot and Walkman lineup. It has a camera onboard, but it’s a rudimentary 1.3-megapixel shooter, with no video record facility. There’s a music player too, though with a paltry 8MB of internal memory and no memory card expansion, track lists are going to be awfully short – as in, count-on-fingers-of-one-hand short. The T303 does have an FM radio, and is supplied with a set of earphones for listening in.

Design and handling
Designed as an eye-pleasing low-cost handset, the metal and chrome bodywork on the T303 is attractive enough, and it’s rounded 83×47x15mm dimensions are small if not sleek – though at 93g it feels surprisingly solid at first grasp. The screen is limited; under the reflective display panel it’s a small 1.8-inch, low res 128×160 pixels, 65K-colour panel, not offering a huge amount of detail for viewing images or mobile internet browsing.

Operating this sliderphone is straightforward, with a conventional control set up on the outside of the shell, based around a responsive D-pad navigation control, plus the usual softkey and Activity menu fast access buttons. Menu layout is standard Sony Ericsson style, and the limited functionality means you’re not likely to get confused with options. Shortcuts on the D-pad can help you get around in typical mobile fashion too, though the Clear and Activity menu buttons surrounding it are a bit stiff to press.

The sllder numberpad buttons are a large, tappable size, and well-separated, though the plastic panel does feel cheap and creaky. Its action is a touch heavy for texting but okay if you’re not worried about speed.

Features
The 1.3-megapixel camera used on this mobile is predictably low quality compared to the vast majority of current cameraphones. It doesn’t try at sophisticated snapping – there’s no flash or autofocus system, and no dedicated camera control buttons. The user interface is plain and simple, shooting in portrait mode with a central portion of the screen acting as viewfinder.

There are barely any controls or effects, but in truth, this is a basic snap’n’sender rather than one for camera album pics or showing off. MMS is supported on the tri-band GPRS handset, but there’s none of the blogging options seen on most recent Sony Ericssons. On the plus side, the low-res pics you get won’t eat too much into that tiny memory…

Which is just as well. Although there is a music player onboard, even in a high compression file format you’ll be able to get only a bare few tunes onto the phone before you fill up the 8MB memory. For what it’s worth, it sounds acceptable with the very average earphones supplied, but this is not a phone for listening to your own music – if you do want a decent budget music mobile, check out Sony Ericsson’s low cost Walkman phone line-up, which aren’t that much more expensive than the T303.

The onboard FM radio does an effective job at free on the go tune-playing, however, while Sony Ericsson’s impressive TrackID song identification software is loaded up too. There’s a typically tinny loudspeaker you can use for the radio or music (though as normal, earphones have to be plugged in as the antenna).

Sony Ericsson does manage to include a fair lineup of standard organiser features, including a calendar, tasks, notes, timer, stopwatch and calculator, and there’s a sound recorder option. An entry-level Wap 2.0 XHTML browser is also included for basic mobile internet browsing. A couple of games – including old-school favourite, Asteroids – are onboard, too, and you can download more Java ones if you so wish.

With little high-end functionality to drain the power, the T303 does score well in battery performance. Sony Ericsson estimates it will deliver up to 9 hours talktime or up to 400 hours on standby, which should be enough for most users.

Conclusion
The T303 is very much a low-cost handset, with a sparse set of features compared to most of Sony Ericsson’s current crop. Sure, its shiny casing and rounded design – and particularly its budget price – are going to appeal to some younger users, but for anyone looking for a bit of function to go with the form, it’s certainly a lightweight. A younger tech-savvy audience will probably want something with much more in its music locker than this handset offers, which you can get for just a little extra cash, and obviously as a cameraphone it’s extremely limited too.

Samsung sgh i450

Connectivity options on the Samsung i450 include tri-band GSM support (900/1800/1900MHz) and WCDMA on the 2100MHz band. Data speeds up to 3.6Mbps, thanks to HSDPA, and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets is also included. The Samsung i450 will be available in white and blue and features a 2.0 megapixel camera on the back, with video recording. The front of the device features a second VGA camera for video-calling.

The SGH-i450’s display is 2.4″ in size and offers 240 x 320 pixel resolution with up to 256k color shades. The Samsung i450 weighs 114g (4oz) and measures 101mm x 52mm x 17.8mm (3.98″ x 2.0″ x .7″). Availability is expected in Italy in October, with other European countries following soon.

Win races to gain street cred and fill your garage with killer cars, like the Porsche 911. Reach the finish line first in circuit races. Bust up the city in bounty challenges. Show your skillz for a shot at gang leaders. Choose between Career or Quick Race mode. Brakes are optional in Need for Speed: Undercover.

Based on the No.1 PC game franchise of all time, The Sims 3 brings exciting new gameplay and endless possibilities all on your mobile phone! Enjoy unexpected moments of surprise and mischief, as you choose whether (or not!) to fulfill your Sims’ destinies and make their wishes come true.

Create and customize your Sims appearance and personality, then take your Sims out of the house and into the neighborhood with all new gameplay. Make their world your own!