In this latest episode of The Gadget Man, Matt unravels the long-standing myth about using rice to dry out wet mobile phones.
Despite its popularity, this method is debunked as ineffective and potentially harmful.
The Gadget Man – Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden
Apple itself has issued guidance against it, warning that rice grains can damage the device by blocking ports and causing corrosion. Instead,
Matt suggests allowing the phone to dry out naturally in a dry, airy place, highlighting modern phones’ water resistance capabilities and the importance of gentle care in case of water exposure.
Rice can damage devices
The conversation takes a lighter turn with a humorous suggestion for the best use of rice: making chili-con-carne, adding a flavourful twist to the tech discussion.
Dropping your phone in water is now not the disaster it used to be
This episode not only clears up a common misconception but also serves up a side of humour, making it a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and foodies alike.
So, are you ready to take your trusty phone from great to “Wow, is that even the same phone?” with some seriously cool accessories? Let’s dive into this world of nifty gadgets that are not just useful, but kind of life-changing too.
Battery Cases: Your Phone’s Knight In Shining Armor
Do you know that sinking feeling when you see the dreaded “low battery” notification? Well, stress no more! A battery case is like having a superhero for your phone. It’s not just a protective layer; it’s a power boost when you need it most. Think of it as your phone’s secret energy snack. Plus, they look pretty sleek too!
Portable Projectors: The World Is Your Theater
Ever thought of watching a movie under the stars? With a portable projector for your smartphone, you can. These little wonders can turn any blank wall into a cinema screen. They’re perfect for movie nights, sharing vacation photos, or even giving a presentation. It’s like having a theatre in your pocket!
Camera Attachments: Your Phone’s New Eyes
Your phone’s camera is already great, but with these clip-on lenses, it’s like giving it a superpower. Snap-on a wide-angle, macro, or fish-eye lens and watch your photography game soar. It’s like seeing the world through a whole new lens (literally!). Get ready for your social media to light up with likes!
Styluses: Because Your Finger Isn’t Always Enough
For the creatives out there, a stylus can transform your smartphone into a canvas or a notepad. Whether you’re sketching, jotting down notes, or just navigating, a stylus can give you that precision touch. It’s like having a magic pen that turns your phone into a hub of creativity.
Wireless Earbuds: Your Personal Sound Oasis
The right pair of wireless earbuds can totally change how you experience sound. Whether it’s for music, calls, or gaming, they create this little bubble of audio just for you. And the best part? No more wrestling with tangled wires. It’s like giving your ears a first-class ticket to Sample City or Trancentral. One heads up, always make sure they’re charged, you don’t want to get caught with those babies without power when you really need them. I recommend the Edifier Neobuds Pro 2.
Wireless Charging Pads: Effortless Energy
Wireless charging pads are like those fancy plates at a restaurant but for your phone. Just set your phone down and watch it charge. No more fumbling with cords or trying to plug in in the dark. They’re not just convenient; they add a touch of class to wherever you put them.
So, what do you think? Ready to give your smartphone a makeover with these awesome accessories? Trust me, once you start exploring these gadgets, you’ll see your phone in a whole new light. Here’s to making our smartphones not just smart, but genius!
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, it’s easy to forget the gadgets and gizmos that once dominated our lives. Today, we’ll take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the tech tools that have faded into the annals of history.
Floppy Disks and CD-ROMs:
Once, the clunky floppy disks and shimmering CD-ROMs were our only recourse to data storage and transfer. They have now gracefully bowed out, making way for sleek USB drives, capacious external hard drives, and the omnipresent cloud storage that promises accessibility from every corner of the globe.
VHS Tapes and VCRs:
The ritual of rewinding VHS tapes and the magic of VCRs bringing images to life on screen are chapters from a bygone era. They’ve been overshadowed by the crisp clarity of DVDs, Blu-rays, and the instant gratification delivered by streaming services.
Fax Machines:
The whirring and buzzing of fax machines, once music to the ears of office-goers have been replaced by the silent, instantaneous delivery of emails and other digital communication channels.
BlackBerry: Once the pinnacle of business communication with its iconic QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry has been overshadowed by the touchscreen revolution led by smartphones that offer an array of features and applications making communication and management seamless.
Once the pinnacle of business communication with its iconic QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry has been overshadowed by the touchscreen revolution led by smartphones that offer an array of features and applications making communication and management seamless.
The Pager:
The humble pager, a precursor to the mobile revolution, once clipped to belts, has quietly retreated to the shadows as smartphones dominate the communication landscape with various features unimaginable back in the day.
Film Cameras:
The instant gratification of digital photography has replaced the thrill of loading film and the patience of development. Though a niche of enthusiasts still cherishes the craft of film photography, digital cameras and smartphones have become our lenses to the world.
CRT Monitors:
The bulky CRT monitors that once occupied desks were replaced by sleek LCD and LED monitors, marking a significant leap in aesthetics and technology.
Cassette Tapes and Players:
The tactile joy of flipping a cassette tape is a forgotten pleasure. Digital audio and streaming services have ensnared the auditory senses with a promise of endless playlists.
Typewriters:
The rhythmic clacking of typewriter keys is a sound from a bygone era, replaced by the soft tapping on modern-day keyboards as computers and word-processing software took over.
Rotary Phones:
The nostalgic spin of the rotary dial has been replaced by the swift taps on touch-tone and mobile phones, making communication faster and smoother.
Each piece of outdated technology carries with it stories and memories that shaped the era they belonged to. As we embrace the new, it’s a sweet reminiscence to look back at the tech relics that paved the path for today’s digital wonderland.
You can also listen in to my chat with Steve Ladner on BBC Radio Kent by clicking on the play button at the top of the post
Life can feel tough at the moment. We’re all trying to make our way, day by day, through a global pandemic where we face constant uncertainty, struggles and difficulties. Government restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have resulted in countless changes to our routines and many of us are still growing used to spending more time alone and away from those we love. Many of us are also facing financial difficulties, as we experience job loss, redundancy, reduced hours or reduced pay. It’s not all too surprising, then, that many of us are feeling tired of constant stress and are looking for any and every way to make our lives a little easier on ourselves. Of course, where there is demand, someone will supply. So, it’s not all too surprising that there are increasing numbers of gadgets entering the marketplace that has been specifically designed to ease up your life in some way or another. Here are a few that you might want to consider!
Button Pushers
Many of us have routines that involve pressing certain switches at certain times throughout the day. Perhaps you want your lights to turn on at a certain time to alert others that you’re home. You might turn your heating on at a certain time each morning or evening to make sure your home is the right temperature. Perhaps you turn your hot water on at a particular time to ensure you have enough water for showers, washing up, baths or anything else at a set time of day. Sure, this is a small task, but often, we forget to press the switches and this can throw a spanner in the works of our day. Instead, why not consider automatic button pushers? These are devices that will press a switch or button at a time that you set and choose. Research different models to make sure that they press firmly enough to do their job in your home!
Liquid Level Sensors
Do you find yourself regularly having to top up liquid levels in your home? Is there a certain tank that needs to be refilled at a certain point? Rather than constantly having to check, you could use a liquid level sensor that will alert you when you need to top fluid or liquid levels up.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Many of us are coping with the switch to working from home. This can, for those of us who don’t live alone or those of us who have noisy neighbours, can entail dealing with trying to work in noisy environments. This is less than ideal and can negatively impact productivity. So, why not invest in noise-cancelling headphones? These can provide you with the silence you want to work in!
These are just a few different gadgets that are available on the market and that could make all the difference to your daily routine. Each has its own uses and benefits and will likely prove more than worth the investment in saved time and increased productivity!
A London-based start-up brand propelled by lockdown creativity, ‘Smart Screen’, has launched a revolutionary, antibacterial cleaning cloth designed to ensure phones and tablets remain box-fresh.
‘Smart Screen’ is a designer cleaning cloth and pouch tailored to neatly fit into any pocket, heavier weight than most microfibre glass cleaning cloths making it easier to handle. This premium product has been specifically manufactured with the current heightened awareness of cleanliness in mind, with a silver ion antibacterial liquid treatment applied during the weaving process. The ‘Smart Screen’ boasts a durability that ensures antibacterial properties lasts for up to 15 washes.
This lifestyle accessory, though produced predominantly for phone and tablet use, can also be utilised for reading glasses or camera lens cleaning thanks to its’ versatility. Created for a mass-market audience, the cloth fits into any everyday scenario – from removing screen smears before entering a meeting, eradicating dirt picked up from the bottom of a handbag or getting rid of greasy finger marks on the family-shared tablet.
‘Smart Screen’ CEO, David Sant explains: “As a serial entrepreneur and businessman I’m always looking for opportunities to spot gaps in the market and bring a concept to reality. During the lockdown, I have been reminiscing back to being on busy commuter trains with everyone staring at their phones then cleaning them on jeans, jacket sleeves or a handkerchief. It strikes me that now more than ever we have a requirement for ourselves and a duty to others to live in a more clean-conscious manner. I’m proud to bring such a high-end yet accessible product to market to meet a new wave in demand.”
The Smart Screen is presented in neat boxed packaging and is available for purchase in six different colours (Navy Blue, Saffron Yellow, Slate Grey, Powder Blue, Polar White and Camel Brown) retailing at £9.95 each
We’re now on the home straight with the Retro Gadgets Series and what better classic gadget to feature but the legendary Nokia 3310 mobile phone.
This is certainly a gadget that needs very little introduction, after being introduced in 2000, the handset went on to sell more than 126,000,000 units. What’s more, the handset continues to be used in many households today. I previously discussed the handset in Episode 98 with James Hazell.
Nokia’s new owners HMD relaunched the device in 2017 with a homage to the original device, attempting to capture a new market of low-cost mobile phones. This too was covered in Episode 102 with Mark Murphy.
The Original Nokia 3310 and the the 2017 HMD Nokia 3310 reboot
Today, however, it was the turn of Matt Marvell to listen to my lament about this classic piece of technology history.
You can listen in to the recording by clicking at the top of the post. Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, SHARE and most importantly COMMENT. I’ll catch up with you next time
Before the age of privatisation of utility companies in the United Kingdom, the General Post Office (GPO) of the United Kingdom was responsible solely for the provision of telecommunication services for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The notable exception was Kingston Upon Hull which has been granted the licence to provide it’s own telephone services in 1906.
Alongside its telephone services, the GPO also issued a variety of telephones for use on this service. Although handsets were supplied in different forms, it wasn’t until 1937 when a new line of ‘portable’ telephones was introduced using the Type 332 code number. These telephones used the rotary dial system with the handset sitting directly on top of the unit.
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During 1959, the 700 series was released by the GPO. This was launched after public demand for handsets similar to those featured on US television shows. These devices were modern in design with anti-tangle cord and came in very smart two-tone colour schemes. This was the design which is still found in many homes some 60 years after launch (although some modification was necessary to bring them in line with current BT sockets).
The 706 models came in two-tone green, topaz yell, concorde blue, two-tone grey, topaz yellow, lacquer red, ivory and black. The red models being in great demand still today.
Such was the popularity and demand for the Model 706 and later the Model 746, several manufacturers were contracted for its manufacture with both table-top and wall mounted version was available to rent.
GPO Type 746 Telephones – Image Credit: Wikipedia
In 1981, the GPO was privatised and the New Plan Socket was introduced for all new handsets, this allowed for approved 3rd party telephones to be either rented or purchased for use on the British Telecom network. The public was quick to drop this rotary dial phone in favour of new Tone-Dialing push-button models and the 746 was consigned to history and in many cases rubbish-skips and land-fill.
However, I think every house needs at least one Model 746.
Listen in the audio attached and listen to me talking to Matt Marvell on BBC Radio Suffolk about this amazing retro gadget
Thanks for reading and listening, don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE and I will see you next time.
I chatted to Mark Murphy at BBC Radio Suffolk this morning as part of a discussion about Kitchen Gadgets that have fallen out of use.
We have all bought something for the kitchen to help us cook or prepare food and consequently found that although useful, they end up sitting in a cupboard, in a draw or on top of a kitchen cabinet.
Listen into the audio stream to find out what I thought and how I placed my foot in my mouth at a well known shopping channel.
This week App of the Week becomes Gadget Man. The slot is expanded to include Apps, Gadgets and general Technology related news.
Today, for the first of two episodes, Matt is reviewing the Gear 2 smart watch from Samsung. We also discuss the Sony Smartwatch 2 we will be reviewed in full in the next couple of weeks and FIFA World Cup 2014 apps.
Artificial Intelligence, Technology, News and Gadget Reviews on air, online, in print and in person
