Page 10 - Boca Club News - July '19

Page 10, Boca Club News
Computers

From Sheila’s Desktop: Review of Bargain Phones

By Sheila Garber of Broken Sound phones have certain things in common, namely the processor web browsing, and even a little Candy Crush---the best cheap
Club. Sheila was a teacher for 41 to the memory, and even the hardware connected to them. phones do just fine. They even have multiple cameras for
years, the last 22 years as a Computer However, the cost to make them can vary a great deal. all your photo needs, and plenty of power and storage. You
Teacher. She is the recipient of an AOL The first phone that he recommends is the Ziaomi even get a headphone jack, something that $1,000 phones no
Interactive Educational Initiative Pocophone F1. It costs $216.70 to make for all parts and longer have.
Grant and the author of an award- labor. Remember, it will sell for $350 or less. Apple sells its Mr. Pierce tested eight cheap phones, ranging from the
winning website featuring virtual largest model for almost three times what it costs to make. $150 Blu Vivo XL4 to the $350 Nokia 7.1. All eight scored
reality panoramas of the historical When you purchase a Galaxy or an iPhone or a Pixel, you totally usable. Of the eight, he recommends three. His favorite
and cultural sites of Philadelphia. are paying for not only the very best screens and cameras, was the Nokia 7.1, from HMD Global. The metal-and-glass
Mrs. Garber currently resides in Broken Sound Country but also the expensive ads, huge corporate offices and large device looked far better than expected for the price, having
Club and devotes her time to teaching others computer skills. retail stores. clean lines and gold accents. Its camera captures good
I recently read an article written by David Pierce in Mr. Pierce discussed this with Sammy Ohev-Zion, chief pictures and video, with a 5.8-inch screen. Its pictures were
the Wall Street Journal. I was so impressed, I decided to executive of Blu Electronics, maker of a passably decent sharp and accurate, and the battery lasted all day without
summarize his article for those of you who do not want or $150 smartphone. He asked him what he would charge for a issue.
need a high performing mobile phone. phone with the best components he could get his hands on: The best part of this phone was that it ran Android One, a
Most people believe that, to get a good performing mobile the best LCD screen, the best camera, the best fingerprint specific branch of the Android operating system that’s perfect
phone, you need to spend a thousand dollars to purchase, or reader. He said $400. He will be launching one such phone for this kind of phone. It even comes with at least two years
$42 a month to rent. According to Mr. Pierce, that just isn’t later this year. of updates. It just runs Android and does it well.
so. Since your phone is most likely the most important device The drawback, however, even with no expense spared, is Lenovo-owned Motorola is one of the few cheap phone
you own, you feel you must spend the money. The devices that Blu couldn’t make a phone as good as the Galaxy S10 makers to actually improve on the Android experience. It
Mr. Pierce reviewed are much less, ranging from $350 to as or the iPhone XS. Both these companies have a lock on their costs $300 and is a solid overall smartphone. You can quickly
little as $150 to purchase. They all offer great performance, chips, facial recognition systems, and other technology that access your camera by twisting your phone, or shut it off by
good battery life, attractive design, and even some unique they will not share with other systems. The expense of these flipping it over.
features. phones help fund their large software teams, which help build Xiaomi’s $300 PocophoneF1 has a camera that captures
Some of you are thinking this might be like purchasing these systems. soft-background portrait shots, fires off HDR shots with ease,
used clothes from a thrift store. It is more like buying last Mr. Pierce said you still get what you pay for. There is and even offers granular control.
year’s fashions--not the best, but close to it. You may not no $300 phone that equals a device three times the price. These casual phones trade a fraction of a phone’s power
even notice the difference, but you will be saving money. However, for years cheap phones were bad phones. Now, for a large fraction of its cost. For most users, this is more
Some of you may already be interested in which phones the best of these phones come with only minor trade-offs. than sufficient. Good luck, Sheila. garberse@aol.com.
David Pierce has recommended, and why he has done so. All For the basics---phone calls, texting, Spotify streaming,
Health & Wellness

Reality Check √ ... Healthy Answers on Living

& Loving Life: “It’s Only A Game!”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C. Dale Here’s a story of a different nature. My husband was on the they can be seen on the course almost every day perfecting
is a motivational speaker who has spent tee box that runs along the backside of our home. He proceeds their game. Baffled by inconsistencies, they are driven to fix
many years as a Certified Life Coach to tell his golf buddies, “Do not hit my house on your drives.” the problem.
and has written numerous articles and Thankfully, they all followed direction except for my husband, Socialites – “I don’t care what my score is, I just like
ebooks relating to self-improvement who then drives his own ball into our house. This is a case being out there with friends.” These folks love being outdoors,
and ways to build a high-performance of setting yourself up for failure by envisioning a worst-case knocking the ball around, and enjoy eating lunch with the gang.
team. Her education and years of scenario that ends up becoming a reality. Be careful for what They are usually good-natured, fun loving, agreeable and social.
experience in physical fitness and you wish; it may come true. Defeatists – “I’m out of here!” When they’re having a
training of elite athletes has enabled In “The Secret”, author Rhonda Byrne explains the law bad day, they would rather pack up than play. They set high
her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. The of attraction. What you tell the universe comes back to you, expectations for themselves and are disgusted if they can’t
following is one in a series of columns devoted to many topics whether it’s good or bad. Unconsciously, you cause the outcome deliver. Finding excuses helps ease their pain…” I should have
that deal with the mind/body connection and the importance that you feared would happen. Saying what you don’t want warmed up, it’s too early, too hot, my back hurts, I’m rushing...”
of living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be is just as effective as stating what you do want. The secret Enthusiasts – “Now that’s a golf shot!” These are the
reached at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. is learning to reframe your thoughts to get the desired result. encouraging words from someone who is there for you. It
Not everyone is a fan of golf, but if you are you most likely Rather than focusing on the hazard, think about what you doesn’t matter if you’re just beginning or advanced; this person
watched the recent PGA Tournament. It was the perfect thing to want: “I’m going to hit this ball straight down the fairway.” empowers you with positivity. Cheerleaders appreciate good
do on a rainy, dreary weekend. Both my husband and I love the Reframing helps train your mind to go from a negative to a playing when they see it, yet accept bloopers with comments
game and, to use the term loosely, we “play” when the weather positive affirmation. like, “It’s okay, you’re safe.”
permits. As I watched the pros, I marveled at their self-control. Overall, I’ve observed four different personality types while Whether you play golf or not, you may identify with my
When you think that millions of dollars are resting on a single playing golf. Any or all can clearly be applied to anyone at any observations. You may even relate to one of the personalities I
putt, it’s a wonder they can keep their cool. time in everyday life: Do you recognize yourself or someone described. The bottom line is to relish the good shots, and leave
Golf brings out the best and the worst in people. After trying you know in the following examples? the bad ones behind. In other words, be grateful for what you
to master the game myself I have concluded it can be extremely Addicts - “This game will never get the best of me.” This have and don’t sweat the small stuff! In the big picture of life,
frustrating. One day you’re on and the next day you’re off. I type is hooked and can’t get enough. Usually expert golfers, golf is only a game.
may not be able to shed light on how to improve your game,
but I can tell you about the life lessons golf has taught me. I’m Plumbing rePairs • locate leaks • rePair toilets • Faucets & Water Heaters
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One time, when I was just learning to play golf with three service calls available • sat. & sun. 9:00 aM - 4:00 PM
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