A Million Lives

A million lifestyle hacks...unlimited possibilities

  • Home
  • About
    • Write For Us
  • Travel
  • Business
  • Money
  • Auto
  • Fashion
  • Tech
  • Health & Fitnness
  • Education
  • Diy / Home Improvement

December 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

The Technical Side of Smartphone Recycling: More Than Meets the Eye

We are all aware that protecting the environment today will have a massive impact upon future generations. In the past, the concept of recycling was generally limited to items such as paper, glass and metals. The rise of the smartphone within our daily lives has slightly modified this observation. There are now countless ways to recycle these handy gadgets. Whether referring to the Google Pixel XL, the iPhone 6S or an older Samsung Galaxy, the average lifespan of a mobile phone is 4.7 years. Companies are willing to pay consumers cash in exchange for outdated models. However, the process of recycling itself is quite interesting and in order to appreciate such a unique approach, it is wise to examine the main steps that companies will employ.

Collection and Transportation

The first step obviously involves the collection of any older phones or those which have encountered unrecoverable damage. There are two main ways in which this can take place. The first involves taking the phone to a physical drop-off point such as a community centre. Companies will visit these locations on a regular basis and procure any unwanted devices.

The second option involves leveraging the power of the online community. There are many websites which offer consumers liquid cash for their phones. The phones are simply shipped to the middleman and once received, funds will be transferred into the desired account.

How Does Mobile Phone Recycling Work?

Once the smartphone has arrived at the recycling centre, several steps will need to take place before the act of recycling begins. First, the phones are physically sorted by employees. This is generally intended to remove any extraneous debris that may have inadvertently been included within the batch. This is the only process directly supervised by human contact.

The next step involves breaking down the phones into their core components through the use of mechanical devices such as shredders. In order to maximise the amount of recoverable materials, the pieces of the phone will be separated into several different categories such as:

  • Batteries
  • Plastics such as the outer casings
  • Display screens
  • Printed circuit boards
  • Any metals

This is still a rather crude initial step. The true magic involved with smartphone recycling is the ability to separate specific metals into their own categories. Many consumers will be surprised to learn that phones contain an appreciable amount of gold within their circuitry. While it is normally not economically viable to extract at home, the fact of the matter is that processing thousands of handsets per day will help to recover a sizeable portion of this metal. The same holds true for other materials such as silver, copper and rare-earth elements including rhodium.

Post-Extraction Processing

Once valuable metals and other materials have been removed and sorted, they tend to be shipped off to other processing plants. In fact, some of these plants could be located thousands of kilometres away from the initial recycling centre. Metals, plastics and other substances will all be melted down and subsequently sold to other firms. They can then be used in the creation of other products. So, the gold within your phone today could very well have existed within the handset of another consumer located on the other side of the world!

From the modern Google Pixel XL to a traditional push-button Nokia model, the importance of recycling cannot be minimised. If you are looking to help the environment while earning a bit of extra cash, consider this option before you upgrade.

November 28, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Finding the Best Mobile Phone Deal for Your Needs

It seems as if new smartphone plans are popping up on a daily basis. As companies continue to face an increasing amount of competition, it only makes sense that they provide their customers with a wealth of options. Although the sheer number of money-saving bundles is formidable, it can be a bit confusing to make the correct selection. EE mobile deals, Virgin Media contracts and O2 bundles are only three examples. However, another popular option is known as a SIM-only phone deal. Why could this be a great option and what will you need to look out for in order to come across the most appropriate plan?

A Look at SIM-Only Phone Plans

As the name suggests, the main principle behind this option is that you will only be purchasing a SIM card as opposed to a yearly contract. Besides the obvious money-savings advantages, there are several other unique benefits to keep in mind. These include:

  • You can keep your current phone.
  • Your can top up voice and data limits on demand.
  • You are not limited in terms of how many times this card can be recharged.

In other words, these plans are much more flexible when compared to a standard contract. What are some of the situations when a SIM-only deal could be a worthwhile option to consider?

Numerous Needs Satisfied with a Single Card

There are many circumstances which can be addressed with a SIM-only calling plan. Perhaps the most well-known example involves those who travel a great deal. Communicating while away from home can be quite expensive and some carriers might not be available within certain regions of the world. SIM-only packages effectively eliminate this limitation.

University students will also utilise these plans, as they are no longer required to be tied into a lengthy (and potentially expensive) contracts. SIM contracts are known for their flexible nature and it is likely that the correct bundle will be discovered. Students who are looking to save money should seriously consider a SIM-only option.

There can also be times when a user possesses two or more phones. Contractors and business professional may fall into this category. As opposed to being forced to carry multiple smartphones at any given time, a SIM card can simply be switched between devices when required. This also lessens the chances that the user might accidentally lose a phone which contains personal information.

More Than SIM Cards Alone

Many SIM-only deals are now associated with a virtually unlimited amount of data usage. Examples can include more than 10 gigabytes of data and thousands of text messages before the unit will need to be recharged. Some contracts are as short as 30 days while others may extend for up to one year. This will primarily depend upon the provider in question. In fact, certain EE mobile deals are able to offer unlimited minutes and texts alongside free trial applications.

There are also instances when it is possible to be rewarded with a free phone when signing up for one of these packages. Although we might not necessarily be referring to the iPhone X, the fact of the matter is that a free mobile phone can be a welcome addition; particularly for those who have been looking for a spare device.

How to Find the Best Deal

There are many variables to account for when deciding between two or more plans. Data usage is a critical consideration. In other words, are you planning to stream videos or download large files? In such cases, it is wise to opt for a deal which provides you with hefty data limits; perhaps 20 gigabytes per cycle or more. The second factor is the price in combination with the length of the contract. Perks such as a free phone are always tempting, but try to be pragmatic as opposed to jumping into a deal which may prove to be expensive in the long run.

Broadband Choices has compiled a detailed list of the best SIM-only deals currently on the market. As these are likely to change from time to time, it is wise to check back on a regular basis so that the best bargains can be discovered.

November 21, 2017 by Greg Underwood

5 Productive Habits to Incorporate into Your Daily Smartphone Usage

Smartphones have become a ubiquitous portion of our daily lives. From browsing the latest social media posts to checking our email accounts, it seems as if we cannot live without these clever devices. However, we also need to keep in mind that more productive options literally exist at our fingertips. What are five interesting choices and how can these fill your time with additional activities other than snapping the occasional selfie?

  1. Searching for Online Shopping Discounts

The prevalence of the Internet signifies that countless retail outlets from around the world face a stiffer amount of competition than ever before. This often directly translates to online discounts, QR coupon codes and similar rebates. As opposed to spending your time at a local cyber cafe posting memes, why not perform a quick search for the latest deals?

You can also sign up for mailing lists. This enables you to stay one step ahead of the game and to save a great deal of money along the way.

  1. Your On-the-Go Organiser

Many of us spend a good deal of time stuck in traffic when driving to and from work. Use this window as an opportunity to schedule any upcoming tasks as well as to wrap your head around additional projects with the help of an organiser. There are countless free versions available and each will enable you to prioritise what needs to take place in the near future.

  1. Work Remotely

Working remotely is a growing trend within many industries. In fact, some even believe that the days of the traditional office may soon be coming to a close. Thanks in part to 4G connectivity and partially as a result of amazing processing power, it is now possible to work while out and about. Still, we are not necessarily referring to filing large orders or closing a million-pound sale via a single handset. Many professionals utilise their smartphones to take care of more laborious tasks when they have the time. Some examples include:

  • Looking over a potential marketing campaign.
  • Creating a customer-based mailing list.
  • Sorting through junk emails.
  • Replying to client queries.

Completing these duties will allow you to focus your efforts one more engaging projects.

  1. Accessing the Online Currency Markets

Why not earn a bit of extra liquidity with the help of your mobile phone? One increasingly popular method is to access the Forex marketplace. It is estimated that more than $5.1 trillion dollars changes hands within this world of currencies on a daily basis. It is therefore understandable why even novice investors wish to obtain their small piece of such a large pie. Modern online providers such as CMC Markets are equipped with all of the necessary tools to enact lucrative trades within only seconds. With experience and foresight, the potential to accrue appreciable profits is well within your reach.

  1. Brainstorming

Inspiration often comes to us at the most unexpected of times. This is when a smartphone can indeed come in handy. Nearly every phone is equipped with some type of notepad. Use these digital applications to jot down any ideas that you may have; regardless of how odd they might initially appear. You can always come back to them at a later date to flesh out such concepts.

These are only a handful of worthwhile concepts to keep in mind the next time you decide to access your smartphone. With so many useful resources at your fingertips, there is simply no reason to not take advantage of their more useful options.

November 20, 2017 by Greg Underwood

EARN A FORTUNE FROM YOUR PHONE WITH THESE APPS

This text takes you through some of the most useful mobile applications that you can use to earn a decent amount of money online. Some apps pay you for doing nothing while others let you do what you enjoy and still earn from serious business or part-time hustles. Here they are.

CMC Markets App

CMC Markets helps you trade online by giving you relevant financial information for online trading and investments. CMC Markets has got a dedicated CFD Android and iOS mobile trading application which is able to provide mobile alerts, has powerful charting technology and also provides live streaming of prices. With the app, you can trade on a wide range of markets from anywhere. The markets you can trade on include thousands of CFD instruments that have competitive margins and spreads on forex, shares, treasuries, commodities and indices.

Acorns

This free app will help you start investing. Once you download the app and link your bank account you get a $10 bonus as you continue spending your money the normal way you do. It does not matter whether you have an MBA, the app is easy to use and anyone can pick up quickly and understand how to invest in it. Once you link your bank account, leave the rest of the work for Acorns. The app will round up your payments to the nearest dollar then automatically invest your digital change in the stock markets. Though you might not consider it as a proper way to save for your retirement, it is still a great app for setting aside a fortune for the future.

Swagbucks

With this app, you can accumulate their SB points as you search the web, watch videos, complete surveys, shop in malls attached to it, complete special offers, find swag codes among other activities. You can redeem the points you earn on gift cards from stores such as Target and Walmart. You can also redeem the points for PayPal cash. The app is available for both iOS and Android users.

Clashot

If you want to earn from selling your images, then this app is one of those that let you do so. Using Clashot is simple; you download it, take photos then upload them. The Clashot team will then moderate the photos and upload them to Depositphotos website for sale. You will get a percentage of the final sale once your photos sell. It would be necessary to promote your photos in order to sell better. You can also get invitations to upload photos with specific themes and if you do it right you increase your earnings. The app works best on Android but fairly on Apple devices. Other apps you might consider selling photos with include Foap, Snapwire, and Stokimo among others.

SurveysOnTheGo

This app pays you between $1 $5 on the go for various surveys. The offers are regular, easy to complete and includes topics on politics, graphics and issues of the day among others. They are focused only on mobile surveys. You can instantly cash out with PayPal if you a have a minimum amount of $10. The app is available in the App Store but other similar apps include iPoll, Mobee, NPoll, and Toluna.

Ibotta

If you are a coupon clipper then look for Ibotta. You can earn cash back as you shop online and submit receipts- you can also link a loyalty account when you download this app. When shopping online, you first need to unlock cash rewards on the app by completing tasks given. After you have shopped, you scan your product barcodes then send photos of your receipts to verify your purchases. You only need to enter your phone number or scan your card if you are using your loyalty card. Other related apps include Snap by Groupon, Receipt Hog, and Ebates.

Tapporo

This is one of the oldest and among the most reliable apps on Google Play Store. It offers lucrative referral rates of $0.60 for each signup. Though it could be hard to earn money through other means, you can focus on making more referrals to earn more due to the high reward. Rewards include mobile accessories, Amazon vouchers, and PayPal cash among others.

Follow us

  • twitter
  • facebook

Recent Articles

  • How to Prevent Eyelashes From Falling
  • 10 ways to experience Bali like a local?
  • What you need to know when choosing a web host
  • How Much Will I Receive After My Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
  • What You Need to Know About the DBPR Continuing Education Course

A Million Lives

Travelling in all its glory is fun and exhilarating but sometimes you might want to find some information on where to go, what to see and how to go about it from someone other than the go-to websites, especially when it comes to travel hacking and the coolest, most useful ways to get the most out of your next adventure.

Recent Posts

  • How to Prevent Eyelashes From Falling
  • 10 ways to experience Bali like a local?
  • What you need to know when choosing a web host
  • How Much Will I Receive After My Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
  • What You Need to Know About the DBPR Continuing Education Course

Follow us

  • twitter
  • facebook

Pretty Chic Theme By: Pretty Darn Cute Design