Most mobile devices like Android phones, Blackberrys and the iPhones already possess the necessary software within them which enable them to connect to the PC and sync. But in the case your device doesn’t have one, you can easily get the Device Stage Feature software in your Windows or Mac OS and if your mobile device supports this feature, then you can easily sync with it.

What is the Device Stage feature? Basically it is syncing software that enables the user to sync his own mobile device with his PC and helps the two to share all the necessary information between them. So, if anyone wants to share any calendar or important contacts from his mobile device to his PC, then he can do so using this software.

Also, if one wishes to create his own set of ring tones for instance and transfer it to his mobile device, then this software is a good option as well. But one thing has to be kept in mind, compatibility is the key here. For example, you cannot sync and transfer calendar and contacts to your iPod; only your mobile phone.

Using Device Stage is very simple as well. If it is not installed, then simply connect your device to your PC and if the device is compatible with it, then the software will open automatically – provided you have that device installed beforehand. For all the different devices there are different options that will flash on to the screen from setup to sharing for the user’s convenience. The options are self-explanatory and can be easily identified; it takes hardly five minutes for syncing and sharing – so it is nothing but a piece of cake!

Most mobile devices are Device Stage compatible nowadays but if you are planning to buy any new mobile device and are not sure about its compatibility then contact your manufacturer for getting the necessary information.

Five was the number everyone was talking about in the build-up to the launch of the new iPhone 4S.  In the end, it transpired that Apple’s latest handset wouldn’t be acquiring a five in its nomenclature – though it did have one appended to its new operating system, the iOS 5.

The operating system that will grace the 4S has helped impart some of the most significant changes to the new phone.  Most of the benefits brought about by the iOS 5 pertain to social and entertainment functions; deft touches that should make the phone a pleasure to use.

One of the most useful new features is the way in which users are now notified of incoming messages. Texts, emails, Tweets, Facebook updates: whatever your thing, this new operating system simply arranges them better. The previous OS hid these updates away, confining them to specific apps and only notifying you of them one at a time. Now you can see all this information in one place – the notification center – which will show up on your phone even when the screen is locked. It’s simply a case of swiping from the top when a new alert comes up, and you’ll be up-to-date with the latest info without needing to jump in and out of apps.

The iPhone 4S also comes with a new to do list which intelligently tracks your location. Not only can you schedule events by their specific time and date, but you can essentially log in and out as you enter and leave these functions. This makes the 4S your very own personal assistant, sensibly aggregating your personal data so that you don’t have to fiddle about with calendars and schedule memos.

The iPhone 4S is also equipped with a new and improved newsstand to deliver all the latest news and mags, which will organise your subscriptions so they’re all together in one place. It allows you to access the information you require quickly and with ease.  Best of all, it looks like a cute little bookshelf; your news will come complete with its own colourful front cover.

Twitter fans will also be pleased with Apple’s latest handset, as iOS 5 makes it easier to Tweet: users can post videos, links and pictures from their iPhone directly to Twitter simply by tapping the ‘Tweet’ button. Safari also is more accessible, allowing you to take text and pictures from a website and re-display them on your phone, making the format altogether more readable. The service will do away with ads and clutter, and allow you to save articles for later.

Finally, the iOS 5 supports AirPlay, allowing you to stream content between devices wirelessly. You can stream music around the whole of your house, or stream a film from your iPhone to your TV. At last, you can start watching an episode of Dexter on the bus, before getting home and flopping onto the sofa to watch the remainder on the big screen.

All this and you’ll never have to connect your iPhone 4S to a computer: it’s fully enabled for Air updates, so you can refresh content without having to fiddle about with tangled wires. With the ability to add new email folders or edit photographs on your phone, the trusty desktop may not even get a look in. For those of you who decide to refrain from upgrading until the iPhone 5 finally deigns to make an appearance, the good news is that AirPlay is coming to the iPhone 4 and 3GS too.

In appraising the 4S, Mark Hirst, Managing Director of Best Mobile Contracts observed:

“The iPhone 4S is an evolutionary device that will do no harm in encouraging people to switch to Apple and iOS. New features such as Siri and iOS 5 will help improve the functionality of the iPhone, as well as improve the features that they can offer.”

The iPhone 4S may not be the life-changing product that some had built it up to be.  Nevertheless, when the phone goes on sale, just try telling that to the millions of customers who will be jostling to get their hands on the quickest beast yet to emerge from Apple’s stable.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mobile broadband essentials

Many of us depend on high-speed internet to get the best from our online interests, such as catch-up TV, streaming movies and gaming with people from around the world. That’s all well and good if you’re connected via a home or work connection, but being able to take your internet with you wherever you go, is increasingly becoming the way forward.

In short, why you need mobile broadband is because of the convenience and affordability it affords you.

However, if you’re in the market for a new mobile broadband deal then there are so many different offers around that it can be hard to pick the right one for your needs. Although mobile broadband is improving, it isn’t currently a replacement for traditional ADSL or cable home services either, which can better handle the large amounts of data needed to transfer movies and music across the internet to your computer.

Going mobile

Nevertheless, mobile broadband can be an invaluable supplement to a home or work based setup and gives you much of the same content while you’re on the go. Picking the right mobile broadband deal is largely down to what you expect to use it for. If you’re the sort of person who only dips in and out of your online activities, but would like the convenience of mobile services then consider a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) option.

What are the benefits of PAYG?

• No contract
• Convenience
• Freedom to pick up new deals
• Lots of freebies and special offers

Packages that fall under the PAYG banner don’t require you to sign up for a contract. All you need to do is buy a small USB dongle, which is a plastic internet key device that can have credit put on it by a mobile broadband provider, and you simply use that to connect until it’s used up. This means that you can keep changing deals as better ones come along and it may prove perfectly adequate for your needs.

More power

You may find that mobile broadband becomes an essential part of your daily life, and therefore a more substantial package will be needed. Use the comparison websites online to compare and contrast the many different options and lookout for the likes of setup fees, contract duration, and data allowances. The latter aspect is vital if you need to be able to download plenty of content. PAYG allows you to do this too, but it’s often a lot less flexible, so a contract option may prove to be the better bet.

Benefits of a contract option:

• Better data allowances
• Plenty of deals and incentives to sign up
• Easy to upgrade
• Free laptop deals in some cases

Look out for special offers and free laptop deals. These can be a great way to go, if you’re after a new computer and also want the power and flexibility of mobile broadband. Many of the networks offer these, although you’ll generally be required to sign up for a lengthier contract, of around two years or more. However, the machine will be yours to keep at the end of that, and could deliver several more years service after that point too.

Another funky addition to boost the appeal of mobile broadband is also the MiFi, a device not dissimilar to a dongle, but that allows you to share your signal with up to five other authorised users. Doing this though, waters down data allowances, so check that your family or friends aren’t trying to download lots of files. Nevertheless, it’s a handy option for most general users.

Mobile broadband benefits:

• Take your Internet and email anywhere
• Lots of great deals and special offers
• Great coverage for many areas
• MiFi allows a signal to be shared
• Plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots boost the appeal

Ultimately, use comparison websites to check not only deals and offers but also speed and coverage of services in your area, as these can fluctuate wildly. Another great idea is to ensure that your mobile broadband device also comes with Wi-Fi functionality too, meaning that you can find any one of millions of wireless hotspots instead, just in case you’re in an area not too well served by 3G broadband.

Author Bio: Rob Clymo writes for Broadband Genie and Mobile Phone Genie, the independent comparison websites for broadband, mobile broadband and mobile phones.

What was that all about? In an interview in London, Google’s mobile engineering director, Ann Mei Chang said, “Within a year, you’ll see all manufacturers having full browsing capability, at least for the high end phones. This will be a turning point for the industry.” So that means you and me will be able to surf the Internet and view it just like we do on a PC? That’s good news, if it happens as predicted.

But then again, this is probably more to do with Google pouring a lot of effort into the mobile phone market – think Android. Google has been developing Android as a serious contender, but basing much of the framework on Open Source technology, as opposed to the Apple iPhone, although Google still gives the iPhone credit for moving the whole mobile phone industry forward.

One of the things that came to my mind is how would the .mobi domain extension fit with these developments? The .mobi TLD was introduced as an extension to accommodate websites that want to optimize for mobile phone surfers. But .mobi was introduced in late 2005, at a time when technology was just trying to fit websites on mobile phones. A .mobi is meant to feature mobile phone optimized sites.

So if mobile phone technology has progressed to the point where we can view the Web with ease over a mobile phone, do users still need a separate .mobi to surf online?

Google also announced that they’re working on a mobile version of Google Gears, which is a bundle of Web applications that are able to run without Internet connection. I remember I did blog about this concept back here, and it’s cool if you can actually “run” a website without an Internet connection. Google now sees mobile phones as one of the main platforms in running offline web based apps, and they are really into this.

Basically, speed is what Google is after. If you can browse a site by downloading less applications, than your web surfing experience would of course be faster. Hence any mobile phone Web surfing would need to rely a lot on caching. So if Google is right on the money, we’ll soon all be surfing away on our mobile phones, without even realizing the only difference between a desktop and a mobile phone is basically – a matter of size.